———

Third person's POV

Violet sat by a thin stream of water, her legs dangling inches above the surface at which she gazed at longingly. When the weather turned warm, Violet's hair clung like a curtain down her head and her skin glistened in the light.

Minutes passed by since she and Mr and Mrs Hayes arrived at the park. Violet stalked off to adventure the tempting green park but she let Mr and Mrs Hayes know where she was going, she wasn't witless to have them looking after her. They had enough on their shoulders and Violet knew that.

Violet prodded her feet repeatedly against the edge, a sad expression playing on her face. She felt deserted, she missed Darcy. She didn't know where he left to and it was her fault that she didn't try to ask him that day. Her heart sank to grief cause she lost her best friend that she may not see any time soon.

Her lips turned downward, opposing her graceful smile. Violet peered down at her disheartened reflection on the water. It only further broke her heart cause her face was still healing from the discolored scars in random areas, and for Violet it felt ugly.

Violet sighed and laid on her back. Her back was graced by the delicate grass that was decorated with daisies. Her feet were still hanging above the water. Violet closed her eyes as the warmth of the sun rays warmed up her face.

———

She didn't know when she feel asleep in her haven, but she was awoken by loud chattering. She opened her eyes to the pink and yellow coated sky that was decorated with purple clouds. The sun was setting. She thought about how long she was asleep for as she sat up.

Violet sighed, facing her back to the tributary and beginning to stand up. "About time you woke up." Suddenly her legs gave away beneath her and she fell backwards, right into the water with a gigantic splash. A few seconds of blurriness covered her vision, the water drenched her clothes.

Luckily the water wasn't too deep, It reached the bottom of her chest when she sat in an upright position. "Woah, hold on!" Violet stared at Adrian from her eyes of dripping water. Her cheeks heated furiously as she glared up at him. Adrian was holding his hand out to her, wearing a white t-shirt that was tucked in his blue jeans. His hair was soft and short, he had thin hair strands surrounding his oval shaped face.

"Grab onto me." He motioned towards his arm by waving it in front of Violet's face. Feeling more humiliated and furious at Adrian for scaring her, she furrowed her eyebrows at his forwarded arm. Adrian sighed when she began to crawl up the edge. But she managed to slip again, against the slippery mud.

Violet felt hands enclose around her shoulders and armpits, then she felt herself gently pulled upwards. Adrian placed Violet on the ground and watched her scowl at him. He was happy that Violet was mad at him than afraid. Maybe she felt more used to his presence now, what ever it was, it made Adrian happy.

Adrian stared at Violet, who was trying to squeeze the water out of her yellow dress. Without hesitation Adrian bent over to pick her coat that was lying on the ground and tapped her shoulder. Violet's eyes darted over to Adrian's soft blue ones. For a moment she gazed at him as if she was hypnotized by the blue of his eyes. How can a devil have the most beautiful eyes?

Adrian smiled and handed her the coat, her eyes trailed over the fabric. "Take it." Adrian muttered as Violet made a move to grab it out of his hands. She placed the coat over her drenched body before she nodded grimly at Adrian, to find his eyes already on her. She scurried away feeling bitter.

"No wait!" Adrian ran after her, his golden hair flying in the wind that was repelling in his direction. Violet abruptly stopped and turned around to a panting Adrian. Not a single person was present in the park and she thought about what time it was.

"Mom and dad left, they told me to bring you home," Adrian paused and then continued. "Anyway, I need to talk to you." Violet raised her eyebrows. Adrian stepped closer to Violet and she stepped back, fighting a yell that was willing to escape her throat.

Adrian realized Violet's movement and placed a hand in his jean's pocket. "It's about the baby. Well, I was called into the hospital and," He gulped uncomfortably.

"I had a chat with them, about you wanting to adopt the baby." Violet slowly nodded at Adrian in understanding. "They said you can adopt but you need an actual assurance that you can take care of the baby." Violet was dumbstruck at his words and frowned.

She can't adopt the baby?

"You'll need a house and a stable career. Since you don't really have them both, it's impossible to adopt the baby." Adrian saw the change of emotions in her eyes as they shed of tears. He wondered why she felt so affectionate towards this baby who she didn't even know personally. She saved her, but why?

Violet felt her fists clench and face boil. She thought that maybe having a baby could help forget her worries and make her feel better. She twirled in her spot and was storming away when a hand grabbed her wrist, preventing her from going any further. She turned toward Adrian. "Wait, there's a solution to this but it might not please you."

The sky had fallen to a dusk shade and the park lamps were being turned on. Adrian cleared his throat. "Since I have a house and stable career, I think that I could adopt the baby myself, and since you are engaged to me, the baby would be yours as much as mine." Violet hesitated, breathing unevenly.

Part of her mind told her that it was foolish to trust Adrian with a baby. She wanted to adopt the baby but she wouldn't allow Adrian interfering. But the positive part of her mind thought it could work. Adrian wouldn't be around anyway. Violet could take care of the baby and stay at Mr and Mrs Hayes' house until she could make a living of her own, and put an end to her marriage.

Violet felt warm hands on her shoulders, she jumped back into reality and gazed up at Adrian, fearful of their closeness. "What do you think?" Adrian softly muttered as his blue eyes blended in with the deepening sky. Violet looked away from him, her face was reddening. She wasn't sure whether to nod or shake her head. There was a war in her mind that was making her feel light headed.

No or yes?

No. Then say goodbye to your hopes of seeking support, that may end your life again.

Yes. Then suffer in the hands of the devil, you would have to get married to him too.

Violet's eyes welled up as tears dribbled down her cheek and chin. She didn't know what to do. Adrian raised his hands from her shoulders and cupped her cheeks, wiping the tears away. Violet was too engrossed by her crying that she failed to realize that the person she most despised was comforting her, but she felt comfortable.

Her messy hair was directed in several directions, and her eyes had hurt in them. Adrian couldn't help but blame himself. It hurt him that she was upset and he knew it was cause of him. He caressed her cheeks and noticed that her body was shaking.

Violet sobbed into his chest. It was the last thing she would have done if she was conscious of her behavior. Adrian engulfed her into a hug, having seen her sadness.

And so they were rooted in their spots as the dark sky casted a grim shadow upon them.

———

"Mom let me explain..."

Mrs Hayes placed a hand on Adrian's face. He expected this wave of dramatics from his mother. Violet was peeking at them from behind the door frame with hope. She bit the inside of her cheek when Mrs Hayes' back tensed up. "No, I won't allow it Adrian."

Violet felt her body chilling up, she bit her cheek too hard out of nervousness that it brought tears to her eyes. Adrian groaned pulling at his hair, then retorted. "Why mom? I'm old enough to make my own decisions. Why won't you let me do what I want?" Mrs Hayes sighed aggressively. "I said no and you won't adopt a baby."

Adrian saw Violet's small figure in the corner of his eye with her head hung low. Guilt flooded through him, he needed to adopt the baby to make Violet happy, but was stopped by an obstacle which was his mom. "Yes I will," Adrian snarled. "Its my life not yours. I can do as I like, mom."

She looked at him through her now cold eyes. "Your mental state is too weak for this, and you can't be responsible for a child to care for!" Adrian turned away from his mom, shaking with rage.

Violet sunk to her feet and leaned against the wall, listening. Mrs Hayes closed her eyes and sighed. Her anger took over and she upset her son. She placed her hand on Adrian's shoulder. "Why do you want a child, now?" She questioned delicately. She just didn't know that he needed to do this to make Violet happy.

"Cause..." Adian whispered. "Cause of Violet." Mrs Hayes trembled a little. "Honey, I think that you need to marry Violet if you want the baby." Adrian waspishly turned his head and yelled. "I'm 27! I'm old enough to know my actions!" Mrs Hayes shook her head. "Sweetheart, you have so much to do. What about your job? You neglected it for months, they need you for modeling Adrian, not taking care of a baby."

Adrian seethed through gritted teeth. "Let me do as I want."

"I'm not gonna accept."

"Mom, it's my life."

"Maybe I'll have a chat with Violet, It'll change-"

"NO!" Adrian shouted on the top of his lungs. He felt like he had to do this for Violet's happiness even if it meant to avoid his own life.

Mrs Hayes dropped her hands to her sides. "Think about it Adrian, if anything happens to the baby it'll be your fault. I'm worried that you'll fall under pressure from taking care of a baby and your career." Adrian fisted his fists and yelled so loud that even Violet trembled from behind the wall.

"I DON'T CARE!"

Violet felt selfish. Although she really wanted the baby, she thought that maybe she should change her mind. She would find someone else to spend time with, maybe?

And it was only a baby, one that can't even understand her. Violet silently got up to her height and padded away to her room, feeling disappointed and remorseful.

Shouts were heard from Violet's room as she closed the door quietly and jumped on the bed, sinking within the soft blankets. She just needed someone, a friend. Her light blue colored dress pooled around her and her face churned into a whimper.

She was a burden for them all.

———

The sound of clinking forks on plates were only heard in the room. Violet's hands shook in fear as she began to dig into her dish of sweet corn and chicken.

She took a sip of water from her glass and sneaked a glance at Mrs Hayes, who sat at the head of the dining table. A soft glow of light originating from the fireplace behind Mrs Hayes was warming up the tense room.

From the opposite view of Violet, Adrian sat in his chair casting a harsh look at his plate of untouched food. Violet retreated her eyes back to her plate and picked her spoon up to shove a scoop of corn in her mouth. She felt guilty of creating this unreasonable argument between the son and mother, so much that she had come to a hard decision.

Mrs Hayes didn't cast a look at Violet since the argument. But Violet understood her. It was not easy to cope with anyone that you were unhappy with for a reason. Violet swallowed the food down her throat and played with a piece of paper she held in her palm, under the table. "Eat your food Adrian."

Mrs Hayes forced a smile at Adrian, only to get ignored. Her smile dropped instantly and turned to a glare. "Adrian." Adrian got up from his seat and muttered. "I'm not hungry."

Mrs Hayes banged her fists upon the table, making Violet who was trying immensely to avoid their eyes jolt, and Adrian to flinch.

Adrian's cheeks grew red and blue eyes sparked of fury, his whole body trembled. He looked defeated. Violet glanced at him from under her eyelashes as he stomped away from the dinning table and from view. Mrs Hayes' face twisted in guilt and tears dropped from her eyes, shocking Violet. "Oh no."

Violet glanced at Mrs Hayes and hesitantly fumbled the note from her palm and slid it in front of Mrs Hayes. Violet knew that she was ruining their relationship by wanting to adopt the baby, and that was the last thing she wanted to do. She wrote her decision on a scrap of paper earlier that she wouldn't adopt the baby cause it was causing an argument.

Losing her father meant complete emptiness for her and she wouldn't let it happen again, especially for the people who took care of her and respected her in her vulnerable stage.

Mrs Hayes lifted her eyes and sniffled, at the small note placed in front of her elbow. She peered at Violet in confusion whilst unraveling the paper. Mrs Hayes' glossy eyes wandered around the page, reading it.

Mrs Hayes didn't consider Violet to be at any fault by asking for responsibility over a baby, it's just that she didn't even know to care for one properly. And she was afraid for her son's mental health if she were to adopt a baby, cause it would be stressful for him.

Mrs Hayes frowned and turned to look straight into Violet's eyes. Her frown resembled Adrian's, Violet thought. "No dear, I'm not upset about you wanting to adopt the baby." She stated and shook her head apologetically. "I'm sorry that I've been mean to you but..." Violet sadly smiled and shook her head, she didn't need an apology to understand.

"It's just that Adrian has been very pressured to continue his career, his life his... everything since the past few weeks. I can't help him." Mrs Hayes sobbed. "I don't want him to adopt the baby cause he would be under more stress and," Violet watched Mrs Hayes got up from her seat as her own legs extended upwards.

"You, Violet. Sweetheart, I fear that he might feel alone if you are occupied with a baby. Especially when you'll leave tomorrow." Violet froze, she felt like her heart dropped to her stomach.

Feel alone? Adrian?

She thought of it as a joke.

Leaving tomorrow?

Violet gazed at Mrs Hayes as her mind swirled with bewilderment. Mrs Hayes stepped away from the table and turned away only to feel her hand being clutched by Violet. She noticed the change in expression of Violet's face and raised her eyebrows.

"You're leaving tomorrow to Adrian's house. Didn't he tell you?"