I kept looking behind and ahead of our vehicle. We had convoys of Brabus escorting us. I was wondering if it was all to keep me in their sight.

By my side was Finn; he had been staring at me since we got into the car. I was sure he feared for the risk he took. I am.

I had no intention of escaping. I meant my words; I was staying by Finn's side, only I feared for other possibilities.

My eyes caught the light from the city, and with that, I watched in awe. I barely left Eureka Springs. I've never traveled out of Arkansas either, so watching Chicago in the evening when the sun had already disappeared below the horizon-I find it magical. I think I didn't respond to anything, for I was deaf and blind to everything other than the people walking around the sidewalks, beautiful tall buildings, and advertisements flickering brightly on the city's digital screens and billboards.

If I was being honest, it wasn't because I've never left Arkansas, it was the feeling of freedom that takes over my being, and I found myself smiling at different families and shops, oh and even the traffic.

I felt nourishing. I felt reborn.

"We are here." The fingers that tapped my thighs brought my senses back, and I instantly tilted to Finn. He was staring at me with an amusing smile on his face. When I looked forward through the windshield, the cars hath stopped, and where we parked was filled with different expensive vehicles. I peeped further to a tall modern building where I noticed guests were headed.

"That is your company?" I asked.

Finn nodded, but he didn't seem so proud about it. "This is Samuel and Justin." He gestured to the men in the front seats. "They will be accompanying us around, and on any chance you need anything, don't trust anyone other than them and me and, of course, Liam and Steph," Finn explained.

"Steph and Liam are in there?" I asked him. It made me feel more comfortable knowing there are people I know in the building.

"Yes, come, let's go." He smiled small, and I returned a promising one.

My door was opened by someone from outside, and when I stepped out, the man gave me his hand and escorted me to Finn, who was by the other side-waiting for me.

Just like that, we were walking between different couples and groups of people heading towards the red carpet where photographers were clicking their cameras and flashes were gleaming everywhere. It excited and terrified me. I've never seen something so eventful as what I was living at that moment, yet I was afraid it could lead to exposure if we dare try stepping there.

"Sir, the back door is cleared," Justin informed Finn.

And with that, we turned direction and followed a narrow path where almost seven additional Finn's men were securing a door.

I didn't know why but his men still scared me, and I couldn't help the urge to grab his arm tight as we passed between the suit-dressed men. Though Finn enjoyed the gesture, he looked down on me with a smile on his lips as we headed to a probably private elevator with Samuel and Justin.

"What kinda type of charity event are you hosting?" I asked him for the nervousness in me needed relief.

"You'll see." Finn had this smile that makes you weak in the knees, it was innocent and elated, yet it was filled with pain if you were smart enough to see through his bright chocolate eyes. "Come, let's go." He motioned out when the elevator stopped, and the door began to slide open. That was when he finally wore a black mask himself-which made me smile because I would lie if I said he didn't look hot and boss-like.

I was welcomed to a new world where everything was white, and people wore masks, for it was compulsory. The place smells like combinations of different flowers and perfumes. The atmosphere was calm as slow music played in the background. There was a huge banner that reads, "YOU ARE A WARRIOR together with HELP KIDS FIGHT CANCER. @AHayeslife."

What the fuck. My mouth almost dropped open. My legs were suddenly stiffened to the floor.

No! This isn't real. My eyes were wildly huge while they scanned around the packed masquerade scene, which involved kids in yellow or red tee shirts. Some read 'you are a warrior' while some said 'help kids fight cancer.'

Those with red shirts had kids with bald or pale skin, and those with yellow were mostly disabled.

My eyes were hurting, for tears were burning-begging for their release. Finn did all of this? 'A Hayes Life?'

My chest was rising and falling abnormally from shock when I saw fingers waving in my vision, and I shot my wide eyes to the smiling face of Liam.

"You did really come." He looked strained with panicked.

"Yes," I muttered in my shock.

"How's outside life treating you?" He asked.

"Stunning views." I blurted, and he chuckled.

"Something you should get used to around Finn. He's quite the surprising one." Liam patted his best friend's shoulder, and I looked up to Finn for the first time since I stepped into this different world of his.

He had his eyes on me. He looked quiet and somewhat nervous. I wished I knew what was going on in his mind.

"What are you thinking?" I asked him softly, I'm sure Liam had left, and if he didn't, then he chose not to bother us.

Finn didn't say a thing for a while, he only kept his eyes in mine, and I could practically hear his heartbeat. "I love you." That was what he muttered to me.

It increased my heart rate and gave me a strange feeling in my whole body that my eyes lowered to his chest where my height stood.

I don't know what to think or say. So silent was all I had as I stared at his button, blinking away the tears.

"Sir, your table is over there." Someone not among Finn's men informed him, and he nodded.

"Come on." He commanded with my hands around his arm.

Well, we stopped by some group of men who handshakes Finn and told him the event was incredible and so kind of him. Actually, we had to stop by many groups of different people, mostly all showing their gratitude.

"I've been looking for you. I wanted to discuss about the items, but wait, you're looking devilishly handsome. I'm so proud of you." Some older man with a touch of greyish hair said and grabbed Finn's free hand. I felt odd around all those people, so I stuck closer to Finn.

"Thank you, Pattinson. You look great yourself," Finn told the older man.

Pattinson rolled his eyes playfully when he said. "Duh, what good would a counting fifty years old man look in a formal dress? And who's this beautiful lady in red I'm seeing?" With a playful gesture, he peeped under his eyelashes.

"This is..." Finn stopped himself and looked over at me. He was overwhelmed with terror, just as I am.

"Anne." I managed to inform the man waiting for a reply. I had to cut Finn's gaze, albeit I could still feel his eyes on me.

"Anne. Is good to see you accompany my child. Let's say he's used to attending everywhere on his own." Pattinson told me, and I flashed him a small smile. Anne was my middle name, so I didn't lie, and I hope Finn wasn't mad at me for it. I had to push aside the fact that I might be the only girl Finn ever took out.

"Hey, girl." I felt someone behind me, someone that sounded like Steph.

"I'll be back in some minutes," Finn announced to us and followed Pattinson, leaving Samuel and Justin with me while every other people walked around the packed room with no knowledge of the girl who was kidnapped and was wanted around almost every state in America.

"You look great. This dress is a dream." Steph, in her black dress, praised my look.

"Thank you, yours too," I said to her.

"You really do have style. I never knew." She laughed.

"I didn't choose it. Finn did." I told her.

Her eyes jokily dilated. "Finn and choosing female outfits? What did you do to my best friend?" She chuckled, and I exhaled a laugh too.

Who knew?

"What's all this?" I asked the question in my mind.

"Oh, Finn decided to join his both non-profit Organizations, 'kids cancer care' and 'disabled kids' together for today's charity. The kids are too excited. Look at David; he won't quit giggling." Steph turned over to a table at the far front, where different kids were seated.

That was unexpected. It was one of the things that took you by surprise. Finn the murderer? The kidnapper? The man with different weapons and monstrous men guarding his home? The man with different drugs in his studio? The man who had a list of people to kill? The man who shots people in my present?

I must be dreaming.

"Told you, a lot depended on him. Finn isn't what you think." Steph rushed her words to my not-functioning body just when I felt a hand snaking around my waist.

I was irresponsive; I could only stare blankly.

Maybe Finn was right. Maybe someone did frame the Hayes. Maybe my parents did really frame the Hayes.

With that thought in my head, we stopped at a table with extra two seats, and the rest was occupied with six people.

Finn helped me first before he situated himself beside me.

"Cheryl, this is Denny and Sharon, my parents." He introduced the couple by my side on the table. Yes, that was the man who was so commanding to Finn the other day.

"Is nice to meet you." I smiled at the two faces that looked less happy to meet me.

"How are you feeling?" Denny asked me, though.

"I'm good," I assured him with a smile.

"And how's Finn's chest doing?" Sharon threw at me, and my smile instantly faded as guilt took over my face.

"Please don't," Finn said to the woman that raised him.

"This is risky. I can't believe you, Finn." She replied. "She shouldn't be here, not by your side. She want you dead, Can't you see?" She added in a shush tone.

"Enough, please, let's not call attention on ourselves honey, that way, you will expose everyone." Her husband told her in an equal tone while I swallowed numerous times. I was sure the rest of the people on the table were beginning to become suspicious.

What I did to Finn-began to overflow in my system, and my vision became blurrier. "Hey." I felt his hand cupping my chin and directing my eyes to his.

I struggled to look away, but a tear let loose. Luckily there was a mask, so one saw, but Finn was extremely close that he wiped it away with his thumb. "Don't let it bother you, please. I'm sorry."

How could he be so forgiven? Can't he see? Couldn't he realize? What's wrong with him?

"Now, let's watch people willing to help the kids in need." He gave me a soothing smile.

After that, we didn't say much to Finn's family. They were focused on the event just like every other.

Granted! The items were picked in great amounts, and the kids were so excited at the success.

Liam And Sharon bought some stuff at a healthy price too.

There was some speech by some two women and a man before Finn asked me to excuse him, just like Denny said to his wife.

I swallowed and kept my eye on the stage, on some kids playing a drama while everyone laughed at their cute little show.

I heard her clear her throat and move to the extra seat Denny left with a cup of champagne in her hand. "I never had a child, and I would never have one. Finn is my everything. God knows I love that kid with everything in me. He makes me happy, he was good, he is good, for example, this? It's the little among how pure he is." She says before she turns to face me.

"I can't let yet another Mason take away all this from us. Your parents are beasts, they are devils, and I would spend my life cursing them until they burn in hell for what they caused to that innocent kid." Her eyes went back on Finn, who was receiving applauds as he stepped onto the stage.

"It was pain that I lived with to remake him the man he is today, I had no idea about his other life, and if I did, I would never approve of it. He is better than that. You don't deserve him, you're the seed of the grenade, and when you explode, I want you far away from him." With that, she moved to her former position while I let out the breath I never knew I was holding. My heart was aching. I was hurting-everywhere was burning in me.

My parents really did it. My parents did start everything. My parents, the only people I trusted, those people I looked up to, were nothing but evils.

"So on behave of my late parents, I think you amazing children deserve ten million dollars." With teary eyes, I was able to pick those last lines from Finn's speech as the big cheque of the money he promised came up on stage along with tenths of kids surrounding the naive human my parents had rotten.

He was admired, he was loved, he was their guardian angel.