Ethan took hidden glances at her, she looked tensed about something.

Her eyes focussed on the scenery outside , hands wringling together.
A habit of hers when she is overthinking about something.

That Elijah must have said something to her.

"What happened?"

He asks, making her look up at him. Moving her head in a no.

"Nothing. Why do you ask?"

"You look tensed Vivian. Tell me. Did Elijah say something?'

She sighs looking outside.

"He just proposed. He said he wants to marry me."

Ethan's knuckles tighten on the steering wheel. But he doesn't speak. Clenching his jaw, he stops himself from speaking anything further.

"Why don't you like him. He is not a bad person."

Ethan scoffs at this. Like? He detested him.

"Are you seriously asking me this Vivian?"

She stares at him. Waiting for an explanation.

"Yes. I am asking you this. If I remember correctly, he never did anything to offend you."

Offend? The fuc**"" holding your hands is enough for me to kill him let alone offend.
He thought, looking at her.

"It started with Soph saying he used her...."

He sighs before continuing.

"But I guess it was a lie. I really fail to understand why she did all this."

There is silence, before Vivian breaks it.

"She didn't wanted me to take you away from her. She was jealous of us growing close."

"And then she said she didn't love me. What did she want truly?"
Ethan completes it, failing to understand her mysteries.

"I don't know."

Vivian says truthfully. They reach the Lockwood Estate. To see Elle beaming at them.

"Viv..Ethan come for lunch!"

She exclaims and they nod.
The table is laid and they start eating.

"Wow ! These are my favorite!"

Vivian exclaims in happiness, to only have Elle hold her hands and smile.

"I asked them to make your favourite."

"Thanks El-"

"Ah not Elle...call me mom Vivian."

"Thank you mom."

Elle smiles, asking her to continue. While Ethan just stares at her.
It's been long since he saw Vivian smile like this.
She looked so beautiful
To only have Elle notice this .

"Son, I see you are more fascinated by something else other than the delicacies."

"Huh?"

Vivian turns to look at him and he lowers his eyes. Picking up the fork and awkwardly playing with the food on his plate.

"No...I was just eating mom"

Elle chuckles at this.

"Aww my son looks so cute. Staring at his wife, seeing her smile."

Vivian looks at him and he meets her stare for a second. Feeling embarrassed

"Don't worry Son. You have your entire lifetime to stare at her."

Ethan's grip on the fork tightens and their eyes again meet.
If only what his mother was saying could be true.

Gulping the lump in his throat. He lowers his eyes , giving his mom a fake smile.

"Anyways. I have a good news for you guys. Your dad and I were discussing and we just realised you guys haven't gone on a honeymoon till now."

"So....here. A gift from our side."

Elle offers plane tickets to Vivian, who stares at them in surprise.
Ethan looks at Vivian, seeing her reluctance.

"But mom-"

"No buts Vivian. You guys are going! That's final!"

And that's how both Vivian and Ethan look at each other helplessly. Having no option but to agree to their so called honeymoon, when on the other hand they were going to divorce very soon.

.......

The flight takes off ,with Vivian leaning her head against the window.
While Ethan lays his head on the headrest, remembering his father's words.

"It will be safe for you both to leave the country till I take care of this. Take good care of her"

The attacker was yet to be traced and Vivian's life was at stake. Who would want to hurt her so bad?

He fails to find the reason.

"Where are we going? I haven't heard of this place before."

"It's a island. One of the famous tourist places actually"

"Island?"

He nods, seeing her getting anxious all of a sudden.
Her next words confirming it.

"So much for staying away from water."

Few hours pass, with Ethan doing his work. He checks on Vivian, to see her sleep already. Her head tilted in a weird position.

Straightening him self on his seat, he places her head on his shoulder.
A cute snoar leaving her lips.

He continues his work. Another hour passed and he badly wanted to move his sore shoulder. But he stops.
She looked too peaceful to be disturbed.

Using his other hand to type on the laptop.
He sees the air hostress coming towards him , giving him a flirtatious smile.

"Sir will you-"

"Shhh"

He shows her his hand. Asking her to be silent. Motioning towards Vivian sleeping next to him.

The girls smile drops ,as she looks at Vivian. To only look back at him and fake smile at him again.

Nodding she leaves, swaying her hips, but Ethan doesn't bother. Looking at Vivian's peaceful face, he continues doing his work.

.
.
.
.
They reach the airport, to have Vivian stretch her arms. Looking around at the beautiful place.

Like an excited kid, her eyes glow in happiness seeing the vast forest and heavenly beaches.

"Oh my god! It's so beautiful here! It's been so long since I last went out of country."

"Come let's go."

He says motioning towards the car waiting for them. And she nods, following him.

.
.
.

"Where are you going?"

She asks, as he removes his shirt to leave him only in his boxers.

"For a dip. Why?"

"Can I explore the market?"

Ethan sighs, giving her a bored look.

"You know the rules Vivian. You are not allowed to go anywhere alone."

"But I want to explore! You will come late...I can't wait for you to come back and take me!"

"Don't argue Vivian. You know it's for your safety."

"Stay here till I come back or if you want you can come along."

She debates. Thinking. To only raise her hands in surrender.

"Uffff you are so difficult! Give me 5 minutes."

She comes back, changing her clothes. The Kaftaan looking perfect for the beach. He states at her long legs ,to only have him rub his neck in awkwardness.

Walking past, she crosses the threshold.
Looking back at him.

"Follow me!"

He closes the door, to see her going in the wrong direction. Holding in a chuckle ,he stops to call after her.

" The beach is this side my little Phoenix. Follow me."

The expression on his face was worth seeing. With a smirk he turns towards the right, with her heavy footsteps following him.

"I knew. I was just exploring the place."

Looking over his shoulder, he replies with humour.

"Ya ya you surely were."

She narrows her eyes and he raises an eyebrow.

"Yes I was. Now look ahead or you will bump your head with a pole and become more stupid than you already are."

He chuckles. Not able to hold in his laugh.

"Stupid and me?"

"Yaa a person who chuckles on getting called stupid is stupid. Stupid . Now please maintain peace and keep walking."

He just sighs looking ahead,with her staring at his back. Irritated with him. She thought she will have fun here...to be only trapped here with this psychopath.

They reach the beach and Ethan dives into the water while Vivian adjust an umbrella, getting seated under it's shade.

The place looked like a famous place with a lot of people around.

Taking out a book, she tries to be oblivious of everyone. Getting lost in her own world.

She didn't realise, how much time passed and by the time she looked around, the beach looked almost empty.
Closing the book, she stares at the waves to find him no where.

Worry surfacing in her mind.

The sun was setting and it was getting dark.Where is he dammit!

He wouldn't leave her here, would he?

So much for being her safety guard. So irresponsible!

Stepping closer to the beach water, she sees the waves coming towards her.

The beach looked so beautiful,she wished she could dive in as well.

But her fear, it stopped her.

The sound of water, making her clench her fist.
The wave was going to touch her feet when she steps back, breathing heavily.

Her earlier fears resurfacing.

Looking up, she tries to locate him to see nothing. The tides were rising and people were swimming back to the red flags.

Walking along the beach she tries to locate him, but he was no where to be found.

Taking out her phone, she thought of calling him when her hand stills.

"Oh come on Kara you are embarrassing me."

That's his voice

She turns around to see him standing there with a girl . Chuckling while a girl had her finger pressed on his lip. Cleaning it's corner.

"Wait a second Ethan. You still have some ice cream here."

"No it's fine-"

His eyes met Vivian's and he holds the girls hand stopping her. The girl turns around to look at Vivian. Surprise covering her features.

Vivian doesn't say anything. Feeling shitty for being concerned about him when he was having fun chilling around with girls.

"Vivian wai-"

"Ethan wait. What happened?

"I am sorry Kara. I have to go. My wife seemed really pissed right now."

"Oh that's your wife Vivian? Can I meet her?"

"No Kar. Not now. We will stay in touch okay. "

"Sure. Bye!"

Fuc* Ethan curses running after her, calling her but she refused to stop.

"Vivian wait!"

She doesn't. Taking long strides, when he catches to her. Holding her arm in his grip, turning her around.

"What Ethan? Why are you following me?"

He was at loss of words.

"I...I..."

"Go and chat around with your friends. Don't disturb me."

"Oh come on Vivian. Don't tell me you were Jealous of her! We are-"

"Jealous?"

She says, almost scoffing.

"I don't care who you are with okay! I was just concerned of your absence! You left me there for 4 hours without a single message...I was afraid dammit!"

His eyes soften. The smirk on his face vanishing.

"Do you even know what all I was thinking....the tides were so high. The guards told everyone to move back...I ...was scared and you were chilling around with your friend... flirting, eating ice cream and God knows doing what!"

"That's enough Vivian. I was here only-"

"Stop it Ethan. Just stop your lies. I just want to go from here."

She says turning around to leave ,when he stops her. Holding her wrist and pulling her to him.

Her eyes widening as her front hits his chest.

"Leave me!"

She seeths, wringling her wrist in his grip to look down at her in coldness.
A cold look plastered on his emotionless face.

"First listen to me Vivian."

"I said I don't want to! Leave me dammit!"

Instead he places his arm around her waist pulling her closer to him. His next words making her heart to flutter instantly.

"I didn't leave you Vivian. I was behind you all the time. Sitting on the shack staring at you."

"You...you are lying."
She says lowly, to only have him continue.

"You finished your book exactly 25 minutes ago. After that you approached the sea. But you didn't let the waves touch your feet."

Her mouth opens in shock and he stared at her lips, to look back into his eyes.

"After that you walked around the shore. Looking at the sea."

"I didn't realised you were searching for me or I would have came earlier."

"When I realised ,I bumped into my old business partner. Kara...she is here with her husband."

Vivian looks back at the girl to see her holding hands with other man.
Vivian lowers her eyes immediately, and he leaves her wrist. Making her step back.

She assumed things...

He steps closer, placing his finger on her chin and tilting it up ,to make their eyes connect.

"I regretted leaving you once Vivian. I will not leave you again."

His words like always spark a swirl of emotions inside her, which she tries to suppress.

"You like the waves don't you?"

He asks out of context. Making her stare at the sea.

"I ...I do ....but I am scared."

Interlocking her fingers with his, he pulls her along to the beach.

And she starts resisting.

"Ethan wait! Where are you taking me."

And he smiles at her over his shoulder.

"To show you what you are missing."

He steps closer to the beach water and she starts pulling her hand back.

"Ethan no wait...I am scared...I can't go into the waters!"

He stops. Inches away from the beach.
Looking back at her, he whispers lowly to her.

" We aren't going near the water Vivian."

Confused,she stares to only have him turn her around and make her back hit his front.

The cool freeze hitting her face as he places his chin on her shoulder and whispers near her ear.

"The water will come towards us."

And that's when she sees a wave approaching. Fear entering her insides, to be only replaced by his arms coiling around her waist and him saying lowly.

"I am here. Trust me."