The darkness around was making my head throb. The dark colored cloth covering my face was making my claustrophobia kick in and the cloth stuffed in my mouth wasn't helping either. As far as I could assume, I was sitting on a chair or something like that with my hands tied to the arms of the chair and my ankles tied to the foot of the chair.

Sounds like the perfect kidnapper.

I had gained consciousness a few minutes ago and I still didn't know what time and day it is. I struggled to get out the strong hold of the ropes holding me, but it was too tight for me to break. After many attempts, I realized that it was no use throwing my hands and legs as the more I did that, the more the roped rubbed against my skin bruising it.

I gave up struggling after many attempts and the feeling of helplessness took upon me. A tear out of fear cascaded down my cheeks.

I need you Ace.

Save me.

************************************************

Present time

The gradience in the sky made it look prepossessing. The infinite sky boasted it's infinity by staring at me as I looked at the blue expanse. The fact that I was at Six Senses Zil Pasyon , Seychelles, ​Félicité island (Africa) - made it much more beautiful.

The resort is way beyond the definition of beauty. The luxurious hotel is on the island which makes it one of costliest and most beautiful resorts in the world. I am currently standing in the huge balcony of my room with the breeze sweeping my hair as I think about how our so-called-honeymoon is going to come to an end as this was our second last destination.

I looked at the sea ahead and the desire to swim in it washed into me.

Why don't I know how to swim?

But that will not stop me from going to the shore and putting my legs in the water while watching the waves go to and fro. And beaches scream - bikini!

Thanks to Jennifer, she actually packed a pair of bikini for me. It's to show off my ugly, not-so-model-like body to everyone around. Note the sarcasm.

"Are you trying suicide?" Ace's not-so-pleasant-but-insanely-hot voice interrupted my chain of thoughts. I rolled my eyes and turned back to see him standing at the door, leaning against the doorframe.

Warning! Don't imagine the Sexy jerk in front of me right now or you will die of fangirling.

p.s. I am not at all lying.

"If you are then please don't try it here, do it at somewhere where I am not there." He added with a serious face.

"Why? Are you too sensitive to watch your wife die?" I asked very sweetly.

"Oh no no. Don't get me wrong. I just want to save the money of repairing the railing of the balcony as it would get a dent if you hit it. And also I don't wanna get into investigation affairs. Peace is the least thing you could gift me after leaving this world for good, you know." He said with a very-very serious face which made me want to punch him.

"Oh shush up. I am not running away because of your tough exterior anymore. Try something else Mr. Apathetic." I said truthfully. I know he would save me the second something tries to hurt me.....

Right?

He cleared his throat lightly and chose not to speak anything. We stared at each for a few second before he decided to break the stare.

"I am going to go down the shore. Are you coming?" I asked trying to change the air.

"Shore? Last time I saw, you almost drowned in the swimming pool. You trying some other type of suicide? Drowning, is it?" He said.

"uggh. Why do I even ask you anything? Why don't you go and scroll your phone while I try to recover the part of my brain which got fried by you?" I said frustrated.

"Oh don't try that. It would take years to recover the damaged part of your brain which is around 99.9999% of your entire brain. " He said and and started walking away.

"Oh trust me, if that is the case with me. Then yours will take 7 lifetimes. So don't try it." I said shouting back as he laughed and continued walking away from me.

"The nerve of this man." I muttered to myself.

----------------------------------------

After hours of playing with the water and watching the 'Cinema under the stars', I was finally tired. Ace was no where in sight, I saw him moments ago speaking on his phone. Then he went away, not even caring to join me in the sea.

He was probably checking if I had drowned yet or not.

Thankfully not, I was careful to stay on the shore only. The place was of course not crowded because it was a private place. I even called Ace to join me for watching the movie they were showing out in the air. But of course he declined my offer. So currently I was finished with the movie and I was still in the red one shoulder one piece swimsuit which Jennifer had packed and why wouldn't she?

She was the one who planned all this. I thanked her and blabbered about my ongoing trip the other day she called. She said that she was very happy seeing me happy and my heart melted away at that. I even bought some gifts for her but of course I couldn't keep that a secret and spilled it when we were talking. Talk about control.

I clasped onto my black cover up to protect myself from the developing coldness around me but in vain. It was of no use considering the fact that it was a see through.

Just then, I heard footsteps behind me and I turned my neck 180 degree to see Ace coming towards me. I smiled at him and he just raised his one eyebrow in confusion.

Dumbass. He has to question me smiling at him also. It's better to fight and bicker then.

"Are you going to stay here all night?" He asked as he sat down beside me the recliner/couch kept on the sand so that people could sit there and watch the movies.

"So what made you leave your precious little phone?" I asked him as I leaned back and looked up at the stars.

"Well I thought might as well check on you, see if you are in one piece or not." He said pointing to me.

"Hahaha. I am honored!" I said sarcastically.

"I am in a one piece swimsuit. You can check it." I added.

"Yeah that certainly look good on you." He said eyeing me up and down while I tried to understand if he meant it or not. When he didn't crack any jokes on it in the next second, I looked at him and said "Thanks. You too look good in......jeans and t shirt?"

He shook his head and chuckled.

"You know it's been very good to see you laughing often these days. You didn't even smile months ago. What changed? Did my craziness lend you some crazy stuff?" I asked nudging his shoulder.

"Something like that." He said leaning back too and looking at the stars up.

"So you really are wearing your mother's necklace always?" He asked me, still not looking at me but the stars.

"yeah. I love it. It makes me feel as if she is still here. Not exactly physically but still she is here." I said honestly, taking the pendant in my hands.

"You should have kept it in the room only before coming into the waters...it might get lost." He said.

"Yeah..But I will hold onto it." I said not wanting to be away from it anytime.

"So is it the time for our 'see-into-your-soul talk'?" I asked him.

"Yeah, looks like that." He said.

"So do you blame Zach for every bad thing that has ever happened to you? I mean do you hate him now also for whatever he did to your mother? Because trust me if you don't then I am going to find that bastard and kill him myself." Ace asked and said which again made me sure about the fact that he would do anything for me.

"I don't hate him Ace. I really don't. But I hate the man he had become. I hated the way he ruined our lives. Me, Aaron and our mother have been through so much just because of his actions. I always looked up to him when I was a child. But everything, every inch of respect, love and sincerity I had towards him vanished the night he hit my mother. I mean how could he? But then also, I hated what he became and his actions but not him. He has always been my father but he changed. And I hate that changed man. I don't know what went down with his gang and all but I hate that man. And you cannot kill him Ace." I said.

"But why?" He asked with anger.

"Because he is already dead." I said honestly looking at the stars, wondering if he got any place in the sky or not.

"Oh. Good for him then." He said shaking his head.

"Ace you need to stop living with so much hatred. It just kills the person you really are." I said turning to face and looking at him with utmost honesty trying to make him realize how he is wrong in running after revenge.

"And you need to stop calling me Ace in every sentence." He said making me confused.

"what? Then what shall I call you? Should I call you Mr. Apathetic only? I need to call you Ace when you are being your true-good-self to remind myself that you are currently on your good-side. Otherwise you are capable of changing your mood so fast that I don't even get the time to blink." I said.

"Just..just forget it. And shut up." He said finally and I actually listened to him as I leaned back and looked at the stars. Moments of silence dawned before I finally decided to break it.

"So I am going to take the high road and ask this - What exactly happened that night?" I said hesitantly.

His head snapped towards me and I feared that I might have ruined the progress we had in our 'relationship.' I didn't need to elaborate on what night, because he knew that. The only reason why managed to ask him this question today was because I thought I was now ready to answer when he asked me the same question.

Before this trip ends, I want to know whether I actually have a future with him. I know it's a contract marriage but somehow I know that things have changed. It is not the same. And Ace knows this too. Honeymoons have become synonymous with have sex for days but it's something more than that. It's a time of a lifetime where two people understand each other better than they ever knew. The whole purpose is to know each other and this marks a new beginning of a new life. But I don't know that if we will ever be able to reach there. But I cannot help but feel a certain type of attraction towards him. The more time I spend with him, the more complicated he becomes for me. But that is really not a bad thing.

When he looks complicated, I come know that he is more than a simple jerk. That there is something more to that tough exterior. Someone who is....who is...

Someone who is capable of feeling. I cannot deny the fact that I feel something for him and it is not love of course. It is something I can't describe. He has always been rude and jerk to me but somewhere hidden beneath that is someone who is always there for me.

And that means more to me than anything else. My half life has been a search for someone who will always be there for me. My mom left me, my dad was was there but he was never there. The life I have lived has always craved for someone like him. He would hate me but still be there for me.

"Okay." A croaked voice came which sounded foreign coming from the mouth of a person I knew.

I was surprised as hell at his answer. But I was definitely hoping for it. At last the mystery to that night will open.

"It was a...horrifying night. It was a few hours before my birthday....." He started and I sat there patiently, ready to hear the most awaited story of his life............