Read the note in the last, it's important.

Jayden's POV

I round the front of my car to get to her side. Finding her looking at the price-y house in shock, I feel uncomfortable for a second. Is this the type of house she likes now?

But then I push the thought away, along with the doubts that have been my constant companion for the past couple of years.

Her shocked state might have something to do with me not informing her about coming here. But I needed to get something done and I couldn't leave her alone for two days, and on a plus side, she can meet her old friend again.

I clear my throat, pushing my hands in my pocket to stop myself from touching her, "Let's get inside."

Seeming to come out of her thoughts, she gives me a hesitant nod before getting out of the car and closing the door. We walk together, both quite as we walk up the steps and knock on the front double door. I observe how she steps a bit behind me, almost as if hiding from who-ever will open the door.

I stay silent, and confused as I continue to see her through the glass sides that flank if front door, for once thankful of his obsession with over the top decorations.

Her beautiful grey eyes look around, unsure yet anticipating as she hunches a bit to seem smaller.

My brows furrow, having never seen her act anything but confident.

Before I can say anything, the double doors burst open as a girl with bright pink hair looks at me as she blows a bubble via her gum. Naked shock and fear flashes through her eyes as her bubble burst.

Quick as she came, she turns and leaves, running to where ever she is going. I step in, feeling Ashlyn following me as well.

The inside of his mansion, just as it's outside, looks white, pristine and wealth oozing. Our steps echo a bit as we cross the foyer and step on the staircase that leads us to the upper floor.

Christopher Ryland is hardly ever seen on the ground floor of his mansion.

We were almost at the middle of the stairs when a male voice from behind calls out, "Ashy?"

I feel Ash behind me freeze, making me turn around to see who was it.

Articus, an old and trusted friend of Christopher stood behind two members of Christopher's gang. One being the pink haired girl who had open the door, the other being a young male I have seen loitering around here quite often.

"Ashy bear!" the girl rushes forward, crashing into Ashlyn to give her a hug like they were long lost friends, something that didn't sit well with me because as far as I am concerned, this girl has joined Ryland's gang about a year and a half ago.

Which means, they should not know each other at all.

My jaws clench as the feeling of being lost creeps up to my mind. In the back of my head, suspicion rears it's head, which I desperately try to stop.

Even though there is no other way they would know each other.

I watch silently as Ashlyn pushes the girl back a bit, her grey orbs flashing towards me once before going back to the bubble gum girl.

"Hey, Willow, can you give us some time alone and I will meet you and the others in the kitchen?"

Hearing her say this confirms my thoughts.

She has been here in the past two years when she was supposed to be 'dead'. Not waiting to see or hear anything else, I turn and continue my way to the office. I faintly hear Ashlyn walking behind me so I pick up my pace, my hands clenching as the oakwood door comes in my sight.

The moment I burst through the door, I see the blonde man standing at his desk. Seeing me he smiles, rounding the desk to come near me.

I pull my arm back, applying every bit of force in my body to bring it forward. A satisfying crack fills the room as my fist meets it's aim, and breaks his nose, making him fall back.

"Chris!" I hear Ashlyn yell in horror as she enters the room, but I am too far gone in rage. My chest heaves as I see him stand back up, looking at her first then at me before nodding at me, standing straighter to his full height.

Red haze makes it harder for me to understand what is happening, all I know about how I feel.

Betrayed by my friend.

Embarrassed, that I spent days with him mourning her death and doubting myself.

I punch and kick, letting my anger get the best out of me. I couldn't hear anything save for my own breathing and heartbeat, couldn't feel anything except the anger, hurt and frustration.

I don't know how much time has gone, it could have been five, or fifteen, what I know is it felt like a life time before I am pushed back a little.

Soft hands hold the side of my face, forcing me to lean down a bit. The ringing in my ears soften till I can hear Ashlyn speaking to me, "Jay, easy okay? Breathe with me. Breath, in. Good, out now. Yes... with me Jay."

The haze clears next, letting my view to rest on her grey eyes that gaze into mine, soft and worried. Once she sees my sanity coming, she nods slowly, whispering, "Good. Keep hold on this feeling okay? Be angry, but don't lose yourself."

The anger and hurt is still there, but the demons inside me quieten down.

Confirming that I am okay, she turns around to face Christopher.

The blonde man stood with the support of his desk, his nose broken and bloody, his face bruised purple on his left jaw with scratches and an ugly colour of greenish yellow on the right side of his face, barely missing his eyes.

He winces with each breathe, making me assume there are bruises under his shirt as well.

A strange sense of accomplishment and pride makes my heart swell.

As sadist as it is.

Still nothing will sate my mind more than knowing what the two of them have been hiding from me. "Want to explain?"

I fold my arms, standing up taller and widening my stance. I am done not knowing what is going on. It's been years of self-doubt and apprehension that has made it difficult for me to give these two the benefit of doubt.

Ashlyn turns back to face me, nodding before saying, "Let me call Willow and Blake to take him to the infirmary and then we can talk. You can wait for me on the balcony of the office."

I gulp down the brown liquid, the alcohol burning in a soothing way.

I am dreading what I am about to hear, yet for the first time in the last two years I feel like I have a chance of being free from the self- hatred. Maybe this is what I need before I can focus on what my future can be.

And maybe, just maybe hope to have a part in her life too.

Clearing of throat brings me away from my thoughts, as my gaze falls on the blonde girl that somehow still manages to make my heart beat like it did when we were kids.

She makes her way to stand near the railing, her back to me as she faces the pool that lays at the back of Ryland's mansion. We stay there in silence for a while before she starts speaking, her voice low and heavy with emotions, "I have been wrong Jay, and I have been wrong for the whole two years."

She turns around to look at me as I sit on the lounge chair.

"The night of the fire. You left home for a meeting all tensed and unsure. You had such high hopes from the fire plan that cancelling it wasn't sitting well with you," she gives out a melancholic laugh before continuing, "I was worried for a whole of different reason."

"What were you worried of?" My voice comes out harsher than I expected, but before I can say anything about it she smiles at me in remorse.

"I had seen the wives and girl friends of the members Jay, I saw how they cling desperately to their men, afraid and unsure if they will ever be back as they go. I sure made it look easy as I supported you, yet each time I got more scared. But I didn't want to get in your way."

"That doesn't explain anything Ashlyn."

She hums, biting her lower lips, making me sigh as I run my hand through my hair.

"You went away, while I got a text from your number to get immediately at an address. It wa-"

"-was the trap house." I breath out as pieces of the puzzle start to fall in their places. I didn't need her to confirm it. I can already imagine what and how things would have gone.

If there is one thing I could bet except of our love for each other, it is our blind trust for the other one.

She went there, thinking I called her. She must've gone inside, after all she had never been to it before so there would have been no reason for her to have any alarm.

"How did you..." I couldn't bring myself to say it.

Standing up, I walk towards her, unsure what to do now.

"Chris... He was hacking through my phone and assumed something is wrong. He came around to check it out, found me there. I stayed here, he made sure I was treated."

"But you never tried to contact me."

As much as I understand her point of view, it is hard for me to accept she actually believed me to be the one to do that. Sure it looks like it, but she knows me. She knows my fears and despairs. She knows my highs and my lows.

For her to not even try to see if it was really me or not... it hurts worse than knowing she was so close to me, yet hiding.

I close my eyes, stepping closer to her, so close that the tip of my shoes touch hers. So close that the tip of my nose brushes against her forehead. I lean down a bit, kissing her forehead as I whisper to her, "I am glad you are okay Princess."

Before I take a step back, turn and leave.

When I leave the office, I see Articus leaning against the wall opposite to the office. Giving him a nod I order, "The two of us are staying. Get two rooms prepared. We will have a meeting tomorrow, first thing."

I let my anger, hurt and disappointment take control, as a tear falls from my eyes.

Sadness and the feeling of heartbreak was worse the second time round, when it gets clear how I have not only failed to prove my love to her, I also failed to make her see myself as a man.

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Alright, I am planning to enter the Wattpad India Awards, which means I am likely to finish this book within the next week or so. I would really appreciate all of my Readers to share this book to any body who they think will like this book. 

Thank you.