Millions of hearts have been broken in this world, billions of tears have been dried.

Yet, the only one that I have broken.

Is the only one capable to break me completely from the inside.
 
                                - suzangill
                        ........

Vivian wakes up to find herself in Ethan's arms. The memories of last night, very much alive.

She tries to move, to only have his grip tighten on her. As he places his cheek on her chest, breathing heavily.

His arms around her waist, afraid that he may loose her again.

"Ethan."

She says lowly to get nothing in reply, and she just sighs, placing back her head on the pillow.

She looks down at him again and smiles...he looked too peaceful to be disturbed right now. And she couldn't help move up her fingers,to caress his face with her knuckles.

Creases appear on his forehead when the sunlight kisses his skin and she places her hand in between, blocking the sun from his eyes.

To see the creases disappearing.

She giggles to herself,when suddenly she saw his one eye opening. And she places her other hand on her mouth, silencing herself.

"You were awake!"

She exclaims trying to get up, to only have him smirk.

"What a douche."

She tries to wriggle out of his grip when he pulls her wrist instead, making her fall on top of his chest.

"What....what are you doing Ethan?"

"Hmmm 5 minutes more. Please."

She rolls her eyes as he tightly,coils his arms around her. Breathing heavily.

"Come on Ethan. I can't breathe."

He looks down concerned, as she wriggles in his arms.
He loosens his grip on her but doesn't let her go.

Instead, placing his hand on her head. He makes her press her cheek on his chest.

And her eyes widen as she hears his heart beat, it was thudding rapidly in his chest.

"Ethan...."

"Hmmmm"

He asked, with eyes closed. Enjoying this bliss. When her next words made him chuckle.

"Do you have a heart problem? Blood pressure or palpitation perhaps?"

"No my little Phoenix"

"Why do you ask ?"

"Um it's just that your heart... it's beating very fast. I guess we should visit the doctor."

He chuckles, and she couldn't help admire his smile. It's been so long since she has seen him smile like this.

"What.. what's funny?"
She asks and he grabs onto her.

Turning her around,he makes her back hit the mattress and smiles, looking down at her concerned eyes.

"It's your doing Vivian. I am fully fit otherwise."

"Oh"

She says, lowering her eyes. A pink tinge visible on her cheeks. And he smiles lowering himself and touching his nose with hers.

"Why are you so cute my little Phoenix."

"I am...I....."

He doesn't let her complete. Placing a tender kiss on her forehead. Making her freeze.

"I love it about you."

And with this,he gets up from her. Leaving her staring at his back as he enters the bathroom.

The thudding of her heart, resembling his now.

And she couldn't help run her hand through her hair, cursing herself.

"What the hell is wrong with you Vivian?"
.
.
.

"You will again fall for him, when he never will.'

.......

"No. I will not be back. Ya mail me the details."

Ethan was busy on the call, while they were driving back to the Villa.
The day has been fun with them getting to spend some quality time together.

The initial awkwardness has been resolved as they felt comfortable in each other's company now.

"Yes. I read them yesterday. You can approve them."

Ethan says while looking at Vivian, to see her looking outside.
He slowly slides his hand with hers, making her to look at him surprised.

She doesn't know what to do or say, as he runs his thumb on her knuckles.
She lets him, the feeling oddly comforting.

"Oh okay. Yaa I will let you know."

"Bye."

He ends the call, to only find her staring at him.

"Your hands are really cold."

He says, not bothered by her stare and she just sighs. Rolling her eyes.

"Of course. My hands and feet are always cold. I am a vampire."

He chuckles, looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

"You can be. From what I have heard, all Vampires are beautiful."

She scoffs, trying to pull away her hand. When he instead pulls it to place their interlocked hands in his lap.

Looking in front, driving.

"Ethan Lockwood. I know really well what you are trying to do."

"Um huh"

He barely says, taking a turn and ignoring her stare.
She tries again to pull her hand,to only have him pull her back.

"And what's that?"

"You...you are trying to seduce me and...and flirt with me."

He chuckles, stopping the car. Making her look between the road and his eyes.

"Oh really?"

She nods.

"Yes"

And he smirks, removing his seatbelt.

"Oh my innocent Phoenix. I haven't even started seducing you yet."

"Do you want to see how I do it?"

He says coming closer to her and she fumbles with the lock,to see that the child lock is on.

This clever ass!!

Gulping she looks back at him, contemplating her choices when she felt something soft on her thighs.

Making a shiver run down her spine. His fingers, leaving sparks wherever he touched.

Holding his wrist, she stops him from moving further.

"Stop it Ethan. I am not comfortable."

She says and he clenches his fingers into fists. The playful look on his face getting replaced by hurt, to come back to his emotionless one.

Looking infront, he starts the ignition. Getting on road.

Not saying anything.

While Vivian, stares at her hands in her lap. Pulling down her dress.
She can't let him come closer to her again...like before. Last night was a mistake...she may have lifted more veils than she intended.

But they were back now, the walls surrounding her heart were taller and stronger now.

And that's when she speaks, trying to sound confident.

"Last night was a mistake... whatever happened...I was not in my senses."

He doesn't say anything. His grip on the steering wheel tightening.
And jaw clenching.

"And please refrain from...from coming close to me. I don't feel comfortable."

He presses on the accelerator. His words low and dangerous.

"You mean to say that you don't like it when I touch you?"

"Yes...I don't feel comfortable"

He speeds up more. Making her heart to thud loudly.

"Then what was it today morning. You were not drunk then?"

She looks outside, refusing to meet his eyes.

"It was another mistake
......I regretted afterwards."

That was it. He fully presses the accelerator, making the car to thrust forward.

She holds onto her seatbelt, her eyes afraid of his anger.

"Slow...slow down Ethan..."

She says, to see him not paying heed. Shifting the gears, he drives too fast, making her close her eyes.

"Mistake? Will I always be a mistake to you Vivian! "

"Ethan ple-"

He doesn't stop continuing.

"I fuc* ing admit my mistake! I was a fool to not value your love earlier!"

"And now when I tell you that I love you....you say you don't trust me?'

"Slow...slow down please-"

"Yet you say my touch disgusts you? You feel uncomfortable?"

Tears were stinging her eyes,as she holds her fists close to her chest, closing her eyes.

"I thought...things were getting better between us Vivian....you were trusting me... loving yourself...you were happy..."

"But no! You have to be stuck there! At that night! Destroying your entire life because of it!"

And that was it, she let's it out. Not able to listen to him any longer.

"I am destroyed dammit! I am destroyed! Can't you see!"

"The Vivian that loved you died Ethan ! 5 years...for 5 years I suffered torture! They used to beat me up! Hit me....punch me! I forgot to breathe! I forgot to speak! I forgot to live dammit! "

"You say you suffered locking yourself in a room? It was your choice! It was you who did it!"
Your regret made you do it! "

"But for me! I was forced! I was chained! I was given a piece of a stale break as breakfast and a glass of milk as dinner! Doing sh** needed permission...and sleep? It was full of nightmares!"

"You were not there for me when I needed you Ethan! Instead it was you who put me there.... charging me for murder...... You were sulking! Blaming me when I was dying!"

"And now when I am dead and trying to learn everything again. You ask me why I don't trust you?"

"Why I don't love you!!"

He remains silent. The car slowing down.
His next words, like a bucked of cold water on her.

"I couldn't Vivian. I couldn't charge you of murder no matter what. "

"I couldn't hate you despite the evidences."

"What.. what do you mean?"

Pressing the breaks, he sighs before looking at her.

"I am sorry Vivian...I lied to you. I am not the Plantiff. I could never be."

She blinks not able to believe it. And before he knows, she pulls his collars. Making him look at her

"Why.....why...did you lie."

He lowers his eyes. Not able to meet hers. When she literally shakes his shoulders, yelling at him.

"Why Ethan! Why!!"

"I ...am sorry....I...."

Leaving his collar, she places her head back on the seat's headrest. Running her hands through her hair.

"How can I be so stupid! I am such a fool! "

"Of course you did it to take your Sophy's revenge by marrying me. Of course you did it to play with my feelings and leave me again."

Ethan moves his head in a no.... trying to stop her. But she was not listening, going all berserk.

"Last night....those words...the way you touched me.....you were again playing with me! Ufff what a fool I am are! Dammit!"

"No Vivian...I swear...I didn't..."

"Shut up Ethan! Just shut the hell up! I am done with your lies! And I am done with you!!"

She starts pulling the door handle harshly, to have him try to pull her back. Placing his hands on her waist from behind, he tries to soothe her by placing his chin on her shoulder, to only have her push him back roughly, making him fall back in his seat.

"Don't you dare touch me Ethan! Or I swear... I will kill you!"

He stills...he hasn't seen her like this in a while. Tears streaming down her eyes as she cracks by the end.

"Vivian..."

He says desperately, to have her clean her tears with her sleeves shoulder.

"Open it"

She says in a deadly voice and Ethan presses the button. Letting her out. Rushing out, she stops , looking back at him.

"If you are a man Ethan Lockwood. You wouldn't dare to talk to me after this, let alone show me your face."

Slamming the door shut, she leaves. While Ethan felt the first tear drop fall down from his eyes .

Hitting his palms on the steering wheel,he places his forehead on it.
Letting the tears out.

"I am sorry my little Phoenix."
.
.
.
.

"I am so sorry."

How could he not show her his face, when seeing her made his day.
How can he live without her, when he has finally realised that he loved her.

The first time he was so close to finding happiness with her,It was again getting snatched away from him.

Fate has its complex games.

When you don't realise the worth of a thing, it stays with you.....connected to you.
And the second you realise it's true value....you get deprived of it....you loose it making you worthless.