Chapter 24 - You chose him

"I hope with every bone in my body, that it will be us, in the end."

*************

Lilly's POV

I did a mistake.

Just like I always do.

I seem to excel at that part; it's almost as if it's integrated into my core.

I am reckless, I always knew it. For as long as I remember, if given two choices, I always pick the unsafe uncertain one. I just like that taste of danger it represents. I revel into the thrill it brings into my chest. The adrenaline behind the unknown and the forbidden...it's my own form of drug.

Steering away from rules is what made me impulsive as well. I act...then after that, I think. My body carries on the action, then my brain interferes to analyze the reaction. I function in the total opposite way, which makes control a foreign term I don't know how to comprehend or act upon.

Kissing Chase on my birthday all those years ago was reckless for example; I was hurt by the indirect rejection from his cousin, so I went on and picked up the obvious wrong forbidden choice presented ahead of me. I kissed him, deep down knowing very well I will be opening a can of warms.

That's when my thoughts and emotions clashed. He pulled me in and I tried to pull away, because with him, I tasted what control feels like. He guarded me down, he showed me a straight defined path and...it scared me.

With him, I always felt like I could lose who I am and get wrapped up in...us.

That's exactly what happened, I got so wrapped up in our relationship, in him and I, I became so co-dependent, that the idea of him leaving, of being alone, that idea terrified me to the bones, because he showed me control, so when he left, it was so easy to get lost again.

And lost I got. So lost that I distanced myself from him till there was no longer an us to be spoken of again. Then, the rest of my impulsive decisions followed, leading me to this point.

Making yet another mistake, ruining any chance he and I have by rushing into it.

My eyes flickered up to his face as he used the towel to dry up my hair. I watched him intently as he did the simplest of tasks and realized how impossible it is to not rush into this, to not sink deep into everything he is when he is just right here, so close, dangerously close I can smell him, feel him, breathe him.

After that little moment, we headed back inside when it got too cold in the sea. Chase didn't mutter a single word, instead his mood flipped a hundred eight degree after what we just shared, leaving me wondering what kind of thoughts are surging through his mind. His jaw ticked as he fought a battle within himself. So, negative thoughts I guess.

"Why did you kiss me?" I shot my question out, with no restraints.

His movements paused right away, taken aback by my straightforwardness. His eyes fell down on mine, lost of what to say and how to explain.

In the past, we were so bad at this, we didn't talk, we didn't share our thoughts and insecurities, which ultimately led to our inevitable end. I plan to do everything differently this time. I plan to talk, to ask, to make sure where we both stand in...whatever this is.

We kissed, it's something huge, so, I am gonna address and talk about it, even if it will be a negative hopeless talk.

"Why did you ask me to?" Chase replied back with a question of his own, letting the towel rest over my shoulders as he edged backward just a fraction, again building distance between us.

I pressed my palms over the kitchen counter behind me and casually shrugged. "I didn't expect you to take on the challenge," I said because it's what I thought. I loved the tease, the tension, I just didn't think he would be as impulsive as me, "You are the mature one between us."

"Definitely not when it comes to you," He said, his eyes impenetrable, a cold icy door leaving me on the other end striving for a flicker of warmth.

"You admit it was a mistake, then?" I mumbled, the silly hopeless part of me hoping he would say no and everything would be okay again.

He nodded, "A big one," He said, "I get the whole breaking the rule concept," His eyebrows pulled together the slightest, "But I don't think it should apply to us, Lilly."

My gaze drifted down, hating to see the regret in his gaze as he talked about us being intimate like that again, "I did it because deep down I was wondering," He carried on, grabbing my gaze back to his face, "Wondering what would it feel like to have you up close again, to...kiss you after all these years," He said, being honest with me and I both hated and liked his honesty.

His gaze drifted away from me for a second and he raked a hand through his hair, "The way it ended between us," He added, looking back at me, "It was almost as if we left things midway, so it kept inside of me a..." He paused as if trying to find the best word for his feeling, "A longing, a yearning maybe, and I thought doing what I just did," The muscles of his jaw ticked, angry at himself, "I thought it would make that feeling go away."

I gulped down, "Did it?"

He just shook his head.

I didn't know if that was good or bad.

My fingers tightened over the counter's edge as I asked, "Then, what did it feel like?"

"Wrong," He threw the word in my face and I internally flinched, "That it should've not happened."

I bit at the inside of my cheek and nodded my head, my gaze drifting to the ground as I tucked my wet hair behind my ear, "Yeah, the timing is wrong and-"

"It's not just the timing, Lilly," He interrupted, the frustration under his tone detectable and I faced him again, the ice in his eyes had melted under his buried anger that he was finally allowing himself to feel, "It reminded me that..." He shook his head, hesitant of whether he should open the door to the past or not, "That I didn't forgive you, that I don't think I ever can."

His words were like a slap to the face and involuntary, I took a step backward, the force of his rage pushing me away, "I keep saying it's okay, I keep thinking it's okay, I even convinced myself that I've moved on," He said and I knew he was finally letting himself deal with this but I wasn't ready to face his blame just yet, "That I had to suck it up when you came back, because of everything that happened, that it was two years ago, I shouldn't talk about it again, but Lilly, I never had this chance," He moved forward, the fire in his eyes burned every part of me as he said those words out loud, "I never got the chance to look into your eyes and tell you how I hate you for ruining any chance of us working again."

His words squeezed my heart too tight in their grasp, "What I did...it wasn't cheating," I mumbled, trying to defend myself just a bit. On paper, it isn't called cheating. We weren't a couple to begin with.

He nodded, understanding that, "But you broke your promise," He said, "A one you insisted we make, a one I felt responsible to keep because I knew how much it would hurt you if I didn't."

I shook my head, "I am not justifying what I did, I know it was wrong, but Chase...I was a mess."

"And you think I wasn't?" He stared at me in disbelief, "I lost you too, Lilly, I had to get used to a life that doesn't include you; do you think I was doing a great job at that?"

I swallowed past the lump forming in my throat, "I could've done what you did, in the name that I wasn't okay, I could've done worse, but it just didn't feel right," He carried on, denying every doubt I had about those five years, "It didn't feel right to put that temporary comfort over us, it felt wrong to think of my pain alone when there was yours as well," I was at a loss of words because I know he is right, I know I was selfish, I know that I fucked up, "It felt so wrong to be with anyone else that isn't you, because you were the only thing that ever made sense to me, Lilly."

"Why didn't you just tell me that," I mumbled, my words choked with both guilt and frustration, "Why didn't you just pick up the phone and tell me those exact words?"

"I am not saying I am not at fault here, but me not fighting for us was just another proof, that if I won't, you wouldn't either," He said before his eyebrows pulled closer, questioning, "Do you know why I didn't?" He wasn't waiting for an answer, "It's because I've been in love with you for as long as I can remember, that the idea of you became so impossible, because every time we get closer, something pulls us further away," He shook his head, hating that fact so much, "You became this thing that I just can't have, so the idea of even fighting to be with you felt pointless."

His words hurt more than they should, but he wasn't done and I didn't want to stop him. I allowed him to let it all out, because he is right, he never got the chance to confront me about this and I don't blame him, "And now I just keep thinking, that maybe for someone who always had everything he wanted, is that why I can't be free from you, is it just because-"

"Just because you can't have me," I completed the words he couldn't get himself to say.

I heaved out a stuttered breath as I mumbled, "What do you want from me, Chase?" I asked, ever so helplessly, "What can I do?" I would do anything to take that hurt from his eyes.

"I want to know why do I go against everything in me for you, but I won't go up against you?" His helplessness reflected my own. We were both so lost in this, neither one of us knows what to do, "I want to know how can I forget you when I just keep searching for you in everyone else," His voice dropped lower, reflecting his exhaustion toward this, toward me.

"I just want to know how can I ever be free from you," He added, " Because in the end of the day, you are still...Lilly," Nostalgia filled his tone and he took a step closer, looking at me, actually looking, "You are the girl who broke my toys, the one who always annoyed me, the same girl who was there for me when I needed her, my friend, my family, you were my...my first and only love," I was drowning under the waves of emotions in his eyes, especially when he added over a low whisper a sentence I didn't quite understand, "You were my first everything."

"I want to understand one thing," I said, feeling the tears creep into my eyes, "I want to understand how come two people who have all these feeling for each other," I shook my head, angry and frustrated, "How come they can't make it work?"

"We could've easily made it work," Chase said, regretful, "Over those five years, we had the resources, we had the power to make it work," He shook his head, "But we couldn't."

"You didn't trust me enough," He added, explaining the 'why' behind it, "And I gave you the space you asked for only to lose you due to it."

I nodded, understanding how terrible we are at this thing they call a relationship.

"And what happens now?" I asked, wiping at my cheeks, kicking away the few traitor tears I couldn't hold in, "Because we keep coming to this point over and over again."

"You didn't trust me back then, and I don't trust you now," He said it with the same straightforwardness that tightens my chest, "We couldn't make it work then," He shook his head, "We will never be able to make it work now," He said, so sure, "And we need to stop lying to ourselves and say we can be friends, you and I can never be friends, not after everything we went through."

"What are we?" I asked.

"I have no idea."

He reached for something in his short's pocket, "You told me not to give you hope," He said, "But, the thing is...I should stop giving myself hope," He added, my eyes on the blue ribbon in his fist, proving to me that he really always have it with him, and that alone broke my heart beyond repair.

My eyes widened when he opened the trash can and just threw it there, "Like the fool I am," He said, his gaze on where the ribbon fell, "I keep holding into pieces of our past, aimlessly waiting for the day when I will have you again," His eyes flickered up to meet mine, "It wasn't till this...kiss that I realized that day is never coming," He added, his tone calm but the war raging in his gaze was deadly, "Because when I kissed you, all I could think about was the fact that...that you chose him."

He let his words end there and walked past me, ready to leave but my hand shot to his arm, stopping him, "You can't say that, Chase."

He paused in his steps and faced me, "Yes, I can, because if he didn't tell you the truth, you would still be with him right now," His jaw ticked, "You were planning to stay in London even after graduation, Lilly, what more proof do I need?"

My eyes grew wide, "How do you know that?" I didn't tell anyone.

He shook his head, "It doesn't matter how, does it?"

I was about to explain when he pulled his arm out of my grasp, "I think we can be civil in front of everyone else," He said, "But, I can't be your friend, nor can you be mine, so just like we avoided each other over the past five years, let's continue doing that."

With that, he walked away, so determined to cut all the bridges between us. He didn't give me a chance to explain how Christian poisoned my mind and thoughts. Yes, I was willing to stay there; he brainwashed me into thinking it's what I wanted. For god's sake, for a second there he turned me against my own father and to his side...it's what he did to me. Like cancer, he spread slowly at first before he took over.

And the problem will always be; I am the one who invited him in.

I knelt down by the trash can and took the ribbon out, not ready to just throw the past behind like he indirectly asked me to. I sat down on the chair and just stared at the small seemingly meaningless fabric in my hand.

I didn't know what to feel about what happened, about the kiss we shared or the talk we just had, proving yet again that I did a big mistake. I should've kept my distance from him like I promised myself I would, I should've given us both time to slowly heal. For me to totally forget Christian and everything he brought into my life and for Chase to get used to the idea of me back into his life before I would jump head-first into his embrace.

My gaze drifted from the ribbon to where I picked it from and I hesitated, unable to throw it away. Unable to grasp the thought that Chase and I will never stand a chance ever again.

Maybe it's delusional, maybe stupid even, but no. My fingers tightened over the ribbon before I walked up to my room. I shook my head, no, this is not the end.

***************

In the morning...

I groaned in pure annoyance as I stopped by the kitchen's door and watched my dear family make loud noises that woke me up when I only had a couple of hours of sleep. Music blared around the kitchen in high volume, my mom standing by the stove cooking something while Max stood by the back door that leads to the beach, beside him dad, both looking at something outside.

Max said something and dad laughed before he high-fived him. I rolled my eyes, knowing for sure the subject of their conversation.

"Why is no one helping me!" Mom whined and dad immediately left Max's side and went to hers.

Max turned around, his eyes falling on me and he threw me a wink as he walked closer to my side. Involuntary I smiled back, he looks much better these days, "Someone is in a good mood," I pointed out, my eyebrow raising as I leaned against the doorframe.

He ruffled my hair, messing it up on purpose. I groaned and pushed his hand away; I hate him sometimes, "Why wouldn't I be?" He said back, "I am on a vacation, and that super hot Italian girl just gave me her number and invited me to some beach party later," He added and I rolled my eyes, "So, nothing can ruin my mood now."

I shook my head with a loud sigh before I walked past him and stepped closer toward the counter. In what world, my little brother gets laid more than me? Unfair. Life is so unfair.

Jesus, when was the last time I even had sex?

"Alex, you know that standing behind me and kissing my neck, is not called helping?" Mom complained and I grunted out before I lowered my head down, my forehead pressing against the cold concrete. For god's sake, even my parents get laid more than me.

"Hey you, what are you huffing and puffing about," Dad said as he came beside me, his words followed by the sound of plates clicking.

I lifted my head up and looked at him, "I am still jet-lagged."

He inched his hand to my face and wrapped it around my chin, his fingers pulling the corner of my lips up, "Smile," He ordered, glaring at my annoyed state, "We are here to have fun."

"Leave my girl alone," Mom said, nudging him away from me with her shoulder before she placed a couple of pancakes on the plate placed ahead of me.

I looked up at her and smiled in appreciation. She winked at me and quickly gave me a kiss on the temple before she walked around and placed food for everyone, "Alex, didn't I tell you to wrap this box up?" She said, letting out a very annoyed sigh as she pointed at the white box placed on the counter.

"Why is it that poor Alex has to do everything!" Dad shot back, whining at the tasks being thrown at him.

She took the wrapping ribbons and pushed it into his hands, "Do it," She ordered and he shot her a glare, "Can't I ever get a break," He mumbled with a groan as took the box and started to wrap it up.

"What is that?" I asked as I placed the first bite into my mouth.

"A gift," He answered, "It's Nik and Nate's anniversary," He added.

"Ohh," I said in realization, my eyes going to Max for a quick look but he couldn't seem less bothered as he ate his food, his gaze focused on his phone only.

Dad finished it up pretty quick and I inched my hand closer, running my fingers over the silk material, smiling at how well it was done, "Well dad, you really know to tie a knot, huh?"

He gave me a proud look, "Of course I know, I used to tie your mother up all the time-"

"ALEX!"

"DAD!" Both max and I whined at the same time and I let the fork drop down, my appetite long lost. I definitely didn't need to know that.

God, this image is gonna hunt my nightmares, isn't it?

He turned to mom as she glared at him, "What, what," He asked, looking very innocent, "What did I say wrong?"

She facepalmed, "Remember what we talked about last time, " She warned, "That thing in your brain, you know that filters the words coming out of your mouth," She scolded him, "USE IT!"

His face went down, "Don't shout at me," He mumbled sadly as he slumped over the chair, "You know I don't have it."

And just like that, I lost the appetite to get laid as well.

This is what family is for...to annoy you and ruin all of your fantasies.

****************

I heard dad say that Nikolas and the rest had arrived, so I paused my tanning process midway and got up form the lounger. I placed the chiffon cardigan over my body and headed for the houses next to us, knowing Nikolas and his family rented one of them and uncle Roman and Emma will be settling in the one next to it.

Dad and mom were already there and my eyes first fell on Nikolas, my gaze drifted from him to the little girl in his arms. She pulled the sunglasses from over his eyes and placed them over hers, too huge for her own sake. My lips lifted up in an immediate smile, awed by her cuteness.

Nikolas chuckled at her failed attempt to place it on, he kissed the side of her head before he placed her down. Her eyes flickered around the foreign surroundings before she recognized dad out of everyone, her lips lifted into a big grin and she ran forward to him, "Uncle Alex!" She said, excitedly and dad chuckled as he reached down and took her into his arm.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and dad kissed her cheek, "Missed me?" He asked and she nodded her head multiple times, "Give me a big smooch, then," He said and she inched closer and left a long kiss over his cheek.

I walked closer to dad's side and her eyes fell on me. I offered her a warm smile, "Hey," I said. Her smile slowly dropped down and she pushed herself deeper into dad's embrace, shying away from me again.

"Hey, munchkin, don't you want to meet Lilly," Dad said, urging her to look at me, "She is my daughter," He explained and Maria's eyes grew a bit wide before they flickered from me to him, "Really?" She whispered in his ear but I heard her nevertheless.

I chuckled lowly and nodded, answering her shocked question. She pulled a bit away from dad, more opened to me now as she shyly said, "Hi."

My smile grew wider, "Hey you," I said back and she offered me a small smile, a dimple showing on her right cheek. Oh god, she is just the cutest thing; her hair is shoulder's length, a light brown color, a shade lighter than mine, and it had small little waves at its ends. Her eyes were a beautiful shade of green, similar to Max's but a tone darker, with very long eyelashes towering above them. Her face all round and a pinkish layer over her cheeks from the sun. If I would put an age on her, I guess I'd say four or five years old.

Dad placed her down, "Stay here with Lilly, okay munchkin," He said and she nodded before he went off to help them get settled inside their houses.

I offered my hand and she stared at it for a second before she placed her small one inside mine. She looked up at me, "Your hat is pretty," She said, pointing at my head, her voice so sweet and soft making my inside melt more.

I took the hat off and crouched down by her side. I placed it over her head, "Well, you can have it."

A big smile lifted her mouth and her fingers wrapped over the hat's edges in disbelief, "Really?"

I nodded, "Yes, it looks better on you," I added as I fixed her hair under it. It was bigger than her small head but she still looked way too cute with it on.

Her head tilted to the side as she watched me, as if trying to understand me but her little brain couldn't comprehend, "Thanks," She said, the sweet polite tone of hers making me want to hug and kiss the shit out of her.

We really needed a small little cute human around to lighten up the mood a bit.

I got up to my feet, my hand still wrapped around her small ones, ready to take her with me and go inside and greet the rest but I paused when I saw Max walking to my side. I paused in my steps, my eyes on him as he looked ahead at where dad, Nikolas, uncle Roman and Emma stood and talked about something.

He pulled off his dark shades and tucked them over his hair, his eyes falling onto the small girl by my side. Maria inched closer to me, again threatened by the foreign presence. Unexpectedly, Max crouched down by her side, a genuine smile lifting his lips up, "Hey," He said, extending his hand forward, "I am Max."

Her gaze went from him to me, as if asking if she should or not and I nodded my head, "He is my brother," I said, urging her and she took a step closer to him. She placed her hand over his, "I am Maria," She said, her voice so low.

He gazed at her face, as if to take in all there is about her, his smile flattering for a second and his eyes dimming but he shook it away, his smile warm, "Nice to meet you, Maria."

She nodded her head before she looked up at me, "Let's go to daddy?" She suggested and I nodded my head. I think it's impossible to say no to those sweet innocent eyes.

I turned to Max who straightened himself up, "You coming?"

Air pushed out of his lungs harshly and he gave me a nod, "Right behind you."

I headed toward the entrance, where the rest were gathered. His wife, Natalie was her name, she was talking with both mom and Katherine; they seemed to be planning what they'll do on this small gateway. Their conversation got shortly interrupted when we reached their side. Natalie's eyes flickered to us, falling on me first and her smile widened, "Hey," She said warmly and I returned the smile, greeting her back. She seems like a really nice person, I am just gonna need more time with her to be able to judge anyway.

Her eyes drifted to Max, her expression shifting, a bit nervous, "Hey, Max," She said, hesitantly and he nodded his head, his expression neutral, not angry and not too thrilled either, but at least, this meant he is trying and I think that's a good sign.

I heard footsteps near us and that's when I turned my head to see Nikolas, his eyes on me first, then they went to his girl, then back to me, a smile lifting the corner of his lip, the sight of us side by side, giving his eyes a much warmer shade. Maria left my side and immediately went to her dad's, wrapping her arms around his leg.

I can clearly state that she is a daddy's girl. Guess, we have that in common as well.

He placed his hand over his girl's head before his gaze went to Max beside me, but before any of them could mutter a word, uncle Roman and Emma came from behind him and then I saw Wyatt, and on his side there was Nathan, "Hey, Max!" Wyatt said, excitedly as he jogged forward, pulling Nathan along with him.

He fist-bumped with Max, "Oh, I think you two didn't meet before," Wyatt said, his eyebrows pulling closer in confusion as he noticed how the two were so silent, "This is Nathan," Wyatt introduced him, "And this is Max."

Nathan nodded his head, "Yeah, I know," He said and hesitantly brought his hand up, the muscles of his jaw working, hoping he won't get the same reaction from last time.

Max shook his hand silently and I let out a low relieved sigh. At least, he didn't storm away this time.

I turned around, my eyes falling on Emma out of the crowd. She noticed my stare and gave me a wink. I smiled and walked forward to her side, "Hey, can we talk?" I asked, hinting on being alone.

She nodded, "Sure," She said and pulled me with her away from all of them.

"What is it?"

"Do you still have Christian locked up?" I asked.

She nodded her head and I swallowed hard, "What are you doing to him?" I added, needing to make sure, because I didn't have anyone to ask since we left London.

"Oh that, don't worry, nothing," She said, assuring me, "We are not torturing him, we are just keeping him around for safety measure and in case he decides to spill the beans."

I nodded, a low relieved sigh parting my lips.

"By the way," She started, "Like two days ago, he asked if he can talk to you," She added, something I totally didn't expect, "Of course, I didn't accept," She rolled her eyes, addressing how stupid his request was, "But he insisted to at least write it to you, because he had something to say," She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small piece of paper, "I didn't say no," She shrugged and extended the paper, "This is for you."

I stared at her extended hand for a long second, hesitating, "What's in it?" I asked, a bit scared. I am learning to expect the worst from Christian now.

She shook her head, "I didn't open it," She said and gave me a wink, "Could be something private."

I gulped down and reached for the paper, I mumbled a low thank you and shoved into my pocket.

"You won't read it?" She asked.

"Later," I mumbled.

We headed back inside, following the rest and I felt Emma's arm come around my tensed shoulders, "So, have you been practicing?"

I shook my head, "Not too much, I didn't have time," I said, pouting, "Because I started working."

Her eyes grew a bit wide, astonished at the news, "You started working?"

I nodded with a smile, "Cool, tell me all about it."

And I went on, talking and explaining as we walked together. If you ever told me before that I was going to like Emma's company one day, I would've laughed in your face. But now, I do, I really like her company, and just talking with her, because she makes me feel empowered. She shows me that I am not that bad of a person, that I am not that weak.

She slowly restores my confidence back, and if I ever need to patch things up back with Chase, I am gonna need that confidence back and my insecurities cleared.

**************

Max's POV

I pressed my eyes shut and threw my head back, finally allowing myself to relax. Trying to keep myself calm through out this day, trying to keep my mind from drifting off into dark scenarios was beyond exhausting, but somehow I made it through without snapping at anyone.

The new presence coming beside me had me glide my eyes open, staring at whoever intruded my peace. My jaw ticked and I straightened up in my seat, my eyes on Nathan as he took the chair next to me ever so casually.

His gaze was on the sea ahead of us; the sun had went down and darkness started to take over the whole place, the background sound was just the sea waves clashing together.

His eyes went to me, "I feel like we got off on the wrong foot," He started, "And, to be honest, I don't want that."

He talked, totally sensing how many times I excused myself away when Wyatt would force us to be in the same place. I was avoiding him, and I am sure he got that.

I nodded, not too delighted at the thought, but I didn't want to disappoint him again, "Yeah, me too," I mumbled, "So, uh," I rubbed a hand over the back of neck, fishing for a conversation, "When did you know about me?"

"A couple of years ago," he answered, recalling it back, "My parents were talking about you and I happened to listen, so I asked, and they answered some of my questions, they explained part of it to me," His throat bobbed nervously and I noticed how he seemed to be a bit more mature than his age. He is almost the same age as Wyatt, yet they're totally different in terms of personality, "And that's when I came to know that I had a...uh a half-brother."

My fingers tightened over the armrest, squeezing the shit out of it, the word he just mentioned not settling well with me.

He cleared his throat, "What about you?" He asked, "When did you know?"

My eyebrow raised, "A week ago, when I met you."

"Oh," He said, understanding the reason behind my shocked reaction that time.

He shook the thought away, "When I used to see uncle Alex, I would always ask him about you," He said, explaining this to me for some reason, "It's just it was fun to always watch him and dad banter about everything," He smiled, "So, I kind of always wished to have that, you know like...having a brother, and then I learned about you-"

"I am not your brother!" The words harshly shot out of my mouth at that fucking word he keeps saying.

He looked taken aback at my tone, "I know, I was just saying -" He shook his head and stood up, his expression shifted, and his mood going down, "Just never-mind."

"I didn't mean it like that," I said, my jaw clenching, hating my hostile reaction toward this, but it's just not by my control.

He shook his head, "It's okay, I knew about you for years, you only knew I existed for a week now, so don't worry," He said, turning around and walking away, "I won't bother you again."

My hand curled into a fist and I slammed it against the chair with an angry groan, the urge to break something now very much appealing. I kept it in all day and simply let it out on him, on someone who definitely didn't deserve my anger.

The chair beside me got pulled away and I turned to see as dad sat down on it, his eyes on me, his gaze proving that he witnessed what just happened.

I shook my head, "I didn't mean to."

He nodded, "I know."

"Max, you asked for my help, and that's what I am trying to do," He said, "You know why we came here."

I nodded, "I know," I let out a low sigh, "To see if I want him to be a part of my life or not." It's a small experiment, away from home, to check if I can do it or not.

"Exactly, so if you feel angry or frustrated at something, just let it out," He remarked, "Don't keep it in and then explode on Nathan, he is just a kid, who in a way is trying to look up to you."

A wave of guilt flooded over me and I rushed a hand over my face, "I will talk with him."

Dad nodded his head, "I know you will," He stood up and rested his hand over my shoulder, "Didn't you have that party to go to?" He asked, a hint of tease in his voice, trying to clear my thoughts and shake me out of this state.

I let out a loud breath and stood up, "I totally forgot about that."

"You know, maybe you can take him with you," He suggested, showing me the way, "I mean he is Nik's son after all, he probably has no game like his father," He added in mockery and I found myself smiling, "So maybe you can teach him a thing or two."

I chuckled at his words, "Teach him?"

He nodded and threw his arm around my shoulder, "Yeah, you gonna have to carry on my legacy, son."

***************

Lilly's POV

I left everyone inside and walked out to the beach, needing some fresh air. After our encounter last night, I barely snuck a glimpse or two at Chase today's morning and he just disappeared into somewhere after, most probably avoiding me and my presence.

I breathed in and out, staring ahead at the peaceful sea, thinking every single thing through. It wasn't till then that I remembered the paper Emma handed me earlier today.

I pulled it out of my pocket, still very hesitant to open it. What if it's another threat? What if it's another insult?

Realizing I am gonna have to open it one way or another. I sat down on the sand, preparing myself mentally and folded open the small piece of paper.

Scribbled in the handwriting that I remember still were a couple of words:

"Don't ever stay alone, Lilly. He is still out there, he is still planning more damage. He won't stop." And right beside those words he gave me a clue, "So, be careful. He really likes his knives."

My eyebrows pulled closer at the last statement, I blinked, one time, two times, three times and I shot up to my feet, startled, "Oh my god!"

I whirled around and ran back inside, my mind working on high speed, trying to connect the dots together, trying to figure out the reason.

I marched into the room where almost everyone was seated. I halted to a stop, panting, "I know who hurt Max!" I said, my voice and the urgency of my words silencing every single person in the room and grabbing their attention to me.

Dad's eyebrows pulled closer and he got up to his feet, "What?"

I frantically pulled my phone out and opened the photo gallery, I went through the pictures, going all the way back, my eyes scanning, searching. Fuck, do I not have any pictures of him?

"Here it is!" I shot out, hitting the jackpot as I found the only group picture we took on his birthday way in the beginning.

The birthday where I learned about his obsession for knives. For god's sake, Christian and I went and got him one as a gift.

No wonder he mentioned it on the paper: Christian wanted me to figure it out, but why?

I zoomed in on his face and rushed to Max's side, turning the phone and showing him, "Is that him?" I asked, "Is he the one who attacked you?"

Max's confused gaze flickered from me to the screen, and his eyes grew a bit wide, "Yeah," He said and my pulse sprinted off, "Yes, that's him."

Before I could manage to say a thing, the phone was snatched from my hand. I turned around to see it in Nikolas's tight grip, his deadly eyes on the screen, taking into the person in the picture.

He tipped the phone to the side, showing it to dad as well. Dad's jaw ticked before he turned to me and asked, "What's his name?"

"It's Louis," I answered.

Mom came to a stop by dad's side, her eyes going to the phone as well but dad moved it away into Nikolas's hand, "Well, who is he?" She shot out in frustration, "Why did he hurt Max?"

Everyone else gathered around, Natalie moved forward, her gaze flickering to the screen as well but in a swift motion, I saw as Nikolas locked the phone and pushed it into my hands, his eyes telling me a message I both understood and didn't.

It's almost like he didn't want anyone else to see the picture, and for some reason, I sensed that was important so I shoved the phone away.

"Is it someone we know?" Emma asked.

Nikolas turned to dad and they shared a look, a one only they understand before he turned to her and shook his head, "No," He answered, "No, it is not."

********************

Christian's POV

My head shot up to the locked door when I heard gunshots go on like hellfire right outside.

My eyebrows pulled closer in utter confusion as the noises increased and multiplied by the second. Hurried footsteps echoed from above me. Orders being shouted, punches being thrown, shots being fired...and I didn't understand a single thing.

Minutes ticked by and lock of the door keeping me in rattled, before it was pushed open. Light seeped in and I squinted, pressing my eyes shut and turning away, unable to adjust my sight.

Footsteps got closer and I blinked my eyes open, I turned my head away, meeting my intruder.

Louis's eyes met mine and he extended his hand forward, a smile pulling up one corner of his lips, "Ready to get out of here and carry on with the mission?"

****************************************

So, I updated this book!

For those who follow me on Instagram; so, in the end I planned to not pause this book, but I will be updating UH more often; like for every 2-3 chapters from there, only one from here will be updated. This way, that book will finish first. It didn't feel fair, because many readers only read this book not the other one, so it would've been a very long wait for them.

Anyways, how was the chapter? What about what chase said, do you think he is right in his position or not?

How about Max and Nathan? And our little cute munchkin? xD

What do you think will happen next?

See ya later, and love ya all!