Nik's POV

Staying at home was depressing, I didn't have any real friends to have a drink with, just associates. I contacted Pablo, but he had to keep his pregnant wife company so he wasn't able to make it.

Left with no choice, I went to the company on a Sunday in order to bury myself in work. I didn't want to remain idle, it made me think of her a lot so I had to keep my mind busy.

I was going through a document in my office when Judy walked in. I couldn't help but feel guilty, it was obvious I was stressing my shadow guard too. Judy had to ensure my safety before going ahead to do anything he wanted.

He bowed and I nodded in acknowledgment before signaling him to take a seat.

"What about the scandal? " I inquired of him, without taking my eyes off the document I was signing.

"Someone else took it down before I could "

I made a mistake, the ink smeared the document the instant I paused upon hearing Judy's statement.

Realizing I was in no mood to sign further, I grabbed the documents and packed them inside a folder.

"It's my cousin, isn't it? " I asked while pulling out a drawer from my desk and kept the folder in it.

"Yes, you're right " Judy concurred.

A wry smile stretched my lips, was Eden doing this on purpose in order to use the girl against me in the future, or did he sincerely care for her?

If it was the latter, I would be satisfied especially now that the crazy old man was against Maya, I wonder what length my father would go just to separate us further?

But if Eden was just playing with her? He would have me to contend with. Maya was not like the other girls he fooled around with in the past, she was just different and I wanted it to remain that way.

"Are you really going to let Eden hang around her? You know that he's a sly fox " Judy asked me with an exasperated expression.

"Eden hanging around her is a kind of a blessing in disguise "

"What? "

"As far as Eden has his sight on Maya, she's safe from any harm at the moment. With Gerald no longer under our control, I'm afraid he would do everything possible to get back at me.

"Tina has her own private security with her, who would probably hold their own till enforcement arrives. But Maya has nothing but her fist which isn't a guarantee when surrounded all about "

Judy ran his hand through his ombre hair, ruffling it in the process while eyeing me.

"I seriously can't understand you at all," he said, " You do everything possible for a girl and in the end you let her go so easily. Yet you sit here and wallow in misery"

"I can not go head-on with my father yet, he still has the absolute power in our family. Since he can't hurt me because I am his son, I'm afraid he would take out all of his anger and frustration on Maya and I don't want that to happen…" my voice cracked at the end, it was filled with raw emotion.

"I don't want her caught in the middle of the war between father and son. I don't want her to suffer because of me, I won't be able to bear that torment for the rest of my life, knowing it's all my fault. If I ..." I faltered on purpose, what was the point of rambling this over and over again?

"Seriously, you're wasted. Isn't it obvious? " Judy facepalmed.

"What is obvious? " I asked, my attention was captivated.

"You're in love with her, Niklaus! Damn you! "

I was shocked at Judy, not because he was using that tone on me but because he was now officially among those idiots muttering the same nonsense to me.

"I'm not in love with Maya, Judy. I just care way too much for her " I clarified but I can't tell why my tone was wavering, why I felt like I was lying to myself.

"Why are you deluding yourself Niklaus? What's so hard about admitting the fact you fell in love? Your damn ego? Or your uninterrupted streak of never falling in love since Kay? Cause trust me if that's what holding you back from admitting you're in love with Maya? Then you're the worst fool on earth on earth! " Judy spat at me with so much anger, the vein on his forehead bulged.

I couldn't talk, I was tongue-tied. This was the first time he was speaking to me in such a manner and seriousness.

"You don't understand, Love is so much deeper and complicated - "

"Really?" He interrupted me, "What do you know about love? "

My eyes flashed, " I loved Kay "

Judy threw his back and laughed sarcastically, "Niklaus, you f*cking married at age sixteen. You tied the knot at a period when your hormones were an all-time high, any girl that made your heart flutter then would have been the one for you! That was an infatuation you had there with Kay, not love. Why did you think you and Kay ended so horribly? "

My chest was heaving with anger, I wanted to lunge at Judy and slam my fist up his face for slandering what I had with my late ex-wife.

But I found out I couldn't, my feet were glued to the floor while a lot of thoughts flooded my head, I would go crazy at this rate.

"Fine, let me ask you then. If it was Kay who had been in Maya's situation, would you have handed Gerald's ledger to Sakuzi in exchange for her freedom? "

"That's ridiculous, I did have no bad blood with Sakuzi - "

"Answer the damn question, Niklaus!"

Judy's outburst made me begin to think of her immediately. If Kay had been alive and was kidnapped by Sakuzi instead of Maya, would I have handed the ledger to him?

To my horror, the answer came out negative, I would not have done such a thing for Kayla.

I probably would have gathered all of my family's forces and clashed with Sakuzi for her freedom instead of settling peacefully.

Kay also came from a prominent family, so it was useless risking the ledger when I knew they would join in the fight against Sakuzi.

Moreover, I wouldn't dare go against my father by snatching away the ledger from right under his nose but for Maya, I was willing to do it.

"Oh my God " I gasped in realization.

Maya didn't just crack my platinum armor, she shattered it into bits. How could I have been in denial all this time? This heart has been desolate and fortified all these years, she somehow found a way to breakthrough.

I placed my hand on my heart, it was pounding so fast it hurt. I felt breathless, I needed to breathe, I needed oxygen and that oxygen was Maya.

"I-I… I need to… " I stammered so hard I couldn't form a coherent word, but the broad smile on Judy's face was obvious he knew what I wanted to say.

"The car is already ready " He ushered me towards the door.

How did he..? Had he planned this all along? Well, we would have a discussion later but right now, I needed to see Maya.

I needed to tell her how much she means to me. Just as she loves me, I love her too. Even if we don't end up together… .that would be for later.

Just as he said, Judy led me down to a warm, waiting car. He opened the door and I climbed in while he walked around to the front seat; he wasn't the one driving today.

It was already eight in the night but I didn't mind, I felt the urge to speak to Maya before it was too late.

We traveled through the muddy and parsimonious countryside road until we reached our destination.

"This is the place? " I asked, stretching my neck out the car window and taking in the appearance of the house. It looked simple but Eden enjoyed luxury so I was sure, the inside looked better.

"Yes, it is " He added, "By the way, your daughter has chicken pox "

I was astounded, "My daughter has the pox infection? How is that possible? Hasn't she been vaccinated? "

"She has but it seems the drugs still didn't offer a hundred percent protection "

"Alright," I said to him. I wasn't that worried about Isabella knowing that Maya would take good care of her.

The girl was so kindhearted she was willing to take care of her ex-boyfriend's daughter without whinnying, how could I have been so blind all this time? Maya was perfect for me.

Abruptly, I heard the gate rattle and commanded them, "Quick, kill the light! "

The chauffeur turned off the light with our car parked securely a few yards away from Eden's property blending in with the night.

The street light revealed Eden and Maya leading a man out of the house. They had small talks before the man entered his own car and went off.

I watched Maya say something to Eden and he took off the blazer he was wearing and draped it around her with a hug before urging her back into the house.

My heart sank.

"Let's go back " I announced.

"What?! " yelled Judy from surprise.

"It was a mistake coming here "

"But you should at least talk to her"

I glared and spoke to Judy with a firm tone, "I can never give Maya the kind of life she wants! She's better off without me "

It was obvious Judy was not satisfied with my answer but he had crossed the line several times today, he knew when to stop.

"Fine " he agreed reluctantly and instructed the chauffeur to leave right away.

"Also " I added, " Bring my daughter home tomorrow "

It was time to move on with my life - without Maya.