"Stop fighting it, coward."

Her words rang in my ears as I stood there in the middle of the floor shocked. How dare she talk to me like that. How dare she call me a coward? I am not a fucking coward. I will never be. I cannot be. It's not me.

But deep down I knew she was right. She was not fooled by my tough behavior because she sees through me and yes, that makes me scared. Scared of her. Scared of what she might know. Sacred of how she will make me break those walls which were created years ago by me to protect myself. To protect me from the expectations, hopes and wishes of other people. But it all comes to a stake when she is with me. She is right about me being a coward. But I can't accept that fact.

Because if I do, then I will be back where I started. Back to the time when I was weak, broken and hurt. I don't want to be there, not now not ever.

I started walking towards the bar to have something, wanting to drink off my feelings. I don't even know what happened to me back there, why was I behaving like that? I saw her with that man and I couldn't bear it. I can't explain the feeling I had in words because it was something complicated, something which I have never felt. It was like she was not something I would like...

I mean just the sight of that man named Ezra was enough to make me want to snatch that bastard away from her. I don't even know who he was. Eva must have thought of him as my business partner but I don't even know that man. He was just there standing with the others. I was not interested him so I didn't bother to ask him about his identity.

And why the hell did she agree to dance with him?

But the biggest question is why did I did what I did? The answer is more complicated and entangled than the question itself.

She looked so beautiful tonight. She was the most beautiful woman in the whole party and anyone could see it. I wanted to tell her earlier that she looked beautiful but I couldn't. The phone saved me by ringing. While I danced with her, I couldn't help but touch her soft cheeks and caress her silky skin with my hands. She is too damn irresistible for that. I was just in the moment and my actions shocked me more than it shocked her. I have never lost control before but with her I did. I couldn't hide my desire to be around her.

But as much as I wanted that, it was wrong. I can't do that. I can't be with her. This whole thing is becoming much more complicated than I thought it would be. I never thought that it would be me for whom this whole fake marriage thing would prove to be entangled. But here I am, stuck in my own feelings.

Feelings? Heck I don't even know what feeling is.

I couldn't do this to her. I can't. I can't. She is not what I thought she was. She is different. She is nothing like I thought she is. I thought she was the one who inflicted pain but after this trip I know one thing for sure - she is a victim too. She is also taunted and punished by the chains of the past. She is also trying to heal and move on. She has scars which not everyone can see. She is like me too. Like me, her greatest fear is her past.

It is like we are two pieces of two different broken worlds who have come together to disentangle each other's twisted lives.

I huffed as I ordered a strong drink. I am in a strong need of it. I remember the last time I drank and what all happened but the need is too strong to resist. If I don't drink I would never be able to keep my mind off her. I know I should be looking for her, trying to find her and apologize for....

Wait. What should I apologize for? For being a coward or having a split personality?

Fuck it. It's better that I don't do anything. I am sure she must be somewhere talking to herself. She is crazy enough to do that. But why am I being pulled into her crazy world? Why am I getting myself into her life? Wasn't I the one who said that 'no strings attached' before the deal was sealed between us?

If Jenna comes to know about this she is going to kill me for hurting her. I talked to her yesterday and she was asking hell lot of questions about how things were and how we are doing. "Yeah, we are having a lot of fun trying to rip each other's throat over a stupid 'top hat'." I took off my hat and tossed it over in frustration. I looked down at my 5th glass of drink which was finished. I think I have had enough. If I drink more, I am going to trip down the second I stand up. Then what would be the difference between sober Eva and drunk me?

Why the hell am I thinking about her again?

The second the thought came, my phone rang making me groan. Why can't this thing rest in peace? I looked at the caller ID to find Ryder's name flash on the screen. I shook my head as I decided to pick his call.

"If you are going to annoy me, then I suggest you to back off. I am really not in the mood to argue." I said the second the call connected.

"Ohhoooo, Acey is in a bad mood. What got in your pants today?" He asked.

"Don't even ask. Eva is acting-" I was cut off by hooting.

"Whooohhhh! My Acey is having girl problems!! My boy has grown up - god bless this idiot guy." Ryder exclaimed, clearly finding all this amusing.

"Are you done?" I asked rolling my eyes.

"Oh not yet. I will be done when you two actually admit your deep-rooted-unsurfaced feeling. " He said dramatically and I decided that One drama queen was enough, I didn't need other one.

"Okay, that's my cue to end this call." I said and was about to cut the call when he shouted "Okay okay okay. You win for today. Tell me what happened?"

"Well what happened was that......" And thus I spend my next few minutes explaining him what happened and the irony was that I didn't know myself that what happened.

"Why did you waste so much of my time? You could have simply said that 'I screwed up.' but no you had to waste all this time explaining something you don't understand yourself. Get your ass up and go apologize for being your usual insensitive self. You can't play with the girl, Ace. You gotta stop playing and fooling both yourself and her. " He said and I understood his words, but couldn't bring myself to apologise to her.

" Okay fine. I will try." I said frustrated.

"You have to Acey. Or you will lose something before you realise. And no one knows better than you that what that feels like." He said and I nodded.

I cut his call and headed out to look for her. After searching for a while, I finally found her but with the last person I wanted to see now. Ezra.

They both were talking and Eva was laughing hysterically while her back was facing towards me and she hadn't seen me till now. I clenched my fist as I stared at both of them. I was about to lunge towards that fucking bastard when something caught my eye. Her corset strings. It was hanging loose, as if it was about to be opened. This girl!

I was tightening the strings earlier but no, her ego and annoying behavior had to jump me and drive me away while she carelessly tied it. And now if it opens then that would be the biggest wardrobe malfunction of this year and tomorrow's headlines would have her photos running around. The paparazzi here is sprawling across this whole place. I quickly calmed myself and went towards her to fix the situation. But it is not easy to do so with a woman like her.

She didn't see me coming and thus a gasp came out of her mouth as I wrapped my arms around her waist trying to cover it all until I tie it. She was surprised as hell and it didn't took a genius to realize that. I squeezed her petite waist as she tried to wriggle out of my hold. I then looked towards Ezra, ready to scare the shit out of him.

"May I know what the fuck you are doing here with my wife?" I asked with a calm voice which held a lot of rage.

"Uhh...nothing. I was just fascinated by Mrs. Parker and was just-" I cut him off.

" I know my wife is fascinating but I don't think so she needs someone to tell her that and especially not you. So now, get the hell out of here before I ask the guards to drag you by your collar and throw you out." I said truthfully.

"You can't talk to me like that." He said without any confidence and I knew that he was not someone he was pretending to be.

"Well, I just did." I said and directed Eva away as she remained silent while all this happened. Why isn't she speaking? Don't tell me that she is giving me a silent treatment.

"Well, aren't you going to come on with any snarky comment?" I said trying to lighten the atmosphere.

No response.

Well technically I taught her that. So.. indirectly it is my fault.

She doesn't know about the corset string malfunction yet, I am sure she will shriek her heart out once she finds out. How can she be so careless?

But before I could do anything my vision started to get blurry and I had to close my eyes for a moment to regain my balance. Oh shit. I forgot for a second that I had loads of glasses of drink which explains why I am nearing towards fainting. Well then I have got very less time to fix her strings...I mean her corset's strings.

"Eva listen I w-" I was cut off by some incessant paparazzi getting in our away. Oh not now.

"Mr. And Mrs. Parker! Such a pleasure, would you allow us to click a beautiful couple picture?" One of them asked and I was about to tell them to fuck off when Eva swooped in, taking me by surprise.

"Oh of course! My husband here also has a tendency to claim me as his personal property in front of others. I am sure he wouldn't like to miss this golden opportunity."

"While when we are alone, he also has a tendency to hurt me with his excruciating-well sharpened-knify-stabbing words." She said the second part in a low voice so only I heard it.

Okay, someone is ready to slit my throat. Guess I don't need a vampire for that.

The idiotic paparazzi smiled and started taking our pictures. Oh fuck. Her dress. When will she stop inviting trouble to her own feet?

I quickly covered her as I much as I can with my arms and body. Lucky for the paparazzi, they are getting some cozy, steamy and hot pics for their newspaper.

I stood behind her, holding her in a romantic pose as our photos were clicked and I took the opportunity to come down to her ears. I pushed aside her caramel hair and brought my lips closer to her nape. She stopped breathing and I smirked against her skin in triumph. I really do have an effect on her. I jumped a step ahead by bringing my mouth near her ears and whispering "You look stunning if it's obvious."

She definitely wasn't expecting this as she turned her eyes towards me and stared into mine. She is doing that again. Looking for answers in my eyes. How poetic.

Me being drunk didn't help either. I really don't know what I am doing right now. Well neither did I back then when she called me a fucking coward. Well I guess I am the same today - with or without drink.

I looked at her and whispered again "But those loose strings are bound to open anytime soon, so I suggest to fix it fast, love."

She gasped. Well how predictable.

I bent towards her and kissed her on her temple, I don't know why. I just had the desire to do it. I have really gone crazy. I am doing crazy and unlikely things. And it all came down to this one girl who has made my world go upside down since the day I met her.

"Okay stop panicking. Just come with me " I tried to calm her down. She nodded and I did what I was best at.

"Now it's enough. Get lost all of you." I shouted as the paparazzi nodded in fear and strutted away.

I guided Eva towards the outside where our car waiting. I made her sit inside while also trying to stand up straight. I also got inside the car and ushered the driver to drive.

"Since when has this been like this? Oh god, how many people saw that? I am so careless. How the fuck did it get loose? Oh god why-" I cut her off by rubbing soothing circles on her arm. She looked at me with her eyes filled with panic and urgency, while I tried to calm her down.

"Turn around, I will tie it." I said and she turned, facing her back towards me. I patiently tied the strings and when it was done I told her so. She turned to face me and then she seemed to realize something and the anger was back in her eyes. Oh yeah, she remembers.

"Okay fine. You can ask me anything you want and I would answer it. Honestly. Consider this as an apology or whatever you want." My drunk self said.

At this her eyes changed to contemplation and then she decided something. She whispered okay and then started thinking. I was expecting her to ask something like 'What exactly happened on that night of accident when I lost my father?' or maybe something related to my past which I don't think I was ready to answer but she again surprised me by asking-

"Why are you such a coward?"

What?

"I am not a fucking coward Eva. I can beat 10 men at a time, I don't fear anyone, I don't get frightened by anything, nothing in this world scares me or makes me want to crawl in fear and I certainly don't-" I was cut off by her.

"Oh yeah. But then you are scared of the purest thing in this world. You are scared of being a fucking human. Scared of showing any emotions or feeling anything. I think you are the biggest coward I have ever met in my life." She said and I couldn't help but sigh in exhaustion.

"I am not a coward Eva. I am like this and I don't think I am ever gonna change. You have to let me be who I am. You cannot change me." I said looking ahead, not wanting to meet her eyes.

"Oh spare me the tough act. I know well enough to know that this isn't you." She said.

That made my anger get the better of me. She knows me? She doesn't for fuck sake. She can't and she won't ever.

"Yes Mr. Ace Estevan Parker. I know you. I know you might think I don't but I do. I have been living with you for months and I can safely say that I have never met a person quite like you. No one is as complicated as you are." She said raising her voice and testing my patience.

"You don't know me. You don't know my past, you know only know my present. And I am hell sure that you won't be there in the future. So stop acting like you fucking know me. I have not been able to understand myself till now and you claim to do so? Fucking pathetic." I yelled at her but she seemed unaffected which would have amazed if I didn't knew what she was doing. But I know what she is trying to do. And this stubborn behavior will be the reason for me to break.

I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself down but it wasn't working. I opened them again to see the women whose pale blue eyes made me weak yet strong.

"What are you doing Eva?" I said tired and exhausted as I held my head in my hands, trying to understand that why does she care. Why is she still trying to redeem me or stick with me even after everything I have done and everything I am doing?

"I am doing what I am best at. Handling you." She said quietly.

"But you can't handle me." I said.

"I can and I will." She said determined. No, I can't let her do that. She can't ruin her fucking life by being with me and fixing me when I am not broken. I am what I am today. I am never gonna change.

"Why the hell is it so important for you to fix me, huh?" I asked her the question which has been haunting me since days.

She averted her eyes away from me and looked away. No, I am not letting her get away. I am going to trap her in her own actions.

"This is my question for today. Answer it. Or I am pulling off this question thing right now." I said seriously.

She played with her wedding ring and she does that a lot when she is nervous or thinking hard. I am going to get her answer my question. I guess today is the day for soul searching, so it be.

"Answer me." I raised my voice.

And then she yelled at me like there was no tomorrow-

"Fine. Take it jerk. I can't see you ruining your life just because you are afraid to fix it. Hell you are not even broken, you are just an incessant pighead who doesn't want to be happy just because you think that you don't deserve it. You have made a fucking picture in your mind that you are going to always be like this. You consider this as a punishment for yourself, just because you weren't able to save your loved ones in that accident that night. I don't know what the hell happened down there but I know that you think that it's your fault when it fucking isn't. I have lived years feeling guilty of something which I can't undo and I am also bound by the scars of my past but unlike you Mr. Parker, I do not punish myself or stop myself from being happy just because of that incident. I know that moving on from a dark past is not like tossing a coin in the air but hey? What are you doing? You are not even trying! You are just letting your life pass by as you work like a workaholic, thinking that it would distract you from reality. But earth to Ace, you are just running away from the reality and your problems like a fucking coward. The same way that you are running away from me, you feelings and what you fucking want." She stopped when she was out of breath.

Well, that was...