Chapter 68

Zayden

The moment his eyelids closed the second time I collapsed on my knees. I clutched my hair tight, pain shooting through my scalp.

No!

No!

No!

No!

I love Lilian more than anything and now I was faced with the very real possibility of losing her.  The thought alone was suffocating, my heart was squeezing painfully in my chest every second.

That one reckless mistake, that one time I let my guard down and now I'm faced with hell. I don't even know where to go from here.

  

" I'm sorry about this man, but you have to think of a solution." Oliver urged his voice laced with pity." I know what my sister did was completely wrong but what's done is done."

I gritted my teeth, my veins pumped with anger." What's done is done, huh?"

I raised my blazing eyes to meet his." You know I could end your sister if I wanted to, right? Maybe I should because it's her damn fault I'm in this mess."

I was breathing heavily now, that anger taking complete control of me. " She's been against my marriage with Lillian from day one, and finally, she managed to destroy it!" I yelled.

Oliver remained quiet. He was fully aware of what was running through my head right now. After all, he had seen me at my worst.

" I still think you should tell Lillian about this and maybe convince Sage to get an abortion." He spoke and I laughed.

" An abortion? You want me to convince her to take a child's life?" Taking a step towards him, I spoke, clutching my fists.

" I can hurt anyone but not an unborn child!"

He sighed." Then what's the plan?"

I returned to my seat, my mind was hazy.' I don't know, I don't know what to do."

The office remained quiet for quite a while before Oliver broke the silence." Have you heard from Aiden since?"

I only shook my head. I couldn't care less if he was dead or not.

" Well, some things happened while you were away."

I took a deep breath." I don't have the luxury to think about what shitty things Aiden is up to right now so just shut it!"

He didn't stay quiet." It might interest you. I did some Eavesdropping, you might actually have a bigger problem than Sage's pregnancy."

I raised my eyes to look at him." What is it?"

He licked his lips and then opened his mouth to speak." First, where is Helena? "

Fuck!

At that moment, It dawned on me that I had completely forgotten about her. She's not hurt though, just in a place where she can't see the sunlight.

I had completely forgotten to let her go after interrogating her and punishing her for what she did to Lillian.

" What about her?"

Oliver ran a hand through his hair." I know you have her and if you don't want to end up in jail, better set her free. She's been missing for almost fucking five months? Why would you hold someone hostage for that long?" He snarled

" Fine ..fine..I'll let her go. Is this the problem you said I had?"

He shook his head." I overheard our fathers talking, they are planning to reopen your case."

The room suddenly fell silent.

My blood ran cold, and my muscles were as stiff as ice.

I scoffed." Reopen a case for crimes I didn't commit?"

"I don't know what's happening, but I feel like your father did some shitty thing, and he's planning to pin it on you and cover it up with your past crimes."

I shook my head, disbelief clouding my senses. Sometimes I wonder if that man is truly my father.

"Yeah, just like he always does. Isn't he scared that I'll ruin his precious reputation?" I chuckled.

"I don't know what's happening but our fathers are cooking something. I think Helena's disappearance triggered the whole thing."

I pinched the space between my brows." Thanks for the info but my major concern right now is Lilian."

He sighed, getting up from his seat." Tell her everything, it'll lessen the impact."

I swallowed. It's harder than it looks but at this point, I'm left with no choice.

   Oliver left the office and I spent the rest of the day thinking about what I was going to do.

I decided to go home to Lillian and tell her everything. I was in the parking lot when I bumped into Aiden.

I proceeded to ignore him, but of course, he always wanted to torment me.

" How's it going, big bro?" He chuckled.

I ignored him, bringing out my car keys and heading for my car.

He followed me and I nearly turned around and punched him." Fuck off!"

He chuckled." I heard Sage's pregnant, and you're the father."

I stiffened." You what?"

He grinned." Don't worry, I'll keep it a secret. But eventually, she's going to tell everyone, and then what's going to happen to you?"

I sighed, closing my eyes to calm myself." Go away."

" I'm more worried about Lillian. What would she think? Oh...wait, how would you cope if she divorced you?" He burst out laughing.

I honestly did not know why I was still standing here listening to his rants but somehow, I couldn't find it in me to walk away. Because I knew if I walked away, I would be heading home to Lillian and guilt wouldn't let me face her.

He patted my shoulder." I would never let you get that life you so much want. I know you love her, she does too but you'll never get your happy ending. I'll drag you to hell where you belong."

His eyes were now red. I then noticed the eye bags under his eyes and how rumpled he looked.

I turned to face him, our eyes met and I saw our younger self in them. The days when we were actual brothers." Why? At least tell me why you hate me so much."

He grinned again." Why? It's because you took away the one thing I love the most. I grew up without a mother because of you!" He yelled.

He nudged me with his fists roughly, my back colliding with the car." I lost her too, you were not the only one hurting." I yelled back.

He shook his head, anger blazing in his grey orbs." You fucking killed her! And then the one person I thought I could confide in, you killed him too." His fists connected with my chin the next second.

I groaned, the pain coursing through my veins." It was an accident!" I growled.

Clenching my fist, I let all the anger and frustration take control of me and sent my fist landing in his face.

He stumbled backwards, blood slipping down his burst lip. Memories came flooding my mind. Oliver's brother, and how he toppled down till he landed on the concrete ground.  How he lay there in an awkward position with blood underneath his lifeless body.

It was my fault.

I killed him.

I pushed him out of anger and he fell and broke his neck.

 

" An accident huh? Alright then, you'll lose the one person you love. I promise you that." He spat out blood, cleaning his mouth with his black sleeve.

" Don't." I managed to let out.

He grinned again." You belong in jail, you're a murderer. You don't deserve to live. I'm going to ruin your life starting with Lillian. Have fun watching your life crumble before your eyes, big brother."

He stumbled out of the parking lot and I got into my car.

I just sat there staring into space, my mind blank.

I huffed out a breath, I felt tired. So damn tired both physically, mentally and emotionally.

I finally turned on the ignition and went home.

The door was left open, and a sweet aroma came from the kitchen. It brought a little smile to my face. I love her cooking.

  I went to our bedroom and the bathroom door was opened. The sound of dripping water echoed throughout the room.

" Zay? Is that you?" She yelled from the bathroom.

" Yeah." I began cleaning up the bruise on my chin to avoid any questions from Lillian.

" Are you done cooking?" She asked and I furrowed my brows.

"What? I barely know how to light a stove."  I removed my blazers and unbuttoned my shirt.

There was silence in the bathroom." Then what have you been doing in the kitchen and what's that sweet smell?"

I walked into the bathroom. Lillian was naked with a lot of shampoo on her hair and body." I just got here."

She paused, wiping her face with a towel. We both stared at each other, confusion on our faces.

" Is, Noah around ?" She asked.

I shook my head." Why would you think I was in the kitchen?"

She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around herself with shampoo still in her hair.

Stepping out of the bathroom, we both walked out of the bedroom." Because someone came in half an hour ago, and I thought it was you because, well, you have the keys."

My eyes immediately scanned the house, my senses quirked up.

Just then, a sound came from the kitchen, just like a cutlery falling to the ground.

We both stared at each other and then in the direction of the kitchen. Lillain's eyes were wide, her skin already pale.

"You sure you locked the doors because they were open when I came in." I scanned the sitting room and noticed that the vase sitting on the table beside the television was out of place.

There's an intruder.

Someone was in the house.

I placed Lillian behind me immediately, so many thoughts racing through my mind.

" Are you sure you locked the doors while you were in the bathroom?"

She nodded, her whole body trembling. I contemplated going to the kitchen to see who was there but it was risky. I have no defence right now so I was at the losing end.

Quickly, I dragged Lillian back to the bedroom and locked the doors. Pulling out my laptop, I proceeded to check the cameras.

Lillian was already shaking, her face as pale as porcelain.

" It's okay baby. I'm here." I assured her, knowing how well she was scared of situations like this I could already guess what was running through her mind at this moment.

I clicked on the video, and there in the kitchen was a man standing in front of the island, chopping carrots with a knife.

   He was tall; if I wasn't mistaken, we were about the same height. He has more builds than me like he was once a chronic wrestler.  He was wearing black jeans, black boots and a black hood that covered his face totally.

But his hands were exposed and a red rose tattoo was peeking through.

Like he knew we were watching him, he lifted his head to stare at the camera. His mismatched eyes glimmered with dangerous intensity.

Tyrell.

Right where I was, I felt his dark, menacing presence.  This was the first time I saw him in person.

Slowly he lifted his hands, pointing a rifle straight at the camera.  Then he pulled the trigger and the laptop screen went black.

I crooked a smile, it's about time.