Chapter 65 - Time and Destiny
Four Years Earlier (2014)
SHADRACH'S POV
I killed her.
I killed her.
I lost her.
My little Butterfly.
"Shadrach, listen to me," Rachael's voice echoed in my ears.
"No, no," I shook my head, as tears continued to escape my eyes. "You're lying. I didn't - I didn't hurt her. I'd never."
"Shadrach, listen to me. Wake up," she told me, and I frowned. "It's Simon. You need to wake up. You're okay. Just wake up."
I slowly opened my eyes, to find myself lying in my own bed, at my own house, with Simon sitting beside me. I touched my face to find it wet with tears, and a second later, it felt like someone was hammering my brain.
"Fuck, my head," I muttered, clutching onto it.
"This is what happens when you do cocaine and drink too much alcohol," Simon replied. "You need to get a grip, Shadrach."
"Spare me your lecture," I snapped. "Tell me what's the progress. Why haven't you fucking found out where she is as yet?"
"I'm sorry if my focus is split trying to fucking babysit your ass, and looking for her while keeping the affair quiet," Simon replied, his tone pissed off. Of course he was pissed off. "Maybe if you'd allow me to talk to her fucking family, or just freaking sit tight until I take care of this, it'd help!"
"Just find out where she is," I replied, not really knowing what else to say.
"We're looking for her. I'll send my men to the train stations today. But Maxon, seriously, until we find her, you need to stop all this."
"I can't," I replied, massaging my temples. "It's my only escape. Leave that, and tell me, any progress?"
"You said not to hurt or threaten her family, so without that, we are not getting many results. We did find out one thing though. One of Aliza's aunts, like her father's sister died four years ago. From a drug overdose. And I don't think they know that, but... Her supplier was one of your father's."
"Fuck," I muttered, shutting my eyes. "How did her aunt even access Dad's suppliers?"
"She was married to the member of a gang," Simon replied.
"Of course," I muttered. "That explains her family's extreme hatred and fear."
"I wouldn't say that. It's stupid. You love Alizabeth. You'd never hurt her," Simon shook his head. His words reminded me of the dream I had had, and I gulped.
I killed her.
I hurt her.
I would be her undoing.
I'd end up destroying her life.
"Anyway, I'm gonna go send out our men. You please relax, and Maxon, if you leave the house this time, I'll tell your father. This isn't safe for you."
"Don't," I replied.
"Yeah, so you don't leave the house," Simon replied.
"No, I'm talking about the men. Don't send them out."
"What?" Simon raised an eyebrow. "You're not in the condition to go yourself, and I'm not leaving you alone for so long."
"No one is going, and no one is searching for her," I said, my own words shocking me.
"Are you serious right now?" Simon asked, his eyes wide.
"Yes. Let her go. Leave her be," I replied.
"But why? Why suddenly?"
"Because I finally understand, Simon. I understand why she hates me. She lost her aunt to someone like me. To a family like mine. She must have been through so much. I know what family is to her. I don't know what family means to people, since I've never really had one, not one I'm close to anyway. But I know what you mean to me, Simon. And that is probably what she feels about her brother. Threatening him was wrong. I don't deserve her," I explained.
"That's not true, you wouldn't actually hurt him," Simon shrugged. I looked up at him.
"You and I both know the truth, Simon. You know what I am. You know the kind of person I am. I don't wanna end up hurting her. She's... She's safer without me," I muttered, and my voice cracked at the end. Simon sighed, before sitting down beside me, and pulling me into a hug. I allowed myself to be comforted by him, and gave in, letting out the sobs, allowing the pain to escape in the form of tears.
"You'll be fine," Simon whispered softly, rubbing my back, as I kept sobbing.
"I really love her Simon," I continued, shaking with my cries, as tears continued to escape my eyes.
"I know. That's why you're letting her go," Simon replied, and I nodded. I pulled away from the hug, and met his eye.
"But Simon," I said softly, wiping away my tears with the back of my hand.
"Yeah?"
"If she ever dares to set foot in this city again, I'm not letting her leave again. I'll trap her here, no matter what I have to do. Even if I have to keep her locked up for the rest of her life. If she ever comes back, and I find out, she's not leaving again," I announced, absolutely serious.
"I know, Max. I already know."
- - - -
ALIZABETH'S POV
It had been seven months since I left for Paris, and although I missed my family, at least I could talk to them, have video chats, text them. I had left most of my friends behind, only close ones like Brianna knew about what had happened. Even she didn't know my location, I just could not risk it.
I could not risk him finding out.
Shadrach...
Not once did I think of him and not feel a weird ache in my chest. They say time heals all wounds, that as time passes, the pain abates. You gradually begin to feel relieved, more and more, until it does not really hurt anymore. In my situation, this was absolutely not the case. With every passing day, I felt worse. I missed him. I missed talking to him, holding his hand, drowning into those deep, dark eyes of his. I missed how his hair felt against my fingers, when I'd mischievously dare to mess it up, and how the sound of his laughter would echo in my ears when he would not be with me.
Slowly and gradually, as time passed by, I only missed him more and more. But I was beginning to learn how to live with it.
People would think I was getting better, I would no longer have emotional break downs in front of others, I would no longer wake up crying, but little did they know, on the inside, I was crumbling.
I was beginning to accept it, that he and I would never be together again. I was accepting that I would be alone for the rest of my life, because there was no way in hell I was going to fall in love with someone else. Not unless I would move on from him, and given the kind of person he was, and what he meant to me, I was certain moving on was out of the question.
"Liza?" Rachael placed her hand on my shoulder, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Yeah?" I blinked.
"You zoned out again," she said softly, and I could see the sadness in her eyes.
"I'm sorry," I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I was just thinking."
"You know you've changed a lot," she said, which made me frown.
"In what way?"
"You've grown mature," she replied. "But not in a good way. You... You don't talk to me anymore, the way you used to. You're always so lost in your own thoughts. You know you can talk to me about what you feel. About... Him."
"There's nothing to say," I whispered, my voice cracking in the end. Rachael took my hands in hers, and sat opposite to me, facing me.
"Maxon is an incredible guy, I know, Liza. He's like the dream guy of every girl, a bad boy who's good just for her. He's handsome, charming, rich, hot, dangerous, it's like he's been designed to attract girls. And then he shows an interest in you. Knowing that he likes you, made you feel special. Something every girl out there thirsts for. He made you feel wanted, he made you feel like-"
"I'm the most beautiful girl in the world." I completed for her, as a lone tear escaped my eye.
"Exactly. And there's no doubt in that, you're gorgeous, but you get what I mean, right? He makes you feel good about yourself, which makes you think he's the perfect man for you. But that's not true Aliza. A perfect man would respect you, your choices, your family. I just... I don't understand one thing."
"What?"
"He claimed to be so in love with you, that he would fight against the entire world for you. He said he loved you so much that even you yourself wouldn't be able to take you away from him. But where is he now, Aliza? Why hasn't he showed up yet? To drag you back?" She asked, and I blinked at her, looking at her in disbelief.
"That's supposed to be good, right? He wasn't supposed to find out where I was," I replied.
"No, Aliza. We were hoping he wouldn't find out. Maybe our family didn't know, but deep down you and I were both aware of the fact, that our little escape would be of no use. You and I have seen him in action. You know the kind of power he holds, the kind of connections and sources he has. You really think he would not have found you by yet? It's been seven months, Aliza. Seven freaking months. How has he not found you yet?" She asked, and realization struck me, a couple more tears rolling down my cheeks.
"He's not looking," I said softly.
"Why not?" She frowned. "I mean he bugged you for more than half of a year. Then why is he holding back? Why now?"
"Maybe... Maybe he... He decided to respect my choice, right?"
"I don't think so, Liza. He isn't one to do that. You know that. He's the kind of guy who gets what he wants."
"Which means he doesn't want me anymore," I whispered, feeling like my entire world was shattering. I felt angry, hurt, upset. I wanted him to try harder. "He... He pretended to be so in love with me, as if he has never wanted anyone more, and then he just decides to move on? I left my city because of him, my family, because of his fucking stubbornness, and now he just moved on? Just like that?" I said, slamming my hand on the table.
"He is an asshole, Alizabeth. All guys like him, they're assholes. He was just playing with your feelings," Rachael replied.
"I hate him," I whispered, as one last tear escaped my eye. I angrily wiped it away, before standing up and storming to my room.
There was only one thought racing in my mind:
Never again will I suffer for someone who played me.
I was done crying.
- - - -
Rachael's POV:
I watched her retreating back as she strode to her room, slamming the door behind her. It had been a long time since I last saw her this way, showing an emotion other than sadness. For these entire seven months, all she appeared to be was numb. She never looked genuinely happy, never got angry with anything, not upset, nothing.
I knew I had to do something before it was too late, before she'd completely drown into the void her life had become. I had to spark any kind of emotion inside of her, so I chose the easiest one.
Anger.
I knew her since she was a baby, and so I knew what would trigger her. Even if it was a negative emotion, it felt good to see her react to something. She finally looked alive again.
I wasn't entirely sure if what I did was right, but I knew it would make things slightly better, at least for the time being. It would be best if she'd hate him, or at least try to, spending her time thinking that he never deserved her. If someone would ask me whether he actually deserved her or not, I wouldn't be able to answer. Maxon was a complicated guy. No one ever knew why he did what he did. And I could be right about what I said to her, but I knew I could be wrong too. Maxon's mind worked in a strange way, and only time would reveal the truth.
After all, I truly believed, destiny has a way of catching up to you.
- - - - - -