The third point of view

Eden barged into Adam's office, a violent look on his face. The veins on his neck were bulging, one didn't need to ask if he was angry or not.

With one clean sweep, almost the items on Adam's desk were swept to the ground while the man in question was unfazed by his action.

"What's the meaning of this?" Adam asked him, dropping the cigarette into the ashtray that survived the fall.

"Her treatment is late," Eden spat, smoke literally dissipating off his body.

"It isn't late, I was waiting for you to come and collect it yourself,"

"What?" Eden was dumbfounded.

"You heard me right, Eden. From now on, if you want the antidote, you'd have to come and pick it yourself," Adam said to him without a trace of emotion.

"You're evil, you know that right?" Eden glowered at him, fists curled by his side. The kind of anger boiling through him made him envision ramming his fists into Adam's face till he was nothing but a pulp. But he couldn't do that, not if he wanted Annabella to live.

"It's not being evil but manifesting power. If you have the resources, flaunt it; if you don't have, stay and remain below," He told Eden straightforwardly.

"Fine, now hand over the antidote," He stretched his hand out with expectation.

The corner of Adam's mouth stretched into a sneer. He brought out a little unlabeled container from one of the drawers and just when Eden was expecting him to place it on his desk, he tossed it to the ground.

Eden's brow raised at his action, "What's the meaning of this?"

Adam glanced down nonchalantly, "Oh that? Of course, that's the antidote. If you need it, pick it,"

Eden's bit on his tongue till he could taste blood, this humiliation, he would surely return it a million fold.

He bent down, tears stung his eyes but he blinked them away, he would take any disgrace that came his way as long as Annabelle survived.

"Now Niklaus is back, you should know not to whine your mouth carelessly," Adam said.

"Why?" Eden wrinkled his nose, "Because you don't want him to know the kind of monster you are? "

Their gazes met; Eden's red, aggrieved orbs staring into dark, hardened ones. None of them was smiling.

"I'm going to offer you once again: leave this position for Niklaus and I'll give you the full formula, you and your daughter can go live in any country of your choice,"

"Nice try," Was all Eden told him and departed.

He wasn't stupid enough to agree to such a deal. The only thing still keeping him and Annabelle alive was this position. Even if Adam fulfills his end of the deal, there was no guarantee that that evil man wouldn't do something to them there.

The past seven years have been a horrible experience for Eden. Niklaus was right, he shouldn't have underestimated Adam.

Just as he planned seven years ago, Eden had already secured the evidence that linked Adam as his father's killer. He was prepared and planned to reveal that piece of evidence on his inauguration day as the new family head.

But then, disaster struck, Annabelle fell sick. She was hospitalized and the test revealed that she had accumulated a large amount of an unknown poison- someone had been slipping small amounts of a slow-reacting poison into her food. For how long? He couldn't tell.

None of the hospital treatments worked, she was flown abroad to diverse countries, and yet none came up with a positive effect - her health deteriorated.

Eden had a suspicion that Adam had a hand in whatever happened to his daughter but he couldn't confirm it until Adam verified it with his own mouth.

He could remember that day clearly: the night he was summoned into his office and that man began to spit nonsense.

Eden had been intent on finishing Adam that day but that sly fox reminded him of his daughter's health and a feeling of helplessness washed over him.

Everyone knew how much he loved and cared for Anabelle, the only family he had. So in exchange for the antidote, his power was taken from him.

In reality, everyone knew he was the new family head, but in the dark, Adam was the one calling the shot. That sly fox never gave him the complete antidote but one that was taken monthly to minimize and lower the effects of the poison on Anabelle.

Eden had over the years tried to replicate the antidote that he set up a secret lab but none of their experiments was successful - if only they could get their hands on that recipe.

So he had to take all of Adam's insults to rescue the life of his daughter, he would do anything to ensure that Anabelle survived amid all these obstacles - even if he had to eat shit.

Once Eden came back home, he handed the antidote to the doctor who administered the medicine to Anabelle lying on her bed.

His daughter was pale; her lips slightly blue and chapped, with sunken dark circles plus the fact she was thinner than girls her age.

"Don't worry, I'll protect you," Promised Eden as he kissed the top of her palm. At Least, this month's dilemma was over, and he would have to wait until next month for the antidote. Who knows what that evil man has in store for him by then?

Eden stayed by Anabelle's side as she slept through the night. Just like other times, she would feel better in the morning.

Feeling bored, he brought out his phone, and began to scroll through the news, somehow stumbling upon a viral video of Niklaus and a woman kissing - he didn't see her face clearly.

"Seriously?" Eden sighed. His cousin wasn't even back in the country for a while and was already causing waves across the internet. Wasn't he engaged or something? Sigh, a player would always remain a player.

Eden had wanted to ignore the video but for the sake of satisfying his curiosity and whiling away time, he clicked on the video and it played.

His world was turned upside down at that moment.

He sprang up from his seat, eyes widened to the size of saucers. Maya? How was that possible? How could this be?

Eden was sure that his heart stopped right there and then as the video played on. No wonder Niklaus had been so taken that he literally assaulted her.

However, a pang of jealousy hit Eden watching that, how could Niklaus get to her first? Why was it always Niklaus?

Nevertheless, Eden was relieved that she was alive. The guilt gnawing at him for years was finally alleviated. But then, how did Maya survive?

At once, Eden grabbed his laptop and began to make inquiries about her.

"Princess Reina Armani. Thirty years old and daughter to a mysterious rich businessman. News had it that the owner of "Nirvana enterprise" had never shown his face to the public nor his family members. And only this year, did his daughter, Reina, make her debut to society by heading their jewelry subsidiary and has … " Eden read out from one of the few blogs that had her information.

"What kind of sick game was this?" he mumbled as he continuously read down. If Niklaus was sure that this person named Reina or whatever, was Maya, he was surely on the right track.

Something was wrong, Eden could smell it. Why was everything about this family hidden? What were they hiding? Why didn't they want to be discovered and why wasn't this Reina admitting she was Maya?

Sure, her appearance would create quite a buzz on the internet. After all, her case had been quite a sensitive one in the country years ago and two females - two of the most suspected fans had been convicted- and sent to prison.

But she could continue with this name since she has made it so far uncovered, which means she had a secret backer - Eden hoped whoever he was, doesn't turn out to be his love rival. This time, he wasn't going to lose to Niklaus.

Eden picked up his phone to call his secretary.

"Hello, sir," His secretary's voice sounded weak and thick with sleep. Well, his bad, but he wanted this done as soon as possible.

"I want you to do something for me as quickly as possible- you'd be paid extra for it, "

"Of course, what is it?" he sensed the willingly in his voice. Money does do wonders.

"Set up a meeting with Reina Armani of Nirvana Enterprise for me, the earlier the better," Eden ordered.

"Alright, sir. Consider it done,"

"I hope so,"

Eden ended the call yet didn't stop there, he called his shadow guard.

"Keil," He called.

Keil was his new shadow guard after the other one died a few years back. There had been an accident involving the both of them - he laid his life for him.

"Hello, boss,"

"I need you to investigate someone for me,"

"Who,"

"Princes Reina Armani. Use all your underworld influence and my resources. Don't mind the cost, just find everything you can about her," He added, "Quickly,"

Niklaus saw her before he did which means he would be investigating her as well.

"Alright, sir"

Reina, if you really turn out to be Maya, then you should know that I'm not giving up on you this time, he swore.