" It's a lie that love can't happen twice.

It can.

But what a fool I was to fall for the same man again
Despite knowing that no matter what,

He will always choose her over me without even a blink of an eye."
- Vivian
.......

"What is the boy doing with you Delia? Since when did you started going against me?"

Edward asks Delia, looking at Elijah. Who stands behind Delia.

"Sir I can-"

"Shut up boy! I didn't ask you! Speak Delia."

"Sorry boss I...I he said he could help us....that he knew about James location. "

"So what! You will take the help of our enemies Son! Have you forgotten who his father is!"

"But he is-"

Next they know, a smack is heard as Edward slaps Delia. But she doesn't say anything, lowering her eyes. Knowing she deserves it.

"You forget so easily all that I have done for you!"

"You tried crossing me!!"

He raises his hand to slap her again when to their surprise. His wrist is held mid air.

Edward's eyes widen seeing Elijah holding his wrist, stopping him from hurting Delia.

"Don't you dare. The fuc* she said sorry already!"

Delia was surprised, seeing him stand in front of her. Pulling her behind him. Protecting her.

Edward tried to pull back his hand, to only have Elijah tighten his grip. Looking into his eyes unafraid.

"You bastard! I will make sure you rot in hell forever! Guards!"

Delia's eyes widen as she tries pulling Elijah back. Pleading him.

"Elijah please... don't do this... please!"

"No Delia! You did all this for Vivian! And he needs to realise this!"

"If it wasn't for you trusting me... Vivian would have died in that car crash!!"

He looks back at Edward. Fearlessly.

"Hurt me all that you want! After all it's my blood that's tainted right? Don't you dare envolve anyone else in it!"

As the guards approach them. Holding his either arm. He doesn't thrash, looking into Edwards cold eyes.
Delia tries to stop the guards but all invain.

"Boss please! He helped us save Vivian. He...he realises his mistake and he is sorry for it!"

Edward ignores Delia's cries. Nodding at the guards who pull him to the torture room.

"Stop Delia! You don't need to beg. I deserved this anyways"

Edward clenched his fist, seeing the man getting dragged away.
When a voice, makes them all stop.

"Stop it"

They turn their heads to look at the intruder, to see Vivian standing there. Edward's eyes immediately softening seeing her.

"Daughter? You should rest."

She approaches them. Her eyes fixed at Elijah as she speaks to her father.

"Let him go father."

Elijah lowers his eyes, ashamed to look at Vivian.

"Him? You are asking me to leave him? Do you even know the reality of this man Vivian? He lied to you! He hid his identity! He drugged you the night of the accident! "

Elijah thrashes in the hold of the guards . Already knowing that Vivian will forever hate him after this.

"I did it hoping my father leaves you Vivian...I swear I never had bad intentions towards you...I-"

Vivian lifts her hand. Asking him to shut his mouth. And he again lowers his eyes.

He can't see her hate him.

He just can't.

There is silence for a minute when Vivian sighs, looking at her father.

"The animosity, the vengeance. It's all between you elders father. Dragging kids into your mess was the biggest mistake James did."

"I don't want you repeating the same mistake."

"We all have suffered enough already."

Edward stares at his daughter in surprise, since when has she grown up to be so practical and apprehensive.

He felt proud to call her his daughter.

Placing his hand on her head, he smiles at her. Nodding.
And the guards move behind leaving Elijah.

"Vivian I am so sorry-"

She doesn't look at him. Turning her back on him. And he felt the pain of rejection the second time.

She refuses to even talk to him , and the pain associated with it.
Was way more than any physical pain he could get.

Delia looks at their exchange and sighs, knowing this was going to happen.
The extent to which Delia knew Scar, she knew.

She may forgive the ones who have hurt her, but she never forgets.

And right now after no news on Ethan, she was in her worst form. There were dark circles around her eyes...and these were the longest sentences she has spoken in the last 2 days.

She was barely surviving going back to her old broken form, and everyone could see it. But no one could do anything.

"Sir! It's urgent!"

A guard approaches them, holding a phone. Sweat running down his forehead as he takes heavy breaths. Struggling to speak.

"It's...a call from the hospital Sir....they...they said someone found Sir Ethan and took him to the hospital."

Vivian's eyes widen as she takes the phone from the guards hand. Her heart thudding as she whispers lowly.

"He...llo..."

"Heartbeat hospital....may I know who is this?"

"I...I am Vivian Lockwood...Ethan Lockwood's wife."

"Mrs Lockwood. Ethan Lockwood was brought here few days back by a couple. They said they saved him from a car accident."

"If you could please come here and identify with the patients identity"

"Yes...I...am coming....is...is he fine?"

She asks placing her clenched fists near her heart. Holding her breath. Everyone's eyes on her as she hears a reply.

"Yes. The patient is out of danger. You can visit and we can discuss about the details."

A long stranded breath leaves her lips, accompanied by tears of happiness. Ray of hope rising in everyone's eyes as they see her cry in happiness.

"I...we all are coming...we will be there in few minutes....thank you so much"

"We will be waiting Mrs Lockwood."

A that's when the call ends and everyone looks at her.

"What's it daughter? Have they found him?"

Edward asks and Vivian nods, a smile on her lips that they hadn't seen in a while.

"Call mom and Father in law. Tell them we are going to meet Ethan."

........

She rushes inside the hospital with the family members at her trail, asking her to slow down or she will get hurt.

But the girl was blinded by the desire to see those brown eyes of her husband staring back at her.

To see that this was a reality and not a dream.

To see him alive , breathing.

"I am Vivian Lockwood! I...just received a call from your hospital. My husband is here
..can you tell me he is in which room?"

The receptionist nods, looking into the computer screen.

"Ethan Lockwood?"

"Yaa"

"Room no 301 ma'am. 2 nd floor. 3 rd room to your right."

She nods, rushing towards the elevator. To only see it still up 5 floors. Edward , Ashton, Delia wait for the lift, while Vivian was growing really impatient.

"Fuc* it!"

Cursing , she runs towards the stares , ignoring Edward calling after her. They all sigh as they see her desperation to meet him. Not that they were any less desperate, but the girl was almost going crazy.

Missing few steps, she holds the railing balancing herself. To reach the second floor. People staring at her as she literally ran through the corridors.

288

299

300

And she stills, stopping outside the door. Her heart audible in her ears and her clothes all sweaty after the run.

301

Holding the handle, she opens it with anticipation. To hear his voice, even before she sees him. Her eyes looking up in shock to stare at him.

"I am fine doctor just a -"

He goes silent as his brown orbs settle at her green ones. And before he knows, he saw tears stream down from them.

"E..Ethan?"

She whispers lowly in disbelief.

He smiles sadly at her and without a care of the world. She runs towards him at full speed.

Jumping on top of him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Her entrancing fragrance hits him and he felt like home finally.

Wrapping his arms around her small waist, pulling her to him.

They both close their eyes, as silence stretches between them. No one saying anything ,as the touch and the warmth of the hug between them meant everything.

When she realises the presence of the doctor and tries to pull back. To have him refusing to let go .

"Fuc*! I missed you my little Phoenix"

He says near her ear, his breath hitting his earlobe and she feels a warmth rushing up her cheeks.

"You scared me you asshole!"

He chuckles at her choice of words as she pushes on his chest, to make a painful whimper leave his lips.

"Owwww.....Fuck Vivian! I am hurt sweetheart."

She looks down to see bandages covering his chest as her eyes widen.

"Sh**! I am so sorry! Where are you hurt? Is it bad? Can you move? Your leg...what happened he-"

He holds her face in his palms, making her concerned eyes to stop at him.

"Shhhhh my little Phoenix.Calm down. I am fine."

They keep staring at each others eyes, almost oblivious of everything.

When they hear a throat being cleared, to see everyone standing at the door.

Ashton rushes in followed by Edward and Delia. While Vivian moves back ,when she felt his grip on her waist to tighten. His eyes looking back at her, telling her to not go away from him.

"Oh god Ethan! I was so scared."

Ashton says pulling him for a hug, to which Ethan hugs back a bit reluctant. James words fresh in his mind, and the very thought of his father hurting his mom. Making his fists to clench.

"Are you fine?"

He asks and Ethan would be lying if he said that he had seen his father like this before. He rarely shows his emotions but today he was letting them all out.

"I am fine dad."

Ethan says, lowering his eyes. Staring at his hands, that were holding Vivian's soft ones.

Ashton goes to discuss with the doctor. While Edward and Delia wish him early recovery. All the time, he didn't let Vivian leave him.

Keeping her beside him on the bed till they all finally leave, leaving them alone.

They sit in silence as he catches her taking hidden glances at him.

"What happened ?"

He asks, pulling up their interlocked fingers to kiss her knuckles. When she shyly replies.

"I....I thought I lost you Ethan...I was so scared...you saved me...you were willing to give your life for me..."

"Shhhhh"

He says, placing her finger on her lips. Clearing her tears with his thumb pads.
But she refuses, moving aside his finger, she shakes her head. Speaking.

"I was being too hard on you Ethan...I am sorry...I...tried so hard to hate you Ethan....I did my best to hate you..."

"But I lost..."

"When Delia said they couldn't save you.....my world collapsed Ethan..."

"I know you said you love me...and I so foolishly rejected you...but I can't trust easily Ethan...this is who I am now..."

"Calm down my little Phoenix. I understand you. It's fine. Come."

He again opens his arms and she cries placing her cheek on his chest. His heartbeat making her finally breathe.

Her next words making his heart to beat faster.

"But I trust you now Ethan."

She says , placing her chin on his chest and looking up ,to make him look down.
Their orbs again meeting as she finally says it.

"I trust you words from earlier Ethan."

Placing her palms on his face, she pulls herself up , to look at his lips.
He follows her action ,to look back at her luscious ones.

"And I have to say that I have fallen in love with you Ethan."

"All over again."

She lands her lips in him and he stills. Closing his eyes, to stop himself. Can he do this? Can he deceive the only girl that has always selflessly loved him.

He couldn't find the answers as his mind was too occupied to think right now.

Her teeth nibbling on his lips , filling him with the insatiable lust he has for her.

Enjoying the heaven till it lasts, he places his hand on her hips and pulls her up to him.

Kissing her back

Forgetting about all the problems and the choices, in the very second.

To only live in the moment.

To only have his little Phoenix to himself.

.....

"It's love not a product which you can buy and exchange .

It's easier to fall but difficult to come out without scars and restraints.

Your love was flawed, I knew it since, but maybe I lacked the courage to try it with someone else.

So I again foolishly fell in love with you again."

....

4 Chapters to go!

Let me know what you all think could happen next?

Would love to know your thoughts.

Take care

Bye!