Xaiden's POV.

I was heading back, I was going to see her. I was going to meet her, to hold her in my arms, once again. I was excited to see her after this long.

I was on a plane and heading towards America. After arranging the date to meet those people, I got on the next flight to America. My father and that other party would meet in two weeks' time. I had two weeks to do something. Although this time wasn't that long but I was glad I had this time and I wasn't going to waste it anymore.

The plane landed in America and the first thing I wanted to do after reaching here was to call them. It had been a year since I came here. I took a cab and headed to the place I had arranged to live. I wasn't going to stay in the place where I lived last time. I knew dad had cameras and everything set up there to keep an eye on me but I won't be helping him. Not this time. I had made my living arrangements beforehand and heading towards the apartment, I met the landlord. He handed me the keys and after thanking him, I settled myself in the new place.

Switching on my phone, I looked through the contacts. I wasn't sure whether I should call her directly or should I call others first. My ears were aching to hear her sweet voice. Before I could think again, my fingers tapped on her number and I placed the phone against my ear. My heart beating faster in my rib cage as my mind wondering about what would be the first word she would say.

Probably a hello or who are you? It was my new number and I was sure that she would have also deleted my old number. After all, I had been gone for a year from her life now and I had this fear that she might have already forgotten me.

One ring, two rings. But no one picked up. I dialled again but still, no one picked it up. Another deep fear filled my heart as that thought again strike my mind. What if she had died in the accident? What if she wasn't alive? What if I was late?

No! That can't happen.

I know she'll be alive.

I shook that dreading thought away and decided to call Jack. Finally, after two rings he picked it up.

"Hello?" He asked as I bit my lip.

What should I say? Won't they ask where I had been the past year? How should I explain this?

"Hello? Anyone?" He asked when I didn't reply and then taking a deep breath, I answered.

"Hi, Jack."

"Um... Who?" He questioned not recognizing my voice.

"It's me. Xaiden." I mumbled as the other line went silent. After a moment only those words came out of his mouth.

"What the fuck? Xaiden?" He shouted, not believing.

"I..." I started but he cut me off.

"Where the heck was you? We searched for you, we tried every possible way to find you and how could you leave Ella alone? Didn't you love her?" He shot questions at me and I rubbed the nape of my neck not sure how to answer them.

"Can we meet? Right now."

"Hell yeah! Tell me where?"

I texted him the address to the front coffee shop and went there. I waited for him for half an hour. In the meantime, I ordered a coffee to ease up my body from jet lag. I looked out through the window towards the empty street. It was almost evening and there weren't many people out there.

"Xaiden!" I heard my name and looked to my left to see Jack but he wasn't alone. Along with him were Jessica and Sara and I didn't miss the glare they all shot at me.

Looked like, I was going to die today.

"Uh... Sorr-"

"Don't you dare say a word! Fuck you!" Before I could say anything, Jessica growled and coming forward, slapped me hard on my face. My eyes widened at her sudden action and I stared at her dumbfounded.

"That's for disappearing without a clue." She glared as Jack held her arm to stop her from hitting me again.

"Jess! Calm down." Sara said as Jessica closed her eyes and taking a deep breath, she simply nodded.

Jack sat beside me as Sara and Jessica sat in front. They all were the same as before. But the only difference was that their faces didn't show that cheerfulness and fun. It felt like someone had taken that happiness and joy from them.

"Start talking," Jessica said and I could sense the bitterness in her voice.

Taking a deep breath, I started talking. I told them that I went to Russia the day when Ella got into an accident. I told them that my dad forced me to go with him and despite my protest, I couldn't stay.  I told them that my dad didn't approve of my relationship with Ella and he made me leave America. This all thing was a lie but it had truth in it too. I couldn't just tell them that I went to Russia to plan on the way to kill Ella and I couldn't tell them either that I was the biggest enemy of Ella or Ella was a Mafia princess. This was something which would be better if it'd remain a secret.

"And now you are back for?" Sara inquired.

"To meet her," I answered.

To save her...

"How is she?" I asked as they all went silent. Their silence was cutting me deep and it was making me believe that all my fear was going to turn into a reality and I was late.

"What happened to her? What happened to Ella? Tell me!" My heart beating against my rib cage and as I gulped the fear down. I needed to calm down. Nothing could happen to her. I won't let anything happen to her. I was back for her and she should be safe, waiting for me.

"She's fine. But we have no contact with her," Sara said averting her eyes. I sensed hurt in her voice. This situation was making me confused. What exactly happened in this one year?

"What do you mean?" I was eager to know exactly what was going on.

Sara told me everything from the moment I left. She told how they waited for her, they wanted to meet her but never got the chance to. They told about how his father blamed that it was their fault that his daughter was in that condition. They didn't let them meet her and kept them blind about her condition or recovery.

"We knew that she never cared for us the moment she didn't ask anything about us. We only knew that she was fine because the receptionist told us that she had been discharged. One thing became clear at that time. We were indeed fools," Jessica whispered and bit her lower lip. My mind trying to wrap around the information I came across. I knew there was something missing in this puzzle.

"Something's not right. This is a major misunderstanding."

I knew this was just a misunderstanding. She would never do that. I knew she loved her two besties. I still remembered the time she cried and it was just a mere fight with Jess, and how she stood up for her best friend. I even saw her stand up to Mike just to protect Jessica. She couldn't do that. She would never cut them out.

"We need to meet her," I stated as they all looked at me, wide eyes.

"No. We won't. She doesn't want to see us," Sara said to which Jess and Jack agreed.

"You are wrong. I know she is missing you all." I smiled and they looked at me if I had gone mad.

"Look, guys! We need to see her. Did you try to call her?" I asked Sara and Jessica as they both looked at each other and then slightly shook their head.

"Why didn't you talk to her?" I was shocked at why they didn't try to contact her.

"Xaiden! Look, the hospital incident was enough to give us a clear hint to what she wanted. Why would we even contact her after that? Her father clearly said those words that she didn't want to see us... And she never tried to contact us, so why would we do that?" Sara retorted as I pinched onto my nose at their foolishness. They didn't even try to clear this misunderstanding.

Knowing the Mafia families and the Mafia leader, I could pretty much guess at what could have happened. I knew Victor would have created this misunderstanding between her daughter and her friends to keep her safe. I knew he would have blamed her friends that they weren't there to help her, to save her. But I knew, never once he would have asked her daughter what she wanted. I knew he was the one who would have made all those decisions for her without her consent.

"Ok. Let's check this out now. Jess! Take out your phone and give it to me," I said as Jessica looked at me confused.

"Why?"

"Just do it."

I said again as she shrugged her shoulder and taking out her mobile, handed to me. I asked her to open the lock and after she did, I took it. I looked through the contacts and saw her number still saved on her mobile. I knew that she would have never deleted it because deep down she wanted to contact her, to talk to her but was too afraid that she might hear those bitter words from her friend's mouth. Tapping on her number, I touched the call button.

"Here you go. I had called Ella. Let's see what she had to say." I grinned as they looked at me shocked.

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What do you think? Will she pick it up? And why she didn't pick up Xaiden's call?

Do you think she still loves him? Or forgotten everything?

Let me know your thoughts!!!

Pretty please. ;)

Cheers,
Anna.