(Did you check out the new book trailer? No? Go check it out now! It's on the second part of this book.)

Previously on 'That Thing Between You and Me':

Andrew tells Mallory about Marko situation. Mallory denies killing him.

The two share a romantic moment followed by a conversation where Andrew states his willingness to share his story. Mallory confesses Emily's murder.

And now...

• • •

Chapter 29 | Trouble in Paradise

"When they called him a heartbreaker,
They could not have known,
That there was no heart,
More broken than his own."

-Erin Hanson

• • •

"Andrew, I murdered her. I shot Emily."

The words that she never thought she'd utter, left her with a bitter taste at the back of her mouth. They made her feel nauseatic. Over the years, she had told herself that repeatedly. Everytime she visited Emily, she would relive the guilt. But somehow saying it out loud made them even more real.

What followed guilt was an intense urge, an urge to whisper something else. The words sat right there on the tip of her tongue, waiting to roll out. Just one more secret. A secret that she hid not from the world but kept even from herself. A secret that would raise questions and provide all the answers, but she could not bring herself to confess. No amount of courage could get her to say it. Afterall what could be worse than killing your own best friend? Apparently, there was something. And she had done it.

While she was having an internal turmoil, she stared at her companion, waiting in anticipation for his reaction. But it never came. It was as if the time had frozen. There was just the two of them standing within a few feet from each other. The tension in the air was thick.

The minutes that followed were spent in absolute silence. Mallory's chest heaved as the silence began hurting her ears. She wanted him to say something.

Anything.

She expected him to yell at her, to ask her to get out. To pull out a gun and place the barrel on her forehead, to blow her brains out. Anything would have been better than looking at his face which was devoid of any emotion.

And then after ages Andrew uttered one word, "No."

"No?" Mallory echoed his reply, her brain unable to comprehend the monosyllable.

"No." He said firmly this time.

"Andrew..." She placed a hand on his shoulder. "I don't think you heard what I s-"

"I did. I heard everything." He nodded.

"Then don't you wanna know why? Why I killed her?"

There was a short pause followed by, "I trust you."

"But you shouldn't." Mallory whispered, her shoulders slumping.

"Hey, hey. Look at me." His hands softly lifted her chin. "I have been working with 'The Beasts' for months, now. And that amount of time is enough to know how they work. How they force people to do things, things a person won't do in their worst nightmares! The way they play mind games without Antonio in picture, I can only imagine what would have happened when that sick bastard was around."

His explanation stunned her for seconds. She couldn't argue with that. Maybe, he was right. Maybe, it wasn't her fault afterall. For a minute, she let herself delve in the world of innocence. She tried to convince herself that she wasn't guilty.

But her conscience knew better. She knew that she could have stopped it. She could have prevented it. She was given a choice. It was either Emily or freedom. And she chose the latter.

And now she couldn't bring herself to tell him. How do you tell a brother that you selfishly gambled his sister's life? That's right, you cannot.

"Are you sure you don't want know?" She said with a sigh. Her respect for the guy increased by manifolds.

"Yes." He replied, his voice unwavering.

"Alright then," she shrugged feeling belittled by his faith in her. "Tell me what you were going to say then. Tell me your story."

"Yes." He said over-eagerly. His voice held an edge of desperation.

"Okay, go ahead." She squeezed his hand and gave him an encouraging smile.

"Alright, let's start from the beginning?"

"Sure."

"So, my childhood was a privileged one; my father being the owner of a large business. His company was one of the biggest companies in the state and even the nation. As a result we were really well off. Mansions, chefs chauffers, butlers, we had everything. Emily and I had a wonderful childhood." Andrew's eye held a reminiscent twinkle but soon his expression morphed. "And then there was trouble in paradise." He said with a sad smile. "I distinctly remember that day. It was Christmas Eve, a day after my tenth birthday. All was fine but then something happened which shattered everything."

• • •

"Emily, Cole, come on inside! It's so cold here." Cynthia Wilson called out, rubbing her gloved hands together as her little children playing in the snow.

"Just five more minutes, Mom." Cole screeched giggling, as he threw a snowball at his sister.

"No, not a minute more, Cole. Come here now or I am going to tell Daddy not to bring Christmas presents this year."

Seven year old Emily stopped sprinting, her eyes the size of platters as she innocently asked, "No Christmas presents?"

"Nope. Not one."

"Emily, you know she's lying. Daddy and Mike just went out to get them. I asked him too." The boy replied with a victorious smile. "Isn't that right, ma?"

His mother lied, "No. Daddy went for some work. He won't get the gifts unless you people come inside and help me decorate the tree."

"We are decorating the tree?" Emily said excitedly. "Cole, let's go help her. It'd be fun."

"No, it won't be." The boy sighed but realising that he was outnumbered he let his sister tug him inside, reluctantly.

They spent almost an hour decorating the Christmas tree and the large sitting room. They even hung socks on the fancy fire place. Courtesy to the domestic help, Christmas lights adorned the interior of the house and most of the gardens. The place looked alive colored in red and green, the colors of joy and festivities.

"Well done, guys!" Cynthia applauded everyone including her children as she marvelled at the beauty of the place.

Just then, her phone rang.

"Yeah?" Dismissing everyone, she answered it almost immediately. As someone spoke on the other side, she frowned.

"Who is it, Mom?" Cole interrupted not liking the absence of smile on his mother's face.

She raised a finger to silence her son. "Okay, send them inside."

"Ma, what happened?" He asked again.

"It was Steve from the main gate. He said that there are some cops on the door."

"Are we in trouble?"

"Of course not, sweetie." She replied patting his head.

"Now, why don't you go take your sister upstairs. I already set up 'Home Alone' in the theatre room. I'll ask Barbara to heat up some snacks and cookies? I'll join you as soon as your father gets back."

"Mom, are you sure everything's okay?" The ten year old boy couldn't contain the heavy feeling in his stomach.

"Uh-huh." His mother nodded.

After repeated reassurance, Cole held his sister's hand and accompanied her to the theatre room but came back down almost immediately. As he entered the sitting room he saw two officers there with his mother who had a solemn face. He stood in the doorway eavesdropping the conversation.

"Mam, I am Officer Brown and this is Officer Parrish, we are here to talk about Mr. Ethan Wilson. You're his wife?"

"Yes, officer. I am Cynthia Wilson. Is everything okay?" His mother replied nervously folding her hands in her lap.

"I am afraid not, Mrs. Wilson. Your husband was in an accident."

"What?" Her face visibly paled.

So did Cole's.

"Mr. Ethan Wilson and Mr. Michael Hasser were in a car accident. It seems like their was some mechanical malfunctioning, more than likely brake failure. The car skidded for a few meters before ramming into a trailer truck. Your driver, Mr. Hasser died on the spot and Mr. Wilson died on the way to the hospital." Officer Brown said his voice devoid of emotion.

Cole's mother sat stunned as her mind was overwhelmed by all the information. Before she could realise what was happening, tears started seeping from the corner of her eyes.

"We haven't investigated the exact cause of accident but we are working on it." Officer Parrish said reassuringly.

His mother's body rattled with sobs again. "Oh god, I can't believe it. Ethan's gone. Oh god." She finally spoke, her voice hysterical.

"Mam, we're so sorry." Parrish said with a sad smile. "Your husband's body has been sent for an autopsy and after that you can claim it for burial."

"We'd also need your driver, Michael Hasser's address and next of kin's contact number if you can provide it."

"I'll arrange it for you." Barbara who had been silent the whole time finally intervened as she saw her mistress inability to say something coherent.

"Okay." The officer acknowledged.

That was the moment when Cole saw his sister trudging down the steps and coming to stand beside him.

"Mom," she said from the doorway. "Why are you crying? What's wrong?"

Emily looked from her brother to her mother and back again trying to understand the situation. But no one said a word. Her young mind couldn't comprehend what was happening.

"Mom," she nervously said as she made her way towards the the couch.

Her mother oblivious to everything didn't budge. She just sat there overwhelmed by her sudden misfortune, muttering unintelligible gibberish to herself. The officers' reassurances had little effect on her inconsolable self.

"Cole, Cole, look Mom is crying." She looked at her brother.

"Emily," Cole took a step towards Emily his own eyes beginning to water. "Dad's gone." He whispered, overwhelmed by guilt.

It was his fault. It was all his fault. It was him who made unreasonable demands. And his father like always went out himself to get him presents. Why did he send his father right into the claws of death? Why did he? He let out a loud sob as he contemplated it. Why did he kill his father?

• • •

The days that followed Ethan's death were a bedlam for Cynthia and her family. Apart from the mental turmoil, she was exhausted by dealing her husband's affairs.

The press was filled with speculations about her husband's death, from murder to suicide, everyday a new rumor would arise and die. No matter how hard she tried to live with her new widowed status, the paparazzi that followed her whenever she went out were a constant reminder of her husband's untimely demise.

Further, it turned out that Ethan was under a heavy debt and the debtors knocked onto her front door as soon as the news of his death spread. If he were alive, he would have easily made the money in business and relieve the family. But in his absence there was only little that Cynthia could do.

Unaware of her husband's business affairs, she did the only thing she could. She called a meeting with the board of directors and her husband's trusted advisors all of who suggested that either a part of business be auctioned off or the insurance claim can be used to settle the debts.

Unable to bring herself to sell off her spouse's hard earned business and estate, she used her husband's private money on company's debtors. The money that was supposed to secure her disappeared from the coffers. Little did she know what she was doing couldn't be more wrong for her and her family.

• • •

Victor Stone returned to his home town after spending a long at drug rehab. And as soon as he came back, all he wanted to do was see his best friend Ethan Wilson but a shock awaited him when he reached his destination.

"Cole, I can't believe your father's gone." Victor said, choking a bit.

He was sitting on a chair in the patio with an intention of talking to Cynthia but she was nowhere in sight. Instead, he was welcomed by Cole. The boy, although young in years, knew much more than he let on. He had basically told him about all the corporal decisions his mother had taken over a course of a single month.

"Yeah." He said in a monotone. "Sometimes I feel like it's my fault. If I hadn't pestered him to get me the new Xbox as Christmas present he would have been here." Tears slipped down his cheeks.

"Cole, hey. Look to me." Victor lifted the boy's chin so that he was looking straight in his eyes. "None of this is your fault. And don't you dare let anyone tell you otherwise. Okay?"

The boy gave a slight nod, wiping away his tears.

"Okay, now listen to me. You are a big boy now. You have to protect your mother and Emily. You will, right?" On receiving a nod, he continued, "I need to talk to your mother. Where is she?"

"She's in her room...er...drunk. She has been drinking a lot these days."

Victor sighed at the boy's plight. He couldn't believe what must be going through his young mind.

"Okay, when she wakes up, you let her know that I need to talk to her. And now tell me more about those debts. How do you even know about all that?"

"They have meetings upstairs in Dad's office and I-I kinda eavesdropped." Cole replied sheepishly looking at his hands in his lap.

"It's okay. Tell me about it," he said reassuringly.

"Victor?" Cynthia came outside stumbling. She was wearing a wrinkled dress. Her hair were a mess and her face held traces of make up, mascara running down her eyes.

"Mom, you are awake? Should I get you some water?"

Ignoring her son, she started stumbling towards his deceased husband's best friend.

"Cole, I think you should get her a glass of water. In fact, ask Barbara to get her an advil too." Victor told him.

Cole nodded and left. But just when he was at the doorframe, he heard a thud and turned back. Her mother in her dazed state had knocked a chair off, but that was none of his concern. But the sight that awaited him made his blood boil. He saw his mother leaning in front of Victor.

Her lips smacked right on his.

Her mother was kissing his father's friend and Cole couldn't be more enraged by it!

• • •

Don't forget to vote if you enjoyed!

Hello there!

Oh look, there is a mob with pitchforks and swords just below my window. Okay, okay. Now you people can stop your stone pelting. I am back. *Whispers* Please don't kill me.

So, okay. I know I don't deserve your mercy. I disappeared for months and you people hate me for it. One word: Exams. -_-

Now, to all those who are still hanging in there waiting for an update, I love you. ❤️❤️

Here it is. And stay tuned because another one is coming soon. Like really really soon. Yes, back to back update, people. Ain't I awesome?*Blushes*

NOW ABOUT THE CHAPTER:

Thoughts on the beginning? Do you think Mallory was being selfish by choosing freedom over her best friend? Or do you think it was just survival instinct and is justified?

What else do you think Mallory's hiding? Any guesses?

Also, Andrew's backstory. What do you think of little Cole? Thoughts on Cynthia? How about Victor? Are you convinced that he is as good as he lets on or is their any ulterior motive?

Any other thoughts?

See you soon. 😍

-Ridhima

P.S. People who commented/PMed me for updates, I hope you all are happy?