Estella was a morning person yet she preferred the hue of the evenings and their welcome sign of each upcoming night. That time of the day was a regular reminder that no matter where she was, it was the time to head home, her favorite place. But the  her definition was changing slightly.

When Estella had opened the door of her house, a sadness enveloped her. A huge mess was cluttered in the foyer of her beautiful but somewhat hollowed house. It was untidy, things out of place, something Lilah could never stand with. So, at that moment, she knew something was wrong or perhaps everything. 

She reminisced each word her mother had said about having each other’s back. Or so she thought.

Glancing ahead, she waltzed down the hallway built between her kitchen and the living room, stopping only two feet away from her parents, (now her mother’s) room. 

A hurricane of dread crept inside her stomach, doing tiny somersaults.

“Mom, ” she knocked on the door twice when Lilah finally answered. 

“The dinner’s in the fridge, ” 

Her concern grew ten times higher and she flung open the door without caring about privacy. 

Lilah was perched on the bed, a small glass in her hand containing yellow liquid. The strong smell of alcohol came crashing into her senses. 

“Mom?” she rushed in, only to be stopped by the sight of a bottle of champagne sitting on the bedside table, almost empty. Estella not only remembered that it was one of Jay’s favorite brands and flavors but also how Lilah was against alcohol and her oath to never outweigh her pain or anything with it.

Searching Lilah’s face, Estella got scared even more. Her eyes were red, unsettled, and in pain. No wonder she slipped into alcoholism to ease her emotions.  

Lilah looked up, her eyes under the thick coating of tears trying to bring out emotion other than the emptiness she was slipping into. At least her lips managed to pull up a smile. 

“I went to the station again,” she said, though, Lilah had kept the information about the first time she had visited the police station to herself. Estella, however, decided to just listen to her. “The detective said the murderers of your dad are not likely to be found easily. They are planning to temporarily close the case until there’s a sign of any evidence that leads them to the culprit.” 

Intoxicated, Lilah was cackling at the end of the sentence, diving deeper into emotions while tears threatened to break free. 

Making a mental note to meet her lawyer later, Estella sat next to her, trying to sort out her next words. She was aware by this time that whatever came out of her mouth could trigger something she was not ready to face. Even when they were next to each other, individually they felt alone. At this point, Estella yearned for Edward. 

“No one can hide forever, ” she finally said.

The response never came back from her mother and she let the silence prevail further. Lilah had loosened up a little bit as she leaned toward her daughter and before Estella could open the conversation back again, her mother dozed off. 

Tanya’s warning bounced back. She had reflected on her worries about Lilah’s condition earlier but Estella did what she thought was best and it was space and time her mother needed to come to terms with her loss. However, variables had changed and it was time to take a few decisions for her mother this time. 

 
.......

“Dad?” Nora’s voice came from upstairs behind Edward, and the tension in the room thickened instantaneously.  “Edward, what is happening?”

Mr. Blake took his hands off, his devilish features resting back to the good old father Nora and Elvis thought he was. This made Edward solidify his decision of keeping Estella away from him and his existence. His life with her was apart and he swore to never mix it up, even if it meant blurring certain lines. “Just talking.”

He brushed his shoulders casually while Edward resisted to push his arms away. Nora, whose face was scrunched in an unconvinced look, descended downstairs. Her timing was wrong and the rage Edward was burning in still ran red and raw that he had to dig his nails into his palm to snap out of it and switch to physical pain.

“I heard screamings.” Nora crossed her arms when Edward turned to face her. “That's not how people talk.”

"You should rest, Nora!” Her brother spoke, working quickly to hide the scattered files and photos on the table before she saw them. Nora was far from this world and he intended to keep it that way as long as he could. Even though it was always Edward facing the prejudice, deep down he had a sneaking suspicion that Mr. Blake wouldn’t hesitate to push his own children in his game if he fell short of pawns. 

“What is it?” She demanded, pressing the matter. “I know you think I’m too young to not know about whatever that was going on but I notice you both. Am I something missing?”

“No, my sweetheart, " Mr. blake moved to her, embracing her in a side hug and pecking on her cheek. "There are few things that need to be done but your brother seems to disagree with me. I think you are the only one that could change his mind.”

Edward wasn’t shocked where he was going with this. As predicted, he was indirectly involving Nora in manipulating him without her even knowing.

“About what?” Nora inquired innocently.

Before she could repeat the same question to him this time, Edward made his way up to the stairs, this time not caring to stop even if the roof came crashing down. He, himself was a master of manipulation, all of that he was told to learn from his so-called father, who, right now was suggesting her sixteen-year-old daughter.  “Why don’t you ask your brother, Nora?”

...

“What are you doing here?” Edward asked right after he stepped out of his shower in his sweats and trousers and saw her sister making herself comfortable on his bed. “It’s almost midnight.”

“I heard listening to secrets in the darkness of night is a kind of fun. Wanna share some with your Lil, sis?” she lay on the bed partially, resting her elbows on it but taking a half-sitting position on her butt.

Saying nothing, he only rolled his eyes and moved to his closet to fish out his cardigan. He was wearing a half-sleeved t-shirt so his arms and scars were full-on display and undoubtedly convenient for Nora to see them if he failed to hide them.

The storm was still creating havoc inside him and he could feel another balloon on the verge of popping. So, talking in the middle of the night with the sister he had sworn to never vent out his inner self, his true self, was becoming hard to keep up. Tonight, he finally had lost it all.

Blood trickled down anywhere he set his eyes on.

“Go away!” He muttered, wrapping himself with the cardigan and landing on the couch to ignore her presence.

“As if!” She was persistent. “You were disagreeing with dad?”

“So?”

“So? What so?” she straightened up,  looking fazed. “What happened all of a sudden? You and Elvis both worship him. It intrigues me you disagree, especially you. The perfect one.”

The perfect one? If only she knew.

Edward had his back at her side, his hand plopped on his eyes.

“Why don't you talk?” She pressed.

“Why don't you see yourself out?”

"You are being rude.”

“And you are annoying.”

“It's my job to annoy you and Elvis to death.”

Edward was quiet as things played of the last hour in his mind. What was exactly to tell her and where to begin if he considered disclosing every detail of his life to her. What was the beginning and what could be the ending? The mishandling of his childhood, or forcing someone else's liking on him, or how abandoning him by siding him and always threatening to take anything that was left inside him. Edward wondered if there was anything left to take away.

He thought about the offer his father gave him and why exactly he refused. There couldn't be a possibility he had any regrets for something as common as stalking. What changed him? He had done it plenty of times. One more time would not cause harm.

His mind raced for any possible explanation but the answer was untraceable. 

Why did he care now? About anything at all. No matter how the condition of his relationship was with everything, things always fit in his way until now.

“Whose watch is this?” Her noise cut through his thoughts like a sharp knife and he turned back. Nora was fumbling the watch Estella had given her a while ago with her feelings attached.

“Keep it back, ” he said calmly, but there was a clear cut instruction. Now he was annoyed with Nora as well.

She pretended not to hear him. “It’s not yours. I know your taste.”

“I said fucking keep it back and get out of my room, now.” He finally cracked as he jolted up, taking dangerous steps at her. Nora’s features tensed for half a second and nodding, she kept it back.

As soon as Jay’s watch was back in its place, his anger at her sister melted and he regretted lashing out. Collecting himself, he apologized. “I’m sorry. I really am but Nora, it’s getting late and I’d really like to take some rest. Please leave me alone.”

Seeing her brother pleading, she silently stood up, an inner debate taking place which Edward noticed because she was staring at him longingly. Edward only hoped she would drop it for now.

And for a moment she did because Nora strode toward the door but at the end, took a stop at the doorway and finally asked the question she was holding in.

“Edward?”

He sighed. “Huh?"

“Why won't dad call you son anymore?”

The silence was deafening and both of them knew that. Huffing, he whispered. “Nora, go to your room.”

She did what she was told, carrying a hurt look on her face. In addition to that, she had unknowingly opened up a wound he thought he didn’t have. So many questions piling up and no ways to look up for answers.

His eyes flicked back to the watch which he took in his hand, staring at it like a gem. Off all things he had to admire or ravish, he was getting attached to an old watch, the souvenir of Jay who he failed to know on a personal level, and now with him gone, he felt a hidden need somewhere which told him he was indeed looking forward to getting to know him like the way Estella describes him.

To say, he had two fathers and either of them failed him and if that wasn’t enough, a very important part of him was taken away; the company for which he invested all of his efforts. What else he had left? Nora, who he hurt a few minutes ago? Or Estella who he would surely hurt in the future?

His grip on the dial of the watch tightened and it’s glass cracked when he angrily tossed it out of his hands. His action led to another pang of emotion he happened to feel. He hated whenever that happened.

Wasn’t he supposed to be immune to emotions? Then why he cared if people would leave him! He was Edward Churchill blake and he could keep whoever he wanted to keep on his side with or without their consent. 

His head ached terribly and Edward was on verge of a breakdown and his pills tonight didn’t help in any way. There a switch threatening his emotions like an on and off button and it was becoming unbearable each passing minute. 

The events of tonight played in front of him which pushed Edward to grab his car keys and as he stormed out of his house, he wasn’t sure what he was going to do now? But whatever that would be, it would be destructive for sure. 

----

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