Aarav was sitting on the couch in his library holding a book in his hand but the story in that book looked never-ending. For the last two hours, he was still on the first page with a blank gaze. Actually, His mind was just fucked up because of yesterday’s incident. How could a book distract him?
Last night He didn’t even have proper sleep for himself as that woman had entered his mind again and he was once again powerless to block her out. Even after all those years, Rainey’s crying face didn’t sit well with him.
He was still not capable of doing that.
He was not cruel enough to make a woman cry, but she was an exceptional case for him.
What made him more annoyed was that even after everything she had done, still she had the nerve to appear in front of him.
That too with that man?
Do they start to date?
Did they see each other back then too?
Did she fool around with him?
Oh god, why did he even care? She had done it already when they were lovers when he was madly in love with her.
Why did she not do it now?
And why can’t he stop thinking about her when he clearly knows what kind of woman she is?
But after all, she was the only woman he had ever loved romantically. So the feeling about her was justified.
But he had to stop it now.
He has to step out from this pathetic first love shit.
A sound disturbed his continuous wave of thoughts. His phone rang with a beeping sound.
Mrs. Tayler was calling.
“Yes,” Aarav answered in a deep voice.
“Sir. Miss Saya Called” With the mere mention of her name Aarav felt warm and some of his worries left him. But he became alert at the same time. Why did she call suddenly?
“What was the problem? Is she okay?” he asked in a worried voice.
“Yes, I think so. But sir, she demanded that she want to talk with you,” His P. A said with a concerned voice.
That made Aarav worried. He had evaded Saya for years. Aarav didn’t want to involve her with him and their business world. He wanted his sister to live a peaceful, normal life, unlike him.
He wanted to let her live the life he always wished to live if they had given him the choice.
That was why he strictly demanded his father not interfere with her life and her life choices. And that was why he himself stayed away from Saya.
She was too innocent to be in this cruel world. His sister deserved people who loved her for who really she is, not because she was a sister and daughter of billionaires.
“Didn’t you tell her I was busy?” Aarav asked in a strained voice.
“Yes sir, I told her. But she told me if you are too busy, she will come to your office,” His P. A’s nervous voice came from the other side.
Oh, Fuck!!
He didn’t want Saya in his office. He didn’t want any prying eyes on his little sister. According to him, keeping Saya away from the spotlight was the only way of protecting her. He couldn’t able to protect his mother but he can keep Saya safe.
But what is so important?
It is not like her to demand something like that. It should be really important.
“I will call her,” Aarav said after a few seconds of silence.
“Okay Sir,” Mrs. Taylor said with a relieved voice.
“And Mr. Alexander...... I know this is not my place to talk like this. But she misses her brother. Please don’t avoid her like this,” the middle-aged woman added further.
With that telephone conversation ended and sighing a deep breath, Aarav relaxed on the couch.
It’s not only her...... he also missed her.
How not?
He really hated that, but he had to let her live in that house with those people. With Monster of a father, cunning stepmother, and spoiled, sardonic half-sister.
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But his hand was tied.
He has to wait until Saya turns twenty-one. Then he can take her away from that hellhole. Before that, he has to find a way to solve that fucked up inheritance issue. It was the reason they kept her with them and that’s why he had to have countless fights with his so-called father.
But he didn’t want her to know any of this.
Now he has to call his little sister. To look at what made his little peanut to be so demanding.
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Saya impatiently walked here and there in her room, biting her nails. It was one of her habits that unconsciously came out when she was nervous or excited. She was excited because she was going to talk with her brother after a long time and at the same time she was nervous when she thought about the reaction of her brother.
Suddenly, her phone vibrated with beeping, and she quickly picked up the phone.
“Hello,” she answered with a small voice.
“Saya,” a deep male voice came from the next side.
“Hello. Brother? It’s really you, right? Oh! After how long? Are you doing well?” Saya started to shoot question after question with unadulterated excitement, and her face lit with a big smile. Aarav smiled at the rain of the question, his sister throwing at him.
“Woo. Woo. Wait... Wait... I’m good. How are you?” He asked with a smile.
“I’m good, brother. Everything is perfect.” Saya said with a huge smile.
“Then what was the important matter you wanted to tell me?” Aarav asked with a concerned voice.
“Ahaa... It’s about my convocation next Friday. Could you please come with me?” Saya asked with an almost pleading voice.
A silence engulfed her for a few seconds and Saya felt fear toward this silence. She was afraid he also would refuse to come to her convocation.
“Brother, please! I don’t have anyone o...”
“I will be there,” Aarav said and Saya’s eyes got wide. “What is the time of convocation, Saya?” he again asked.
“Oh..... 3.30 pm to 5.00. You are coming, right?” Saya almost shouted with excitement.
“Yes, my little sister, I’m coming. Didn’t it a so important event? I will be there for you.” Aarav told with a warm voice and Saya felt elated.
He cares.
Her brother cares for her. That realization made her happy to the core.
“Thank you, brother,” she said with a joy-filled voice.
“More than welcome, my sister,” he replied in the same enthusiastic voice.
“Okay then, take care and wait for me. I will come to pick up you,” he said, and she smiled widely at the phone.
“Okay, I will wait. Take care,” she said and put her phone aside.
Saya Released a deep sigh as the burden in her heart went away. Smiling to herself, she relaxed her tense mind. This week is going to be a great one for her.
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“Just fucking stop thinking about that bastard, Rainey, now enough!” Zachery said in a bit frustrated voice.
But all of his advice fell on deaf ears as the girl in front of him was too engrossed in her own world of misery.
They were in Rainey’s place and she continuously cried from last night, but he couldn’t do anything to stop her.
What is the fucking wrong with this woman?
He thought angrily. Embracing her, he patted her back.
“How could he throw me away like this? How could? When he himself told me, he loves me more than anything.” Rainey spoke between sobs, and Zachery scoffed bitterly.
He didn’t believe in love.
Love was only good for fools. And one-sided love is just for morons who had lost their minds. He really can’t understand someone intelligent like Rainey to be this stupid, to love someone who insulted and rejected her repeatedly in the worst possible way.
“You clearly heard what he said, Ray. At least get over from him now.” Zachery said and this time he sounded much calmer.
“It’s not as easy as it seems, Zach. It’s far harder to stop loving someone than falling in love.” Rainey told with a distant voice.
“So, are you going to continue? Continue to degrade yourself? Continue to beg in front of him?” Zachery asked, gritting his teeth.
Pushing Zachery a bit, Rainey created distance and looked at fuming Zachery. She didn’t want to talk with him about Aarav and her problem.
He knows nothing.
There was more than it seemed.
There was more she couldn’t afford to expose.
Especially not to Zachery.
She didn’t want to lose her friend.
He was her last resort.
Knowing deep down it was wrong while loving Aarav, she always wanted to keep Zachery closer to her.
Anyone can call her a bitch and she knows she making things complicated, but she enjoyed the competition between Zachery and Aarav. Even knowing it was wrong, she let the enmity grow between the two boys, who always rivaled each other. She loved attention like anyone and felt happy to be the center of the attention of the two hottest males in her college.
After so many years, still, things were the same. Sometimes she even gets confused between the two of them. But she really loved Aarav. At least, it was what she believed until now. But she didn’t want to lose Zachery, either.
Rainey knows Zachery will always be there for her. He didn’t care about anyone in the past and it will be the same in the future. All the other women in his life were like passing clouds, as he was not capable of loving anyone. That was the main reason she chose Aarav over Zachery in the first place. Aarav was a sweet boy, while Zachery was a hard nut to crack. He was always extremely complicated and confusing, like a conundrum. He was still the same, maybe now more complicated and manipulative than before.
In Rainey’s viewpoint, he is incapable of loving anyone other than himself and the rage she sees in Zachery is not a product of care but a fruit of ego.
A result of being second to his rival.
But Zachery was way more powerful and smart than Aarav, so keeping him closer gave her confidence. That’s why she gave him the position of best friend in her life. Keep him closer but distant at the same time. Her damsel in distress state gave her the benefit of the doubt, as Zachery didn’t know about past deeds.
However, if unveils what really happened between Aarav and her, she will lose the soft spot and respect Zachery reserved for her.
She can’t let him know.
Grabbing Zachery’s hand, she put her head against his chest.
“Thanks for being with me, Zach. Please be there always, that will be enough,” she said in a small voice, and Zachery bit relaxed in their proximity.
“I will,” Zachery said in a sincere voice.
And I will make sure you will always be next to my side...... Always.
She thought, closing her eyes.
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