Twenty-Six

Nathan's POV

"It's done." I spat, sneering at Victor who seemed to be standing victoriously with Bella, a woman that had far too many scandals around the office for me to bear. Yet, there was no way that I could touch her. She was one of Victor's henchman. His spy whom I had just recently found out; who has her head drifting the clouds, thinking that she has a chance with me.

A promiscuous woman.

Everything was his plan to have the jewel stolen by Bella, while I, simply had no choice as he dangled Ava's lifeline before my eyes.

"Good. Now all you have to do is wed Harrison." Victor cheered, clapping his hands before signaling for Bella to leave.

There was nothing that could make me forget the look on her face. It was as if a knife prodded and stabbed through my body again and again and again. I was a scum, powerless and weak; with no way to protect her, not even from myself. There was no way that I could be redeemed.

"How do you know what is and isn't going to harm me? How do you know that aren't doing that right now?"

She was right. Just as much as my actions broke her, she broke me as well. I was welled-up in misery as I saw her swallow whatever pride she had, to bear the humiliation that was inflicted by myself.

"I understand. I won't bother you again. I wish you two all the happiness."

Those words were like a nightmare; the same ones back from the time with Amelia.

Scold me. Hit me. Do whatever you want to me.

As long as it could relief you from a little pain, I am willing to bear it all; anything but seeing you walk away.

Yes, I was a selfish prick. A man whose feelings held true to the woman he loved but was assaulted with situations that hindered all possibilities of a happy ending.

"Did you do this to my father?" I questioned, remembering the tough journey that my parents had to endure; one dead and another left in the asylum. Now, it seems that history was repeating itself; with Victor puppeteering the backstage.

"Yes." Victor simply replied, his face absent from any remorse. "I killed your father."

"You bastard!"

Before I could land a punch on him, I was hit with another, a heavy strike across my cheek. The brawny man dressed in black towered me as I fell to the ground. He was always a quiet individual, but nonetheless, Victor's dog.

Blood dripped from my lip, a deep cut inflicted from the punch and my teeth.

I guess this is my payback for slapping her. A cheap one.

I scoffed before glaring back at Victor from where I was.

"Stupid boy. Do you know what your father did?" Venom dripped forth, causing Victor to bend to my eye level. "He was the one that made my beautiful daughter, to who she is today. For years, that rat has been slipping a drug into her morning routine, saying that it was a health supplement. It wasn't until later when I visited her that I knew about this pill she was consuming. My suspicions were affirmed when the drug was tested for small amounts of hallucinogens; not detrimental to the body, but if accumulated, it was enough to make a person mad for the rest of their lives."

"For a few months, I dug deep, discovering just how much money that rat had stolen out of the profits of the company. And so, I gave him a choice. Either to surrender whatever he has, his wealth, marriage and you to me, or..."

"Poisoning." I said, finishing his sentence. Victor nodded at my reply before standing up. "You're lying. My father is not who you say he is." I argued, adamant on who he was.

My father was a man of principle, a loving family man. And I would not have a snake come soiling those precious memories of him.

Victor's brows lifted, as if he were challenging me to change my answer. Tapping a few times on his cell phone, a fuzzy sound could be heard before a voice spoke.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

It was my dad. It has been a long time since I heard his voice; always possessing a quality that was comforting and soothing.

"Cut the crap and get real with me. I know about everything. The pills that Diana has been consuming, are you planning to lock her up in the asylum?"

"Well then I guess there is no point in hiding."

The chuckle from him made reality daunt upon me, yet I still held hope that my father was not who Victor said he was. He would never do that to my mother and I.

"Do you know what it's like to be humiliated, Victor? For a man to be married into a woman's family, and suffer under the hands of her father? I only ever loved your daughter. But, it was you that made things harder and tougher for me. A man has his limits, Victor, and you, pushed mine beyond the boundaries. So, in exchange, I will send your daughter to the asylum. I will make her the laughingstock of the Bailey's, the family that you thought you could protect till your very last breath. Ha! Just the thought of your prestige crashing down, excites me."

"I will get real with you. With this much evidence that I have right now, I will give you two options. The first, surrender everything that you have and be locked away in prison forever. The second, drink this, so that the world will be rid of vile people like you."

So, Victor was telling the truth. All this time, the one that had been fooled was my mom and I. The image of a happy family whom I thought was destroyed, burned by the hands of my grandfather was in fact inflicted by my father. He was the real perpetrator.

"Vile people? Aren't you also talking about yourself? What did you think Nate and I had to endure? We became the objects of scorn of not just the Bailey's, but the media. Do you know the words that are printed about us? Do you know what people are saying behind our backs? Behind my son's back who is only eight...

No, never. There is only so much honor that I can sacrifice. No more."

.

.

.

"Still, at least, tell my son that I love him."

The recording ended with a piercing sound of glass that crashed to the floor, which was later followed by a loud thud.

As much as how my childhood turned out to be a lie, the only thing that provided little comfort was my father's love for me. At least, that was real.

If he weren't pressured every single day, he wouldn't have done this. He couldn't.

At the end of the day, pride and honor was the one that ruined everything. The pride of Victor to accept someone from a lowly family and for my father, the victim turned mad; as he tried to retain as much honor he was possibly left with. And for my poor mother...

I was going crazy by the number of facts blown in my face as I wondered if mother knew about this. Perhaps, it was father's death that became a trigger for her illness. Still, there was nothing I could do. Unless there was a time machine, there was no way that I could go back to the past.

"I didn't want to ruin your childhood." Victor spoke, a little softly this time. "That was why I didn't mind remaining the bad guy. But now, the time has come for you to know. There was a reason why I rejected your relationship with that girl. No matter how much you resemble that rat, you are still my grandson. And with me around, I will not let history repeat itself. I will not let my family succumb to such schemes ever again."

"You're wrong. Ava isn't like that." I retorted.

"But she will turn out to be." Victor sighed, patting on my shoulder as he walked out the room. "Chew on my words. In time, it will make sense to you."

No, it won't.

Because time and time again, the main culprit will never be her, but me.

Ava's POV

"Are you feeling alright, Ava?" Mom asked, while she sat on the bed. I remained silent. It wasn't because I didn't take comfort in her company, it's just that with everything going on, I wanted to be left alone. "I made you some soup."

Still no answer.

This went on for a few more minutes, with only the howling wind and rattling windows being the only source of sound.

"Mom is right here if you need to talk about it okay?" She stood up, swiping my hair back before placing a soft kiss on my forehead. Dad, who was also in the room, seemed quieter than usual. He was a man of few words but, just knowing that he was here gave me the support. Though, it still wasn't enough to mend the hurt.

"Goodnight, sweet-pea." He said. The sound of the door closing didn't prompt me to look at them, not even once. I did not dare. I was afraid that if I were to do that, the dam that I have been holding would break. And I, am exhausted from crying.

There was no heart left to be broken. What remains was already gone, and what was left was just an empty carcass. Twice, I have given my heart to a man, only to have it ripped and cut up into pieces.

Why?

Why is it always so hard?

A single tear escaped, prompting me to wipe it away using the back of my finger before pushing myself deeper into the pillows while I stared out the window and into the night. The stars continued shining and the world revolved unceasingly. Yet, I was cooped up in this room, left alone to be swallowed by grief. A burden of pain and grief that no one could possibly understand apart from me.

I was all alone, and always will be.

By morning, there was no doubt that the house would be swarmed with the bodies of news reporters' eager get a glimpse or a juicy story that could possibly aid in a pay raise. Maybe even at this moment...

The heart that I thought could no longer be broken, shattered into smaller pieces as I glance at the headline over the phone; one that was released a few minutes before.

CROSBY'S BIG REVEAL AND MARRIAGE ANNOUNCEMENT!

A CRIMSON DRAMA?

So, he is getting married.

I thought, scoffing in defeat at the scene that unfolded; the very scene that occurred from five years ago. Some things just never change. I was still just the girl that was thrown away.

My thoughts were brought to a halt when my attention was focused on something else. The public's comment.

One comment was all it took to keep the ball rolling, for the endless barrage of insults to shoot my way. Though there were a few kind souls that stood by my side, there were plenty others that joined the 'enemy' party.

It's no doubt that she's a slut. Just look at her, all needy and desperate.

Poor Crosby. It must have been tiresome to deal with an annoyance like her.

Has she looked in the mirror lately? With that face of hers, no amount of plastic surgery is going to help her.

Maybe she should get her brains checked. Or better yet, have herself sacrifice for a cause.

What a bitch.

On the other hand, the media sung praises to the newly engaged couple, rejoicing for their happiness.

He's engaged?! Awhhh, what a waste...

They look so beautiful together! I bet their kids will be equally attractive.

Unlike that witch, Aurelia is so beautiful.

If only my life was a fairy tale like this.

Dropping my phone onto the mattress before using my forearm to shield my eyes, I found myself drifting off into the abyss. A place that seemed to serve as the only temporal refuge for a moment like this. It was an escape from reality.

"Ava..." I heard a smooth and velvety voice call out, breaking the hard-earned peace that I thought I could finally possess.

"What?" I removed the arm and opened my eyes, only to be taken aback by the person standing before me.

"You...Why are you here? Haven't you done enough?" I spat, sitting up on my bed to glare back at the woman whom I met at the park five years ago.

She looked the same as before, still possessing that charm and beauty, as if time was non-existent for her.

"Wouldn't you like to know why this is happening?" She said softly, peering sadly as she sauntered over to me.

Her appearance took a drastic change as soon as she took a seat by my side, taking on a splitting resemblance to the one I call my friend and sister.

"A-Alice...?" I stared dumbfounded at her, questions plaguing and bombarding every fibre of my being.

What is going on?

"Yes. I am her." She responded. "I don't have much time left, Ava. So please listen carefully to what I'm about to say." She spoke slowly, gripped with much desperation as she gazed pleadingly at me.

"What do you mean you are her and that you don't have much time left? What is going on, Alice?" I pushed, a little too loud for a quiet night like this. She smiled at me and placed her hand over mine.

"What I'm about to tell you is going to sound crazy. But for now, just keep your ears open while I illustrate your past."

"My past?"

"Yes." She added.

"It's about time you know the truth."

*********

Are you guys ready for the big finale?