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Some scenes in this chapter may be too harsh to read.

I advise readers to read with caution.

Adrian's POV

Five years later...

Five years had passed since that day.

So much had been changed in my life since then. Audrey, Mark and Christy were arrested and further awaited for their trial in the courts.

I remember seeing an interview taken right before they were charged into the police station. None of their faces showed any remorse. Just anger filled glares and replies for the reporters who desperately tried to get some emotion from them.

After I was rescued along with Darcy, We were sent to the hospital where I was treated for my injuries. But I never cared about myself, I cared about Violet. While I was being attended to, Violet was examined and...

My parents handed me the dreadful news. I was in my reserved hospital room at that time. I could vividly remember the sound of rainfall clobbering upon the windows. My parents were in a shocked and emotional stage, they just lost their daughter in law who they truly loved.

When I heard the news, I fell into depression. I knew Violet had passed, but the little bit of hope stored inside of me wanted to blossom for Violet. I wanted her to live. But the truth broke my hope apart.

I thought about what I could've done better to protect Violet.

I should've never left the backdoor open or ever left her alone.

I should've contacted the police as soon as Violet was nowhere to be seen. At least the police would've caught up with the criminals and she would've been alive.

I promised to take care of her and I failed. I failed miserably.

I wished that I had more time to love her. We had only fell in love for a short amount of time. I wanted to grow old and take care of Alora with her. I wanted her presence at my side for the rest of my life.

It was my heart that believed that I would save her that day. I believed that she would be alive. But fate decided to make its choice, it took away the person I loved. Fate sadistically took away everything that kept me alive.

It wasn't fair of life to conclude me with this empty feeling.

Why did they kill her? Why wasn't I able save her?

All of these questions rippled through my defunct mind. I fell in love with an angel and she was my everything until I lost her, forever to a devil.

Each thought killed me, bit by bit. I soon fell into the darkest phase of my life. It hadn't even been a week since the time I was discharged from the hospital where I tried to... I tried to harm myself.

I wanted to leave this world, just like Violet who's life was stolen. I was at my parents' house, for the sake of my mental health. They noticed my weak and broken position and insisted on taking care of me.

I went to the balcony on the second story of the house, the section where it overlooked a deep mountainous region. I stood there for a while, feeling the cold air circulating through my lungs. I could only think about her. The way she stared at me before she left me.

Those lifeless eyes.

Why wasn't it me? Why didn't they kill me rather than her? Everything would've been more justified cause I deserved to suffer more than her. She deserved to live a long life and stay happy. The pain was unbearable, life was unbearable without Violet. I blamed myself for everything.

So I climbed over the edge of the balcony, and almost jumped. My dad and mom found me before I noticed. My dad jerked me by the collar and pushed me far away from the edge of the balcony. They both yelled at me as they broke down in tears.

"Why are you doing this Adrian? Don't you know that we're here for you? You aren't alone!"

"Violet would've never wanted you to do this!"

"Who would be there for us? For Alora?"

As I listened to each of them vent out their emotions I felt even more guilty. I was putting them through hell which was unnecessary. They lost one person they loved, they couldn't lose another.

And most importantly, I completely ignored Alora. I was so depressed, that I had forgotten about her. I had forgotten about my promise to Violet.

I promise to protect you, and Alora for the rest of our lives, don't forget that...

After that incident, I forced myself to to divert my attention. I spent all of my time with Alora. It was hard at first, as she would look at me and say Da and then immediately say Mama later, as if she was wondering where Violet was.

I wanted to give up on several occasions but I thought about what I had promised to Violet. I promised her to take care of Alora, my daughter. She was all I had for remembering Violet, so I told myself to do just that.

Spending more time with Alora brought us closer than ever. Violet was Alora's savior, and Alora was my savior.

And then the trial had begun, It was hard for me and my parents, walking into the bitter court. Audrey, Mark and Christy were all tried for first degree murder. Darcy and I sat opposite to them, as witnesses and victims for the prosecution.

Although the defense fought hard versus the prosecution with a fake alibi claiming that they were not guilty, there wasn't enough evidence to back it up.

Darcy and I had our testimonies of the day we were abducted and what had happened after. Our testimonies diminished the defense as we had a detailed description of the events and also the police dial that Lexie made on the day.

We needed to fill the court in for the abuse that Violet was experiencing prior to the event, which was when Darcy and I had found her in her room. The evidence was tied up and the jury had reached a final verdict. The foreman, a lady in her mid 30's stood up and spoke.

"Due to the evidence that has been obtained from the victims themselves, the jury find Mark, Audrey and Christy Cherie guilty of all charges for 1st degree murder against

Violet Cherie."

The criminals were sent to prison without the possibility of parole. They were to be sent to a high surveillance prison where they would be held in solitary confinement for the rest of their sentence.

It was truly a blessing for Darcy and me, cause we had the justice for Violet that she deserved. I hugged my parents in relief and happiness, and did the same with Darcy too.

When I looked back at the outraged criminals who were pushed by the guards through the doors that sealed their justified fate, Audrey turned back for a second.

I could never forget the rage her eyes reflected, it was as if she was envisioning killing me with her own eyes. She was probably regretting the choice she made for not killing me that day along with Violet.

I glanced at her emotionlessly before turning away whilst I hugged my parents as we walked out of the court. It didn't bother me whether Audrey hated me to the point where she desired to kill me. All that mattered to me was that Violet had got her justice.

And that justice shall set her spirit free.

———

I reflected the events that happened over the course of five years as I sat against the support of the headstone. It was my birthday today and I wanted to devote it with my love. I traced my fingers across the carvings which were engraved into the headstone. The sunlight irradiated a small streak of light across the special words.

In the loving memory

Of

Violet Hawk Hayes.

1991 - 2015.

I closed my eyes and gently breathed in the fresh summer air, a memory unfolding swiftly.

Violet's funeral took place during the trial. My parents, Darcy, Lexie, Alora and I attended it. We chose a meaningful area to hold Violet's funeral, it was next to her father's grave.

I knew that Violet loved her father a lot as she had told me about him once, and even though I never met him, I was sure that he was an amazing father. It would bring me peace that Violet would rest beside her father, Farris Hawk.

That was also the reason why Violet's last name was displayed as Hawk and Hayes, cause I wanted the connection she had with her father and me to remain, rather than being rooted with her evil family.

I could remember the funeral as if it were taken place yesterday. My flowing tears were disguised by the rainfall. It was a difficult dealing with the desolate emotion that travelled through me.

But with the guidance I received from my family, friends and Alora, I got through it. I opened my eyes and caressed the carvings, a faint smile twitching my lips upwards.

Let her Rest In Peace for she deserves it.

My parents, Darcy and Lexie visit Violet too, but cause of the distance at which they lived from the here, they came down occasionally. I come here as much as I could to spend my time speaking with Violet, and sitting by her comfort.

Thinking about Darcy and Lexie, they got married three years ago, and are officially godfather and godmother for my daughter. Violet would've felt immensely happy if she were here.

Beside me, Alora sat gazing intently at a group of flowers which sprouted from the ground that embraced the grave, as trying to figure out where they came from.

My smile deepened, watching my seven year old daughter's curiosity. It reminded me of how Violet used to be. A peculiar expression persistently drawn upon her face. Alora inherited her mother's impressions and it made me delighted.

She averted her gaze then focused it upon me, a frown emerging on her face. "Dada... where do these flowers come from?" Her little finger pointed toward a enlarging daisy amidst the vibrant grass.

"They come from the ground, sweetheart." I replied. Alora grinned at the daisy and nodded, understanding. "Mama is in the ground too, isn't she? Are these flowers sent from her?"

I gulped an uneasy feeling down my throat. This was the agonizing part of telling Alora about Violet, she didn't entirely comprehend the situation. But I would tell her the entire story of Violet one day. I nodded my head, chuckling.

Alora giggled and kissed the flowers, each one by one. "Kisses for mama." My heart warmed up watching her interact with Violet, it was the most beautiful thing. Even if she never truly discovered who her mother was, she always questioned about her, trying figure her out. It was all that I could ask for, a loving family.

I laughed and hugged Alora close to me. I was proud of my daughter and I knew that Violet would be too.

I kissed Alora's cheeks and smiled. "Mama kissed you many times too, sweetie. She loved you so much." I spoke, remembering all the memories of us. Alora glanced at me joyfully. "Really? Did she love you too Dada?"

"Of course, she loved the both of us, sweetie. You know, she used say that you seemed to love me more than her?" I chuckled at the memory.

Alora loved both of us, but Violet always noticed that most of Alora's attention was directed toward me. Alora giggled in response. "Can you tell me a story about mama, please?"

A grin tugged at the edges of my lips as I thought about the perfect story. Once I had decided, I nodded, preparing myself for a long story time.

"Of course, sweetie. Wanna hear about the story where I tricked mama into a photoshoot?" I laughed when I heard cheering, urging me to continue with the story. "Well, I wanted to surprise..."

Even as I sat down beside Violet's grave, reciting one of my precious memories, I didn't feel sad anymore. Alora was here with me. I knew that this didn't mean that Violet was gone forever as long as I lived. She was still here, within the depths of my heart, probably smiling at Alora and me.

As I cuddled Alora to my chest, I twisted my head to my side and couldn't help but stare right into the shining brown eyes which I had fallen in love with.

Her hair was let out to frame her face and her glowing skin looked as soft as the petals of the flowers that bloomed upon her grave. She placed a featherweight hand on my shoulder and awarded me with her beautiful smile as the sunlight illuminated her from above.

My angel was with me

forever.