"I am just...just an unbearable reminder of some violent attack."

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

Lilly's POV

My whole life crashes right in front of my eyes as Max mutters that word out loud.

My eyes only focused on my mother, my heart rapidly breaking in my chest in a way I've never experienced before and I know that this...this would leave a permanent scar forever.

The woman who raised me, who scolded me when I was wrong, who stood by my side when I was right, who supported me when I needed her to, who held my hand and guided me through life, who was just so strong and happy and full of life...I never thought that woman could've gone through something like that.

I couldn't think of her as someone who was once broken, abused, and hurt.

It didn't make sense.

Every explanation, every scenario went through my head when Christian showed me the truth about Max, but this...this could've never crossed my head in a million years. This was not an option.

It can't be.

It just can't be!

Oh my god, what did I do?

She shook her head, her teary devastated eyes on Max, and she stood in front of him, "You are my son," She refused to answer that question and rested her hands over his cheeks, trying to shake him out of that thought, "Nothing would ever change that, nothing, whatever happened in the past should stay in the past," She added, "You're our son, and we love you more than you can imagine and you know that."

He shook his head in defeat, his hazy eyes on her, but they seemed to be lost somewhere else, and something in them seemed to...die, the light disappeared and he took a step backward from her, "No," He said again, the heartbreak in his tone freezing me down in my seat, unable to move or talk, "You're gonna tell me that you were so happy when you figured out you were pregnant with me," He questioned, "That when you look at me, you don't see him," A couple more tears fell, "That I've hurt you without even knowing."

"No, no, don't say that, don't ever think like that!" Mom stressed out, "When I look at you, I see you only, I see my little boy, I see Max, I see someone I can't live without," She shook her head, "I don't care about anything that happened, because in the end I had you, and I can't imagine a life where you don't exist in, so please Max, I beg you, don't let this change anything, I can't," Tears swirled into her eyes, hurt cut lines over her forehead and she shook her head, "I can't lose you."

Her voice broke in the end and Max immediately wrapped his arms around her, him holding into her and she did the same.

I fought for my lost breath, fought for a way to erase everything that happened, everything I've heard, everything I've seen, and every word I said.

I pressed a hand to my mouth suppressing my sob, the words I said to her yesterday hunting my consciousness, words that will follow me till the end, words I wish I died before I said. My gaze went to dad, who silently let Max and mom go through this. His eyes went from them and fell on me, and in them, I saw every bad thing they went through.

He thought we were dead, he lived through that pain for two long years. The bitter truth started to make more sense, the dots connecting. I lived my first two years away from him.

When we came back, I probably didn't know him, did I?

He wasn't there when I was born, he didn't witness my first steps nor heard my first words.

No wonder he was always overprotective of me. He always expressed how terrified he is of losing me, it's because he once did.

A wide range of emotions tightened the broken muscle that is still beating against my chest. Guilt was the most prominent one. It squeezed my heart and wrapped its hand over my throat, suffocating me.

He said I will regret all of this. He was so right.

I became more aware of the destruction I caused when Max mumbled into her shoulder, "I am so sorry, mom," She only tightened her hold over him and shook her head, "No, you didn't do anything wrong, you didn't."

He pulled away from her, "But, he did," He said and the muscles of his jaw tightened. An emotion so strong darkened the green of his eyes and he stepped away, "I can't...can't stay here," he said, shaking his head as he looked between her and dad.

"Max, don't say that," Dad interfered, stepping closer to him.

"No, I should go," Max said, already turning around, "I should get out of here," He added but dad's hand reached for his arm, stopping him.

"You can't go, Max, this is your home," He stressed out, the panic of him leaving evident in his tone.

Max snatched his arm back, "No, this is your home, not mine."

Dad shook his head, "What's mine is yours."

"No, it's not, I am not your son nor you're my father," Max's words weren't meant to hurt dad, he was just stating the bitter truth of what he just learned, "How did you do it? How were you able to take me in, how were you able to accept my presence, how were you even able to...love me?"

My brother's belief in himself was being shattered into pieces, his confidence, and his happiness, and it's all my fault.

This truth should've stayed hidden.

It was hidden for a reason.

If only I've known, I would've never...

He looked between them both, "Don't lie and tell me it wasn't hard, don't tell me I was something good that came into your lives, no, I was just...just an unbearable reminder of some violent attack...of a very very horrible time."

"No, you weren't, you are the only good thing that came out of that horrible time, your mother and I were broken, but then you came, and you gave us hope," Dad said, trying to make Max understand, "You can't ask me how I loved you, Max I was there when you were born, I wasn't even there when she was born!" He added in frustration as he pointed at me, "I held you when you had just come into this life, you were so small, so innocent," Dad's voice tightened with every emotion he was trying to keep in, "I could care less about the biology part of it, you are my son, so how could you ask me that...for god's sake without you, without both of you," He said, addressing me as well, "I am nothing."

The intensity of his words was another punch to my heart and to Max's as well, I saw how the pain twisted his expression with every letter. I knew how much dad loved us, that's why I was so shocked by the facts and the proof Christian presented to me. It hurts because it came from someone I loved the most, and now I understood, it's not till now that I understood how much it must've hurt him when it came from me...from someone he loved.

I came barging in, calling him words. Calling them both liars. If they had told me about this, I would've hidden it from Max as well, I would've lied as well.

I would've been a liar too.

"Max, I know how you're feeling right now," Dad added, his voice lowered, the gravity of everything happening, pulling him further down, "You have no idea how much I understand everything you're going through at this moment," There was a hidden meaning behind his words, "But you can't let this change anything, you can't let this control you or your life."

"How can I not?" Max questioned, he looked so helpless, "This changes everything."

He was about to walk away but dad stopped him again, terrified if he left, he would never come back, "Don't go, Max, please."

"I am just doing both of you a favor," He said and I wanted to stand up and talk...say something, anything, but I just couldn't. I was scared I'd just make it worse.

"No, Max, you are not," My mom tried to make him look past the anger and the pain.

Dad interjected, "You can't go-"

"You don't have the right to tell me what I can and can't, you're not my dad!" Max's hurt had him saying that back, he was overwhelmed, the news overpowering his logic, and replacing all the good with bad. Unlike me, he didn't mean to hurt dad. I understood him, because, at the moment, he felt like he lost everything.

He felt he came out of someone evil. He felt that this will control his life forever.

I felt the same thing three days ago.

He walked away and both of them followed, still trying to reason with him, while I was still frozen down in the spot, drinking in the feedback of the ruin I caused.

The sound of the car's engine being pulled to live just outside had me jumping up from my seat. I had to do something, I had to stop this from happening. I had to fix this, one way or another.

I realized I am too late when my eyes fell on dad and mom right outside but Max's car was gone. Yesterday and today took their toll on mom and she sat down on the porch, her body failing her as her chest heaved out for one normal breath.

On hesitant steps, I walked closer to her, my pulse took off a sprint as that word kept echoing in my head over and over again. I didn't know what to say, how to explain, how to apologize...nothing, nothing could take all of this back.

Nothing could fix this.

My throat clogged up with everything I didn't want to feel as my hand reached for her arm, just wanting her to look at me, I just wanted to see my mother back, not the broken look in her eyes, not the one I caused, but the moment I made contact with her skin, she pulled away, she didn't look at my side as she blankly said, "Don't."

My touch had her getting up and she walked inside the house, getting far away from me.

I was about to follow her, "Mom," I tried to say but he wrapped his hand over my arm and pulled me away from her.

I gasped at the sudden action and looked up at him, "Are you happy now?" He asked, the disappointed look in his eyes is something I can't get used to, "Did you see what you did?" Accusation flared in his eyes and voice, "Do you understand now that we hid the truth for a reason, do you get that this is bigger than just you!"

My heart shook under the harshness of his tone and he let my arm go, "If anything happens to Max, anything," His words held a threat and a warning, "I will never forgive you, Lilly."

I would never forgive myself.

I helplessly shook my head, "I didn't know."

"That's why you should've listened to me, that's why you should've came to me and just asked, I would've told you, I would've explained it, there was no need to bring Max into this!"

"If you told me from the beginning, I would've kept my mouth shut," I mumbled, "You don't understand how hurtful it was to learn it the way I did, I wasn't thinking straight dad, I still can't," I brokenly whispered, "I thought you used to tell me everything."

"Do you think it is ever easy to talk about this," He questioned, his eyebrows pulling closer, "Do you think it doesn't kill your mother that both of you know about this now," He added, "You think I would've let any of you know about this if you haven't stood there and judged her the way you did!"

I didn't know what to say.

What could I say?

"I always said you're like your mother in lots of things, but no," He shook his head, "You're nothing like her, and it will take a lot, hell a lot for you to be just part of the woman she is."

He is right. He is so right.

"Your mother placed herself in danger, she put her life at stake for those she loved; for me, for you, and for Max, but you, you don't care how your words and actions hurt everyone around you," And by everyone...he meant everyone.

He pushed past me, walking back into the house, back to her and I followed, I needed to talk with her. My footsteps had dad stopping by the door, he turned to me and his eyebrow raised, "Where do you think you're going?"

I gulped down, "You're kicking me out again?" I asked, ever so weakly, because that's how I felt. Weak. I don't have the strength to face this...to face my mistakes.

He nodded, "You don't have a place in my house anymore," he was doing to me what I did to him, he is breaking my heart.

I walked closer, and my tears started falling, "Dad, please, I just want to talk to mom, please."

He shook his head, "You don't have the right to do that now, not after what you said to her."

I sniffled and wiped at my cheeks, "Please," I begged him to but he only gave me his back as a response.

"I know that...that you're disappointed in me."

That stopped him and he turned around to face me, "No, I am not disappointed in you," He shook his head and his words hurt, physically hurt, "I am actually disappointed at myself that I couldn't raise you well."

I wanted to stay strong, I needed to and I needed to know one more thing only, one thing to help me come to terms with everything, "I know now why you killed Nikolas now, but why did you...kill Lucas?" I asked, and I saw how the muscles of his back tensed.

His shocked eyes fell on me, "How do you know this?"

I shook my head, "Please just answer me, dad, you said if I asked, you'd answer, so why...why did you kill him?" What's the reason that pushed you to ruin Christian's life so he would come back and ruin mine?

He took a step forward, "Who told you this, Lilly?" He asked, more strict this time, "Who?"

I shook my head, "I told you I saw it."

I couldn't say, how could I say it's Christian, it felt like dad would just hate me more, he'll blame me for bringing him into our lives, for giving him a chance to know us and study us all.

Oh my god, it's all me, it's really all my fault. I can't tell him...I can't.

"Who made you see it?" Dad asked, bewildered, "Lilly, for god's sake, give me a damn answer!"

"No one, dad, no one, so please just...just answer me," I begged.

He shook his head, "After all of this and you still don't have faith in me, do you?" He said, "You think I did what I did for the heck of it? That all of that didn't kill a part of me as well?"

He shook his head, "So no, I am not giving you any more answers, you lost the right to that when you refused to hear me out the first time."

"Dad, I am not trying to hurt you-"

"But, you did," He interrupted me, "I just really wonder where did I go wrong with you, because you see, everyone close to me had hurt me in a way," He said, and I felt his pain, I felt it in his eyes and between his words, "But you know who hurt me the most?"

"She had the same name as yours," He added, most probably referring to my grandma, his mother, "She was so selfish, so are you."

"And I thought no one could cause more harm than she already did, but here you are, living up to your real name," And for the first time ever, he called me that name, "Leya."

He turned around and shut the door behind him. He left me there, all alone, with nowhere else to go. The pain crashed into my being with full force, carrying with it every single thing I didn't want to feel. The agony escaped my throat in a whimper and I clutched into my stomach, trying to keep myself standing, in a world that ruined my parents and had me ruining them as well.

I did exactly what Christian wanted.

I fell into his little twisted game.

I took dad's strength away and played on his weakness.

I broke my own family.

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

Max's POV

Everything changed.

Every fucking thing. Cold slipped through my veins, the words I heard slammed me. One by one, they struck me, battered and beat my mind, like an everlasting penalty, to pay for a crime I didn't commit.

I rode down the streets, searching. For what, I didn't know.

My fingers tightened over the steering wheel. A shuddered breath burned as I drew it in, my lungs pressing against my ribs, and I replayed everything in my mind, from the very start. From my first memory, up till this day.

I know my parents loved me, they never had me doubting otherwise. They didn't need to reassure me, but the thing is, my confidence is slowly being destroyed, my beliefs, in myself, and in those around me are rapidly fluttering due to this.

I remember reading a psychology book that said deviant behavior was genetic, and now I worry whether that evil is embedded in my genes. Whether people could tell, somehow, that I'd been created from violence...that maybe one day, I'd be just like him.

The thought alone had me pulling the car to the side of the road, parking there for a moment, stopping to take one deep breath. Fire clashed with the cold, and pain pelted my insides.

I pressed the back of my head against the headrest, and I ran my hands over my face trying to see light throughout this dark path, but I failed.

Did I ruin their lives?

He told me I was good that came out of the bad, but I am still part of the bad.

The bad was in my DNA.

I pressed my eyes shut, trying to block all of it out, but I couldn't. I was slowly losing control over myself and my thoughts. Guilt spun, stoking the agitation that was working its way free. The guilt pressed against my chest. Guilt that didn't belong to me. A guilt I have to bear for the rest of my life with no choice of my own.

My eyelids glided open and I looked at the rearview mirror, staring at my reflection, and I couldn't help but wonder, which part of me was his?

Is it the eyes? The same eyes my mother was forced to look at every day for over nineteen years.

Frantic, my hand reached for the handle and opened the door. I stumbled out of the car, searching for air to fill my suffocating lungs. I ran out of the house, with no destination in mind. I stared down the almost-empty road before my gaze flickered to the line of trees at the side, leading down to the forest.

I rubbed a hand over my aching chest. With my shoulders hunched in defeat, I stuffed my hands in my pockets and strode down that line of trees, searching for my absent breath and for one right thing that could come out of this, but I still found none.

I wish I didn't know.

This truth was better kept hidden from me.

I wished I continued to live my life without this voice in my head telling me I've hurt those that I love the most. My mom and my...my dad.

I didn't want to lose that. That bond we have, I can't lose it, but this makes me feel like I will.

I wandered around for some time, hoping for my mind to be cleared, for that voice to just shut up. The lost feeling still chased my consciousness, and helplessly, I headed back to my car, still with no way to go to and no known destination.

Once I arrived back at where my car is, one thing had changed. One thing out of the ordinary.

Some guy was laying against it, twirling something in his hand...a knife. At my footsteps, his gaze flickered from it and fell on me. A small smile lifted his lips and he straightened himself, "Well, took you long enough," He said, amusement flickered all over his words.

Confused, I looked behind me to see another car parked a few miles away, a group of guys, four or maybe five were gathered there and at my sight, they made their way closer to us.

I wasn't looking for trouble, especially not now. I had enough shit on my plate already. Deciding to ignore whatever...this is. I reached for the door's handle, but that guy's hand landed over my shoulder, "Where are you going?" He asked, a hint of an accent in his voice, "We didn't even start playing yet."

My jaw tightened at the insinuation behind his tone, and my fingers wrapped over his wrist, pushing his arm away from me. When I turned around, the other five guys were already here just by our side, and I could sense the sudden shift in the air, the danger, and the alarm in my head blared, telling me to get into the damn car and leave.

But they had other plans.

"You know, someone your age shouldn't be wandering around all alone," The guy with the knife said, his eyebrows pulled closer and he shook his head, "Uh sorry, I should've said that differently, I meant, someone with your last name shouldn't be wandering around all alone."

His words made no sense, only multiplying the trepidation every nerve in my being felt.

The muscle of my jaw tightened, "I am not looking for trouble," I said and turned back to get into my car, "But we are," He said, and this time, his hand grabbed my shoulder even harsher and he pulled me away from the car. My last patient nerve fired up and I whirled around, my fist aimed and it collided with his jaw, pushing him the fuck away from me, "I said, I am not looking for trouble!" I shot out through gritted teeth.

The guy chuckled and he wiped at the side of his mouth, "Wrong move," He commented, his eyes harsh and ruthless, and...I couldn't register what happened next. The guys that were gathered around him came at me, all at once, one from the front, and one from behind. He held my arms back and before I could fight back, I felt the force of one's punch slam me in the jaw.

My head whipped in the other direction as a result and pain rushed through every nerve in my being as I received one hit after the other. I groaned in anger and in pain, I struggled out of their hold, my legs kicked on them, searching for a release but they were more in number, they were older, stronger.

It was just me. Against them all.

A fist landed over my stomach, pushing me backward and slamming me hard against the car's door. I flung my arm to try and defend myself, but as I fought one guy, the other's fist flew on me, it collided at my shoulder and a loud groan of pain rumbled from my throat as I felt my bones crack under their merciless attack.

They didn't let go, they didn't give me a chance, it was four against one. By the end, one of them ran toward me, his shoulder and elbow aimed and I felt his attack deep inside my stomach. Blood spurted out of my mouth, the metallic taste consuming my senses, and my vision blurred as my back slammed harshly against the car, and the back of my head hit the glass of the window.

My body gave up under their assaults, my knees unable to hold me anymore and I went down.

The guy with the knife walked closer and stopped beside me. He didn't fight me, no, he let them do the dirty work. He crouched right in front of me, still twirling the knife in his hand. His hostile gaze focused on me and my messed up current state.

I was fighting through everything to stay conscious, to keep my eyes open, but the world around me was slowly turning into a blur.

The sounds. The voices...everything.

My gaze was down, focused on the knife in his hand, on the black handle. The silver cursive on one end was all I saw before I felt the coldness of the knife penetrate through my skin. The shock my body went through made me feel nothing at first, he twisted the knife at the side of my abdomen and I groaned, the pain finally sinking in, overpowering me and my failing body.

"Sometimes it's good to have a medical background," He commented, very amused, "Lets me know exactly where your kidneys are," He pulled the knife out and without a warning, pushed it back again, twisting it and I gasped, the pain unbearable and I felt myself slowly losing my consciousness.

"I am sorry, little one," He said, his hand over my shoulder, his mouth beside my ear as he added, "Consider this as payback to your father," He said, "Both of them, actually."

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

Alex's POV

"Where are you going?" Cara asked when she saw me putting my jacket on.

"I don't know," I said, shaking my head, "I have to find him, I will search everywhere, I will go to the campus, I'll call his friends, anything, I need to find him."

Something doesn't feel right. I have to see him, make sure he is okay, get him back home, and talk to him about everything else.

She nodded, agreeing, "Okay, tell me if you find him, please." She said and my eyes fell on hers, on the redness under them, on the devastation that I haven't seen in so long.

I inched closer, my hand rested over her cheek, "I will, cupcakes," I said, leaning closer, I left a kiss over her forehead.

I grabbed my keys, my phone and hopped into the car. I started the engine and took off on the road. I had called him a million times since he left, but he didn't answer. As I wandered the streets, I called each and every friend he has, but none of them had seen him nor heard from him.

Worry pressed harder and tighter over my chest, my panic level increasing with every minute passing, the trepidation that something is wrong had my nerves shaking with fear, the worst scenarios playing in my head. My pulse took off a sprint over the thought that he is hurt, that he is in pain because I wasn't careful enough with the truth.

Just when I was losing count of the places I could find him in, my phone started ringing, my eyes widened when I saw Max's name flash through the screen, I pulled the phone out of its holder and pressed the answer icon. Placing the phone to my ear, I used the other hand to park the car aside as I concentrated on him only.

"Max," I said, hopeful.

"Dad," His voice came so low, so low it killed me, and out of breath.

"Max, are you okay?" I asked, worry flared in my voice and I fidgeted uncomfortably in my seat, "Where are you?"

I heard his heavy breaths before he managed to say, "They came out of nowhere, I...I couldn't-"

My eyes widened, "Max, what happened?" I asked, "Where are you?"

"I don't know," He mumbled weakly and my chest squeezed so hard, "There is....is so much blood."

My heart skipped a beat at his words, "Max, son, please, tell me where you are, I am gonna come there so fast, just tell me where are you?"

"I was...driving, and then I stopped-"

"Where did you stop?" I asked, my panic firing up every nerve in my being, "Can you...can you send me your location, please, can you?"

A moment of silence came from his side, multiplying the worry and I raked my hand through my hair, "Max?" I said, trying to catch my lost breath as I began to think of whatever situation he is in at the moment.

I pulled my phone away when I heard the ding sound of a message, "Okay, I got it," I said, placing the phone on speaker as I hurridly opened his location and placed the phone in its holder, "I am gonna be there as fast as I can, just hang on, okay son?" I asked, my feet on the gas pedal, speeding down the road and to his direction.

"Okay," His very low voice twisted my stomach into a hundred million knots.

"Max, just stay with me on the line, keep talking to me, okay?" I requested, trying to keep him hanging on with me, trying to keep him awake as I get myself there.

"I am also gonna call an ambulance, so maybe they can reach you before me," I said, pulling my work phone from the glove box and immediately dialed 911.

Once I gave them his location, I hung up and focused on him, "Max, keep talking to me, please, just stay with me," I said, my heart frantic, my fingers grabbing tighter over the steering wheel as I sped in between cars, turning and moving with no regard to anything else but him, "Tell me what happened."

"He had a knife and he...," He said and I bit at the side of my cheek, my pulse took off a speed, beating so fast I was sure it's gonna ram a hole right through my chest, "He said...that," Max sucked into a weak breath, unable to talk more.

"Okay, okay, just breathe," I urged him, "You don't have to say anything, just stay with me, okay, I am already losing my mind over here, Max, you're gonna be okay, I promise."

"Dad," he said, ever so brokenly, "I am so...sorry."

I shook my head, my heart thundered so hard I felt it in my ears, "No, don't say that, you didn't do anything wrong son, you didn't," My inside burst under the impact of the situation, "It's all my fault, you didn't do anything wrong."

"I didn't mean what I said," He said, and the sound of his stuttering rasped breath echoing in the car around me sliced through me with a pain I thought I got used to, "You're my father."

I nodded, "I am, I am, and I love you so much, Max," His words only wound the anxiety tighter through my chest, made it harder to breathe as I pushed harder and faster down the street, "I am sorry if I failed you, I just wanted to protect you from all of this, I wanted to give you a good life."

"You did," He said, his pained voice twisted me in its fingers, wringing me from the inside, "You gave me everything."

"I would give you my life," I would do anything to make this alright again.

"Dad, it...hurts," Real physical pain reverberated in his words and I slammed my hand over the steering wheel, angry at this fucking life.

He is a kid for god's sake, he is just a kid!

"I am almost there," I assured him, emotions tightened my throat and went all the way to my eyes, swirling and exposing my weakness.

The agony and the fear in his next words were something I will never forget, "Dad...I don't, I don't want to die."

"Max, don't say that! You are gonna be okay!" I stressed out, his words slamming me one hit after another and the first tear scrolled down my cheek, "You gonna be just fine, I promise, you trust me, right son?"

"Yes...I do."

"You will be just fine, you will be okay," You have to, "And later on, we'll go back home and we will talk about all of this," I said, refusing any other option, "Max, there is so much I want to tell you," I said.

"I just want to know one thing," He said, heaving for a breath, "You cared about...him, why?"

"Because he is my brother," I answered him, "And there is so much more about him that you don't know."

"Please tell me he wasn't all bad," He said and I could hear the tears in his voice, the doubt, and the fear.

"He wasn't bad, he was just someone who's been through hell a lot," I told him whatever my brain could manage to make out through the panic I was feeling.

"Will you tell me...everything?"

"I will tell you everything, just hang on a bit longer, okay?"

"I...I can't," Weakness overcame his voice.

"Please, just stay awake, keep listening to me, Max," I said, my heart breaking under the impact of everything happening. Cara and I, we can't lose him, we just...can't. It's not fair.

"Max?" I whispered his name when no other sound came from his side.

I slammed my fist over the steering wheel, "Fuck!" I growled, unable to understand what was happening, or why...who did this, who the fuck dared to touch him?!

"I am almost there," I said, even though he wasn't listening anymore, "Just keep breathing, son, I am almost there."

The minutes turned hours in my mind but finally, I reached. I knew I was at the right place when I saw the ambulance car with its flashing lights and siren blaring. I stumbled out of the car and rushed toward the paramedics, in a haze, I pushed myself through them and toward him.

Someone's hand stopped me, it held me back, "Sir, you can't-"

"He is my son!" I snapped at him, snatching his hand away before I rushed to his side.

My whole world came crashing as my gaze took him in, took into his bruised pale face, to the blood dripping down the side of his mouth, to his white shirt, to the blood wrapping over it like a second color.

They were placing an oxygen mask on his mouth and I inched closer, my hand went to his cheek, "Max?" I whispered, my vision blurry, and my heart stopped beating altogether when I saw him in this state, I shook my head, "No, no."

They pulled him into the ambulance and away from me, I wanted to reach for him again but one of them asked me to follow them and I don't know how I was still functioning, how my body was moving, how I drove the car, following the ambulance to the hospital.

All I knew is, my son was hurt, he is in pain, and I was losing everything all over again.

In the hospital, they immediately pulled him to the operation room and closed the door behind, leaving me on the other side, slowly dying with worry and panic. The gravity of his words, his pained voice, his current state pulled at my inside and I sat down, defeated.

Life defeated me, won over me, when it played on my biggest weakness.

I pressed my elbows over my knees, and my fingers raked through my hair, grasping into them, frustrated, bewildered, angry, so angry. How could life be so cruel? Max didn't do anything wrong, he can't pay for my mistakes, or for Nikolas's mistakes. He can't.

My thoughts drifted to Cara and my heart broke once again. I couldn't tell her this through the phone, knowing she is all alone in the house and I can't leave Max alone here either.

I pulled my phone and dialed Ashton, "Hello," He said, quickly answering after the first ring.

"Ashton, it's Max," I said, "He is hurt, I am at the hospital with him now, I can't leave him, can you go and get Cara?" I requested, "Yes, I am on my way, which hospital?" He asked in a hurry, worry clouded his tone and I heard shuffling from his side, knowing he is already heading out.

I answered him and placed the phone away, my eyes focused on the one door separating from my son, and couldn't help but feel like it is all my fault.

I failed him.

I couldn't keep Max safe.

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

Lilly's POV

After hours of aimlessly wandering around the streets, exhaustion consumed me whole, my energy slowly depleting, my hands and legs shaking with the lack of food and sleep and I found myself knocking at Aunt Katherine's house.

I had nowhere else to go.

A few seconds and she opened the door, "Lilly," She said, worry cut lines over her forehead when she took into my miserable state. I wondered what she thought of me, after the way I dealt with my parents last night, would she kick me out as well?

Before I could dwell further over the thought, her hand circled over my arm and she pulled me inside the house, "Oh sweetie, come inside," She said, ever so softly and I couldn't hold my tears back. I felt her arms wrap around me almost immediately, soothing me, something I didn't deserve, but she was always too good to me, and to everyone. Something Chase took from her.

She rubbed at my back and mumbled, "It's okay, it will be okay," She tried to assure me but I was fully aware how nothing will be okay ever again.

When I pulled away, I wiped at my cheeks, and right when I was about to talk, "Katherine!" The urgency of uncle Ashton's voice and his hurried footsteps had us both turning around, "It's Max, he-" His words paused when his eyes fell on me.

Panic took over me again and I stepped forward, "What happened to Max?"

He sucked into a deep breath, "It's good you're here," he said, "Max is in the hospital, your dad is there with him, so let's go get your mother."

"What?" I gasped.

Oh my god, no, not this.

"What happened?" Katherine asked.

He shook his head, "I don't know," He said, "Katherine, we'll go get Cara, you go to the hospital to Alex."

She immediately nodded and scurried away, while Ashton's hand curled over my arm, pulling me out of my haze, "Let's go!"

I rushed with him to the car, my mind lost in the possibilities of what must've happened. Max is hurt, my little brother is hurt...and it's all my fault.

Oh my god, what happened?

I didn't allow myself to be weak, not now, it wasn't the time. I needed to be strong for my mom. It felt so hard to not let this news break the last string holding my being together, but the guilt, the fear, the agony my parents would go through now had me pushing every single thing to the back of my mind, and I focused on my part in this.

Hope. I needed to have hope, that Max will be okay. He will be, there is no other way. If we lost him, none of us would be able to get out of this. So no, we won't. Max will be okay.

The determination had me jumping from the car the moment uncle Ashton stopped and I ran to the door, knocking and ringing the bell. I heard mom's hurried footsteps before she opened the door. I didn't give her time to show her anger at me, this was more important, "Mom, it's Max," I said, my hand reached for hers, "He is in the hospital, dad is with him, so let's go."

Her eyes widened and I tightened my hold over hers, "What happened?" She asked, and whatever look of pain I saw in her eyes in the morning, it weighted nothing in front of the look that consumed her expression now.

I shook my head, trapping all my tears inside, "I don't know, but let's go, please."

She immediately closed the door and I pulled her with me to the car. I got beside her in the back as uncle Ashton rushed us to the hospital, he asked her to calm down, he told her that Max will be okay but she was past thinking with hope at this moment.

I tightened my hand over hers, "Mom, Max is gonna be okay," I said, trying to pave her way through this, "He will be fine," I can't accept any other option. She looked at me and I nodded my head, "We are not losing him, okay?"

She gave me a low nod, her eyes swimming with tears as she tightened her hand over mine. Once we were at the hospital, we all went down and headed fast toward the entrance. We learned where the operation room was and once we spotted dad, mom rushed to him, bombarding him with so many questions.

"They're still inside," He said, his hands rested over her arms, pulling her closer and calming her.

Right that moment, someone walked out of the operation room, grabbing all of our attention, dad immediately stepped forward, "How is my son?" My mom asked, her voice choked and hoarse.

The doctor pulled down his mask and I pulled into a deep breath, "He is still under surgery at the moment," he said, "His right kidney was seriously injured, the artery supplying it with blood was destroyed under the knife's stabs, so, unfortunately, we had to remove it," His words had my mom pressing my hand to my mouth, the shock behind the seriousness of this situation slammed her hard.

"But...but he's gonna be okay, right?" Dad asked, his words so uncertain.

"We are trying to stabilize him at the moment, his other kidney wasn't as injured as his right one, but still, his blood pressure is currently unstable, and our main fear is for his other kidney to fail," He hit us with the bad news and I staggered backward, unable to make sense of everything.

"We will do our best, and we'll keep him under intensive care for at least seventy-two hours," The doctor said, fixing up his mask again, "I will keep you updated on his case."

He went back in there and the thought of staying strong didn't feel so convenient at the moment, not when I saw my mom breaking into tears, aunt Katherine and dad tried to calm her, but they all looked uncertain either.

I staggered backward and away from them, it was too much to take in, too sudden to process. The doctors' words kept repeating through my head, knife...stabbed...Someone hurt him.

Max is your father's weakness.

"No," I mumbled, shaking my head, "No, please no."

I pressed a hand to my chest, scared my heart is about to jump out and shatter into the floor.

What's better than to play on your dad's weakness.

I slammed my back against the wall, trying to keep myself standing.

No, Christian, no, what did you do?

I needed to tell dad, I should tell him, but how can I when they're both breaking down under everything I've done. How can I manage to break them more than I already did?

I pulled my phone out, my fingers trembling as I dialed him. I walked further away from everyone, waiting for him to answer.

"It's been a while," were the first words he said when he picked up.

"What did you do?" I asked in disbelief, my fingers tightening over the phone.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said, every so cluelessly.

"Max is a red line, Christian!" I snapped, and tears of anger and hurt spilled down over my face, "You crossed that line and I am gonna kill you for it!"

"You are your father's daughter, after all, wouldn't expect less from you," He commented with mockery.

"Don't you dare mention my dad again, your father hurt my family," I didn't need dad to tell me that, it was the only reason I could come up with, "I am sure he deserved to die, and if anything happens to Max, so will you!"

I hung up and clung to the anger surging through my veins. Till I make sure Max's state is stable, till I make sure dad is in his right senses, I will tell him everything. He'll hate me more, he'll be a hundred times more disappointed in me. He will blame me, but it's okay.

He should blame me.

I hurt my own brother.

He said someone should pay the price, and no way I am letting Christian get away with this.

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

Three days later...

Alex's POV

Nerve-racking.

This wait has been the worst wait of my whole life. My nerves breaking down with every passing second and minute.

Cara's state hasn't been any better. I've spent the past three days trying to get her to eat and rest but she was beyond thinking logically. I couldn't blame her. They have been keeping Max in intensive care, trying to stabilize his state and they wouldn't even let us see him, which only worsened the situation.

I wanted to let the anger consume me like it once did, get out of here and search for whoever did this, but I wasn't going to repeat mistakes I made years ago. I stayed here, by my wife's side, and waited for my son to get better and I let that job...for those who can handle it better.

I am going to find who did this and death wouldn't be a sentence I will give them. No, nothing I ever did before will measure up to what I will do for who dared lay a hand on my son and threaten his life and health this way.

Ashton, Katherine, and Chase didn't leave our sides, when one leaves, the other comes. Lilly has been here all the time as well, but I didn't look at her side once, scared if I saw her, if I opened my mouth, I will end up doing more damage to her than that slap.

For now, I focused on one thing only, Max getting out of this risky time without any problem.

Everything else can be dealt with later.

The doctor asked to see us in his office, Cara and I sat there, anxiously waiting for him. I roughed my palm over the top of my head and ran it down to grip the tense muscles in my neck, doing my best to shove down the nerves that spiked inside of me, terrified he is carrying bad news.

"Unfortunately, what we were scared of is happening," The doctor started and everything came crashing again.

I tightened my hold over Cara's hand as he carried on explaining, "His other kidney is slowly failing, we have been trying dialysis for the past days to keep him stabilized, but due to his current unstable blood pressure, his body is not tolerating dialysis as we expected he would."

I swallowed down the terror hat was building steadily, "So, what now?"

"Since his kidney is slowly deteriorating, we have two options now, but both have their risks," He suggested, "We can either give him more time, his blood pressure could be stabilized as time passes by and dialysis can work, and everything will be alright, but if we couldn't control his pressure, then we would have just wasted time."

Cara gulped down, "And the second option?"

"A kidney transplant," He announced, "But the issue is with the waiting list for a matching donor, which makes this choice less applicable, it could take months and months, especially given other's people critical conditions, your son could not qualify to make it to the top of the list."

"What about a living donor?" I asked, refusing to give up yet.

Cara nodded, "As his parent, isn't there a possibility for a match?"

The doctor nodded, "A parent could have more than a fifty percent chance of tissue matching, if you are willing, we can run the necessary tests, then see," He suggested and we both nodded.

Then, I remembered, "But uh.." I ran my hand over my face, "I am not his biological father," I mumbled, hating to say it out loud, "I am his uncle."

The doctor shrugged, "In cases like this, the first degree relatives, also siblings are with the highest possibilities of a match," He carried on, "If you want to proceed with this second option, we can start immediately with the tests and not waste more time on him."

Both Cara and I nodded, "Of course, if any of us would happen to be a match, we'll do it."

There was still hope.

My son is going to be okay.

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

Two days later...

Lilly's POV

My legs bounced with the nerves prodding my anxious feet as I paced around the corridor, waiting for the results of the tests to come out.

The moment my parents informed us about of the whole kidney matching procedure, I was more than ready to test as well. He is my brother, I could be a match. I hope I will be, I would give him my life if I can.

Oh god, I hope one of us at least be a match. I can't handle not seeing Max any longer. I can't handle him being in pain.

I just want him to be okay again. To hear him talk, to have him tease me, annoy me, hear his laugh and see his sweet smile.

The smile I stole.

I felt a hand wrap over my hand, shaking me out of my bitter thoughts and stopping me from moving around, my gaze flickered to meet Chase's eyes, "Just calm down a bit," He urged, addressing my shaken-up state.

He and his parents didn't leave our sides, they also volunteered to check for a match, but the doctor stressed on the idea to test the first-degree relatives at first, then after that, we can consider what other options we could have.

I shook my head, "I can't," I mumbled, "What if this won't work, what will we do?"

He shook his head, "Don't think like that, there is always a way," he assured me, "Max is going to be just fine."

I sucked into a deep breath and walked with him back to where my parents are seated. Both just as anxious as me. We haven't talked at all, haven't discussed everything happening, not when there is a bigger threat on our hands.

I didn't try to open a conversation with them, scared I would end up causing more damage. I've been practicing in my head everything I will say, and how exactly will I say it.

I will. Just not right now.

"I did something," Dad mumbled, his gaze that was on the floor drifted to mom.

She whipped her head to his direction, and her eyebrows pulled closer, "Alex, what did you do?"

He shook his head, "It was the only way."

She seemed to understand his words and before she could ask more, the door opened and the nurse walked to us, a small smile curved her lips, "We have a match," She announced and my heart jumped out of the confines of my chest.

"Who?" I asked, unable to hold my relief.

A moment of silence took over everyone before, "Me," Some voice said, a voice I could swear I have heard before.

My gaze followed the voice's sources and they fell on the man that came from behind the nurse, his eyes were only on my mother, questioning, almost like taking permission.

Confused, I looked at her, she didn't seem shocked, she just nodded her head, "Just save my son."

He gave her a reassuring nod, his gaze flickering down to the floor for a fleeting second. He sucked into a deep breath, preparing himself, before his gaze slowly drifted to me.

His eyes clashed with mine and the sight of them pushed me backward. My eyes widened and I staggered, my hands searching for something to hold into, they fell over Chase's arm, using him to balance myself.

"Oh my god-"

He didn't look away, his green eyes searching mine for something.

Eyes just like...just like Max's.

"Who is that?" Chase mumbled from behind me.

I searched for my lost breath as I said, "That's my uncle."

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

I am gonna hit publish and disappear. You can freak out and swear at me in the comments xD

Bye, love ya all!