AUTHOR'S POV

New York,
09:43 pm

Draven's wife was once again distributing temples while their sleepy daughter was resting the side of her head against the bus stand's wall.

" Hey?" She heard a familiar voice. She opened her eyes to see many colorful balloons in front of her face. A man was sitting on his knees behind it.

She sat up straight. Scared of strangers. " Boo". The man moved the balloon away.

" Papa ". She exclaimed wrapping her tiny arms around his father tightly.

Her voice pulled his wife's attention towards them. The bundle of temples she was holding fell from her hands.

Draven hand his daughter all the balloons and stood up opening his arms. His wife ran towards him and threw her arms around him.

Dash's house, Russia

Zoe bit her lower lip as it trembled to sign the divorce papers. She took her wedding ring and fisted it tightly. She brought her shaking palm closer to her face and kissed it.

She took her decision. She's leaving Dash not knowing what has happened to him. She just knows that a man she loved is into the mafia and hasn't come back since last month.

A tear fell on the paper which was resting on her lap. She wiped her tears and somehow controlled herself. She places the papers on a table and the ring on it.

She grabbed the handle of her suitcase and glanced one last time around her.

His scent is still present in her breath, his touches, the way he cherished her, the way he adored her flashed in front of her eyes that refused her feet to take a step away.

She got such a good heart but it got broken grievously. She loves him dearly but she can't hold his bloodied hand.

She left.

One month later:

New York,
10:53 pm

Elijah took Vi with him to show her festival decoration. The huge crowd of people was celebrating, shouting, and clicking pictures with their families and friends but Vi stood there blankly gazing at them.

Elijah brought her outside to cheer her up a little as she doesn't speak much. She still seems lost in her past. She has been through a lot. She has felt so much that she doesn't feel anything now.

" Hey, Elijah". A blonde approached and hugged Elijah but Elijah didn't. " Where have you been? Any plans for tonight?". She asked moving back and brushing her hands over his chest.

Elijah turned his gaze to see Vi who glanced at them then silently went a little away and sat on a bench.

Elijah excused himself and sat next to Vi on the bench. " She's not my girlfrien-".

" You don't need to explain". Vi looked up at him wiping the fresh tear that escaped her eye. " Anyone would have moved on. Who would have waited for a person like me anyway. I'm destroyed". She mumbled the last words.

" Vi". Elijah took her palm in his and scooted a little closer to her. " Nothing changed for me. You are still the same girl I left that day in the orphanage home. And that girl earlier... I feel nothing for any other girl except for you. I was with them to forget you. To convince myself that you were gone but I couldn't. Lowkey, I knew I'll find you". He explained honestly.

She spoke after a brief silence." The memories still hunt me, Elijah. No matter how many times I tried to push it out of my mind but I just can't forget his tortures". She sounded frightened speaking about his destroyer. " He has hurt me so much". She cried. " H-He r*ped me several times. Many men did. All these years I was thrown in front of those hungry dogs. Look at these scars". She said showing his wrists. " When will they fade?". She rubbed her scars roughly feeling filthy. " I want to forget everything... please ". She broke down unable to speak any further.

Elijah pulled her towards himself resting her head on his shoulder.
" Your scars are the proof that you fought and survived. You are going to be alright. I'll help you". He consoled her caressing her back.

Soon her sobs died. Elijah helps her walk until they approach their apartment. The apartment was deadly silent and dark.

They got inside the bedroom. Vi was about to turn on the lights but gasped as Elijah suddenly grabbed her wrist and stopped her. He pinned her against the wall and brought his face closer to hers. " Let me distract you". He said in a husky voice and lean to her face more.

He fondly stared at her parted lips with a hint of lust. They were able to feel their thumping heart against each other chests as they collided. Vi closed her eyes as his warm breath fanned her face.

Elijah settled his lips on her soft ones and stayed like that for a long moment before very gently moving them against her.

Vi tried to wiggle as his act reminded her of her past but his gentleness melted her.

Her tensed body relaxed in his arms. Elijah sensed that and released her hands. He encircled his arms around her waist and with the other held her neck.

He smiled as Vi tried to kiss him back. She moved her lips with him in sync. Elijah increased the peace causing her to moan in his mouth.

Leaving her breathless Elijah moved down kissing her flashes. He grabbed her cardigan and pulled that down over her shoulder.

" Oh, my eyes".  Scott's voice parted them as they found him standing all the time in the corner of the room.

" Scott". Elijah frustratingly yelled turning on the lights.

" I came to grab a pillow okay. It wasn't my mistake that you suddenly started to f*ck". Scott left the room.

He was about to go to the living room to sleep on the couch but found his hacking room's door open ajar.

He threw the pillow on the couch and got inside his hacking room to see Grace sitting there.

Her eyes were gazing at the photograph of Scott and his parents in front of her unaware of Scott's presence she picked up the frame.

She looked up to see Scott staring at the frame in her hands. He walked towards her and sat next to her on his gaming chair without averting his eyes from the photograph.

" I want to call him just to remind him that I'm here but then I remember that he knows I'm here. He just doesn't care". Scott said lowly. His tone said how terribly he misses his father.

" Call him. Maybe he's waiting just like you". Grace encouraged.

" I wish". Scott chuckled and turned his head towards her." Let's go, I gotta wake up early for the interview in interactive entertainment". Scott stood up and turned to go outside but Grace was still sitting in the same place. " Come on, Grace. You-".

" Hello?". An elderly voice from Scott's father froze his feet. His head snapped towards Grace who was holding Scott's mobile with its speaker on.

" Grace-". Scott immediately snatched his mobile to end the call but his father spoke again.

" Scott? Is it you? Please if you are Scott-"

" Yes uncle he's Scott. He's listening". Grace said loudly.

Scott's eyes widened. He covered Grace's mouth. Half of her face hidden under his big palm, he gazed at the computer screen as his mobile was connected to his laptop and showing live footage of his father's CCTV. He saw his father standing up from the couch holding the mobile tightly against his ear with both of his hands.

" Please don't end the call". His father spoke. Scott swelled moving back, uncovering Grace's mouth. " Scott, I know I'm the worst father but you are my good boy right? Scott, forgive your father and come back. I'm dying. The loneliness is killing me please. Come back home ". He pleaded in a broken voice. His tone said how guilty and broken he was.

" Dad". Scott breathed out in pin-drop silence.

" Oh my- I was craving to hear that. Tell me where are you. I want to meet you right now. Please meet me I want to apologise ". He cried.

" Dad... I'll come. I'll be there tomorrow". Scott said looking at Grace who was listening to everything with crossed fingers.

Scott ended the call and grinned while tears were shimmering in his blue eyes. " He-he was waiting. You were right. He doesn't hate me". Scott pulled Grace into a bone-crashing hug. " Thank you, Grace". He squeezed her more that she had to tiptoe. " I love you so much". He gave a tight peck on her cheek.

Grace's eyes widened. Scott realised what he did. He pulled back slowly. " I'm I-I mean I-".

Grace ruffled his hair. " I love you too". She scrunched her nose adoring his red cheeks.

He smiled nervously. She doesn't know what he meant. She'll never know why this arrogant and silent boy automatically gets softy around her.

• Every scar tells a story, every smile hides one.

• Chapter published on: 08 September 2022.

⭐👀