DAMIEN'S POV Her voice made me sure that there was something wrong with her. I came to take her with me, to send her somewhere safe. I came to Lincoln Villa but she was not here. I wanted to tell her things - important things. It was all my fault. I should not have stopped keeping an eye on her, while I was busy dealing with everything after my father's death. Then there was Madison too. But in this moment, I only felt scared. For Alice. “ Trace the phone number's location. ” I had asked Alder right after she hanged up. Calling her would only waste my time, because I knew she was not going to pick up now. ' Find me in time Damien. ' Her words kept echoing in my ears and I was hellbound on finding her in time. I had to find her in time. Just as Alder got the address, we both set out to reach there. The drive was awfully long. We were in a forest now.

ALICE'S POV A month passed. It was like time skipped past us and I was unable to catch it. Everything was my kind of normal. After the day I came to Ace's house, he quit his job at the Castillo Corporation. A stupid move. But it turned out, he was offered another good job abroad and he had to leave in a month. He wanted to take me and Mom along with him. Ofcourse, Ace did not let me leave after that day. He was hellbound on keeping me here - away from Hayes and Damien. I agreed with him this time. Partially ofcourse. I met Hayes twice. Somehow, Hayes and me were friendly now, because there was no dispute left between us. And Damien... I met him too. Many times actually. Damien and Me were stuck in some weird kind of situation. There was a silent agreement between us, that stated.. ...We were never going to get too close. We stayed at arm's length, just letting the silence do it's work.

ALICE'S POV I groaned out when the phone did not stop ringing even after an hour. I had began to get angry now. Who the hell would call me so early in the morning?! I had just managed to fall asleep and now these calls. Finally deciding to curse the one who was calling me, I tapped the side table with my hand to find the phone in the dark while my eyes refused to open. My hand found the phone and I picked up the call. My mind was drifting back to sleep as the ringing had stopped. “ Are you still sleeping Alice?! ” It was Mom's voice shouting at me. My eyes flew open just like my body shot up. My hair were poking out in all directions and my eyes were red from lack of sleep. A smile still managed to break out on my lips when I saw that it was not a voice call but a video call. Her healthy face came into my view and my smile widened some more. Mom looked fine and happy.

ALICE'S POV The usual morning after crying the whole night was never easy. My eyes were so puffy that it was hard to even see. My head was hurting like some horse had trampled all over it. It was painful before and it was unbearable now. I wonder if Damien even came. What if it was just my imagination? I was finally going mad. I needed to see a psychiatrist soon. All of this was not good for my health. Raising myself from the bed tiredly, I made my way to the washroom to take a shower and then I wore a pink sweater with blue jeans to go with the day. Today, I stood and stared at my reflection for a long time. I felt dead. Sighing to myself, I took my bag and made my way down the stairs. “ Good Morning Alice. ” Mrs Smith greeted me with the usual smile that I was unable to return today. I was not in the mood to even talk to anyone. “ Good Morning Mrs. Smi

ALICE'S POV “ I. Will. Never. Come. Back. ” He spoke each word slowly, his glossy eyes coming back to rest on mine before he stormed out of there. No. No. He could not just leave after saying all of this to me. He just told me that he loved me and that he divorced Madison and he thought we could have a family and then he just... Left me alone. I wanted to run behind him but my ego held me back. I had never ran behind anyone. I had never asked anyone to stay in my whole life. Tears rolled down my cheeks in waves, as I stood there for the longest time, just staring at the wall in front of me. “ Did he do something Alice? ” Lisa rushed to my side but I was too engrossed in crying, that I could not reply to her.My ears were ringing and I could only hear three words echoing in my mind. I love you. “ Alice! Are you alright? &rdq