The third point of view

"Why did you murder her, Niklaus?" Eden accused him without evidence.

"Excuse me?" Was Niklaus' statement.

"Don't act dumb with me, Niklaus" his tone was firm.

Niklaus answered back, "I tried to kill her but didn't kill her,"

"What kind of excuse is that?" Eden gave him a stupid look, "Did you kill her or not, Niklaus?"

"I didn't kill Christina," he growled at Eden but calmed himself after realizing there was no reason to get worked over this. Christina was not worth him getting riled up.

"Believe me or not, I didn't kill that witch," He spoke through gritted teeth.

"What's your story then?" Asked Eden who wasn't fazed by his emotional outburst.

Even if Christina was a witch, both of them had something great in the past, Niklaus should show some sort of grief for her death.

However, that was not the case with his cousin, Eden observed. If anything, his expression looked like someone relieved of a big burden.

"What's your story then," He inquired.

Niklaus began, "I found out the witch was responsible for the scandal you created from the initial start - she and Kim were in cahoot"

Eden's jaw ticked when he heard that statement but didn't say anything. Maya was the one who kissed him, he would take that secret to the grave.

That was a secret between him and Maya and a memory he would treasure. He fucked his chance with the girl and that scar, he would carry for eternity.

"So I had my revenge, by taking away something that matters to her just as she did to me " Niklaus went on with his tale, "I took away her position and handed it over to Luke, her illegitimate brother. Tina has a huge pride, so that move was a great slap in her face and she strode to my place to throw a tantrum about that -"

"So you had her killed when she threatened to expose your dirty linen in public," surmised Eden.

Niklaus chuckled, "Nice try, detective," he mocked him yet continued the story, "I admit it, I did lose my temper a bit -"

"Rate your definition of losing my temper a bit," Eden discontinued his narration.

"Cut me off once again and you can get the hell out of here, Eden. After all, I don't answer to you" Niklaus gave him a clear warning which he heeded.

"Fine, go ahead," he signaled.

"It was so outrageous of Christina claiming I hurt her when she didn't just harm but destroyed my life. So I grabbed her neck- intending to send her to hell where people her type go- but she got lucky and escaped and I didn't give chase. Hours later, I received the news she was dead," Niklaus recounted.

Truthfully, Niklaus was a bit regretful over Tina's death but each time he recalls what she did, that remorse vanishes.

"Let's say I believe you, if you didn't kill your fianceé, who did?" Eden pressed.

Niklaus' eyes narrowed, "What's the point of this interrogation? The cops should be the one doing these," he inquired, scrutinizing Eden intently.

"The Devon family might not be as rich and resourceful as ours but they have connections with people in position and they would look deep into this -"

"Case?" Niklaus smirked, "You've forgotten that we carry out special tasks for those people in position, " he didn't need to explain further after emphasizing on " special task".

Eden shook his head," You confidently create a problem and try to run off after knowing that strangling is a high legality crime. Somehow, I wish that the fact you strangled her would be revealed,"

Niklaus walked over to him and said, "I don't care, and don't you dare judge me. We both know that you've done much more worse,"

Eden's jaw ticked, any male born in the Spencer family doesn't spend the rest of his life without shitty blood on his hand; they were all guilty.

"Besides, the burning would eliminate evidence of trauma and if it doesn't, I'm sure the killer would eliminate the evidence,"

Eden gave him a sharp gaze, "What are you talking about?"

"Who was so eager to get Christina married to me?" Niklaus him.

"Huh?" Eden's brow furrowed together, "Wasn't your father the one adamant on getting her….oh " It finally clicked in his head.

"He had invested a lot in Christina but when she didn't surpass his expectation and instead got to be a liability and threat to his investment aka me, he -"

"Had no choice than to get rid of her," Eden gasped from shock and disbelief.

"Good luck being the next family head," Niklaus tilted his head in his direction mockingly.

"You're leaving the family on purpose," It finally dawned on Eden.

Presently, he thought he was the one benefiting from Niklaus stepping down as the appointed family head. Thus he was the one being placed at the battlefront; It was him versus Adam.

Niklaus shrugged with a pleased smile on his face," You wanted to be the family head all this time, your wish has been granted."

"Do you think your father would let you go that easily?" Eden snorted, "He paved the path for you, all his efforts were so you could remain in that seat"

"I'm not going to remain in a position where I'll remain someone's puppet. Yes, he would not let me go but Adam has no choice if he doesn't want my name removed from the family registry. Moreover, he still has two more years to plot his devious plans, you should be the one worrying for your life," Niklaus told him.

With Niklaus stepping down, it was obvious to Eden that he would be taking over that position since he's the most capable amongst his relatives. However, would Adam let him be?

That man had killed his father, his own brother, and took over a position that wasn't meant to be his. How much more him?

"You now believe that your father killed my father?" Eden was astonished.

"Oh, right? Why do you think I gave up my position?.." Niklaus rubbed his jaw," Because I'm running away like a coward I am?" He used Eden's words against him.

Eden in question flushed from shame, he misunderstood his intention. He had thought Niklaus just liked causing trouble and putting everyone in a tight spot, not knowing he had done him an enormous favor.

If Niklaus had remained in that position, he would fight against Eden's every intention to expose his father - no matter how evil a father is, what child would want to expose him?

His ungrateful and inconsiderate cousin, Niklaus - as he once thought- gave him a fighting chance against Adam, his father, not to throw him in the frontline of the battle.

Niklaus said suddenly, "But don't think you would get that position easily?"

"What do you mean?" Eden asked.

"If indeed Adam killed your father, what makes you think he would step down for you?"

"You're trying to say he won't give up the seat?" Eden doubted his claim.

"If he doesn't?" Niklaus questioned him back with a knowing smile. He had already foreseen what would happen.

Eden thought hard about it and couldn't argue with that fact. After all, Adam had all the power now and could do whatever he wanted.

"If I were you, I would start building my forces before his two years rule is over - That is, if you want your daughter Anabelle to live safely," Niklaus hinted Adam might threaten him with the life of his daughter.

Anger rippled through Eden, feeling the urge to just storm to Adam's place and put a bullet through his head- but he knew better than to do that. If he attempts such an act, Adam would use that circumstance to get rid of him once and for all.

With more evidence in hand - He had been the one who went to his place in the first place - that evil man would lay God knows what accusation on him, probably a coup? And he would die unfulfilled.

"Why are you doing this?" Eden couldn't help but ask, this was unusual of Niklaus. The Niklaus he knew was a selfish bastard.

"Because that's what Maya would want me to do," He answered without hesitation.

Oh right, Maya, his light in the darkness, Eden nodded solemnly.

Niklaus took a step closer, "But don't think we're friends now because of this. I still haven't forgiven nor forgotten that you were the snitch during that deal with Sakuzi that led to Kay's death,"

With that being said, Niklaus left the room for him while Eden stood still like a dry tree.

He knew all this while and said nothing? What kind of person was Niklaus?

However…

Isabella, who had been having a great time with Neon, wasn't comfortable anymore. Her mind kept wandering to the words her cousin and Pedro said to her.

"Aish," she stomped her feet, irritated.

"What is it, Isabella?" Jennifer was surprised by her behavior

"Nothing!" She snapped at the woman unintentionally.

Jennifer minded her business at once.

"I'm sorry," Isabella mumbled an apology.

"Alright," Jenifer was taken aback by her odd meekness.

"Take care of my Neon, I'll be back," she handed the little boy back to his mother and went in search of those idiots.

Isabella found them sulking in the garden.

"Hey," She called but silence met her.

None of them said a word to her instead busied themselves with the flowers.

"I'm sorry," Isabella rendered an inaudible apology.

"Anabelle, do you hear a butterfly speaking?" Pedro pretended oblivious to Isabella's presence.

"What butterfly?" Anabelle snorted and rolled her eyes," All I hear is a bug; a big, ugly bug" she said, mercilessly plucking out a flower petal - what did that flower do to you?

"Fine, I'm sorry!" Isabella shouted at the top of my lungs," I'm a mean, selfish brat, satisfied now?!"

At first, both - Anabelle and Pedro- wanted to punish her further for her attitude. But they were too softhearted and accepted her once again and all headed to the nursery to see Neon.

Since they had a jet to catch, the party didn't linger long before the tears inducing moment came - the time to say goodbye.

Just as Niklaus dreaded, his sister alone spent half a liter of tears on his shoulder, followed by Amanda; Cecil just sniffed.

Eden didn't cry but gave him a bro hug, patting him on the shoulder which he had no option but to reciprocate. After that discussion upstairs, they had come to a mutual understanding, and the tension between them lessened.

Anabelle did cry a bit- he didn't know the girl loved him that much - while Pedro bumped fist with him instead.

Currently, Niklaus stood watching the now empty house with Isabella by his side. He had moved all his men - those willing to follow him to the end of the earth - abroad. It was time to start afresh.

"When do you think we're going to be back?" Isabella asked, feeling nostalgic all of a sudden.

Niklaus glanced down at her, pursuing his lips " Don't know? Five? Ten years? Who knows?"

"We need to go, the pilot is not going to wait forever, sir," Michael informed him from inside the car.

"Would you sell off the house?" his daughter inquired.

"No, Amanda would take care of it till we're back,"

"Much better," Isabella breathed, heading back to the car to go see Neon.

Niklaus stared at the house smiling wryly as tears stung his eyes, "Good-bye Maya,"

He whispered, turned his back, and left.