Evelyn's POV

"Are you ready? Shall we go meet them." Nick asked and I looked at him nervously.
"Come on... it's not first time that you're meeting them." Nick informed his parents about mine and this will be first time I meet them after that.

"First time after they know that I'm their enemy's daughter. And you bloody organized a get together party! Really?"

"If it makes you feel better then you must know that my dad is really cool with it."

"And your mom?"

"Aaah... she's a different case."

"Aww, that makes me feel great!" I said sarcastically. He rolled his eyes and pulled me behind him as he slowly placed my hand on his arm. "I think your mom might murder me." I said in a daze.

"Don't be stupid! She won't do any such thing especially after she gets to know about our baby."

"She still doesn't know?" He shook his head as 'no' and pasted a fake broad smile as he looked ahead at everyone.

I dared to look at his family and received a sharp glare from his mom who smiled at me yet that looked clearly fake. Nick too noticed that as his hold on me tightened.

"Hey bro!" Alex suddenly appeared on my side with a cute and shy girl on his arm. "What a host you are to let me host because you were late!" He said narrowing his eyes.

"Oh, we were late? I'm so sorry Alex."

"Noo.. it's alright. I was just teasing this idiot!" He winked and pointed towards Nick. "You still didn't invite Daniel?" He asked.

"No, I'm letting them move on from the ex-boyfriend trauma." He winked.

"What?" Ex-boyfriend? Daniel's with Caroline... her ex-boyfriend...Edward? What are they talking about? Beside me, I felt Nick stiffen.

"Come on let's finally meet my parents and get it over and done with!" He smiled at Alex and his companion and excused himself.

I looked back at Alex, but his face was devoid of any emotion and his partner's face turned even more grim as we moved away from her. And thankfully that sadness was not caused by us. I didn't even get her name.

"Mother..." Nick 'greeted' and had to let go of my hand when she hugged him almost pushing him onto the floor.

"Are you alright?!" She sounded tense. "I can't believe you stayed at their place, even after you knowing all that they have done."

"They haven't done anything... and...." he took a deep breath. "I've invited them to this party. They might be arriving here now any moment." Nina gasped and held a hand to her mouth. "I've explained everything to father, mother..."

"No...." she said repeatedly shaking her head.

"Mom..." Nick held her and gave me a pleading expression before he left with his dad, both almost carrying her.

Now I was left with a too excited and happy Isabella. Oh, dear lord! Help me!
"Hey." she said smiling brightly.

Okaaay... did she just try to initiate a conversation with me? "Hii..." I said making sure my voice was not quivering with nervousness.

"Soo... how are you? Nick told me, about the baby." She smiled pointing at my belly, a genuine smile.

"Wait... I'm not doing this with you." I said and her smile faltered. Did I hurt her? "Look you don't have to pretend alright? I know you don't like me. So? Is the baby making you pretend like this or? Is it something else? You can tell me. That'll make it easy for us." I said getting straight to the point.

"It's not the baby..." she said looking down with her hand folded together in front of her as she moved sideways. I was assessing her every single body movement like a psychologist. I believed her when she said it's not the baby. "Actually... at first I thought you trapped my brother playing the baby card... but then, hmm.. you both fell in love so it's fine. That's what I wanted for my brother. So, it's okay." She shrugged.

"And what about your friend Barbara? I still don't like her."

"Oh.. don't worry about her. She won't be a problem. She just had a crush on brother... so when I got to know he didn't really like you... I thought to get them together. She is better than you." She just told that all... to my face!

"So, it was you! Every time I saw them... she'd be all over him! On his lap, in his arms and god knows where..."

She pointed her index finger at herself proudly and said, "That was all me." Okaaay..

Taking a deep breath, I continued, "And?" I urged her to say any further. Because I know that's not the whole truth.

"And..... and... I think I'm in love with your brother." She said showing an entire set of her thirty-two teeth again.

Brother. Brother? Brother! She's in love with my brother?! Oh fvck! Holy shit! This is a big problem... big- big one!

"Riccardo?"

"Yeah... so that's his name? Hmm... nice. Suits his personality." she replied dreamily. "Why are you looking so creeped out? Don't you want me to be your sister in law?" She asked looking at my horrified expression.

Ah huh! That's not the problem here. "I don't think your brother would want his sister to be his wife's sister in law."

"Huh?" She asked... Right.

Why did both the sisters have to fall for my brother! War that didn't break out then, will definitely break out now if she continues this.

"You do know how your brother's going to react right? Forget your brother, your mom?!" This girl's not right in the mind.

"I can handle my brother. And my mother, who cares." She replied carelessly. Ok that's their family matter. I tried helping Nick with his mom and look where it got me. So nope! I'm not entering into their family business again.

Now! Let me get back to my family. My brother! "He's already got a lot on his plate Isabella...-"

"You can call me Bella... everyone does. I know my name's too long. So, now that we're on good terms. Call me Bella." She said pushing her hand towards me to shake. I was about to reply when I saw Riccardo stop in his tracks looking at her. I don't think he can handle this... this... I can't even fit her into one category.

She turned behind following my sight and I was waiting for his reaction. But it was what I didn't expect. His breath hitched and his eyes dilated with wonderment and admiration.
His face slightly tilted with an 'aww' plastered on his face.
Isabella smiled at him shyly... ugh... these two look like young, teenaged, love sick couples.

Maybe Isabella was right... she does like him. That much is clear. And the way he looks at her, it shows that he can still love someone after Niyah.. and I've never seen him look at any other girl the way he's looking at her now.

I fake cleared my throat making them both snap out of their thoughts.
"Evelyn." He smiled and hugged me.

"Hi dear brother. You're late." I only teased.

But he took it seriously. "Sorry... you know Mum just got operated last week. And she was very adamant to meet your -in laws. But she needs to be monitored. Dad stayed with her. And I would've stayed there too but they said never reject anyone's invitation. So here I am." He said. I assessed him for a moment before I replied. That dreamy, lovey-dovey look was all gone. His eyes now seemed too serious; I cannot even imagine the same look on him again.

Nick was right! He deserves to live again. A few clashes here and there but they both will be fine. Nick won't oppose them if they promise to love each other forever.

"What happened? Where's Nicholas? You were telling his parents might object?" he asked when I didn't reply.

"No no.. everything's under control. Aaah... would you do me a favour?" Once I got a nod from him to continue, I pointed towards Isabella. "Isabella here, is without a partner. Can you like ask her for a dance? I have some work and I can't leave her alone here, can I?" I asked making Isa smile brightly but when I widened my eyes at her to stop smiling that brightly, she lightened a bit pretending to have sad face.

"I'm so sorry. I'll try to get out of your hair soon-"

"Perfect! Ok.. now go go..." I pushed them towards the dance floor.

Nicholas's POV

"Mother... can you stop exaggerating things? We now know that both the families are innocent here. It was all a big misunderstanding! And we should be thankful to the Salvatore's that they've accepted us so soon without any complaints." I tried to explain but when a person doesn't want to undertake there's no use of telling them your side of the story, because they'll want to understand the story the way they want.

"Without any complaints? It wasn't their daughter that they lost. She was mine!"

"Ma-" she held her hand up.

"That's enough. You father-son have gone crazy! You are so in love with your wife that you fail to see what's in front of you. You're even ready to forgive your sister's murderers! Unlike you, I'm not falling into this trap." She said and left slamming the door behind her.

"It's ok son... give her time. I'll make her understand. She's failing to see the logic here. Only wants to believe what she believes is the truth." He said and pursed his lips before.... he pat my shoulder. Did he really pat my shoulder? Once I looked into his eyes, he quickly pulled his hand back to himself, clearing his throat. "How's Evelyn?" He asked.

"Yeah. She's fine." I didn't meet his eyes though. Wrong move.

"And the baby?"

"Fine too.."

"You're scared?"

"Let's not... have this conversation. We're still not that... well acquainted with each other." I said and he nodded agreeing with me.

'Aaaarrghh' That scream alerted us.

"What could that be?" I shook my head not knowing what to reply and ran out cause that voice was one I could identify from anywhere.

Evelyn's POV

I sat on a table far away from the bar. The smell of alcohol is pulling me. I looked back at Riccardo and Isabella. His form was very stiff while she smiled at him. Ugh! I sent them together so that they could talk and connect and smile at each other. He's not even making an effort to look at her. Other than their hands being connected, his body is a foot away from hers. I've seen him keeping his stance away from girls. But I've never noticed him being this cautious about it. Hmm... there's definitely something brewing.

I thought back to last week when we stayed at my parents' place.

"Princess" the voice called out again. I immediately stiffened when I heard that voice. So sweet, so caring... I turned around to see him standing right in front of me. "You remember me?" I could only shake my head as 'no' cause I remembered his voice followed by the voice of a kid laughing. "Why won't you go to school? I'll buy you a-"

"Candy." I continued instead of him. He nodded as tears filled his eyes. "So, you could see Ms. Lina." I finished with a laugh. As a young version of him flashed in front of my eyes.

"So now do you remember your Uncle Darren?" He asked.

Darren.... I repeated his name again and again on my mind. But still nothing.

"Ted?" He tried. And that one I remembered. A little girl calling out that name.

"Eve?" Nick hugged me from a side, kissing my temple.

"Why can't I remember anything else? Why only you? Why only your name?" I asked.

He shrugged. I thought he wouldn't answer but he did. "Maybe because that was the last name you called out for before you lost conscious. Last face you saw before you closed your eyes." When I was still confused, he sighed and looked at Nick before he continued. "They hit you on the head with a wooden rod."

***
So, till now did I have amnesia? No... I was five, almost six... even if I was not hit in the head, I wouldn't have remembered anything.

Where's Nick? Why does he leave me alone to think! I left the hall and went in search of Nick. I heard someone's heel tapping on the floor and moved in that direction.
And unfortunately that someone turned out to be Ms. Nina Perkins. I stopped myself from walking when she came forward towards me, I tried a smile, but she was in no mood for that as her face turned to be viciously evil. Something is definitely wrong.

I was proven to be right when she held my hand tightly and pulled me behind her. I wanted to stop her, snatch my hand away from hers and run anywhere but away from her. But I didn't do any of that. Instead I followed without protest.

Once we were in the middle of a small closet like room, I heard her say, "My daughter died without anyone around. You will too! I want to do worse, but my son loves you.... whichever way I chose... the outcome will be the same..." I'm not having a good feeling about this. "And that is... for you to die." She smiled and walked out... not just 'walked out'. She closed the door on her way out... she bloody locked it!

I knocked and knocked the door until my fingers were sore then I banged the door. No use. There wasn't a single movement I heard on the outside.

Why did I not bring my clutch? Why did I have to give my phone to Nick? I can't even see anything in this darkness.
It's ok... it's ok... It's a hotel... someone will definitely come open the door.
Get together, my foot! I shouldn't have believed that woman! It's different when you don't know what's happening but when you know something's wrong and still you play the fool, argh! I tried to console myself thinking someone will definitely come, but it was the last straw cause I felt.. no saw... did I feel that on my leg?i

"Aaaarrghh!!"