Tangled With The Irresistible Billionaire: Single Dad

Mila had fun at the beach, while her twin sister Lia did nothing but watch her. Lia was already happy when she saw her twin's eyes light up with joy.

"Lia! Lia! Come here and hang out with me. Let's go swimming, the water is so nice!"

Mila told her twin as she splashed around in the water. Her smile was even brighter than the sun. It was as if she lit up all of the sun's light with it.

Lia didn't want to go with her sister because she was cold. When she was near Mila, she felt like she was sharing her twin's happiness.

But sometimes she liked to look at her twin from afar to admire her.

She took out a camera to take pictures of Mila without her knowing. She loved every moment she spent with Mila. She couldn't picture herself without her.

Mila was only half an hour older than Lia. Their mother thought that Mila was older, and Lia agreed with her.

Lia couldn't forget what their mother had said.

….

Sandra told her children, who were fighting over silly things, "Come here, my beautiful daughters."

….

When they were young, they didn't fully understand what their mother was saying, but as they got older, they saw how important her words were.

Because as they got older, they didn't turn against each other and they stopped fighting.

Mila was always the older sister who looked out for and helped her younger sister.

People thought she was easy because she was friendly, but she was stronger than they thought.

Lia talked about how Mila always looked out for her when they were young.

…

“Hey, hey! Why are you hurting my sister?" Mila, when she was younger, told the other kids they were playing with.

Mila stood in front of Lia and put her arms out so that nobody could get close to her. Lia was already crying and sitting on the ground.

“Nothing! She was just clumsy that fell by herself," said the other girl, crossing her arm.

“Nothing, really? Don't you get it? Her hands and knees are scratched up. Can't you see?" As Mila went up to her sister, Lia, she said, "Let them see her wound."

"Did you fall on your own?" Mila calmly asked her sister.

Lia, the little girl, shook her head quietly, but she still cried.

"Look, someone pushed her down. Tell me, who did it?" Mila asked one of the other kids.

"SShe isn't telling the truth. She fell down on her own. She wasn't pushed, right?"

When the girl replied, the other kids nodded to show that they agreed with her.

"Lia might be a fragile child, but she's not that clumsy and she's not a liar. She never would lie!" Mila defended her sister.

"Well, whatever, I'm also not lying. Let's go, I'm tired of playing with these two brats. And we're no longer friends," the girl said, and the other kids laughed along with her.

After all the crying, Lia finally said, "I'm sorry, Mila. I shouldn't come with you to play with your friends."

"Don't worry, it's all right. They hurt you, so I don't want them to be my friends. I don't need them because I have you. We are sisters and will always be friends!"

Mila said with joy to cheer up her sister.

“Really? Will we always be together?" Lia's eyes glowed when she heard her say that.

"Of course. Together, forever!”

Mila took Lia's hand and said, "Let's go home and play in our house."

As the sun went down, the two girls walked back to their house together, holding hands the whole way.

….

Mila had always looked out for Lia since that day. Whenever someone tried to hurt Lia, Mila would rush to help her.

Mila was brave and happy, while Lia was shy and quiet. Mila was always happy and carefree, so you would never guess she was the brave one.

Mila talked a lot, while Lia never said a word.

Even though they were different, their love was like the end of a rainbow: you couldn't see it or it went on forever. It was different from everything else.

Even though they didn't look alike, their mother and their later grandparents always treated them fairly.

And the twins were fine with it. They liked it when people said they were one because they saw themselves as equals.

Both of them got the same amount of love, and they couldn't have asked for more.

When Mila was happy, Lia was happy, too.

Mila was her light because she shone brightly like the sun in the blue sky.

Mila's smile was also always Lia's favorite because it was so sweet. Lia's life was wonderful because of Mila.

…

When his younger brother Kayden came into the room, Edward was busy getting ready.

"BBrother, are you leaving me for good?” Kayden stuttered, “I don't want to be alone," because he didn't want to cry in front of his brother.

But Kayden's eyes really showed how sad he was.

Edward stopped what he was doing and said, "Kayden, come here."

"Didn't we already talk about this? I'm not leaving you. I'm going to school in Barcelona to help us out," Edward said again, but his brother didn't say anything.

"You knew this was what our parents wanted. You're not the only one, so you shouldn't feel like that. Uncle James and Aunt Perla are with you. They'll be sad if they hear you and think you don't care about them," Edward told his younger brother.

"No, that's not true. I love them. When our parents died, they took care of us and were our guardians," Kayden said.

Kayden knew what was going on even when he was young. Still, he couldn't get used to the idea that his brother would be far away.

When their parents died, Kayden was only eight years old and Edward was fourteen.

…..

"I'm sorry for what happened."

"My heart goes out to the family."

"I hope you're both feeling better soon."

At their father's funeral, these were the words that were always said.

A car accident took the life of their father. He was drunk. He was always like that because he couldn't get over the fact that his wife had died.

Before their father died, their mother died a few months ago. She died because of the breast cancer she had.

Their mom and dad worked hard to help them beat the cancer, but it was too late. They really lost.

When their parents died, Edward didn't cry at all because he had to be strong for his brother.

He always thought that they were all alone now. So he should be tough and feel nothing so he can forget the pain.

He promised his brother that no matter what, he would never leave his side. As long as his brother was alive, they would be together.

But when their mother's younger sister, Auntie Perla, and her husband came to the funeral, it made him feel better when she told him something that touched his heart.

"It's okay now, and we're here to help. It's okay to cry, you don't have to keep those feelings to yourself," she told him as she hugged him.

Edward started crying. He didn't think he'd ever find someone he could trust. He was glad her aunt was there to help.

They couldn't have asked for a better aunt. They knew both of them well. They were the ones who helped Edward and Kayden move forward in their lives.

Auntie Perla took care of the brothers like they were her own.

….

They had finally moved on, so it was up to them, especially Edward, to do what their parents had asked.

He needed to go to school in Barcelona so that he could run their business and company when the time came.

"Okay, you can leave now. I will also do my best in school," Kayden said, making his brother smile.

They said their goodbyes and said a few words as they sent Edward to the airport.

"Don't hurt yourself, Edward.” Auntie Perla told him, "If there's a problem, call us right away."

"Don't worry, he'll be all right. Uncle James said with pride, "He's all grown up now."

"Do your best and come back as soon as you can!" said his younger brother with a lot of energy.

Kayden was no longer feeling sad. He promised to do the same thing as his brother. He wanted to be someone who would make his brother proud.

As Edward walked into the airport, he gave one last wave.

They knew they wouldn't see each other again for a while, so when they did, they were sure it was worth the wait.

And Edward promised himself that he would never leave the people he loved again once he got back from college.

And that will be the last time he puts himself ahead of other people.

After almost five years, Edward had already adapted to being alone in Barcelona. He didn’t have a choice but to make sacrifices to fulfil their parent’s wishes.

Edward was walking down the street while having deep thoughts about his stay in Barcelona. He glanced at his right side and saw the river.

“Should I stay here? What if I take my master degree in New Zealand?” he said out loud.

Edward was alone in the river.

“My parents wouldn’t be disappointed if I didn’t follow their wants, right? As long as I could manage our company so it would be all is well in the end,” he took a deep breath as he threw the stone in the river.

After all the thinking, he left the place with a heavy burden because his question was left unanswered.

When he discovered the river, he would visit it from time to time if he wanted to unwind and think about what he should have done.

After a year of studying in Barcelona, he got the answer to his questions. He would finish studying there, so he could manage their company effectively.

Once a year, he would go to New Zealand to visit his brother and his aunt during the summer break. Kayden had the biggest smile when Edward visited them without fail.

“Welcome home, brother!” Kayden exclaimed as he ran towards his brother.

“Woah! Every time I see you, you’re always growing bit by bit,” Edward patted his brother’s head.

“Of course, I wanted to grow just like you. Come on! Auntie Perla cooked your favorite dishes, and we bought your favorite gelato,” his brother said as he was being pulled to their house.

“Is there any celebration? It looks like we are having a feast here,” Edward commented when he saw many dishes on the table.

“Of course, you went home, so it was natural to cook this many. Don’t worry, we will share it with our neighbors. You’re the one who is going to deliver so they can know that you’re back,” his aunt stated.

During the whole month, they spent their time storytelling about each other’s lives. They went to a resort and tried different sports together. But all of those moments had reached their ends.

“Time flies really fast, huh? See you next summer,” Edward bid goodbye to them.

“After my studies, I will make up with you,” he added.

“Just focus on your things. I’m a man now, I won’t try to beg you to stay.” his younger brother said.

That was how they had lived for the past five years. But this year, Edward decided to stay because he planned to visit the other cities in Barcelona.

He was so engrossed with his studies that he couldn’t find time to stroll around the place. This would be the first time that he didn’t go home.

He wanted to explore different cities, but Edward chose Macotta City as his first destination. He wanted to explore the other places, but he was eyeing the top universities in the city.

As he roamed around, he was fascinated by the structure of the famous University, so he took his time admiring it. He visited other universities and museums on the same day.

It might seem silly, but it was an accomplishment for him to tour around because he was always engulfed in his studies. If someone saw Edward, they could mistake him for a handsomenerd genius.

Another day had passed. Edward decided to take a tour again, but when his legs went numb, he just realized the tiredness was already taking a toll on his body.

He was about to return to his hotel, but he still wanted to walk around the place until the sunset came into view.

When he spotted a gelato shop, he didn’t think twice about buying it.

‘I will never get tired of eating this,’ he thought as he watched the vendor scoop his ice cream.

He spotted a park and went there. He looked around and noticed there were still many people, so all the benches were occupied except for one.

He walked towards the twoseater bench. As he sat down, he saw some things that were left unattended on the other side of the bench.

It was a book and a planner.

Edward scanned the place, but no one was approaching the seat. He got a hold of it and was about to open it, but someone snatched it from him.

“Hey, that’s mine,” the woman abruptly took her things from his hand.

The woman seemed irritated, but it was the opposite of what he felt. When he looked at her, he was stars truck by her beauty.

The woman had fair skin that complimented her blonde hair. Her blue eyes were radiant and could captivate anyone, and her jaw was an angular shape and slightly defined.

“What are you doing with my things? You shouldn’t touch someone else’s property without their consent,” The woman asked him with disbelief.

Edward coughed for a little and tried to compose himself, he was hoping that he didn’t look creepy to her because he was internally drooling.

“II am sorry, I didn’t mean to take it. I just sat there a few minutes ago, and no one’s claiming it, so I thought the owner was not here anymore. I also wanted to know the owner’s name, so I could return it,” Edward explained.

‘I have never felt this nervous before,’ he thought.

The woman appeared to understand what he said, so she just nodded, sat beside him, and didn’t mind him at all. He saw her open her book and start to read. He didn’t know what was getting into him, but he couldn’t look away from her.

This was the first time that he was already head over heels toward the woman, up to the point that the gelato he bought had already melted and dripped on his clothes.

“Oh, goodness!” he exclaimed.

His face reddened because of the embarrassment.

He looked for a tissue inside his bag but couldn’t find one. The woman glimpsed at him. She noticed the gelato stains on his clothes, and handed him her handkerchief instead.

“Here, take this as an apology because I thought you would do something outrageous,” she said to him.

He was stunned by her gesture and was more surprised by what she said.

“No worries, thank you for this,” Edward said, feeling grateful.

When the woman talked to him, he was not only thankful, but he also felt something strange.

“Mom, please! I just wanted to spend my time relaxing before my nineteenth birthday,” Lia begged her mother.

“Alright, but on one condition. I will appoint bodyguards and helpers that will join your vacation. And you also need to meet Farrah, my friend in Barcelona,” Sandra, her mother, said firmly.

“Yes, I will. But Mom, I’m not a kid anymore. I am fine by myself,” she tried to oppose her mother.

“If you don’t want it, then you can’t go,” her mother stated, and you could tell the power she held.

“Fine! But only one lady guard and helper only. I don’t want to get other people’s attention because of that,” Lia said but sounded unwilling.

Lia understood that she would never be allowed to go out without a bodyguard. But she still wanted to try her luck, and she didn’t have any for today.

So technically, she was okay with it because she knew how dangerous it was to be away from her mother.

But still, she was always dreaming of the day when she could be anywhere without a bodyguard on her side, and she wouldn’t be anxious that someone might stab her in the back.

Lia flew to Macotta City, and her mother gave her a twentyday vacation, so she wouldn’t waste time staying in the hotel.

It was already her third day, and she decided to walk to the nearest park from the hotel where she stayed.

Lia sat down on a bench and started to read her favorite book. She preferred to relax today instead of roaming around because her feet were swollen, and she couldn’t even walk for more than an hour.

When her eyes got tired from reading, she stood up as she, put down the book on the bench, and walked around the park.

Lia spotted the fountain at the center and captured a photo of it. She captured the sky, the kids playing, and the family on a picnic.

But when her phone suddenly stopped at the bench she was sitting on earlier, she immediately marched towards the man.

When Lia got there, she saw the man held her book and planner.

She became furious all of a sudden and nervous at the same time because her guard was not with her at the moment. She asked him what he was doing, and the man explained himself.

‘The man seemed to have a similar accent to hers,’ Lia thought.

She felt more nervous and thought the man was related to the Kennedy clan. It was her relative who wanted to harm her in any way. She had already thought of leaving because she felt uneasy, but she didn’t.

She wanted to confirm first if he was a henchman or not, so she would know who to avoid.

Lia felt more uncomfortable because the man didn’t look away for once. But when she glanced at him, she noticed that his clothes were dirty because of the melted gelato.

“Thank you for this. I am Edward, by the way,” the man introduced himself and extended his hand.

“I’m Lia, nice to meet you,” Lia said as she shook their hand.

“Are you from here? I was wondering where you came from because your accent seems similar to mine,” she added.

She wanted to know if she needed to be cautious of this man or not.

“No, I’m just here for the vacation. My hometown was in New Zealand. How about you?” he answered her.

Her suspicions grew wider, but Lia thought thoroughly.

‘If he were a henchman, he wouldn’t give his information easily, or he might be faking it,’ that was on her mind.

“We are almost the same. I lived in New Zealand and went here for a vacation,” Lia said excitedly to hide what she was aiming for.

“Actually, I was studying here in Barcelona. I should be in New Zealand right now, but I chose to explore the cities because I didn’t have time while I was studying,” Edward started talking.

Lia was surprised that he was this talkative. She didn’t think that Edward would talk about himself without thinking twice. So she realized that the man had no ill intent on her.

A bit by bit, she was getting comfortable talking with him because he would always be the one who initiated their talk.

Little did Lia know, Edward talked about himself because he wanted Lia to know him better, and he wanted to know the woman as well.

He took this opportunity to be close to her. He had already admitted that he had feelings for her.

It was unusual for him to fall in love at first sight because he had met beautiful women before, and he didn’t feel this foreign affection he had.

They talked endlessly as if it couldn’t be done tomorrow.

“I actually have a twin sister, her name is Mila, and she was older than me by thirty minutes,” Lia suddenly blurted out.

“Really? Do you look alike?” he asked.

“No, we’re not identical, but people mistake us as if we are one, and I don’t have a problem with that. She was bright as the sun and brave as a man. She was my protector because I was a fragile child back then and was really weak. She was the best sister I could wish for,” she said, who was being sentimental.

“I could tell that you really love your sister because the eyes always speak the truth,” Edward said because he saw that Lia was happy while saying it, and he noticed her sadness too.

Edward was worried about her, but he didn’t ask further questions. He thought that they would always have time for that. He would definitely make time for that to happen if there wasn’t.

The sunset had already come to view, so they decided to leave and return to their respective places.

“Thanks for today, I had fun talking to you,” she said as she smiled genuinely.

“No worries, I also enjoyed my time with you. What way will you go?” he asked and pointed to the two sides of the road.

“My hotel is this way, I will just walk because it is near, and I don’t need to take a cab,” Lia answered as she pointed the way where she was going ahead.

“Oh, that’s nice, I’m going the same way. So, let’s go?” Edward said, and she only nodded.

The two of them were strangely quiet as they walked. No one wanted to break the silence, and both of them felt that it was comfortable and there was nothing to be awkward about.

After ten minutes of walking, they were both surprised that they had stayed in the same hotel.

“Are you staying here as well?” Edward asked unbelievably.

“Yes, and you mean that you are staying here too?” she asked with astonishment.

By that incident, Edward thought that they were fated to meet each other. So he didn’t want to lose this chance to get to know Lia better.

“Alright, I’ll head on to my room now,” Lia bid her goodbye, but Edward grabbed her arms.

“Lia, wait a minute. I didn’t know when we would be able to meet again or if we would have a chance to meet again, so I wanted you to know what I was feeling. Would you like to go out with me tomorrow and visit the cities together?”

Edward thought that there was no room for hesitation. If he wanted her for himself, he should really make a move.

Lia was stunned by what she heard, but it also made her heart flutter, so all she could do was nod her head as she agreed with him.

As soon as Edward loosened his grip on her, she quickly went to her room and screamed on her pillows.

On the other hand, Edward entered his room and felt lost. He couldn’t believe he had asked a girl to go out with him.

He couldn’t move an inch from the shock, and when he recovered, he clutched his chest when he felt his heart beating so fast.

‘I thought she wouldn’t accept my invitation.’ He thought.

When his phone rang, he answered immediately, and it was his Aunt Perla.

“What happened? You looked happy. Did you enjoy your tour there,” his aunt said when Edward was grinning on the phone.

“Is it too obvious?” he chuckled.

“I’m doing well here, and I’m having a pleasant time roaming around. And guess what, Auntie?” he said in a boastful tone.

“What is it?” his aunt asked.

“I just asked the girl I like on a date,” he said, feeling proud.

“Oh, I thought you were too focused on your studies that you didn’t have an interest in finding a girlfriend,” she commented.

“Well, because I also thought the same, but the first time I stared at her eyes. I didn’t know that I was captivated by her,” Edward said as he remembered their encounter earlier.

“I’m glad that you feel that way towards her. I won’t forbid you not to date her because you’re old enough to make your own decision. I just hope for your happiness,” she said.

“Thanks for your concern, Auntie. Don’t tell anybody about this, especially my brother. I wanted to be the one who will break the news when she is officially mine,” Edward replied.

“Alright, I’ll be going now. Take care of yourself,” his aunt bid goodbye and hung up the phone.

‘I really like her. I just hope that she feels the same way?’ he thought.

Edward laid on his bed, and his mind started to wonder about her. He wanted to know what was running to Lia’s head.

He was thinking of what she was feeling towards him, even if she didn’t feel the same way. He was determined to do everything so Lia would learn to like him.

'Maybe what I feel right now was what they call, 'love at first sight?’

Lia couldn’t contain her excitement when Edward invited her to the point that she couldn’t even blink an eye. She fell asleep late at night and woke up before sunrise.

Usually, she didn’t like waking up early, and she wanted to stay the most. But today was different. She really looked forward to the tour she would have with Edward.

She decided to spend her time preparing for their trip later. She laid out the dresses on her bed.

This was the first time she had a hard time choosing her clothes, so she thought that she would take a bath first while thinking about what dress she would wear.

After a while, Auntie Naneth, their helper since she was a kid, entered her room. She was surprised when she noticed Lia was already awake and had finished her bath.

“You’re early today, what’s the occasion?” Auntie Naneth muttered.

“Auntie, I have a trip later, and I have a companion, so you don’t need to worry about me,” Lia giggled from the thought of it.

“Alright, that’s why you are here, so enjoy yourself. I’ll check the room of your bodyguard if she's already awake so she could prepare herself to escort you,” Naneth said.

“No, Auntie! There’s no need for that. I have someone with me, and I won’t be alone just like yesterday,” Lia spoke as she frowned a little.

“Then, tell me who it is?” Naneth said as she crossed her arms and raised her eyebrow.

Auntie Naneth was protective of Lia because she watched how the little Lia grew up into a fine lady. She had seen everything, her daily experiences, and encounters until her worst nightmares. She knew it all.

“It is a friend I met yesterday. His name was Edward, I met him at the park, and he stays next door,” Lia explained.

“So it was a man? Still, your bodyguard need to come with you because for me, I couldn’t afford to get in this weather,” Naneth said, being cautious.

“Don’t worry, Auntie. Edward is harmless, I got to know him yesterday, and he is not someone who would harm me.....hmmm?” Lia said.

But the helper did not give her an answer and was just looking at her.

“But okay, for you not to be worried too much, I’ll let the bodyguard come but with one meter distance from us. Please? So I could really enjoy this day,” she added and held her Aunt’s hand, pleading.

“Alright, but don’t let your bodyguard lose sight of you on purpose,” Auntie Naneth reminded her.

“Yes! Thank you so much, I love you,” Lia said with delightfulness.

After they talked, Auntie Naneth helped Lia to prepare, from the dress she would wear to her hairstyle and makeup.

Lia wanted to look beautiful in front of Edward, so she took her time until she was satisfied.

When Lia went down to the lobby, she already saw Edward waiting for her. He looked gorgeous in his outfit, and he looked really cool that she couldn’t help but stare intently.

“Hello ma’am, I’m Edward. I will be the one who will be with Lia today,” Edward introduced himself.

“Just call me Auntie Naneth, and make sure that you won’t let her be in danger,” Auntie almost commanded him.

“You can count on me. We’ll take our leave now, Auntie,” Lia bid goodbye.

“Edward, my bodyguard will be tailing us wherever we go. But don’t worry, she'd be one meter away from us,” Lia uttered shyly.

“It’s fine with me, as long as your safety is assured,” Edward said as he smiled at her.

‘Does Lia came from a prestigious family? Was there a threat to her life?' Edward thought as he took a glimpse at the lady guard.

They went to different places, such as famous museums and amusement parks, and took a picture together in each area.

They decided to commute rather than use Edward's car so that they could enjoy the travels as well.

They tried different shops every now and then, which satisfied their cravings.

Their smiles reach their ears, and sometimes they would hold hands without them knowing as if it was only natural for them.

When they stopped at the food stalls, Lia saw her reflection at the glass door behind. She saw her old self, who was full of happiness.

Then she remembered that it had been a while since she smiled like that. 'Mila, I hope you're happy to see me smile again.'

She never thought that she would still be happy after the tragedy that happened in her life.

For once, she didn’t mind if she was in danger or if someone wanted to harm her. And that was because she felt safe in the arms of Edward.

Lia could feel Edward’s gaze at her. The way he stared at her was different, and it was hard to define, but she was feeling it as well.

“You’re really a beauty, someone might mistake you for a goddess,” Edward complimented her out of nowhere.

“You are kidding me,” Lia laughed at Edward’s remarks to hide her blush.

“It’s true. You’re so pretty, especially when you are smiling,” Edward said, which made Lia’s heart skip a beat.

From time to time, Edward would complement her, and every time he would see her smile. He was totally mesmerized by her beauty.

They had just met, and it hadn’t been a day since they had known each other, but Lia already felt the butterflies in her stomach because of Edward’s small gestures.

Lia remembered their first interaction, and before it ended, she was dumbfounded when Edward suddenly confessed to her that he liked her.

She was dazed and confused, but now that she had spent time with him, it was clear as water that she felt the same way.

But still, she couldn’t afford to let her guard down and be cautious with her feelings now. It should be mind over heart, she thought that was what matters.

After the day ended, they ate dinner together and decided what to do for another day.

“What do you want to do for tomorrow?” Edward asked.

“I’m tired today, so I don’t want to walk continuously. I want to relax in a place where it is somewhat refreshing,” Lia answered him.

“All right, I think I know a place we can go to. It is included in my bucket list,” Edward suggested.

“Okay, it’s up to you as long as it’s not dangerous,” Lia replied.

They rested for a moment and went back to the hotel. When Lia entered her room, she was smiling widely, and Naneth noticed it.

“Did you enjoy today, sweetie?” Naneth welcomed her.

“Yes, I did,” Lia said, still on cloud nine.

“You know what, Auntie. I never thought that the day would come when I would be able to smile again. I thought when my sister died, I would never be happy again. But now...” Lia shared her sentiment and happiness was evident in her eyes.

“And I’m glad that you’re happy because everyone deserves it. All I wanted was to see you smile again just like you did today. Your Mommy would be so happy to see you this way,” Naneth stated.

“Yeah, and I’m really glad that I was here today,” she replied.

“Maybe, I should send my regards to that man because he made you smile and say those kinds of words. Your eyes were also sparkling,” Naneth teased her.

‘My auntie was right. I felt the freedom and happiness I had never felt for almost five years, thanks to Edward,' Lia thought.

Lia washed herself and changed her clothes to sleep, but after doing that, she couldn’t fall asleep. Whenever she closed her eyes, she always remembered the day she had earlier.

The happiness she felt, the admiration that Edward gave her, and the words Edward said made her day wonderful.

Edward must be her saviour in disguise. Someone that would save her from her miseries.

“Where are we going?” Lia asked with curiosity.

“You will see when we get there,” Edward said and grinned at her.

Edward was driving his car. It was not that far from the hotel and was not outside the city. He prepared food for them and brought some books and board games for that day.

“So, we will go hiking? That’s why you said I should wear this type of clothes. I should be able to guess it.”

Lia frowned that she didn’t realize what her attire was for. Both of them were wearing shirts, long pants, and sneakers.

“And you didn’t have a clue, it works in my favor. I wanted to surprise you,” Edward chuckled.

“We could get to the peak after thirty minutes, and the view from there was spectacular,” Edward informed her.

“Hmmm… sounds interesting. Have you been in that place?” Lia said.

“Nope, this is my first time as well,” Edward said as he extended his hand to help Lia to get up.

“Then, how do you say so? That the view was spectacular?” Lia intrigued him.

“Says on the reviews I saw on the internet,” Edward chuckled, and Lia couldn’t help but laugh as well.

When they got there, Lia was totally in awe, and Edward was glad that she liked it.

Edward said that it was better when the night came because the city lights of Macotta City would light up the darkest night.

“You’re right. It’s beautiful here and so refreshing,” Lia thanked him as she stared at him.

Lia couldn’t help but look away when she felt Edward’s fierce gaze towards her. Her cheeks flushed when he was staring at her.

They ate first, he only brought sandwiches, bread, and fruits, but it was okay for Lia. They spent their time knowing each other, reading the books he brought, and playing board games together.

When they got tired of it, they satisfied themselves by staring at the view in front of them. Then, suddenly Edward uttered a word that caused Lia to be stunned in her place.

“I know, everything is so fast. We just met the other day, and I already said these words to you,” Edward spoke.

“I like you, Lia. Please, don’t question my adoration for you. There was no extent to how long I would love you, but I promised that my love would last. I have never felt this feeling before, this is my first time, but I assure you that I knew it is love which is not comparable to anything,” Edward confessed, and Lia couldn’t look into his eyes anymore.

Lia grew up believing in love, but being in love for just a couple of days was impossible.

Lia wanted to take it slow, while Edward didn’t want to waste time. Lia knew that Edward was being honest with his feelings and to her. But for her, she still couldn’t take the risk.

She wanted to feel of being admired, loved, and she also wanted to reciprocate that feeling. The happiness she’d felt with Edward was hard to believe she could have now.

For her, it was really unbelievable that it was easy to find someone who would love her wholeheartedly.

“When I first saw you, I thought of you as an angel lost on earth. The first time our eyes met, there was a strange feeling that I couldn’t define. But now, I know what I felt, I like you. I adored you. I longed for your presence. I wanted to show my love for you, so please let me.”

Edward stepped forward and was about to kiss Lia, but she stepped back.

“I’m sorry, Edward, but not now,” Lia said bravely.

Lia knew that she was not ready for this. This was not planned, and this was not supposed to happen.

Edward wasn’t aware of what kind of life she had, and what secret lies with her life in New Zealand.

The Lia that she knew was far from the Lia back there. She was afraid he might regret what he felt for her once he found out about the truth.

“Let’s go back. I’m tired,” Lia said without looking at him.

When they got in the car, silence enveloped them. When Edward heard Lia’s apology, he thought that they weren’t on the same page, so he understood.

Edward didn’t want to push through what he wanted, at least for now. He respected her decision, but he knew he wouldn’t give up easily. Not when he already fell hard.

He wouldn’t let go just because the woman she loved didn’t love her back, that was what he thought.

As long as Lia didn’t have a man in her life, he still had a chance. He would show her his love, he would persuade her, and serenade her, or whatever it takes.

When they returned to the hotel, Lia immediately got out of his car without saying anything.

Edward sighed in dismay, he had hoped that he shouldn’t say his confession. He wished that Lia would still talk to him. He wondered if he would still have a chance.

“Oh dear, what happened to you?” Aunt Naneth was shocked when she saw Lia brimming with tears.

“AAuntie…” Lia muttered while crying. She didn’t know why but her heart felt heavy.

She kept calling her Aunt Naneth, but she couldn’t say what was wrong with her. While her aunt could only hug her when she was in this state.

She didn’t know why she was crying. Did she regret turning Edward down or did she feel overwhelmed with these new things that she couldn’t help but cry.

All she knew was that she was scared, but she couldn’t determine what she feared the most.

Or maybe she knew but she didn’t want to acknowledge it, because if she did, her life would be a mess again.

There was a threat to her life. She was scared that if she loved that man to the fullest, she would endanger him as well.

She couldn’t afford to lose someone again who she would cherish the most.

“Have you finally calmed down, dear?” Her Aunt Naneth asked her when Lia stopped crying.

Lia just nodded, she felt weak after what she did.

“Remember the reason that made your Mom agree for you to have a vacation here, hmm? We can meet her tomorrow. Your Mom said that her friend was already waiting for us. We can stay there for a few days?” Aunt Naneth suggested as she stroked her hair.

“I don’t know what happened between that man and you. When you are crying like that, something bothers you. Maybe staying with your Mom's friend could help you to feel better again,” Aunt Naneth added as Lia silently nodded.

She wanted to say everything to her nanny, but she couldn’t open her mouth.

'I hope I can reciprocate his feelings without worrying about other things.'

They just waited for thirty minutes, and Lia finally drifted to sleep. As soon as she woke up, they would leave immediately and Lia wasn't sure if she'll meet Edward ever again.

Edward was pacing back and forth inside the room. He couldn’t relax knowing that Lia wouldn’t talk to him anymore. He felt bad about the confession he made at the peak.

He brushed his hair harshly as he thought of Lia leaving and would never have a chance of seeing her again.

His head was already painful because of the hangover, but it got worse when he realized that Lia was totally gone.

When he was steady on his post, he inhaled deeply. He went outside and walked towards Lia’s room. He wanted to try one last time and looked if she was there now.

“Lia,” he said softly as he knocked on the door.

“Hey, Lia. If you can hear me, please open the door,” he pleaded.

For the past three days, he had stayed in the hotel. On his first day, he was contemplating whether what he did was the right move or not.

When he decided to talk to her on that day, Lia didn’t show up. He was in front of her door, constantly knocking, and hoped that someone would open the door for him. But there was none.

Second day.

The moment he opened his eyes, he hurriedly got up and washed his face. He went to her door again, but he was welcomed with silence. He sat beside the door and patiently waited for her.

He thought that someone might open the door anytime, so the right thing was to remain there quietly.

He would go back to his room when he was hungry or thirsty.

On the third day, he started to lose hope because no matter how long he waited, no one came or went outside the room.

So he finally got up and went out to drink. He wasted all his worries that night until he temporarily forgot about her.

He knocked on the door again, but no one opened it.

‘Maybe she has already gone back to New Zealand,’ he thought.

He was about to leave when the door opened. Finally, he was mesmerized and surprised when Lia's angelic face showed up.

When she saw Edward at her door, Lia was taken aback, but she immediately smiled at him.

“Hey, Edward. I was about to go to the lobby to call for—” Lia said, but she couldn’t finish when Edward hugged her so suddenly.

Lia felt a little guilty for Edward because she left without saying anything to him. Although it was not her responsibility to tell everything to him after what happened that day, she should have a word with him.

They didn’t have a chance to talk again, so she thought that it was okay to console him by hugging him back.

“I thought I had lost you,” Edward said as he sighed deeply.

“I’m sorry, would you like to come in? So we could talk,” Lia calmly stated.

“Yeah, that’s right. We need to talk.”

Both of them entered the room, and he was welcomed by her nanny and guard. Edward greeted them before they left.

Aunt Naneth told the lady guard to go back to her room, so they could give them privacy.

When Edward saw the guard, he still wondered why Lia needed it, but he was more worried about their talk, so he washed away all his curiosity about it.

When they were the only two left in the living room, Lia felt awkward, while Edward was lost in his words.

Silence embraced them, but after a few minutes…

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry.”

Both of them said at the same time, which made them look at each other. Lia released a low chuckle while Edward scratched his head in embarrassment.

“Go ahead, I’ll listen first,” Edward suggested.

“I apologize if I’m gone for three days. We went to my mom’s friends and spent our days there. I didn’t contact you because I don’t know what to say,” she explained as she played with her fingers.

“It’s okay, I just thought that I won’t be able to see you anymore,” he replied.

But her brows knitted when she heard that. “Of course, it’s not okay. I heard that you were waiting outside my door. Some guests saw you and notified the hotel staff.”

“Is that so? Well, it was my choice, so you don’t need to feel burdened. I’m the one who needs to apologize to you. I became selfish, and I didn’t think about your feelings when I confessed to you,” he said and felt ashamed.

“I’m sorry if I reacted that way, I just didn’t know what to say that time.”

“It’s really fine, maybe I expected too much that you felt the same way. I didn’t think it would ruin the mood and our day as well,” he said as he slowly went to her and held her hand to tell her that it was all good.

It was just Edward felt relieved that she didn’t totally ignore her and set him aside. He still had a chance, so he would take it slow until the right time arrived.

“What about this? To compensate for that day, would you like to go to the beach with me?” Lia initiated, and he was astonished for a second.

He didn’t think that the one who would compromise first was Lia.

“Yeah, that’s great. Let’s do it now,” Edward uttered cheerfully.

“Okay. Then, it settled. I just need to prepare a little, and this time I will be the one who will choose our destination,” she said excitedly.

“Alright, I’ll go back to my room and prepare as well.”

When Edward left her room, she immediately looked at social media to search for the nearest beach they could go to.

She called her nanny to help her prepare the things she would need for their outing. Aunt Naneth was pleased when she saw Lia smiling again.

Three days after they parted ways, Aunt Naneth suggested visiting her mom’s friend.

So she could think carefully about what she wanted to do and what she felt towards that man. Lia agreed with her and didn’t hesitate at all.

When they got there, Lia thought that she would be okay if she were far away from him, but she realized that she missed Edward even though only one day had passed.

Lia wanted to see him as soon as she could. However, she already said that they would stay there for three days. So she spent time thinking about him and thought of buying a gift for Edward.

All of them traveled to the beach for an hour. They reserved a room ahead of time for them to stay.

“Wow, the breeze feels nice,” Lia said the moment she stepped onto the beach.

“It really is,” her aunt seconded. Lia smiled at her, and she was glad that her Aunt Naneth was able to join this time.

“Alright, let’s go to your room and change your clothes. I’ll handle our food, so you two can enjoy yourself,” her aunt told them.

“Thanks, Auntie Naneth. If you need something, you can tell me,” Edward said.

They rented a small villa that could cater to four individuals. Lia picked her room which had a good view of the sea.

She started to undress and changed into a swimsuit. She was wearing a onepiece sky blue swimsuit.

Her curves were in the right places, but she couldn’t help but feel conscious of her body. She was bashful, and many thoughts ran in her head of what Edward would think of her.

When she left the changing room, Edward was already waiting for her. He was only wearing beach shorts, and he was topless.

Lia couldn’t help herself but feel fascinated with Edward’s physique. Edward looked at her with amazement in his eyes, making her feel more conscious.

“You look gorgeous as always.” Lia came back from reality when she heard his voice.

“Thanks, you also looked great,” she complimented him.

They walked towards the beach, dipped in, and started to swim. The seawater was cold, but the sunlight warmed their bodies.

Aunt Naneth was satisfied watching Lia being happy with someone else.

‘Lia already closed her heart to anyone, but that man managed to capture her heart.’ Aunt Naneth thought.

When they got tired, they decided to sit down on the seashore.

They satisfied themselves by watching the sun disappear from their sight as they talked about random things and had some deep conversations.

“I already told you that I have a twin, right?” Lia said.

“Yeah, I remembered that you called her by the name of Mila,” Edward replied.

“She was already dead long ago.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. You don’t need to tell me that if you aren’t comfortable talking about it,” he assured her.

“No, it's okay. I just thought that I might need to share something about what happened to her,” she insisted, so he didn’t have a choice but hear her out.

“I saw her, with my own eyes... On how she died that day. That scene was always vivid on my mind, and I can’t help but despise those people who did it to her.”

Edward was listening intently to her. He was staring at her while she was staring somewhere far as she spoke.

“I’m weak, I just watched her die. I never had the chance to protect her nor save her. Then, I remembered what our mother had told us before. She was my older sister, and she was bound to protect me.”

“But, what about her? Who is going to protect her?” Lia said, and her tears rolled down her face. She lowered her head as she wiped her tears because she didn’t want Edward to see her like that.

“I should have protected her, just like she always does, but I couldn’t. I am useless, I let her die in vain.”

Her tears kept on streaming, it couldn’t stop. Edward went behind her to embrace her. He knew that Lia didn’t want to show this side of her to anyone.

“Don’t punish yourself, it is not you who killed your sister,” he consoled her.

“She is my other half, why did she leave me here alone?” she exclaimed.

Edward couldn’t find the right word to say to her, so he stayed silent. He just listened to her until she was okay. In some way, Edward understood why she was acting that way.

‘Someone important to her lost in her very eyes, but what was she afraid of?’ he thought.

“All I know is that I understand your pain, I also lost my parents when I was a kid. My father died in a car accident, and my mother died of breast cancer. I thought my life ended when they died as well. But I have my brother, I have my auntie who helped us to grow.” Edward spoke.

“And all that wound might leave you scarred, but it will eventually heal when you finally accept it,” he added.

“Lia, what is the scariest thing for you?” he asked.

“Is it to lose someone you love? Is that why you are scared to accept me in your life?” Edward finally voiced it out.

“YYeah, you’re right. I’m scared that if I let other people enter my life, they would end up perishing because they tried to protect me,” Lia told him the truth.

“I won’t. You’re not going to lose me, I promise. Just give me a chance and trust me.”

Edward told her as he turned her around to face her. The determination was visible in his eyes as he waited for her response.

Lia was still doubting, but she couldn’t ignore the fact that she had fallen for him.

“Alright, I will trust you,” she smiled as if she finally saw another light once again.

“Really? Is that true?” Edward was bewildered when he heard that. He thought that Lia would reject her again.

"Yes, let’s give our relationship a chance. I wanted to know how far we will go,” she said with pleasure.

When they returned to their room, they had already broken the news to Aunt Naneth and her lady guard.

Later on, they told their decision to Lia’s mother because they wanted to visit Hamilton Town together without her nanny or lady guard.

“Mom, please! I’ll be safe with Edward,” Lia pleaded for the first time to his mom via facetime.

Aunt Naneth disapproved of it, so Lia called her mother for approval. Edward was beside her to support her.

“I said no, if you wanted to go there, you should at least bring one of them,” her mother said firmly.

“Edward…” she whispered as if she wanted to cry. She looked at her Aunt Naneth with pleading eyes.

“Okay, let me talk to your mother,” Aunt Naneth said.

She took the phone and went to the corner with her and tried to talk it out to her mother.

Aunt Naneth explained everything to her mother and started persuading her. Her aunt saw the happiness she had when she was with Edward.

Her mother sighed in defeat and gave her approval if that made her happy.

Lia rejoiced when Aunt Naneth convinced her mother. So the next day, they went to Hamilton Town.

They both decided to tour around before Lia visited Edward’s school. They walked into the park there and ate different foods that Edward recommended.

When the night came, they stayed in Edward’s apartment. That night, Lia gave it all to him. She didn’t hesitate at all and played into the fire.

When Lia woke up, she felt something in her body that changed. She looked at Edward, and he was sleeping peacefully. Then, she remembered the night that they had shared.

“Lia, still awake?” Edward mumbled. They were already lying on the bed, waiting to fall asleep.

“Yes,” Lia answered shortly.

“Is it okay to kiss you?” Edward asked as they stared at the ceiling.

“If you’re going to do it, please don’t ask me because it’s embarrassing. Just kiss me already,” Lia said, and Edward didn’t waste time.

Edward leaned toward her. He slowly moved his face to her, and when their lips met, it was like the fire inside them lit up.

Edward was kissing her passionately, but all of a sudden, he became aggressive.

Edward bit her lower lips, and his tongue entered her mouth. He was already above her as his hand roamed her body.

Lia shivered from his touch. She released a moan when he touched her in between her thighs with still her undies on.

His kisses traveled from her jaw down to her left. He licked her and bit her neck, leaving her a kiss mark. He undressed her clothes, so her bossom came into view.

Lia’s face reddened because of how Edward stared at her. She was about to hide it, but Edward held her hands over her head, dipped into her, and sucked her breast.

Her body arched with the sensation he was giving her.

Edward twirled his tongue to her crown and bit it for a little, which gave Lia a pleasure she hadn’t experienced before.

He was doing it simultaneously to her peak. At the same time, his other hand removed her underwear swiftly and inserted his finger down there.

Lia gasped when she felt his finger inside her, something was gushing out from her as Edward thrust it faster.

Then, his lips traveled down from her breast until his tongue reached its destination. He licked him down there and made Lia moan his name loudly.

When Lia finally had a release, Edward licked it and didn’t waste any of them. Lia was out of breath, but Edward hadn’t done yet.

He finally inserted his shaft and thrust into her slowly. Lia felt the sting at first . That made her moan in pain, so Edward made his thrust slower and conceded at Lia's pace.

But when Lia got used to it, his movement became hard and fast until both of them reached their peak.

Lia’s face flustered when she remembered it clearly. She tried to move a little, but she was sore down there, so she waited for a minute until she could walk completely.

Edward was still asleep, so she decided to go out for groceries to make their breakfast. Just ten minutes after she went out, Edward woke up.

But as soon as he opened his eyes, he got up abruptly because Lia was out of sight. He looked around his apartment, but he couldn’t see her.

He looked for her in the living room, kitchen, and bathroom, but there were no traces of her.

Edward started to think that he shouldn’t have gone too far, so she wouldn’t leave like that.

He couldn’t control himself when it came to her, but he hoped he did. Edward thought that Lia was against what they did last night, so when morning came, she left.

He returned to his room and looked for his phone to call her guardian in Macotta City. But he stopped in the middle when he saw her things were still there.

Finally, Lia returned to his apartment, and she was welcomed by Edward, who ran toward her while panicking.

“Hey, love. I thought you left me again,” Edward whispered.

“Oh, sorry, I just bought some food for us,” Lia explained.

“Don’t scare me like that. If you are going to leave my side, let me know beforehand. So, I’ll be less worried about you,” Edward said as he cupped her face.

Lia smiled at him and nodded. She could see the true feelings of Edward. She knew that his words were genuine and really loved her.

‘I wish I could stay with you forever.’ she thought.

“Alright, let’s go to the kitchen. Let’s prepare our breakfast together,” Edward said as he pulled her into the kitchen.

Lia was watching Edward’s back as she was being dragged by him. She felt at peace, her worries were forgotten because of him.

The happiness that she never thought that she would feel again was surging throughout her system.

…

After they had eaten, they decided to visit Edward’s school. When they got there, Edward became Lia’s tour guide as they roamed around.

Lia felt fantastic because she was like a simple girl who didn’t need a bodyguard with her.

When Edward spotted his colleagues, he called them and introduced Lia as his girlfriend.

“Lia, these are my friends named Lorenz, Janice, Lily, and Greg. Everyone, this is Lia, and we are dating,” Edward spoke, and everyone got amazed when he got himself a girlfriend.

They exchanged their greetings, and Lia was a bit shy because this was her first time meeting other people and being acquainted with them.

“Is that true? She’s not your cousin, right?” Janice asked ridiculously.

“I thought you would die a virgin, man,” Lorenz said.

Everyone was making fun of Edward. They didn’t think that he had an interest in a woman. But they were correct, not until he met Lia.

He fell in love at first sight, and he was sure that she was the one for him.

Edward invited them to eat with her, and they gladly accepted. Their lunch turned out to be fun, and most of the time they were being teased by his friends.

After the day ended, they went home together. Edward wished that this would be the scene every day.

They could be together for the whole day, or they could be apart for a few hours, but at the end of the day, they would go home together.

“Thank you for this, Edward. I will treasure my days with you,” she said genuinely.

“You are always welcome, and you will get tired cherishing our moments because this is only our start, and we will be together endlessly,” Edward said to her as he kissed her good night.

When Lia closed her eyes, her smile remained on her lips as she remembered what had happened today.

As the day passed, Edward decided to tour her around Hamilton Town. Every time she was with him, that was why she felt normal.

She was like an ordinary person who had no complications.

Every minute and hour that she was with him was magical. It felt surreal to the point she thought that she was only dreaming.

…

“You’re going back to your school the next day tomorrow, right?” Lia wondered.

Lia was looking for something to watch while Edward was busy preparing their snacks.

“Yes, but don’t worry. I’ll keep you updated,” he winked at her, and she couldn’t help but laugh.

“I’m not worrying at all,” she said as she bit her lips, trying to suppress her laughter.

“What are you saying? Don’t you worry about me and didn’t have me love me at all?” Edward said as he pouted.

Lia thought that Edward looked cute when he acted that way.

“We don’t know,” Lia shrugged her shoulder, and Edward took her remarks seriously.

“What!?” He exclaimed, and his face darkened.

He finished preparing the food and went to the living room where Lia was. He moved toward her with dangerous intent.

He was thinking of something dangerous that could trigger the burning desire inside of them

Lia felt it and got up from where she was sitting, but Edward caught her in his arms.

“Would you like to repeat your words, hmm?” he whispered in her ears, which made her quiver.

“I said, we don’t know,” she repeated it.

“No, I know that I’ve been in love with you since we met. How about you?” He said and started leaving her neck with feathery kisses.

She couldn’t help but feel good.

“AAh, yes,” she answered him, but it sounded like a moan.

“I couldn’t hear you,” he said as he sucked his neck even more.

“I love you,” she said as if she was surrendered.

“I love you too,” he said and stopped what he was doing and kissed her lips.

She couldn’t help but smack him because she was caught in fire. But Edward only grinned at her.

They spent their day watching movies, eating together, and talking about random things they could think of.

It was a life that she never imagined she would experience.

…

“Edward,” Lia called him, and he had just finished his bath.

“Hmm?” He hummed as he walked toward her, then he saw Lia holding something for him.

“What is this?”

“A gift, I bought it those days that we were apart.” Then, Edward opened the box and saw a watch.

“Have you thought about me that day?” He grinned as he thanked her.

“Yes, I did. I kept on thinking of you when we were away from each other,” she said and nodded.

Edward was surprised by her honesty because sometimes Lia didn’t want to admit her own feelings.

On the contrary, Lia’s eyes flowed with tears because she knew to herself that this day would be the last time, and Edward didn’t have an idea that she was crying because of it.

Edward cupped her face and started to kiss her passionately. Lia was willing to give herself over and over again to the man she loved.

As their lips sealed together, she couldn’t help but wish that this moment would last.

When Lia fastened their rhythm, Edward was taken aback, but he gave her what he wanted.

Lia’s hand started to wander on his body, and it felt like his skin was burning with the sensation as Edward’s lips went down to her neck and sucked it.

She sat on his lap and felt his thing grow as she moved her hips desperately. Her body was longing for something she wouldn’t imagine she would seek for.

Edward groaned as she moved faster than earlier. He stopped her movement and undressed in one swift.

No matter how many times he saw her naked body, he couldn’t help but be mesmerized by every bit of her.

He slowly dipped his head and put her peak in his mouth. He gave attention to both of them and played with his tongue, and all she could do was whimper in pleasure.

Lia was chanting his name over again, and it sounded like a lullaby to his ears which caused him to lose his patience and enter her deep cave to ravish her endlessly.

Edward’s thrust was deep, hard, and slow as they stared at each other’s eyes with flickering flames.

“Let’s get married,” Edward said, and Lia’s lips parted when she heard.

“Marriage? Are we going too fast?” Lia questioned him, but he only smiled.

“Yes, I’ll marry you whenever or whatever the place you want. But promise me that we'll still be together until I come back to our homeland,” he stated.

She thought that it would be a dream come true, but sadly after this vacation, her life would be back to the way it was before.

“When I graduate from college, I will return to New Zealand. Then, I will look for you and marry you,” Edward said with sincerity in his eyes.

Lia was too overwhelmed that she just hugged Edward and didn’t give him an answer.

Her tears rolled down her face at the thought of being away from Edward when she went back to New Zealand.

‘I wish I could be with him longer,’ she thought.

Before they fell asleep, Edward whispered in her ears, which made her fully awake.

“I love you so much, my Dahlia Gale. I love you,” Edward said as he drifted to sleep.

When Lia heard that, she couldn’t help but quiver in fear. It was all because her life started to be miserable five years ago.

Those words... It was the same words as her twin’s last words that kept hunting in her dreams.

FLASHBACK

Five years ago…

Lia and Mila decided to go out today and go shopping. Their mother's birthday was fast approaching, and they wanted to get her something special.

They were already inside the mall, and as they roamed around, a luxurious bag with an 'L' logo caught Lia's attention. She asked Mila about it, and the latter agreed to purchase the bag.

"For sure, Mom will like it. She loved bags so much!" Mila said with excitement. "I mean, Mom always told us that she loved everything we gave her."

"She always cherished everything valuable to her," Lia delightfully added.

"Yeah." Mila, thumbs up. "But wait… I just thought of something…."

"What was that?" Lia asked, confused. She stopped and glared at Mila.

"I guess we should buy something for ourselves, too," Mila said and started to look around.

"We can't go back home without bringing something for us. It would be a waste, as we can't always go out like this."

"We don't have enough time, Mila. We need to arrive home before five o'clock." Lia looked at the watch on her left wrist, then stared back at Mila.

"Don't be a killjoy!" Mila tapped Lia's shoulder and smiled. "Come on!"

"Fine," Lia finally conceded. She transferred the paper bag to her left hand and walked toward the teen's section.

"We need to manage our time. Just for an hour, and if we can see something fitted for us, we will go home. Is that clear?"

"Yeah, Dahlia Gale. You're acting too mature today," Mila chuckled.

Mila led the way, and they went to the teen's section. Mila squeaked as soon as she saw a pair of sandals. She's very excited as she asked the saleslady to get a pair for her size.

But moments later, the saleslady returned and announced that Mila's size was already out of stock.

"Oh, that's a bit sad then. I really like the design of this one. It was pretty. Right, Lia?" The sparkle in Mila's eyes suddenly vanished.

Lia looked at Mila and was about to respond, but she was cut off when she heard a familiar voice at the side.

Lia looked in that direction first, then Mila followed. They saw Eunice, who came out of nowhere. They wondered if Eunice followed them or if it was just a coincidence.

"Oh, hi, my dear cousins. The treasured Kennedy's sisters? Camilla, Dahlia. Nice meeting you here," Eunice smirked at them as she crossed her arms around her chest.

Lia and Mila were too stunned to talk back, so they just stared blankly at Eunice. The latter then started to look at them from head to foot. Her stare looked like she was judging them already.

Mila stood and placed the sandal back on the table. "How could we forget you, bully?"

Mila asked sarcastically, while Lia remained quiet at the side. They stared at each other like they were in a contest, and no one wanted to lose.

"Mila, let's go," Lia spoke softly. Eunice caught her attention.

"Oh, the scaredycat. The dependent twin sister, the weak ones. I thought you were mute," Eunice teasingly smirked at her and then laughed softly.

Lia held up the tears that almost escaped from her eyes. She bowed her head, and Mila noticed it, so she went close to her and held her hand.

"Eunice, you have no right to call her like that!" Mila exclaimed furiously. Not her sister. No one has the right to insult her sister.

"Whatever," Eunice replied and rolled her eyes. "You both still did not change. You remained a freak and loser."

"We are not the losers; it's you," Mila yelled at her, and Eunice turned her head to them as she heard it.

Eunice smiled at them devilishly. "Well, call me whatever you want. But we will see who were the true losers if something happened to both of you."

"Scare your ass!" Mila yelled back confidently, and she wanted to show Eunice that she was not afraid of her.

"Goodbye, losers!" Eunice looked at them and waved her hands as she started to walk slowly away from them.

When Eunice was already out of sight, Mila and Lia began to breathe peacefully.

Mila could not forget how Eunice had been a bully when they were still a child.

"What? You would always defend that freak, Lia?!" Eunice shouted, about to go near Lia to push her, but Mila blocked the way.

"Don't you dare touch Lia!" Mila yelled back.

Eunice was older but remained childish, even if she was two years older than Lia and Mila.

She always wanted to be the main character, the center of attention, and wanted to see Mila and Lia cry for her actions.

….

Mila and Lia's mother, Sandra, told them about their family's history. Sandra has an evil twin who tried to make their Mom's life miserable.

Her name was Sarah, and unfortunately, she had already died years ago.

"That's what happened. That's why Dad got very furious. You would surely not understand it for now, but soon, everything will be clear to you," Sandra said while smiling at Mila and Lia.

They are on the sofa, having a moment of conversation. "She has two children."

"Trevor and Eunice? Our cousins?" Mila asked while Lia remained listening to them.

"That's correct," Sandra nodded. "They are your cousins."

"But why do they always bully us, especially Lia?" Mila asked.

"I don't know. Maybe she was longing for love as her mother died...."

….

Mila and Lia never witnessed a complete family reunion with their Auntie Sarah's family.

They were always distant from them. And when their Auntie Sarah died, their Uncle Juanito, Sarah's husband, became worse.

As a family who has a unique history, Mila and Lia somehow understood why Eunice and her family happened to be bullies. One time, their mother, Sandra, said this to them:

"My father was upset with my sister, Sarah. She was the reason why I became pregnant with you two." She looked at Lia and Mila.

"She set me into a onenight stand. I never knew that man's name, but I somehow remembered his face for a bit. He was your father."

"It was also why your grandfather was upset with Sarah and never dared to forgive her, ever….one mistake then to another one. We tried to take her away from Juanito because he's a bad influence. But Sarah chose to be with him instead. Dad said that if she left that man, she could have her inheritance, but she never did. She's been blinded by love..."

With that, Mila and Lia realized everything. To why their grandfather never granted anything at Sarah.

Mila and Lia were already walking with the bodyguards in the parking lot when they suddenly heard a commotion not far from them.

Both stopped walking while they glared in the direction where the voices came. But they both end up hearing a gun fired toward them and a loud bang, almost destroying their eardrums.

A wheel screeching and seeming to escape from the gun fires and car alarms continue to make a sound.

Mila held Lia's hands as she saw Lia covering her ears with fear as her knees and hands were shaking nervously. Lia was about to hug Mila, but it did not happen anymore.

They both roamed her gaze around and saw unknown people heading toward them. Lia's body could not respond and could no longer run.

She did not see Mila where she had stood and did not know what was happening. Everything around them went in slow motion.

She shouted but could not even hear it herself. At the tick of the clock, everything already went dark from her vision. But she hoped for one thing: to wake up from this dream if ever it was.

But it wasn't a nightmare because Lia was already in a dark room the next thing she knew.

She could not describe what the room looked like. In her vision, it was only dark, but when she stared in front, she realized Trevor was sitting on the chair while he leaned on the table.

He was smoking and staring at Lia with his scary eyes. Trevor, Eunice’s older brother.

Lia looked around and remembered that Mila was not with her in the dark room. She slowly stood up from the chair and stared at Trevor.

"Where are we? Where's Mila? Please, I want to see my sister. Can you tell me where I can see her?"

She calmly stated and waited for Trevor's response, but he only laughed. It sounded evil and disrespectful.

Lia felt more nervous with his laugh. Her tears started to flow as Trevor didn't utter a word.

"Please, Trevor, don't do this to us. Let us go. Please, tell me where's Mila. I'm begging you," Lia pleaded and kneeled in front of Trevor.

Again, the latter just laughed at her without uttering any word.

Lia cried louder, like a child left by her mother. She's feeling weak, her sister, she must be in danger.

She stood up and looked at Trevot intently. Lia doesn't know what to know, whether she'll run away or just slap his cousin, Trevor, for doing all this.

She was trembling in fear but tried her best to speak up. She needed to know Mila's whereabouts.

Lia started to walk around the room, screaming her sister's name.

"Mila! Mila! Can you hear me?! Where are you?! Please respond to me! I want to know if you are fine! Please, Mila, answer me!"

Lia shouted with all her might with a cracked voice. She stood at the side of the table, almost collapsing as her knees were shaking.

Her heart was beating faster while negative thoughts ran through her mind.

"Mila, please tell me,"

"Can you shut up?! Your voice is too loud!"

Trevor shouted, but Lia continued screaming. Thus, it pushed Trevor to get his gun on his back and point it directly at Lia.

"And besides, she cannot hear you, idiot!"

With a shocked reaction, Lia slowly shook her head, seeing the gun pointed at her. Tears and sweat fall simultaneously from her forehead down to her cheeks.

"Trevor, please don't do this. Please don't kill us. Please, tell me, where's Mila? Please, please," she begged as she raised her two hands.

Trevor remained in his position. "Mila was in the other room. She's having a great time with some random men," Trevor replied with a smirk.

"WWhat? WWhy? What ddo you mean, Trevor?” Lia tried to calm herself down.

"TTell me, please, what have you done to my sister?"

"You're too slow. But to make it clear to you, little cousin, your twin sister, Mila, she's being rped!" Trevor was joyful as he told it.

"No, Trevor! Please, no! Don't do that to Mila. Tell them to stop, please. Stop this, Trevor!" Lia shouted as she wanted to beg him.

"Oh, I think it's too late to stop them. They say your sister was cool, huh," replied Trevor.

"And besides, that was planned to happen. So I guess you do not need to mind them."

Lia's knees became smooth and could not support her standing. She laid her hand on the table as she felt weakened.

She cried and closed her eyes. She could not think nor imagine the situation that her sister Mila had encountered.

Lia wanted to go there, but it would not be possible. Trevor would surely stop her.

Her emotions are mixed. She was so exhausted, and she was feeling nervous at the same time.

Everything happened so fast that she couldn't even think about it.

"Please, I am begging you to release her. She didn't deserve any of this. Just release her and..., and I promise, we will do everything that you wanted.”

Lia said, wiping her tears from her face. She was cautious with her actions and afraid Trevor would kill her.

"Are you sure you want to do everything?" Trevor asked as he stood up and placed the gun at the table.

Lia nodded. "YYes, yes," she replied.

"Fine, let's do that then. I will release you, both of you, with one condition."

Trevor smiled and placed a document, estimated to be ten pages, with a black pen on the table.

"If you sign all these papers stating you will give up your Mom's wealth, everything will end. Your Mom would surely leave all her wealth to you and Mila, so it was a good deal then. Mila will be saved, including you, little cousin."

Lia did not hesitate to sit back and, get the pen, remove the cover. Trevor placed the documents and pointed out where she should need to sign.

The pen's tip reached the paper, and her hands were trembling as she tried to move her hand.

Trevor noticed it and tapped the paper thrice. "Sign it now before I change my mind," he said and held the gun again.

Trevor's words scared Lia even more. She wrote the first letter of her name, but she couldn't continue as she heard Trevor curse.

"Shit! Police had arrived!" Trevor shouted while looking at his mobile phone.

There are footsteps heard running outside the room. Trevor was worried and prepared himself with his gun.

He ran towards the door and stood there, trying to see if the authorities had reached them. With no words, Trevor went out.

It allowed Lia to throw the pen and start to march towards the door. She followed her instinct that might lead the way to see Mila.

Lia heard noises. Footsteps, fire guns, and shouts, but she did not mind such as she was now away from them.

Lia stopped and saw Mila, who was at the edge of the room, near the window, where, in one wrong move, Mila would fall and die instantly.

A man was also pointing a gun at her head.

Mila's situation was far from what Lia was expecting to happen. Mila looked like she had experienced great torture at their cousin's hands and the men they had paid to rpe her.

"Mila…" Her voice was shaking as she saw Mila, who was naked. Bruises are all around her body. She looks so pitiful.

Lia wanted to go near her but feared the man might fire the gun on Mila's head. Lia was already losing all her energy.

Mila looked at her while expressing that she was traumatized by what had happened. In contrast, Lia could no longer see her as the bulletproof of her life.

Mila experienced this all, and Lia could not do anything but just look at her situation.

The bright smiles on Mila's face were already gone as those monsters took it all away from her.

The police came and tried to talk to the man who was pointing a gun at Mila, but the man didn't back off.

He held Mila closer to him and stepped near the open window.

"Mila, please… be strong okay? We'll get through this. We will save you," Lia's eyes were clouded with tears, but she tried her best not to stutter.

She needs to be strong for Mila.

Mila once again tried to open her eyes and looked at her. She smiled and slowly shook her head as if she was saying that it was already over.

Lia saw how Mila tried to speak up and uttered her precious words, "LLia…II love you. I love you so much, my Dahlia Gale. I love you, my twin…."

"Mila, we'll go home together… Mommy is waiting… please, be strong. Hold on, please…."

Lia almost lost her balance when the man suddenly pointed the gun at her. And before speaking, Mila suddenly pushed herself toward the man, making them fall together from the window.

At that moment, Lia knew that she had lost half of her life. Her sunshine was gone. And her life started to crumble down.

Today was Edward's last day of summer break. He considered making this day special because Lia was leaving for New Zealand in three days.

He wore a white threefourth long sleeve, a trouser, and espadrilles. He wanted to find something he could buy for Lia.

A memorable one Lia could think about when she missed him.

Edward stood at the side of the bed where Lia was laid. He stared at her and saw an angelic face he could not be tired of staring at.

Lia's arms were placed at her side, half of her body was covered with the bedsheet, and her hair was messy, yet she looked gorgeous. Edward bent down, his face near Lia's forehead.

He kissed there, then down to Lia's lips. He moved back, stood properly, and smiled as he heard Lia's snoring loudly.

In his mind, he found it cute, but he shook his head as he looked at his watch. It was time for him to leave before Lia woke up.

"Wait for me, Lia," He said and smiled.

He left his apartment, and within a few minutes, he had arrived at the boutique within the mall near his apartment.

He went inside and was welcomed by the staff until he reached the salesperson.

"Where was the ring section here?" He asked the staff, and they accommodated him at the side.

"In that corner, sir." The salesperson pointed to the left table.

There, he stood and looked for the different rings with diamonds or a gorgeous design he could afford. He had picked the elegant ring, yet it was simple.

It has one diamond on top of it.

Edward has imagined the hand of Lia. With a deep thought, he decided to get it. The price was friendly and affordable as he had expected.

He paid in cash, thanked the staff, and went, bringing the small paper bag.

Afterward, he stood outside the boutique and had popped into his mind the perfect restaurant for Edward's surprise at Lia.

"This is Edward. Please reserve a table at three o'clock in the afternoon."

Edward stated as his cellphone was near his ear. He talked with one restaurant staff member.

"Noted with that, sir. The tables are now reserved for that time. Thank you for choosing our restaurant!"

The staff answered on the other line and explained something afterward, yet Edward had understood everything.

"Perfect. We would arrive there on time. Thank you."

He ended the call and then decided to return to the apartment and had thought of making Lia his fiancée.

As soon as he got inside his apartment, he placed the paper bag on the glass table in his living room.

"Lia!" he shouted as he wanted Lia to know his arrival but got no response.

He wondered. "Are you still sleeping? I have arrived!"

He was excited to see Lia's reaction. He has been trying to call Lia six times but got no response.

His smile had faded away. The excitement had expired.

Edward started to worry. He hurriedly searched Lia everywhere in the apartment, but nothing.

He remained in the room and saw the empty closet; only his things were left. He left the room, sat on the sofa, and took out the ring box.

As he opened it, he started to feel nervous and betrayed.

Staring at the ring made him cry. His effort had suddenly popped like bubbles and had been gone for an instant.

"What did I do wrong with her? Why did he leave me? Why?!" He shouted as he asked himself.

He knew he had done everything for Lia.

"I had expressed my love to her but ended up doing this. We were happy, and we were okay. Did I scare her? What changed her mind all of a sudden? Why, Lia? Why?" he's more hurt than mad.

It had been unacceptable on his part. Lia did not leave a note or a text message for him. It was unfair to Edward.

Lia left without a word, leaving Edward broken into pieces.

~~~~

Eight years later, in New Zealand…

Mila Cooper, the energetic and happygolucky woman, had arrived in Kaisland, despite how she had protested on her own but finally ended up there.

"What a wonderful place!" The shout she had told when she finally smelled Kaisland.

The weather was sunny and pleasant as the sky was clear above.

She was on her way to the restaurant where Yana was waiting for her. She had received a text from Yana that said she had been sitting on the chair reserved near the door.

Yana had been her best friend since then. Mila could recall all their memories as stage managers in a theatre they worked with.

"We are pleased to announce we will have a new theatre in Kaisland," announced calmly by the chief executive to all the employees.

"And we are happy to choose you, Yana, and Mila as part of the new team!"

It had been an excellent opportunity to choose with. Still, Mila decided to remain at Oakwood while Yana accepted the offer.

Yana had persuaded Mila regarding the request, but the decision had been fixed.

Kaisland was not a suitable place for her to stay in, and she felt it within her heart.

Mila informed Yana that she was already near the restaurant, but still, it had heavy traffic and caused her to be stuck in it. She was stuck in a queue of cars and had moved like a turtle.

For that, Mila had suddenly recalled when Yana called and asked her about what happened to Oakwood.

Later that day, Yana invited Mila to go to Kaisland. At first, she was doubtful if she would go.

After hearing the city's name, she had crossed her fingers and had strongly thought of not going there.

She acted that time as if that city was cursed and needed to avoid it. But now, she had no choice as she needed her best friend to comfort her.

She has no one to run to aside from her. Her one and only relative died two years ago—no one left for her except for Yana.

Mila just broke up with her current boyfriend, Drake. They had fun being together but had struggles leading to a breakup.

Luckily, her boss approved her three months leave. Since she started working at the theatre, she never used her vacation leave.

Mila had arrived at the restaurant where Yana waited. They hugged and started talking about how Drake broke her for no reason while the food was served for their cravings.

"Stop that!" Mila said as she was now in tears stating how she went through the tough times with Drake.

"It has been hard for me, but you just laughed!"

"Your face is so funny when you cry. Who would not laugh?" asked Yana while she continued to laugh as if laughter could already give her a heart attack.

Yana's cheeks turned red already. "But in a serious manner, he was an idiot for doing that."

"Yeah, he is. Definitely! He was an idiot. He left me without any explanation. Should he at least give me reasons, right? If a third party was involved, or he had a onenight stand, or he found me ugly and wanted to find another woman, but there was none."

Mila wiped her tears with the tissue she got from their food tray. She sat properly and stopped from babbling.

Mila was a bit upset with Yana. Even until now, Yana had been laughing at her.

She wanted Yana to stop, but she could not please her anymore. In her mind, she can tell that she was a clown for making Yana happy, even in earnest conversation.

"You know what, I hated you for that. I thought you would comfort me, but you are not," Mila placed the tissue back on the table and drank the water.

"It was tiring to explain back. But since he left, then don't expect him to return. You deserve another man that cares for you, not to let you cry."

Yana smiled when she said it. She also ate the remaining spaghetti, then wiped the side of her lips. "You know the drill, my dear. Move on, Mila. Come on!"

They continued talking, and Yana tried her best to change their topic about what happened to her and Drake.

Mila knew that her friend was trying to avoid the subject for her not to bawl out again as she was already making a scene inside the restaurant.

"You'll stay in my place, right?" Yana asked as they stood from sitting on the chair. All their belongings were already in their hands.

While Mila managed to check the chair, she sat to check if she had left something before; she nodded at Yana. "How many days again?"

"It's only a week," Mila replied as she still has a tissue that continues to wipe at the side of her eyes, then to her runny nose.

"It would not take months."

"Alright, then let's have fun together in Kaisland!" Yana raised her hand.

Mila and Yana went out to the restaurant. They talked briefly until they decided to go to Yana's place.

They arrived in thirty minutes as they got stuck in heavy traffic.

"Welcome to my humble home!" Yana said and pointed at the bed.

"You will stay by my side. It is only for a week. Forgive me if you hear me snoring loudly."

"That is fine. I also snore sometimes, every time. I do not know already." Yana laughed.

They continued having a conversation until night came. Both stay in one bed with a neverending conversation until they fall asleep.

…..

Time flew so fast. Mila's stay with Yana has come to an end. So far, it had been great for her to stay there, but she knows she cannot stay there longer.

Mila knew that Yana's company was the best. She doesn't want to disturb and bother her friend any longer. She knows how busy it was with her job in the theatre.

Mila was still in Yana's place and busy preparing her stuffs when she suddenly heard her cell phone vibrate at the small table.

She got the cellphone and looked at the screen. It's Yana. She accepted the call and placed her cellphone near her ears.

"Oh girl, why? What's up? Are you on break?" Mila asked as she stood and went near the window and saw the buildings around.

"Yes, I'm coming home now. Let's meet outside the building, in the coffee shop—Master's Café. Before you leave, I want you to try their best sellers there. You'll love it!"

Yana exclaimed, and Mila could hear the engine of her car.

"Alright then, I'll just change clothes," Mila answered while she stared at the road, seeing a guy and a dog passing the street.

"Yeah, wait for me there. I will see you within fifteen minutes, I guess. See you!" retorted Yana in line, followed by a disconnected tone.

As soon as Mila was ready, she went out of Yana's apartment. Precisely five minutes, she's already in front of the coffee shop. In the glass window, she saw that inside was not that busy.

It has customers that can be counted as not that many. Then, she decided to go inside, sitting on the vacant chair and table that could accommodate two customers only as she did not see Yana inside.

During the minutes of waiting, her cell phone vibrated.

She swiped the screen and received a text from Yana that she could not make it as there was an urgent matter she had to accommodate in the theatre, so she needed to go back.

"I am dressed well. Darn her!" Mila stated. She was slightly upset but knew that Yana was busy with her work.

She did not want to waste her fit, so she decided to stay in the coffee shop for a moment before she could return to Yana's place.

She stood and ordered Caramel Macchiato, paid for it, then went back to her table as she waited for her order.

Minutes later, it was prepared, so she got her order, and afterward, she just decided to go back to Yana's place.

She was already on her way out, but she had been bumped into someone's chest as she was not paying attention.

Mila's coffee spilled all over the man's suit, which allowed her to widen in shock. She blinked, seeing the man also move backward for a bit.

As she slowly looked up, with eyes wide open, Mila was fascinated with the man's appearance.

There was an unusual feeling she suddenly felt while her heart was beating abnormally.

The man was also looking straight into her eyes. And when Mila realized who it was, her lips parted in shock.

She knew him. She knew him very well.

“Edward. Edward Norwest Hudson,” Mila muttered.