“Alex...” His name rolled out of my mouth and I felt like someone had ripped my heart out. “What happened?” I asked in the softest tone that I could muster.I reached out to him but my eyes widened in shock when he shoved me to the ground. I locked eyes with his hardened orbs with so many questions. Alexander pointed his finger at me and spoke accusingly. “It was you all along.” He spat and another tear rolled down his cheek.What was he talking about? I didn’t do anything. I furrowed my eyebrows and pushed back the main I was feeling. I needed answers. Why was Alexander suddenly behaving this way with me? What could I have done wrong?“What are you talking about Alex,” I asked and took a step toward him. “I didn’t do anything,” I informed him. “What ha—“ Alexander suddenly grabbed me and I gasped. His grip on my arm tightened and I let out a wince. “Stop,” I begged when my stomach twisted and my heart pounded. It wasn’t even the physical pain that hurt, it was the look in his eyes;

I blinked away tears and took quick strides toward the gate of the resort. I could see the white car that had been parked outside, the driver — Mr Lewis, stood outside with an empathetic expression on his face. I frowned and entered the car. I could feel Alexander’s eyes on me when the engine started and the man drove off. He had hurt me. He had hurt me so much and I had no clue what to do with the pain.I itched to tear my heart out and sob in secret. I had so many emotions raging under my skin and I was desperate to let them out. On one hand, my inner child was screaming. The ten-year-old Amber never actually grew. She just cut off her long brown hair and tried her best to become someone else and I wasn’t sure if she ever found an identity. It was crazy how moments ago, Alexander had promised and sworn on everything he had and cared about — He said he loved me. He asked me to be with him, yet he was willing to doubt me at the slightest opportunity. I had sour luck with men. On o

The tears did not dare leak from my eyes. I wasn'r sure how at that moment, but I knew my heart was hurting, my mind was spiraling out of control, and every fiber of my being wanted to go after her, jump off that roof as well because a part of me shattered when she pulled away. I stumbled back and for a moment I felt dazed. The image of her in the group replayed over and over again like a broken record. My eyes stung with fresh tears and I swallowed thickly. "C-Christie–" That voice wasn't mine. I turned slowly and saw Alexander. His hands were dug in his hair and I could feel the emotion in his eyes. It was the same feeling — the same emotion I felt when Stefan jumped out of the window. It was a mix of helplessness and anger. For years I blamed myself for this death and maybe that was why I tried my best to save Christine because I never wanted anyone else to feel that way — to feel that pain that tears you open from within. Grief came in different forms, sometimes it was seeing

The edges of his lips curled into a perfect smile. I lunged at him and slammed his chest in rage. My short hair slapped my face and I attacked him with whatever strength I had left."It was you, wasn't it!" I yelled in a frantic tone. "You hurt you! You abused her! You piece of crap!" I screeched and tugged at his collar.Arjun kept his facial expressions composed. His eyes didn't blink for a moment and his lips remained curled into a perfect smile while he stared at me intensely with his grey eyes. I could taste the lust in his heart from where I stood. I must have been stupid. I took a step back and laughed at my stupidity, how could I ever try to reason with a serial rapist. He wasn't at fault, he wasn't the real antagonist in this story. "You!" I roared and turned to Lucia's form on the ground, I lunged at her but Arjun held me back. "Yes, hold her right there. Don't let her move, we'll figure out what to do with her now." Lucia spoke breathlessly and stood up, she sighed and r

"Alicia," I spoke softly when she came into my line of sight, her dark silky long hair slapped her cheeks and she had dark bags under her eyes. She casually tied her hair into a ponytail and dragged a chair I had not noticed closer to me. "You gave us a scare there. It's been twenty-four hours, Alexander has been going insane, and me—" Alicia paused and tears filled her blue orbs. "I Don't want to lose you, Amber," She confessed and let out a sob. "I can't bear to lose anyone else after Stefan and Dad. We've already lost too much!" Her voice raised an octave and I sat up and pulled her into a hug. I ran my hands over her back and let her sob into me. "That won't happen," I promised in a soft tone. "I've made sure of it, you—""You almost died," Alicia informed. "Don't lie to me, Don't pretend that everything is fine when it isn't! Nothing is making sense, and you do have a lot to explain." Her face hardened as she spoke and I knew she had every right to be angry and frustrated. I