"Beauty is to be achieved not gifted.

Scars are to be embraced not humiliated.

For the very lines on a caterpillar that are ridiculed as ugly one day.

Form into the scales of a butterfly that are desired and appreciated.

- suzangill©

                    .......

"How would it have mattered Ethan?"

She asks, staring into his eyes. Making his fingers to caress her waist with his thumb.

"You didn't even trust me enough to tell me Vivian."

"It was as much of my child as it was yours."

"I was it's father dammit!'

She breathes heavily, getting up to make his fingers drop from her waist.

"A father who was in love with another women Ethan"

"A father who left his mother for her."

"A father who called me a whore!!"

He closes his eyes, breathing heavily.
To start again in desperation.

"But I didn't knew Vivian!"

"I...said it because Soph said you and Elijah were-"

He couldn't complete and she scoffs looking at him in disbelief.

"And you trusted her like always....bravo Ethan Brovo!"

She says clapping and he couldn't meet her eyes, ashamed of himself.

"You always were so sure that I fuc*** behind your back...you believe I betrayed you...you believed I killed her...you belived you hated me......"

"But then......what changed now Ethan?"

"What if the child was not yours...what if Sophie was saying the truth......what if it was Elijah's...I was a whore...."

"Wasn't I?"

He looks up at her , moving forward to touch her to only make her step back.

"No Ethan no.Don't you dare touch me!"

"But Vivian please...try and understand..."

" If you would have told me about our child...I would have left anything for us."

"I... would have taken the responsibility and you know it Vivian."

"Yet you still kept me in dark..."

She stares at him, tears ready to spill out.
But she held them.

She can't be weak....not again.

They both made mistakes, no one alone can be blamed for it.But she has suffered way more than he can ever imagine.

She was the victim.

"I...tried okay!  I thought I will tell you because you deserved to know......I..tried contacting you in prison but you...you didn't wanted to see my face ! Everytime they gave me a chance to call family....I called you Ethan! But you ...."

"You never picked my calls dammit! "

She says, making him stare at her in shock.

"Fuc"!"

He curses, running his hand through his hair. Looking around at the the room exhaling, to finally look back at her.
Holding her hand in his.

"I ...it was very difficult for me Vivian...I..had lost my best friend....I was sulking....I was a broken man....I didn't think about anything else... locking myself from this world...."

"I...I was afraid I will hurt you if I met you...I was not a sane man Vivian....I was hurting the ones I love...I was pushing everyone away from me."

"I was in depression for 3 years after that Vivian."

"I thought how could I fix you...when I was broken man myself."

She exhales, his pleading eyes doing nothing inside her.

His choices were wrong, he was wrong.

In leaving her and their child alone when she needed him.

"It's no use now Ethan. Your words and apologies mean nothing  when they can't bring back anything."

"Viv pleas-"

He tries stepping closer to her again, to be only stopped by her hand.

"Only 2 months are left...
after that you take back your case and I will go from your life forever. "

"You don't have to worry yourself, thinking about the past that can't be changed or the future that can't be made."

She says, turning around to leave.

The thought of her leaving him forever didn't settle well with him.
He didn't wanted her to leave... especially not now when he suddenly felt so many emotions for her.

When he felt indebted to her in more ways than he could ever return.

Staring at her walking away from him, he wanted her to stop.
To hug her from behind, to enjoy her warm embrace.

To fight with her,to let her scream at him,slap him, hurt him.
But to not leave him.

Yet he couldn't do it.

He couldn't dare to stop her knowing he was still concealing more secrets from her.

The day she comes to know he is not the plaintiff, she will leave him not looking back at him again.

Call him selfish

But he can't let that happen.

He can't tell her the truth.

This lie was the only opportunity he had to seek repentance.

The last stick in the matchbox left.

The last chance to light the spark of fire hidden inside her.
The last chance to ignite the subdued love in her.

And after this, if  he is still not able to light it.

He will let her go completely.

He will leave her like he never existed.

Letting her find her happiness without him , even if it meant findings another man.

That was better than him.

Even if it meant, letting Elijah court her.

                        ........

A girl walks inside a worn out warehouse, her combats thudding against the concrete floor.

Few men look at her to nod, bowing in respect and she nods in acknowledgement.

She stops in front of a door, punching in some code to make the metal door open.

Closing the door behind, she bows to only have a pair of green eyes stop at her.

"Good evening boss"

The man nods, asking her to take a seat while he gets settled himself.

Opening the drawer and putting in the picture he was staring at before, he got interrupted.

"Any news?"

"Yes Sir. Their next attack is planned tomorrow.'

"Details?"

"A shoot is scheduled tomorrow at 13 o pm. Their men will be disguised as part of crew and while she is shooting, they will play there move."

The man raises his eyebrow.

"In public?"

The girl nods.

"Yes Sir. He is growing desperate with each failed attempt and even stupid."

The man chuckles and a smirk lingers on the girls face.

"You know already what to do. Just make sure there is a survivor this time."

"I want one of his dogs to lead us to the hole in which he is hiding."

The girl nods getting up .

"Understood Sir."

She was going to leave when he stops her.

"Delia"

She turns around to look at him. His next words surprising her.

"I heard she came searching for you."

The girl gulps nodding.

"Yes boss. But I-"

He stops her from saying anything.
Turning his back on her.

"I don't want my daughter to know about you. Cover your tracks well."

"You failed me once, don't do that mistake again."

She nods. Leaving.

How desperately she wanted to know what happened between them...but still working for him for last 10 years, she didn't had it in her to ask him about it.

Why her boss asked her to save Vivian?

Why her boss and that man were enemies.

And why they wished to destroy each other.

It was a mystery very few knew.And those who knew aren't alive to tell it to anyone.

She leaves, making Edward to take out the picture from the drawer again.

His eyes fixed at her brown ones, as he traces her face.

"Amelia "

He whispers lowly and the flashback of the most horrendous night of his life started.

......

It was raining heavily ,as a girl's cries echoed in the silent night.

"Please... please I beg leave him!"

She cries staring, thrashing in the arms of the men. Her teary eyes fixed at the bloody body on the ground, bleeding profusely.

"Amelia...no...stop...don't plead."

A person steps on his broken ribs, making a shrill scream to leave his lips.

"Shut up Edward. Let her plead
It's like music to my ears."

"You bastard!"

"Ahhhhhhhhh"

He cries as the men start kicking him. While the man walks towards the girl.

Enjoying her state.

The tears trailing down her face, making him smirk.

He loved her crying face.

"Amelia dear. Why are you crying for him?"

"This is the same man who left you because of your status....he refused to accept you and your child."

"He left you to feed your pregnant self on your own , yet you plead for him."

"Please...."

She still pleads seeing him in a pool of blood. Getting kicked mercilessly.

"He is sorry for your wife...it was a mistake... please leave him....."

The man smirks.

"Tsk tsk Amelia. A mistake? Don't we all do mistakes? Just like I am going to make a mistake myself."

Taking out the gun he points it at her, making her eyes to widen.

Edward screams from behind, engaging.

"Leave her you assho**! You want revenge? Take it from me...but leave her! Please James.... please..."

"Ah Edward. But how it going to be fair? How will I seek revenge unless I don't make you feel what I felt all those years?"

"It was a mistake James! I swear I didn't do it intentionally....I didn't killed your wife James....it was an accident...she came in front of me on the road.... suddenly...I ..am sorry... please leave her please..."

James tightens his grip on the gun, nodding his head.

"Fine. If this is what happened."

"History is going to repeat itself."

Edward's eyes widen and so did Amelia's.
Nodding at his men, James folds his hands.

"Bring her on the road."

Edward was too weak to get up, blood running down his forehead and the stab on his waist.

Crawling towards them, he struggled to reach them.

"James please...I beg... please...."

James doesn't care, instead he smirks seeing a car's engine sound resonating in the silent forest.

"Count the seconds Edward."

And with this ,he grabs Amelia's hair in his fist, making a scream to leave his lips.

Tugging it harshly, he moves towards the road.
Her arms thrashing, trying to break free from his grip.

"Please..."

"Shut up bit**"

He says tugging on it, making a sharp pain to enter her scalp. Tears streaming down her eyes as she stares at Edwards helpless form.

"3"

"No! James ! No! I will do anything! Please leave her! Please!"

"2"

The car was at a very fast speed, considering it was a highway in a forest.
Them standing at a corner, were not in the driver's sight.

Edward was leaving a trail of blood behind him,but with a bullet in his thigh and another in his shoulder. He could only scream , crawling towards her.

His hand extended towards her, and tears streaming down his eyes.

"Amelia....!!"
.
.
.

"I love you Edward"

Were the last words leaving her wobbling lips,as she sadly smiles at him and next she knows.

"1"

A harsh push on her hair, made her stumble forward in the rout of the speeding car.

The driver honks loudly, pressing on the breaks.

But the impact was inevitable.

The car screeches, drifting on the track.
And that's when a loud bang is heard.

Followed by her frail body being thrown in the air.

'Ameliaaaaaaaaa!!!!!"

Edward screams with the little strength left in his body, his body trembling with what his eyes saw.

The car comes to a halt and a deadly silence follows.

Edwards eyes fixed at her body that was laying at such a position that his blood ran cold...bones twisted in different angles....frame shudderimg in shocks...the last breaths leaving her lips.
Her face covered in blood... covering the beautiful face he has fallen in love with.

And he felt his consciousness fading.

He can't loose her no...she meant so much.

She was his world.

"Am...."

He slowly whispers , his eyes closing when he saw the door of the car opening.

A figure steps out, running towards Amelia.

But he knew already, it was too late.

He has lost her.

The person ,picks up Amelia's form. Checking for her pulse to only look around in shock.

His fists clenched and anger evident.

And that's when Edward saw him clearly.

Making him freeze.

The smirk of victory on James face, got replaced by fear and one could see his men stepping back on realising the man's authority and name.

Placing the body of the limp girl on the pavement gently,he gets up to his full height.

Stepping towards them, he assesses the situation.

His eyes looking around at the group of men to stop at the bloody form of Edward.
To finally settle at James.

Who looked shi* scared suddenly.

"I don't like it dirty. But it has to come to this...."

He says, moving his hand to his waist and that's when James moves back, ordering his men.

"We...sorry...we didn't knew it was your car....Sh**! Run! "

The men run from there with fear in their eyes , leaving Edwards  bleeding body on the ground.

The man sighs, seeing them run to approach Edward

Assessing his injuries, he nods at him.

"You are going to be fine."

He picks up his body effortlessly and lays him on the passenger seat.

"Her... please save her..."

Edward says, referring to Amelia and the man sadly replies.

"We have lost her. There is no pulse."

And that's when Edward breaks finally. Tears streaming down his eyes.

"It's fine. It's going to be fine uncle."

Edward stares at a young boy, looking at him with big brown eyes.
His face morphed in his pains.

"Here. Press this cloth on the wound in his thigh."

"Yes father."

The child nods, tightly holding the cloth on Edwards thigh. Stopping the blood flow.

While the stranger goes,to pick up the girl's body and place her on the seat behind.

Edward holds Amelia's hands in it , kissing it.
While the man gets on the driver's seat.

The child continues to stare at the broken man with painful eyes.

"It's going to be fine."

The young boy says, but the man cries again, the pain too much to handle.

The little boy holds his other hand, as darkness starts clouding in.

"You are safe"

Were the last words he said,as Edward looses consciousness.
The kids innocent brown orbs, the last thing he saw.

Safe?

Edward knew he was safe now. Especially in the company of the stranger that drove the car.

The very man whose name alone shudders people in the Mafia world.

The man who no one dares to cross.

.
.
.
.

The father of the innocent brown eyed boy in the car, who saw this tragedy with his own eyes that night.
.

The father of Ethan Lockwood.

.
.
.
.
He was none other than

     "Ashton Lockwood"

The King of the Mafia world.