A/N: Hi, Amores! I just wanted to say that now that I am a Wattpad Creator, I will do my very best to write this story to the end even though I'm really struggling right now because of my schedule. After that, I will start another story. I mentioned on my post the other day that Red's story would be the next story after this, but I made changes for the sake of the plot of Red's official story. I won't explain everything here yet, but you will see the moment the next story begins, so stay tuned! Bon weekend and happy reading!

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SABINA's POV

I bit my lower lip as I tried my best to prevent myself from crying while watching the car of Xzavier driving away. I couldn't understand what I was feeling. Yes, he already confessed everything to me and through that, I learned something about my family that I didn't know about.

A part of me wanted nothing but to go after him but the other part of me was preventing me from doing so.

"Xzav..."

When his car was out of my sight, I slowly walked towards the bed and sat there while staring into space. If everything that had happened didn't happen, I'm sure, I would easily forgive Xzavier. My heart already did but my mind was contradicting the decision of my heart.

I slowly laid down on my back as my feet remained touching the floor, and then slowly closed my eyes.

'You're finally mine now, Sabina, and from now on, you will do everything that I want whatever it is.' I opened my eyes as those words echoed in my head as if it just happened yesterday. I touched my chest as I realized that I was already breathing hard.

I swallowed as I raked my fingers through my hair.

"Liar. You came to my rescue, huh? Then, how come that scene keeps on coming back to me, haunting me like I was in a nightmare? I waited for you, Xzav. I trusted your words and believed that you would eventually come and save me from that hell hole that I was in but you never come." I chuckled full of bitterness that I could almost taste it.

"Xzavier is not perfect, sweetie. Just like everyone of us, he's got his own share of mistakes and shortcomings." I gasped upon hearing that and sat up right away upon seeing who it was.

"Dad! You startled me!" He chuckled and sat next to me.

"I'm sorry for startling you. I knocked but looked like you were too busy staring at the ceiling that you didn't even hear it. The door was half-way closed that's why I decided to come in to check on you and I was right. You're sad." Upon hearing that, my tears fell like a dam. I threw my arms around him and cried on his shoulder.

"Cry everything out and you'll surely feel a lot better after." He consoled me while gently rubbing my back, calming me. I felt like I suddenly became a little girl, crying in my father's arms.

Sometimes, I missed being a child because everything is about butterflies and unicorns. You only recognize what heartbreak and pain are when you're already old enough to understand life; sometimes you're too hurt that you find yourself wishing to go back being a child again to escape the pain. If only that was possible.

I didn't know how long I cried like that until my tears finally dried up.

"Are you feeling okay now?" My father then asked tenderly. I slowly nodded my head as I remained leaning the side of my head on his shoulder. He heaved a sigh.

"I know that hearing the man you love admitting of using you to achieve his plans is painful but at least for me, I appreciate that he became honest and is willing to do everything the right way. He even faced your mother and I's wrath but he didn't back down. Such a brave man. Now that you heard his side of the story, what will you do now? Forgive him or totally erase him out of your life?" Erase him out of my life and would never see him again? Can I even do that? Just imagining the possibility of it almost made my heart stop beating.

He sighed again. "I'm your father and I'll support you no matter what you choose. But I will be honest with you too. I've been quiet about this these past few years because that was what he asked me to do." I looked at him with my eyebrows creased.

"What are you trying to say, dad? Quiet about what?"

"You asked Xzavier a while ago why he didn't come to your rescue and he said, he came, but you didn't believe him, right?" I nodded my head, confused.

"Well, he was telling the truth, sweetie. I don't know the detail about it because I wasn't there but he was the one who made sure that you and your mother would escape Safe Haven unscathed."

"W-What? But he wasn't there. Ez and the others were the ones who rescued us."

He smiled. "Yes, because Xzavier sent them to save the two of you. He kept his promise. Not only that. He looked for me because he wanted to make you happy by reuniting our family. He was the one who saved me from those men who tried to kidnap me before we got reunited more than three years ago." I gaped at him in disbelief, unable to utter any word.

"Yes, sweetie. Remember about the penthouse in Paris where we stayed at for three months before coming here to Lyon?"

"Y-Yes. What about it?"

"That was Xzavier's penthouse. He was also the one who recommended your mother and I to the Novell family that's why we got accepted here in the ranch. Every good thing that happened back then was all Xzavier's doing.

"Without his help, it wouldn't be that easy for us to start fresh again. He chose to send us here to Claudette ranch because he knew that we would be safe here. He did all that because of you.

"He made sure that you would achieve your dreams and live a normal and happy life just like what you've been dreaming of ever since you were still a child. Your mother and I have been wanting to tell you about this but we respected Xzavier's decision not to inform you about it because he knew that you were mad at him. He wanted nothing but your happiness and success in life.

"Honestly, when he confessed that he used you to achieve his goals back then, I was so furious that I even punched him. Even though I knew how much he loves you, as a father, I couldn't hold back my anger.

"He accepted my negative reaction and asked for my forgiveness. Even though I got mad at him, he gained my respect. He's willing to correct his mistake and no matter how you see it, he's doing all this because of his love for you. Since you stepped out of Safe Haven, he's been taking care of you without your knowledge. You have a fine man loving you, sweetie, and I hope that whatever decision you make, you will not regret anything." I didn't even notice that tears began falling from my eyes once again but this time, the cause of these tears were different.

I stood up and headed towards the door.

"I-I need to see him." I uttered as my tears continued on pouring. My heart felt so heavy for some reason and I knew that only Xzavier could lighten it.

"But he already left. Do you know where to find him? Besides, it's already late." My steps came to a halt.

"I need to see him, dad. When I saw him driving away from here a while ago, I felt like my heart was being torn into pieces. Even though I wanted to stop him from leaving, I chose not to because I was so confused. Yes, I'm still mad at him but after hearing everything that he'd done for my sake, it felt like a door finally opened inside my heart and I suddenly know what to do. I should've stopped him from leaving a while ago. I chose my pride and looked what it got me." I was so full of regret. Before he could answer, I opened the door, determined to see Xzavier.

When I reached downstairs and was about to open the door, I saw my mom and Henry at the living room. They stood up upon seeing me.

"Where are you going at this hour, Sab?" My mom asked full of concern.

"She wants to go find Mr. Montaño." It was dad as he descends the stairs.

"What?! It's already late, Sab!"

"Mom, dad, please. I need to see him." I cried and they looked at each other with a glint of worry in their eyes.

"Oh, Sab...You really love him, do you?" I nodded my head without a second thought. My mom sighed.

"But you don't even know where he lives right now."

"Don't worry, Auntie Sarah. I'll accompany Sabina there." Everyone looked at Henry.

"You know where he lives?" Dad asked in wonder.

"Yes, Uncle. I know where he stays whenever he's here in Lyon."

"Then, bring me there, Henry."

"Okay. Just please stop crying. It doesn't suit you." I could hint the sadness in his voice. "Auntie, Uncle, don't worry about Sabina. She'll be fine."

"Please take care of your cousin, Henry."

"Don't worry, Auntie Sarah. Everything's going to be fine." Shortly after that, we went out of the house and got in my dad's car.

"Thank you for doing this for me, Henry. I'm sorry. I know that you're tired." He just came home from school.

"No need to thank me, Sabina. I've been doing this for years anyway." My forehead crinkled.

"What do you mean?" He glanced at me and smiled.

"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you about this. I just didn't want you to get mad at me." He inhaled. "You see, I've been serving as Mr. Montaño's eye around you ever since we started living here at the ranch." My jaw dropped.

"W-What?"

"Yes, Sabina. At first, I was hesitant because I didn't even know him. But then, he told me what happened between you two and how much he loved you but I was still reluctant to say yes. Then, one day, I saw you sleeping on the couch and imagine my surprise when I heard you calling for his name as a lone tear fell from your eye. Because of that, I said yes. While working for him, I saw that he's a good man. He just wanted you to be safe and happy all the time." He took a deep breath. "I hope you won't get mad at me. I just did what I thought was right back then." I bit my lower lip.

"He's been updated about what's been happening with me these past three years." I uttered in disbelief. I couldn't believe that he's been so near all this time yet I didn't even notice his presence because I was too busy resenting him while achieving my dreams without him.

"Yes, Sabina. Everytime something bad happens, he would do something to help you. You know why we decided to build you a tree house?"

"Don't tell me..."

"Yes. It was his idea. He knew that you've been wanting to have a place where you could study and relax quietly that's why he thought of surprising you with a tree house. He even came to help us out."

"What?! He came to the ranch?!" I asked in disbelief.

"Yes. That's how much dedicated he was to you. He came here from the USA just to help us complete the tree house. I can't believe his efforts when it comes to you." While listening to what Henry was saying, my heart swelled. I couldn't believe it. Wait for me, Xzav. I'm coming. Your Ina is coming...

"We're here." Henry announced after about twenty minutes.

"Thanks, Henry." I then got out of the car, ran towards the gate of that big house and pressed the doorbell button. But no one opened it. I pressed it again but it was the same.

"Oh, Xzav. Open the gate please." I was already desperate.

"Wait here, Sabina. I'll try calling him." Henry said and dialed on his phone. After a couple of attempts, he finally got a hold of him.

"I'm here in front of your gate." I heard him say before he ended the call.

"He's coming, Sabina. I'll just wait for you inside the car so that you two could talk properly."

"Thank you for doing this, Henry."

He smiled. "Don't mention it. You're my favorite cousin after all." That made me smile.

"Crazy. I'm your only cousin." He laughed. After that, he got in the car. Then, after about two minutes or so, the gate opened.

"What do you wa—Ina?" He looked shock upon seeing me that he even blinked innumerably as if trying to distinguish if I was just a figment of his imagination or not. He was topless and wearing only his shorts. His hair was messy and it was easy to tell that he's stressed out just like me.

"Y-You're really here..." He then uttered. Instead of answering, I thew my arms around him for a tight embrace. I felt his body go still but it was just for a second before his arms snaked around my waist.

"I'm sorry for pushing you away." I emotionally whispered as my eyes began watering again. Oh, God. I really become a crybaby when it comes to Xzavier. "I'm sorry because I held resentment towards you."

"You don't have anything to say sorry about, my Ina. I'm the one who should say sorry for hurting you so much. I'm sorry too because even though I planned not to show myself to you again so that you could forget about me and the pain that I've brought upon you but I couldn't stop myself from loving you even from afar.

"I felt like going crazy just thinking that you would eventually forget about me someday and maybe find someone else. I just couldn't give you up. I'm sorry for being selfish."

"No, Xzav. You're far from being selfish. You're a good man. I'm sorry for being so vague and stubborn. I was just hurt very badly that's why it was so hard for me to give you the chance to explain. But now, I regret not listening to you earlier. If I only listened to you, I could've spared us both from hurting any further." He cupped my face and our gazes met.

"Just like I've said, you don't have anything to say sorry about. Everything was my fault and I paid for that mistake for more than three years. Even after we met again, I continued on paying for my sins because of your hatred towards me.

"When you pushed me away again a while ago, I didn't know what to do. I thought, our chance to be together again was no longer possible. I thought, you wanted me out of your life for good. I admit, I felt so hurt that when I came home, I started drinking. I wanted to forget the pain."

"Oh, Xzav." Our eyes spoke silently before our lips slowly drew closer to each other until it finally touched. I gasped as the first brush of his lips against mine. Gosh. His lips really feel good.

The kiss was initially gentle before it gradually became passionate, hot and full of hunger and yearning. Our tongues danced, trying to gain dominance.

My brain went hazy. I tipped my toes and wrapped my arms around his neck while kissing him with all the love I have in my heart for him.

Then, I felt him his hands held me by the waist and hoisted me up without breaking that addicting kiss. I wrapped my legs around his waist as our kiss became wilder. I knew what would happen next as I felt him walk towards the main door of the house and the anticipation of what would happen next ignited the fire of desire within me.

I forgot everything and the only thing that was on my mind was Xzavier and what we were doing at the moment.

"I want you, Xzav. Let's make up for the lost times."

"Yes, my Ina. I'll erase all the bad memories and pain in the past. I'll make sure of that." When we finally reached his room, he put me down on the bed while gazing at me full of lust and desire. At last, nothing was holding us back.

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What do you think of this chapter, Amores?

Did you expect that Xzavier was the one who helped Sabina and her parents in the past?

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