Unedited....

***************

Salina stare at the man for a while frowning. She is as disinterested as he is.

"What can I get for you?" She turn to look at the waitress who eyes seems to stuck on him. She raised her eyebrow before turning to him again. Well he is handsome no doubt about that just not her type.

"Black coffee, with lots of sugar. So that it give a real life bittersweet experience" The man turn towards her frowning.

"Problem with my choice?" She mockingly asked.

"Same please" He told the waitress before turning towards her.

"Not really after all that matches with our reality" He stated calmly. He did not seem like a guy to use sarcasm. She chuckled.

"Why are doing this though?" She asked.

"My brother ran away, I have to take responsibility" He said putting his hand across his chest. She noticed his glasses on the bridge of his nose.

"My my I am offened" She chuckled.

"You are saying as if I can't responsibility for myself" She rolled her eyes.

"I am taking responsibility for my brother not you" She stare at him, Aaron Alvis Valentine. She could not get a read on him. His brother who was her fiance run away and it was his father who suggested this. They have advantages in this deal. A deal which will be great for her company.

"Why are doing this?" He asked. She can get the idea the only reason he asked was to continue the conversation.

"I can do anything for my company" She smirked before shrugging her shoulder. Aaron stayed silent for a while as if he was in thought.

"You do know that if you marry me there will be no way out. Right?" Aaron asked after a while. Salina narrowed her eyes. A marriage can always be resolved with a divorce. Is he mocking her? Then again she has a hunch where this could lead.

"What if don't want any way out?" She stated with a smirk. Aaron looked up at her his eyes slightly widen before smiling. That was the first time his facial expression changed. She stare at him feeling uneasy.

"I have something to do"  Aaron look at his clock before standing up. She frowned it's only been 20 minutes since they started talking.

"Are you insulting me?" Salina asked her voice cold.

"No, that's not my intention. I have to go back to hospital after all I am a doctor. I will always put people's live above anything else" Aaron stated his eyes on her to show his sincerity. She grinned.

"And here I thought you where running away" Salina chuckled.

"Let's get to know each other next time if you would let me" Aaron politeness almost irked her.

"What's the point? What if I don't like you after knowing. Would not it be better not too know and then cry over spilled milk?"  She chuckled.

"I see" He nod his head turning to leaving her there.

"Annoying" She mumbled out not bothered with the fact that he could hear yet her eyes still followed him.

When Salina woke up her mind was in chaos. She feel her throat sore as if something was stuck. She blinked her eyes seeing white every where.

Is she in heaven? Could she even get in heaven? She tried to rolled her eyes at her own sarcasm.

It was not long before she realise the reality of her situation. She smiled bitterly.

Why? Why? When she was so prepared?

Her lips tremble yet there was no sound neither tears.

A nurse came seeing her up, she called for a doctor.

"How are you feeling?" The doctor asked checking all her vital. She keep her mouth shut not answering anything.

"I..." he wanted to say something.

"W.. Water" She whispered her voice broken. The nurse immediately handed her a glass of water helping her to take a sip.

"I handed the letter to the police" She stare at him at least her interest piqued.

"What letter?" She her now her voice seems a lot better.

"Your suicide letter. Police will be here to take statement" Salina stare at him. She thought he will never let it out. It will definitely create a scandal.

Her mouth turns upwards.

"For real?" She asked. Kelvin looked at her.

"Yes" She grinned rubbing her face, before laughing out loud as if this was a joke.

"His pathetic ass is where it should be" Tara walked in her eyes land on the hysterical Salina.

"Tell them I am ready to talk whenever they want" Salina put her hand against the pillow relaxing which did not last longer as her eyes fall on Tara. She narrowed her eyes.

"You don't have much time, please hurry up with your visit" The doctor told Tara and went out while the nurse followed.

"Why did you do it? Salina" Tara asked.l her eyes glistening with moisture. Salina's lips turned upward. She does not need to be polite anymore. Her father is already died. What's the point?

"Why are talking as if you have no idea? Tara" She tilt her head smirking.

"Where not you the one who planned it?" Her voice above a whisper. Tara's face visibly paled.

"No" She yelled shaking her head.

"I.. I never intended for something like this to happen" Her jaw clenched seeing her pathetic attempt.

"Are you going to deny everything?" Salina could not help but asking that question. The only reason she stayed silent was for her father but now what?

"I signed a contract, Tara without knowing those clause. You are the one who handed me those marriage documents. Do you think if I had known that cheating on him would give him full reign to run my life. I would have done that" Salina breath out feeling the back of her eyes burning.

"Even my father knew about those clause. Why was not I told? On whose order did you do it?" Salina know from a long time. The incident that happened three years ago. She was way too deep in her emotions that she never noticed and when she did everything was already lost. Her freedom, her father's life and even herself.

"I..I did not...." Her voice shutter. Salina smiled.

"Would have still denied if I died, Tara?" The question left her speechless.

"I have always treated you like my own daughter" Tara stated closing her eyes as a tear trickle down her cheek.

"I am grateful for that, I really am. But I already paid for everything. My life is already destroyed. What's the point?" Yeah right what's the point hearing those words when the man who mattered to her is no more.  She blinked her eyes. Shoud not she be the one crying?

"Whose order Tara?" Her voice turned icy.  There was no answer.

"So you would rather stay silent after everything?" She could not help chuckling at the irony of the situation.

"I can't tell you" Tara looked down.

"You can't or you won't?" Salina asked mockingly.

"Who are you trying to protect after all this time? Who is it? Does it even matter to you that my father died? The man you claimed to love" Salina wanted her to answer desperately.

"It does" A painful smile flutter on her lips.

"Then tell me"

"Even if I do tell you it would not change anything Salina" Tara looked away closing her eyes.

"It would at least to me.." She was struggling to say anything.

"Is it really that important?"

"It is" Tara sighed.

"It was David" Her words froze Salina. Her lips tremble. She glare at him.

"Don't fuck with me" The nerve of this bitch, lying to her on her face. Salina's jaw clenched  at her answer.

"Why would my father ever betray me? He never hide anything never"

"He just wanted you to let live a normal life without thinking about anything. He wanted you to be free too choose what you want" Salina glare at her pathetic attempt to justify her answer after destroying her life.

"Shut up, shut up. Stop spouting non sense" She snapped. Tara stare at her as she screamed with tears in her eyes.

"Just tell me who it is? Who? Was it Aaron or Antonio?"

"Don't bother lying you are just digging your own grave" Tara looked at her eyes begging her. She closed her eyes taking a deep breath.

"You are right,I was lying" Salina choked blinking her eyes as she looked at Tara who just smiled at her.

"It was Antonio. H..He paid me" Salina froze biting her lips..

"Do you know why I did it?" She asked a question Salina was not expecting. Tara paused, her eyes looked anywhere but her.

"Because I.. I loved David but he.. he never looked at me. It's always you always. I was tired and exhausted after spending all my youth on him all he give me was I am sorry. I was drained so much so when Antonio asked me to do that I did. He never told me about the missing documents or what was in there. All he told me that after signing this you..." Her lip tremble as a tear trailed down her cheek.

"You won't be able to return to Henderson" She whispered.

"Why are you lying?" Salina asked biting her lips to the point she could taste her own blood.

"Who said I am lying? I am a very selfish woman when I don't get the man I loved I schemed everything, Salina. Every little thing. Won't you believe me?" Salina choked blinking back her tears.

"I am sorry" Only to feel warm hand wrapped around her.

"Salina, I love David for the last 15 years. I still do even when all I get was his I am sorry. Do you why? Because I was proud of the man who give up his own life for his daughter. That's how precious you are too him so please don't give up. Please Salina you are the only thing left in this world"  Tara patted her head wiping her tears.

Salina blinked her eyes smiling sadly. She did not even have the energy to feel betrayed anymore. She thought hearing her would give her closure.  But all she see was the broken woman who desperately loves her father and trying to save the only thing her father left behind. She never looked at her as if she was her mother. But for once she wander...

"Would not have been bad if you were my mother.." Tara looked at her as a tear slipped past her eyelashes, her lips trembled as she desperately hold back her cries.

"I am glad you think that way" Tara smiled wiping away those stubborn tears.

"I am sorry Tara, I truly am" Salina looked away. If only she encouraged her father would the results be like this.

"Aaron stop right there" Salina looked at the door only to see Aaron. For more once she did not feel any anger or bitterness towards him.

"You can't enter, Aaron" Clarissa voice was clear yet Aaron entered the room. His eyes stopped on her. Salina stare at him coldly. Tara stand there frozen wiping her tear. His usually emotionless eyes held a certain edge

"What are you doing here? I thought I would get to see you in a cage like an animal you are" Salina mocked him. Aaron narrowed his eyes, her joke might not be his taste.

"Did you like my surprise?" She asked her lips turned upward. Aaron stare at her coolly. A sudden chill could be feel in the room. Tara gulped not sure what to expect. This was the first time she had ever seen them interact but what she did not expect was for him to walking infront of her with a smirk cupping her cheeks. Did not she send him to jail?

Salina frozen only for a brief second as he leaned forward, his lips touching her ear.

"I really did like it. Why did not you specify how I pushed you to commit suicide?" His words crude as usually nothing seems out of place. She chuckled at those words.

"How could I?" She softly pressed her cheeks against his. It seems like a little lovers meeting sweet yet Tara who could hear their words feeling sick to her stomach. She wanted to give them privacy but she could not move from her place.

"When I put my life on line for this" He turned his face towards her, looking at her, his lips turned upward.

"What if you get an easy way out, I can't let that happen now could I Aaron?"  Aaron pulled back throwing his head back laughing. He find her words ridiculously funny for reason to the point that he want to...

"I am glad you are back to normal" He stated calmly his eyes glint cruelly.

"Is this because your father died?" He leaned forward brushing his lips against hers. Her heartached if he think that he could provoke her by bringing her father then he is wrong. He pulled back with a soft smile. She glare at him her jaw clenched the clam facade she was holding finally seems to crack a bit.

"It has nothing to do with him" She stated holding back her anger.

"Is that so? Why bother lying? love" Aaron shrugged his shoulder.

"If I had known it would only take his death body to bring you back to reality. I would have.."

"What kill him? You actually did, so shut your mouth" Salina yelled gritting her teeth.

"I would never forgive you, do you hear me never?" She utter those words laced with hatred nothing else. He narrowed his eyes glaring at her.

"Forgive me?" He asked mockingly his eyebrow raised.

"I think you have got something wrong sweetheart. What did I ever do to ask for forgiveness?"

"You as well as I.." Salina coiled  back as he cupped her cheek forcing her to look him in the eyes which she did eventually.

"Was it me who called him? Did he come there because of me?" He asked only to see her eyes filled with unwanted  tears.

"You just feel guilty and you want someone to blame. And guess what Salina everything that goes wrong in your life is Aaron Alvis Valentine's fault. Is not it?" His finger was becoming almost painful. She whimpered.Tara gasped.

"Why don't you just take a look at yourself before blaming others?"

"Shut up" She snapped her heart ached painfully.

"But, Can the princess of Henderson ever do that?" He mocked, letting her go.

"As for the surprise, I will make sure to give you back a gift worthy of it" He relaxed with a smirk, his eyes blank.  Tara's face pale as she watched there exchange. Everything about this relationship is wrong. Aaron turned leaving Salina who looked pale. She blinked her eyes once in a while trying to stop those tears from escaping.

After a long dragged on silence. Salina was back to being blank.

".. Is... Is he always like this?" Tara asked. She still could not believe what she heard.

"If I say yes would you feel guilty?" Salina asked her voice awfully calm. Tara rubbed her face staring down.

"I.. I am sorry, I never thought our one decision will turn your life like this. Please forgive me" Tara slide down her shoulder shaking. Does David know about all this?

"Forgive you?" Salina just let out a humorless laugh.

"Even if I forgive you. It won't change anything Tara. Because of that bloody contact he took away my son" Tara's eyes widen.

"What? How could that be possible?" She asked gasping.

"How? Why are you asking me?  Don't you already know about the contract?" Salina asked feeling exhausted.

"Did you think that your father will allow something like this in the contract?There was nothing in the contract that allows him to take away your son" Tara's stated. Salina looked at her for a moment.

"What do you mean?"

"Have you never seen the contract yourself..." Tara looked away that's true it was their fault that she have never seen the contract herself. Salina glare at her, was it true that her son ws not included in that contract.

"As the contact stipulates. You will have everything" Mr.Henderson said.

"And I would not get involved with what you decide her punishment is" Mr.Henderson said if she looked up she would have seen a tear trailing down his cheen.

"..You can't do this" She choked feeling suffocated as her vision blurred" Salina struggle with her inner turmoil. She was on the verge of screaming or crying anything but not these. Mr.Henderson left her there and walked out.

"Salina" His voice snapped her out of her inner monologue.

She looked at him, glaring at him. This is all his fault. Aaron was standing there his arm crossed against his chest. She stand up walking straight to her son who is still sleeping. She was about to touch him but froze hearing Aaron's word.

"I have decided that Aaiden will be going to boarding school the moment he turns 4 and will start preschool there" He said coolly living no room for argument what's so ever.

"He waited and told me after father went out. But does that specify anything?" Salina sighed. It true her father would never do anything like that.

"Can you bring me the original documents? Tara" She doubt Tara would find those documents easily but it's not like she have any option.

"I will try my best" That's all she said before walking out.

**********

Two days later

"What are you doing here?" Salina glare at him as he walked in.

"I am here as the doctor" He looked at her, she just smiled bitterly.

"Is this some kind of joke?" She asked yet all she could do was sit silently. He just smiled at her question.

"Are not you going to write what you want? Let just get this over with Doctor..?"

"Ronald just call me Ronald" She nod her head.

"Just write the report, I already know what the result will be anyway" He stare down at the blank paper.

"You do know I have to write the truth. It would not have matter even if it was anyone else"

"Yeah! I know. That's why I want to walk out now" Salina sighed her finger trembling she occasionally blinked her eyes.

"You will loose this now. But you could fight"

"What's the point?" She chuckled as a tear trickle down her cheek.

"I did and now look at me? I just want to beg you not to write it. Pathetic are not I?" She chuckled rubbing her eyes.

"Then try again and again till you succeed" She just shake her head. That won't work not for her at least. She is tired now.

"I just wished I had died while I still can" She blinked her sad eyes.

*********

Thank you for reading.

Do share you thoughts and comment.

Until next time