Chapter 121

~ ROMAN ~I woke up on my couch at six in the morning.I had fallen asleep there again and not in my bed because of how lonely it felt since Marty hasn't slept in for days now. He had not answered any of my messages since then.I lay there for a long time before I could make myself move. The apartment was still damaged. There were even new holes in the wall and shards of broken glass along with my books that were scattered across the floor. I could not bring myself to clean it up. It felt like if I did, I was accepting that Marty was not coming back to me.At seven thirty I called the housekeeper."Mrs. Darian," I said when she picked up. "Can you come over today? The apartment needs cleaning.""Of course, Mr. Cage," she said in her broken English. She wasn't English but a German, I was used to her English, most times it made me smile."What time would be good?""Nine o'clock," I said. "But only the living room and kitchen. Please leave the bedroom untouched."I did not explain why

Chapter 122

~ ROMAN ~I drove to the police station as if my life depended on it and if I am being honest, it does.I do not remember the drive or me parking. All I remember is me running through the doors and finding the front desk and demanding to know where Marty Lake was.The officer looked at me like I was insane. For a second I thought she was going to demand I leave but she didn't. "Sir, you need to calm down," she said, rolling her eyes upward."I am not calming down until you tell me where he is," I snarled. My voice was very loud and people were staring at me.She sighs. "One moment then." She typed something into her computer. After finding out what she is searching for she looks up. "Marty Lake is indeed here. He is in holding. But are you family?""I am his..." I stopped, a little confused on what to say. What was I? His boyfriend? His fiancé? The man who destroyed his life eight years ago?I opted for the best one that was safe. "I am his emergency contact.” She told me where to g

Chapter 123

~ MARTY ~The second we entered Roman’s Tesla car, I broke down in tears as I remembered the embarrassment Michael put me through.The vendetta was personal, because the fucking CCTV cameras could have proven that I was innocent but Michael didn't care.What my sister and Roman didn't know was that Michael had once been sent to our company to talk about a business deal of having Eva's designs on their shelves but Eva had declined their offers.Michael being the misogynistic fool that he was started insulting Eva but didn't have the gall to do it in her presence but in mine calling her a pretty face with no brains and how if it wasn't for her face she wouldn't have been able to marry Damien.Having had enough then, I had shut him down, and even had security bundle him out of the company because of the horrid things he said about Eva.I never thought that he still harbored that day in his mind. If only Sarah had listened to me and we had gone to another shopping mall. Slowly, the sobbi

Chapter 124

~ ROMAN ~I walked toward the back of the restaurant where no one could see us. Celeste followed me silently which is weird because the Celeste I know would never have agreed to follow me.We entered a small private room and I closed the door behind us. For a long second we just looked at each other across the space of eight years. Eight years since I had seen her face in person. Eight years since we had last spoken.She looked different and older. No one could stay younger after eight years so I understand."Hello, Roman," she said softly, her voice friendly but cautious."Why are you here?” I asked. I did not ask it like I cared, I didn't care and I needed to get out of my air and return to wherever she was coming.She took a deep breath. Then another as if she was gathering courage from somewhere to answer my question. "I came back because of what happened with Marty," she said. "I heard about the uproar in the media. And I realized that your father still hasn't changed. He is b

Chapter 125

~ MARTY ~Roman pulled up to my apartment building at eight thirty in the evening.The drive from the restaurant had been quiet. Not uncomfortable, just quiet. Roman's hand had stayed on mine the entire drive, his thumb tracing small circles on my skin like he was reassuring himself that I was real and still there.He parked in the underground garage and walked us to the elevator. Sarah was humming something to herself, completely unbothered by the intensity of the day we had just lived through.As we reached the entrance to my building, Sarah suddenly spoke up."Roman," she called out, her voice taking on a serious tone that I had never heard from her since she came. "I want you to know something."I quickly stiffened thinking she was about to say something stupid. Roman turned to look at her, his expression curious."Do not hurt my brother," Sarah warned, her voice very firm. "Because if you do, I will come for you. I do not care how rich you are or how many connections you have.

Chapter 126

~ ROMAN ~I was sitting in Damien's study home when I heard the commotion from downstairs.They had told me they would be returning today but Eva said I shouldn't inform Marty that she wanted to surprise him.So I asked him to escort me to their house because I wanted to pick something for work. But it was all set up by Eva and me.Eva's voice rang out through the mansion, loud and bright and alive in a way that made the whole house feel different. Next was Marty's voice answering her immediately, excited and happy in a way I had not heard from him in days.I stood up and walked downstairs.Marty was in the foyer embracing Eva like she was the most precious thing in the world. She was laughing, her hands on his face, her eyes wet with tears. Behind her, Damien stood with two babies in his arms. A boy and a girl. Danny and Danielle. Born just weeks ago. "Why did you not tell me you were coming back?" Marty demanded, pulling back from Eva just far enough to look at her properly. "Hal