The next few chapters will be from Ethan's point of view to get a better idea of what's going on behind the scenes as Salome takes a much-needed break from her recent discoveries

                                                                            ETHAN'S P.O.V

I cursed under my breath as I watched her storm away from me and I couldn't help but notice that we caused a commotion because of the stares I was receiving.

'Show's over', I said not caring about manners and turned to face an Indian man who looked around my age with a scar above his lip.

'Omi's friend?', he asked with a small smirk.

'Do I know you?', I asked confused.

'I don't know if she's told you about me, I'm Peter', he said with an outstretched hand which I gingerly looked at.

'What?', he asked.

'You're not going to beat me up or anything are you?', I asked nervously at the ex-boyfriend and he chuckled.

'It's not that hard to piss her off. I'd know', he said with a faraway look and so I took his hand.

A few minutes later we sat in the café and I was able to get to know him better.

Omi sure was right about how he seemed to be the one that appealed to her the most. He had that patient yet fierce vibe which she respected. Was I ever going to appeal to her?

'So what happened?', he asked taking a sip of his tea.

'I lied to her', I replied not caring to elaborate because that was basically what I had done.

'Deliberately?', he asked.

'No. I ever meant for it to happen the way it did. I was going to tell her about my life, who I was but I came here to get away from it. I found one person who didn't know me as the scandalous heir and it just felt so good that I kept putting it aside. Before I knew it, everything exploded in my face and I can't imagine what it must have felt like for her', I sighed.

'Scandalous?', asked Peter confused.

'Nothing really interesting other than the fact I got pissed off at my Dad and did everything I was trained not to. I never expected it to become a label for me, so at the end of the day it's my fault and now it's caught up to her as well', I said feeling disgusted at myself.

'Did Omi talk to you about herself? As in a lot and voluntarily and maybe sometimes out of context?', he asked and I nodded.

'You don't have much to worry about then. She clearly takes an interest in you, she's hurt and you just need to get back on her good side', he shrugged.

'How do I do that?', I asked and he chuckled.

'She's never really been the easiest person when it comes to letting go. She can carry a grudge like a scar and make you regret every second of it but that's just a façade. She's actually hurting', and then quickly added, 'don't tell her I said so'.

I grinned and shook my head.

'I know what to do but it requires me to go back', I said slowly.

'If she's worth it, what's stopping you?'

'The fact of whether she thinks I'm worth it enough for her before I jump back into an unkind past', I said.

'I don't know what you've been through, Ethan but life can hurt you real bad sometimes. Maybe even leave some huge ugly scars. You can either sit there nursing your wounds forever and being so cautious that you forgive to live or you can go out there and take a few more risks. Either way, it's only going to make you more resilient', he said.

'Omi would do it, wouldn't she?', I asked with a small smile.

'She's always been the girl who rips off her bandages before they healed', he smiled.

'You still see her as the girl from your childhood, don't you?', I asked intrigued and he smiled.

'She will always be the girl who wore poofy dresses and a smile that could heal any broken heart.' He took a sip of his tea and then laughed,  'The girl who ignored the scary graveyard at church and tugged me along just to show me the Easter lilies', and I could tell that he still cared deeply about her.

'She told me that you both dated', I said and he chuckled.

'Did we? Really?', he asked amused and I remembered her similar reaction.

'She didn't realize that you were the one who dumped her', I grinned and he laughed.

'Oh that must have bruised her ego', he said clicking his tongue.

'You should have seen her face', I said and he laughed again.

'I do care about her, like a friend though. I'm not the one who's she's supposed to be with', he said and then took a moment to look at me which made me feel nervous.

'I hope you figure it out, Ethan. She's worth it', he said and then  got up to leave 

Back in my room, I thought about my conversation with Peter.

'She's worth it'

It sounds crazy but somehow this woman I had just met seemed to be worth more than anything I had going on right now. Everything reminded me of her.

If I saw a crystal at the shop, I'd think, 'Omi would like that'.

If I read a good book, I'd think, 'Omi should read this'

If I felt the sadness creep up on me, I'd think, 'Omi could fight this, so you can too'

It was like she had suddenly become this beacon at the end of a dark tunnel and she didn't even know it. Hell, I didn't even know she had done it until I found it nearly impossible to stay away from her.

I had treated her like a tool and refused to share my story when she was just out there like a free book ready to be snatched up and I had just made it end up in the restricted section with my selfishness.

Nico's mocking voice about how history was repeating itself with me was driving me insane.

Naomi and Salome had nothing in common with each other, other than the fact that they shared the same nickname.

Both of them were the sun but their properties were different. Naomi would burn everything in her way but Salome was like light but like too much light she could sting too and give you a nasty sunburn like the one I was dealing with at the moment.

I didn't even know it would end up like this.

I knew I had a choice to make things right and it was simple yet chaotic. It's not that I was afraid to do it, the question was whether I had the mental strength to go through it for someone who could have probably decided that they'd have nothing to do with me.

A small body nudged my feet and I opened my eyes to find Pongo looking up at me.

I smiled as I remembered the day Omi had come over.

'I promise you won't lose me'

It hadn't even been a week and I'd managed to just that. Could I blame her for getting angry at me? I had voluntarily written myself out of her book of life.

If there was an award for the loser of the year, I'd win first prize, no make it second because I'd lose that too.

I felt the embers of determination crackle within me but first things first; I had to return to London so I picked up my phone to blow the dust off an old trustworthy friend.

'Austin!', I exclaimed as my old secretary or caretaker as he put it picked up.

'Ethan?', he asked stunned.

'It's been a while', I said and I could hear him shuffle in his bed. Shit. I didn't even check to see what time it was over there.

'Why are you calling me so early in the morning? Is something wrong?', he asked.

'No. Well, strange that you'd be asking me that question because you would know if anything was wrong with me', I replied and it was followed by a long silence.

'It doesn't take a genius to know that you're still a caretaker. I know you still keep logs of and send them to the old man', I said nonchalantly.

'It's my job, young master', he said.

'Austin, it's Ethan; not young master. It's the 21st century, no one uses that anymore', I said tired of the strict protocols they followed.

'The day they start calling the Queen, Elizabeth will be the day I stop using the term', he said.

Typical Austin.

'Fine'. I sighed reminding myself why I had called him in the first place, 'I need you to do something for me right now', I said.

'What is it?'

'Book me the earliest flight to Heathrow airport', I replied and I could make out a small gasp from the other side.

'Are you coming to visit or-'

'Oh no, Austin. I'm coming to get my crown back'.