When we reached home, Rafael took me straight to our room he didn't even let me answer Dad's question. Dad too was confused by his sudden behaviour.

As we were inside our room Rafael stood in front of me looking straight in my eyes.

"There are few things that you don't know about Simon which may hurt you but now you need to know them."

I scanned his face once before asking "Is it something bad?"

He nodded.

"I don't want to know." I replied.

Rafael came closer to me, placing his one hand on my chin making me look up at him "I have noticed something about you, you never ask the question 'why' and I think I know why because you don't wanna get hurt."

He was right. I never asked Simon why he kept me caged for 6 months. I never asked him why he is away from me for more than a year. I never asked him why doesn't he tell me about his work and above all I never asked him why am I not allowed to tell people who my brother is.

"I am scared of losing people that's why I never searched about Simon even if I knew he was quiet famous." I said gulping hard "I don't want to know anything about you or about Simon if that helps me in loving you, I am fine with it."

"But this you need to know. I don't want to tell you but I have to." He said taking a step backwards then continued "Simon is in the mafia."

For a moment I froze, I tried to process it again.

Simon is what?

"What?" I asked in disbelief.

"Actually, he is not just in the mafia he is the leader."

"M-Mafia? Like in the books?" I asked.

He chuckled "You read mafia books?"

I nodded "It's not funny, I am serious. Does he kill innocents?"

"It's more dangerous than you think, than the books. You wasn't told anything about your family, they did that to keep you safe. Your Dad was also a leader after him Simon took over and your Mom-Dad were killed for this mafia."

Killed. Those black outfit men were in the mafia?

"Who killed them?"

"I don't know. Some other mafia gang. You are in danger because Simon killed someone to take the revenge of your Mom-Dad's death few years ago and now, someone named Vincent is back to take his revenge. Simon's men are dying and he isn't able to do anything, Aaron too died because he is also a part of the mafia thing and yeah Christopher too."

How can Simon be in the mafia? He is the sweetest person I have ever known how can he be a cruel person to kill people? And Aaron too?

No this is not possible.

But if Rafael is telling the truth then everyone has till now lied to me... everyone I trusted.

Simon.

Aaron.

Uncle.

Mom.

Dad.

"Our marriage too was because of this mafia thing."

No Rafael please don't tell me you too lied to me, I won't be able to trust you again.

"I know you are cruel and you have all the qualities of a mafia but please don't tell me you too are a part of the mafia."

He smiled then shook his head "I am not."

"Then how is our marriage related to the mafia thing?"

"You are in danger Hazel. The two times you were attacked by them and also the stabbing. Simon asked me to marry you to keep you safe. Seeing the current situation, I am the only person who can keep you safe. Vincent won't even think of coming close to me because of the position I hold, he wouldn't want the cops chasing him madly before he gets Simon. Simon isn't able to do anything and he thinks I am powerful enough to protect you. He asked me to stay with you until he finds and kills that Vincent guy."

"So you married me just to keep me safe?"

He nodded.

"Why would you do that? Marrying me you have put yourself in danger do you know that?"

"I know but I have to protect you Hazel. You are innocent."

"Why the hell are you getting involved in this? Are you crazy?"

"Hazel, I am capable of keeping you safe. I kept you protected from your event attack too."

"But you are in danger Rafael, you know that. Dad is also in danger all because of me."

I was really unable to understand why would he do that. When he decided to marry me he knew nothing about me except that I was Simon's sister why would he want to protect me by getting himself in danger?

"Hazel I have my reasons which I can't tell you, just know one thing I had to. I want something that only Simon can do for me and in return I am doing what he wants."

"You are not understanding, because of me you all-"

He cupped my face "Shh... it's okay. It's okay. Calm down. Just stay calm and listen to me."

"Why did you marry me?" I nearly whined.

He placed a gentle kiss on my right cheek "I hate Simon though he was my friend still I hate him but you are so different from him Hazel, so fucking innocent. I couldn't let you die and Simon can do something for me that no other person can. And if in return I have to keep you safe, I can do that."

"Now listen to me. Do one thing for me and stay away from Connor, please." Listening to him I pushed him away from myself.

"Why are you doubting him? He has no relation with the mafia thing. He is very nice Rafael, I know him."

Rafael rolled his eyes.

"And tell me one thing, if he had any relation with all the attacks why did he save me from those attacks? This doesn't make any sense."

"Because he wanted to get close to you so it becomes easy for him to reach Simon. You were never the target to kill, he wants you to get Simon."

"I don't believe Connor can do anything to hurt me."

He sighed "You know what Hazel, I am tired. I am so fucking tired of trying to save you when you put yourself in danger over and over again."

"But Connor hasn't-"

"For Christ sake Hazel, I know something that's why I am asking you to stay away from him." He said in a loud voice making me shut up. "If I am wrong then after this mess is over I myself will apologise to your 'friend' but for now I am begging you please stay away from Connor. And still if you act stubborn then I'll have no other option than to lock you up in this room."

I bit my lips looking down.

Maybe Rafael is right about Connor, maybe Connor is trying to hurt me and why am I fighting him? That's because I just don't want to believe my friend can hurt me, because I don't want to lose the only friend I have.

I sobbed covering my face, he sighed then held my hand pulling me towards him forcefully, hugging me tightly.

"I know Hazel. I know you don't have friends but in the current situation please just don't rust anyone."

I clutched on his shirt resting my head on his chest "Why me? Why does everyone love hurting me?"

"No one wants to hurt you Hazel, Simon loves you."

If he did he would've told me the truth himself.

Rafael is in danger because of me.

Connor ditched me.

Simon lied to me.

Aaron is dead.

What more is gonna happen in my life?

"Don't leave me Rafael. Please. I don't want you to go away from me like everyone."

He kissed the top of my head "I won't."

Just those two words of his was enough to make me calm.

He won't leave me.

At night, Rafael was in his study and I was in my room talking to Simon.

"You never told me anything about the mafia thing."

"I couldn't. What should've I told you? Your brother is a killer? I kill people Haze, I am no saint you thought me to be... I couldn't haze."

I remained quiet.

"I didn't want you to hate me Haze because of what I do. I never wanted to do this but I didn't have any other choice after Dad's death."

"I don't hate you, Simon. I don't hate you for anything but please don't lie to me."

"Anything you can ask."

"Tell me why is someone trying to kill everyone in our family. What did you do to them?"

He took a deep breath then started "Ten years ago there was a gang other than ours. They were our biggest rivals. In one meeting it was decided that we will stay away from their business and they would not interfere in ours but they didn't listen. They sent one of their men in our gang disguised as one of Dad's bodyguard and that man let everyone of our rival gang enter our house, they killed our Mom-Dad, the night Dad locked you up in the cupboard. Dad knew who they were and also that they would kill him. I couldn't just let it go. I took the revenge by killing their leader but I couldn't kill his son he ran away and now he is back to take the revenge for whatever I have done to their leader."

After listening to him I didn't feel like he did anything wrong. They killed our Mom-Dad so the leader deserved to be dead. They betrayed us.

"Haze, you there?"

"Yeah. It's okay Simon."

"I never wanted any harm to come to you so I asked Rafael to marry you. He is the only one now who can keep you safe and the only one I trust."

"But he too is in danger."

"Nothing can harm Rafael Martinez. He is my friend I have known him for years and I trust him enough to give him my life. You know why I chose him because the men around can also betray me, even our Uncle and Rafael is the only choice I had, I don't trust anyone when it comes to you Haze."

"I'll talk to you later Simon. Bye." Saying that I hung up.

I shouldn't feel this but I do feel the suffocation again and I hate it. I hate it so much. I made my way towards Rafael's study he was reading a file leaning against his table. He looked up from the file at me with his brows furrowed.

Standing at the door itself I asked "Can I go out for sometime?"

He looked at his watch on the wrist then back at me "At this time? It's 10 already."

"I promise I won't be late and I'll carry phone too."

"Where do you wanna go?"

I looked down not wanting to tell him what I want to do. It's immature and embarrassing. I could feel his gaze on me.

"Wherever it is I can take you. I am not letting you go anywhere alone."

I nodded. He closed his file and came towards me.

As we reached the park, he had some call to attend while I took my usual spot on the bench and stared at the sky blankly.

"I thought I was close enough to Simon. I thought he would never lie to me but I was wrong he too lied to me. Why can't people trust me? Connor too used me to get to Simon, why can't I have friends?"

"Mom-Dad I feel so lonely. I want you guys back I want to stay a happy life with friends and a family like normal people do. Why does it sound so difficult now?"

I heard someone clearing throat from behind, Rafael came and took a seat beside me.

"So this is your secret place?" He asked.

Taking out my dark chocolate I divided it into two halves and gave one half to him, at first he looked at the chocolate like I am giving him some poison.

"Just take it. It's not poison." I said and he chuckled then took it. I took a bite from my piece. "When I feel lonely, I always come here."

"Of course you do." He said looking at the sky. "You believe in the theory of dead people becoming stars so I don't think it's too hard to guess."

I looked at him this time to see his eyes closed with a light smile on his lips, he looked breathtakingly handsome, his sharp jawline was just enough to make anyone lure upon that face.

"You like it?" I asked.

He opened his eyes then nodded "It's a bit soothing in here."

"Rafael." I called making him look at me. "Can I ask something from you?"

"Well I am not getting you the stars, I am sorry."

I smiled lightly "Not the stars, I won't ask something so difficult. Will you stay with me?"

"I am here with you."

I shook my head "Not like this. Like with me as in... can you not break my trust?"

"Who broke your trust?"

"Many people whom I once called mine." I wrapped my hands around his arm resting my head on his shoulder "Please don't ditch me. Simon was the one whom I trusted more than anyone he too lied to me."

"It's okay Hazel. Sometime it's just the situation to be blamed. Simon was in a situation where he thought telling you the truth can make him lose you."