Two weeks passed by a blur. It's been two weeks since Niylah's death & that incident of Monty nearly slapping me. After that I haven't seen Monty nor Ayla. She promised me she'll help me get those notes from Mrs. Rhodes. Ayla told me that it'll be easier for me to get them once they're out of their house. Ayla & Mrs. Rhodes were going to London today. Ayla told me that she'll get duplicate keys of her house & the cupboards in their house.

I was getting ready for breaking into their house when my phone chimed & I got a message. I picked my phone to see who it was.

It was Ayla.

I'm staying. She texted. Cool. Now that she's staying, it'll be easy for me to get what I want & I won't have to go to the jail.

Mom will leave at 6. I looked at the time in my phone & it was 5 Pm. So I had to wait one more hour.

I went outside of my room but regretted it instantly.

"I know that look" Theo accused.

"Bug off, Theo"

"What are you planning, Em?" He said, raising his eyebrow.

"Nothing that concerns you"

"Well, You are my concern. And you haven't given me the answer yet. How long are you gonna take to think it over, huh?" He asked, folding his hands over his chest.

I gave him a murderous look.

"Not now. I don't have time for this"

"Look Emerald, I don't know what you're planning to do but I hope it's for the good. I know you Emerald. You can't even harm a bug let alone a human being & that being Niylah" When he said that I looked at him & wanted to cry & laugh both at the same time.

He knows me but why can't my best friend be the one to say that? Maybe he's been too manipulated by the lies Niylah fed him.

"So kiddo, what are you up to?" There we go again.

"Theo being the typical CEO Theo, investigating all the time" I laughed lightly at his serious face.

"Fine. I'll tell you what I'm up to. But promise me you won't tell Dad?" I said seriously to him to which he nodded.

"I was thinking of breaking into Niylah's house because Sofia's hiding the notes that Niylah left. I don't know why but she won't let Ayla read it. I feel like she's hiding something & you know how worse my curiosity can get, right?" I smirked.

And he returned the smirk which meant he was in too.

"But the plus point is that I won't have to break into their house now"

"Why?"

"Because Sofia is leaving for London & if they left then me breaking into their house would be considered illegal but we've got a solution to that!" I chirped with excitement. I was going to be free of the accusations, soon.

"Ans what is that?" He looked cute while listening to me attentively.

"Ayla's staying & she's gonna help me find those notes. She got me the keys" I took the keys out of my hoodie's pocket & held them in air, jinkling them.

When I looked at the time, it was 6 already. Reaching Ayla's house will take me 30 minutes. Sofia was going there for a week but she wasn't stupid. She was smart enough because she had installed surveillance cameras everywhere in her house. Ayla said she would hack the cameras & would make the recording 24 hour behind the real time.

Since she could do it only once, we have only 24 hours for that.

"Emerald, this is crazy. Sofia isn't an idiot. She's crazy on an extra level than any of us. She must've installed cameras in her house" He said, crying out loudly.

"That's where Ayla comes in" I smiled like an idiot.

"What will she do?"

"She's daughter of Sofia, she can be clever too. She'll hack the cameras"

"And why are you believing her? For crying our loud Emerald, Sofia is her mother. Why would she go against her?" He sighed, completely done with me.

"She is not going against her mother nor am I asking her to! She's doing what's right" I said, determined.

"Coming or not, I am doing it"

I stormed out of the house & got in my car. When I started the engine, Theo came & got in the car as well. I looked at him & smiled.

"That was all you got?"

"Look who's being sarcastic"

"Someone taught me that & I'm going to get that person back"

This time I wasn't going to let Monty go. I will get him back. First the daughter now the mother? No way in hell was I gonna let Sofia win her stupid game.

Flashback

I was in the class when everyone was whispering to each other. I shrugged ir off, thinking of it as another 'rumour spread' or 'gossip' day. I was walking to my class when I heard someone saying something about Monty.

"Poor Montgomery. Looks like his friends wanted a taste of his mother after all"

I turned around to the person who just said what I heard.

"What did you just say?" I felt like a lioness, ready to slit his throat with my bare hands. All I wanted was to punch this dickhead in the face.

"Woah woah, easy there. We were just saying what we heard" The guy standing near the lockers said & left.

I went straight to our dorm to find him.

"Where's Monty?" I asked Niylah.

"Wasn't he with you?" Oh stop being sarcastic Niylah. Now is not the time.

"No. He wasn't. Now tell me when did you last see him?"

"I saw him leaving this morning. When you were asleep" Yet she asked if he was with me.

I was about to leave when Niylah came down from our bunk bed through the ladder.

"I'll go look for him"

She was about to leave when she asked.

"Did something happen?"

"Yeah. Something really bad"

"It's okay. We'll find him. He'll be here somewhere" I smiled & nodded at her.

I sat on my bed & held my head in my hands. What could possibly go wrong that a guy like Monty ended up in a fight with his friends? Why was the guy near the locker in the hall saying that his friends were after his mom?

Why wasn't I looking for him? I was about to open the door when someone openes the door, causing me to move backward. I felt a pain in my chest to see a broken Monty in front of me. He looked broken & vulnerable. I've never seen him like this.

"What happened, Monty? Where were you? I looked for you all over the place!" I scolded him for worrying me.

"Then why did I find my best friend sitting comfortably in her room?" He smirked at me.

How can he be so calm with his puffy eyes & broken heart? He was being sarcastic clearly.

"I'm not kidding, Montgomery Jenkins!" At that, he looked at me with his lips pursed. And finally he started laughing.

"Monty, talk to me" In between of his laughs he started crying. I couldn't see him like this so I hugged him.

He hugged me back & kept crying for like 5 minutes. When he stopped, I led him to sit on the bed & asked him again.

"What happened, Monty?"

"Wanna know my dark past?" He looked at me with puffy eyes which made my heart ache for him.

"Yeah" I held his hand in mine & gave him a tight-lipped smile.

"But first promise me you won't leave me when I tell you this?" He said hurriedly.

"Why would I do that, Monty?" I asked him with my brows lifted.

"Because eventually everyone does. It's kind of ironic how our hearts can still get hurt by something we saw coming" He took his hand out of my grasp & placed them in his lap.

"But I won't leave you. Never. Even when someone tortures me for it" I crossed my hands over my chest. I heard him laugh & looked at him smiling.

"Fine. My mother was a teenager when I was born. She was only 16. Her boyfriend, who was my father left her when he found out about her pregnancy. Which means I am a mistake. My mother is still young & that makes me worry about her all the time because my friends wouldn't stop complimenting her looks & all. This always ends up me punching my friends in the face" He said placing in hand on his forehead.

"You know what? I once saved my mother from getting raped by one of my childhood friend" He said that with shaking voice.

I placed my hand on his shoulder & squeezed it a little to calm him. Looking down at my lap, I let my tears fall. He's been through so much.

"And the gossips you heard were true. My mom's 34 & she's still young. Yesterday my friends went to my house but thankfully Adrian saved her. I told my mom not to send me here I can study there in Pennsylvania but she wants me to become successful & she wouldn't listen to me" He rambled & starting crying.

Adrian was the guy who lived next to his house. He once proposed Monty's mother but she refused. Monty's mother thinks that Monty is her responsibility & she'll not get married to anyone because she wants to fulfil her responsibilities. She thinks love & marriage is just a waste of time.

"Oh Monty. You've been through a lot" I hugged him & drew soothing circled on his back.

When someones barged in through the door which scared the shit out of us. I Immediately we wiped our tears.

"Did I miss something?" Niylah asked looking at me & then at Monty.

I glanced at Monty & she shook his head not to tell her. Closing my eyes, I assured him that his secret's saved with me.

"No. Nothing. Just Monty was missing his mom" I smiled at Niylah but she looked nowhere convinced with my answer. She just shrugged & went to the bathroom.

I looked at Monty & told him that everything will be fine.

End of flashback

Screeching sound of the tyres put me out of my thoughts.

"We're here" Theo said & unlocked the car.

Jumping out of the car, I went to the main door of Niylah's house & knocked on it.

Ayla peeked through the door & let me in. I looked at Theo & he spoke.

"I'll wait outside just in case" I nodded & went inside.

"Thank you so much Ayla for doing this" I hugged her.

I went to Sofia's room & started looking in her cupboard but she couldn't be that stupid to just throw them in here. Rummaging through her cupboard, I was about to leave when my foot hit something. I winced in pain & looked for the thing with which I hit my feet. It was a small box with a lock. I picked the box from under the bed & placed it on my lap.

Taking the duplicate keys that Ayla gave me out of my pocket, I looked for a key that was smaller in size since the lock was small. As soon as I inserted the key in the lock it clicked open. Opening the box, I started looking for the notes. The box contained many of them. I was rummaging through them when a familiar handwriting on the envelope caught my eye. As soon as I picked it, I saw two more of them, one of them being torn while the other two weren't.

To the love of my life,
Monty.

It was for Monty. I wanted to tore open the envelope & read what she's written for him but then it will be invading someone's privacy. I can't demonstrate to the world that I lack respect for other people's boundaries.

I picked the envelope that was for me. Tearing it open, I opened the letter & startes reading it.

Dear Emerald,

I'm sorry for what I've done. To you & to Monty. I never meant to hurt you. All I wanted was to be happy with someone I love. The day when I met you, when you protected me from that crazy bastard Nathan, I knew that we were going to get along well until Monty. When I met him he made my heart beat fast & I couldn't bear the thought of him being with you all the time. So I started telling him bad things about you but he wouldn't believe me until Nathan's death right after you rejected him. You rejected him in front of the whole school so he couldn't take that well & considered it as hurt to his pride so he got himself in an accident. I told Monty that it was because of you. I'm sorry. I didn't want all of this but it somehow happened. My lies were getting out of control & I couldn't just get myself caught. The day I heard you & Monty in the hospital, fighting I was regretting what I did. I was depressed my whole life.

I couldn't believe what I was reading. I had my hand over my mouth & tears cascading my face. She was depressed. But why? What happened that changed her? Wiping my tears & runny nose, I continued reading the letter.

My mother blamed me for my father's death. I wouldn't blame anyone for my death except myself. Remember when Monty was telling you about his past? I heard everything & told him that you told me everything about his past in order to cover myself. I couldn't let him think of me in a bad way so I blamed it on you. The things that I've done they'll always be with me. I can't run away from them. That's why I decided to leave everyone for good. As soon as I'm out of your life, everything will fall back in line. You wouldn't have to get the hard stares from Monty anymore. He'll love you the way I wanted him to love me but who knew he had you in his heart & on his mind all along? When I felt the distance I've created between you & Monty, I couldn't take it. I was standing there outside your room at the hospital but I was a coward not to come forward & tell Monty that you never lied. At that moment I felt like time repeated itself, It was just like the time when my father died in front of my very own eyes but I couldn't do anything because I'm a coward & a liar.

Oh my god. She never told me anything like this, anything about her past or her father's death!

I made Monty hate you, The guy who wasn't ready to believe what anyone said about you. I'm sorry for doing what I did. I never knew that lying would get me nowhere. I'll meet my own demise once I take the pills & you would never have to see me ever again. My depression is getting worse & it'll eat me away so it's better to end this right now.
Ever experienced the time when you've done something wrong & you want to come out for it but your parents won't let you? That happened to me. I did something terrible even more than just turning you & Monty against each other. But my parents covered it up. I wish I could make things right. Mom was right. I am & I will always be a coward. Because I'm running away from the things I've done. There's no redemption for me. By the time you'll get this note I'll be dead. But don't let my mother get the hold of your & Monty's note. She'll tear them apart. She thinks she can control everything but she can't. She's the type of mother no one will want. Instead of showing me the right path, she helped me choose the dark path. I'll always hate her & myself for that. Hope you'll forgive me. I'll always love you & Monty.

With love,
Niylah.

I hadn't realized that I was sobbing. I placed the letter back into the envelope & cried my heart out when someone placed their hand on my shoulder.

"You have to come out clean, Emerald. Niylah wanted me to give you the note but Mom hid it because she knew we'll know about that she's done most of the damage to her life" Ayla spoke & had tears in her eyes.

"Emerald we gotta go" Theo came inside the room & he looked---- Panicked?

"But why?" I placed the box I had in my lap on the floor because Theo held my wrist & was literally piercing his nails into my skin.

"No questions, let's go"

I knew something was off by the way he looked panicked.

"Listen, take your letter with you. I'll give Monty his" Ayla gave me the letter Niylah had left for me & I left with Theo with Ayla following us.

"Get in the car" Theo ordered.

"But what happened?" Ayla spoke this time & for a brief minute they kept staring at each other.

Well I found that cute. The way they were staring at each other looked like Love at first sight to me. I coughed to make Theo realize that he was panicking just a few minutes ago. Internally I was happy that finally I won't have to say No to Theo because before I could do that he'll tell me himself that he's interested in Ayla. Not that I'm jumping to conclusions.

"Uh I--- Uh" Theo was so damn confused that he couldn't utter a word without stuttering & he looked cute.

"I was in the control room & saw a car on the screen that looked like that of Sofia's Mercedes" Finally he said after he cleared his throat.

"Oh My God! Em, you've to leave. NOW!!!" Ayla opened the door for me & waved her hand at me.

"What about you?" I asked her, concerned about what if Sofia found out that Ayla helped me find those notes that she's been trying ro hid from me, what will she do to Ayla?

"It's okay. I can deal with her. I'm not weak like Niylah" She had the look of a lioness on her face that said she'll do anything to stop her mom from doing what's wrong.

I couldn't understand why Sofia was doing this. What was her deal? After like 15 minutes, we were home. I invited Theo inside the house & told him that I wanted to talk to him.

I wanted to get it over with. I wanted to tell him that I can't accept his proposal. He came with me inside.

Preparing a coffee for him, I placed the mug in front of him & sat across the table so that I can be face-to-face with him.

"Before you say anything, let me tell you it's about the proposal" I said before he could say something & he just nodded for me to continue what I had to say.

"Theo, I always considered you my best friend, my rock, someone who's always been there for me whenever I needed him. But I want our relation to be like that. I mean it's just that I've never felt anything romantic towards you. I've always thought of our relation to be platonic. I hope you understand where I'm taking this conversation" I said after mustering up the courage. Finally, I was at ease. It was like something heavy has been lifted off of my chest.

"I know. I know everything what you just said. It's just that I don't know when I started to feel this way about you. I wanted not to ruin our friendship but I can't help it" He said looking anywhere but me.

"Theo, I can't say yes to your proposal because-" I stopped mid sentence. I didn't know what to say to him. I kept staring at the ground as if it was the most interesting thing right now.

"Because?" Theo asked.

"Because I've always had someone else in my heart, on my mind. I thought I'll get him out of my head & heart but it's not easy. They say 'the head & the heart' & right now my head & heart, both are occupied. I sighed, but still avoid eye contact with Theo.

"And that someone is Monty. Am I right?" He said with a tinge of sadness in his tone.

Nodding, I left him standing there. I couldn't see him hurt. I care about him but can't say yes to his proposal. Everything's so complicated. Shutting the door of my room, I stood in front of the window & thought what could be in the letter that Niylah left for Monty?

I was so immersed in my thoughts that I didn't notice someone knocking on my door.

"Come in"

"Emerald, Emerald, Emerald" Cara entered my room like a madwoman & held my wrists & started circling us as if we were kids again.

"What's the matter, Cara?" I laughed at her silliness & calmed her down.

"I can't believe this is happening"

"Stop playing games with me. My curiosity is getting the best of me. NOW SPILL!!" I said, more like ordered her to tell me what was going on.

"Do you even know what's happening in the house? You always lock yourseld up in your room. Don't overthink about the people who don't deserve it" Look at her lecturing me. Pushing the strand of her hair behind her ears she continued.

"Uhmm actually Robin proposed me today to which I said Yes & then he talked to dad & he said Yes as well now we're going to get married in a week" She started screaming again.

"What? Oh my god, this is amazing. I'm so happy for you Cara" I hugged her & I was beyong happy for her.

She deserved it. Robin & Cara had been dating for 6 years now. He was a loner & had no parents. He lived independently here & the good thing about him was that he was extremely intelligent due to which he got the job pretty easily. He was 4 years older than Cara but somehow they started dating after they met at an exhibition that Cara's college held.

"Now tomorrow we'll go for some shopping, baby sister" She kisses me on the cheek & rushed out of my room probably to her room.

I shook my head at her craziness. Then all of a sudden my phone started buzzing. Picking it up, it was Monty. I ignored his calls. Maybe Ayla gave him the letter & Niylah must've apologized in that letter. I won't accept his apologies now. He was supposed to trust me when I needed him the most.

Now he was texting me. I had 50 missed calls in my phone right now. It was around midnight or else he would've come here bht I was glad that it was midnight.

I'm so sorry, Emerlad.

I should've trusted you. Not her.

She died because of her depression which startes after her Father's death.

I apologize for everything she's done.

I can't believe you've been innocent the whole time.

I wish I could've trusted you a little & not accused you of anything.

Niylah's mother was the reason for her demise. She played a vital role behind Niylah's depression. Her mother wasn't the type to support her children instead the type who just kills her children internally.

His last text shocked me. How can a mother be this cruel? I hope Ayla dealt woth her mother if the car Theo said really was Sofia's.

Taking in a deep breath, I lied on my bed & curled into a ball, pushing the thoughts to the corner of my mind. I have to go to shopping with Cara, I must sleep now. And with that I drifted into a sweet & peaceful sleep.

-----------------------------------------

A/N

Hey Lovelies!
How's the story so far?
Ony one chapter left. I'll update the final chapter on coming Tuesday so stay tuned.
- Kainat ❤⌛