"...Doubt that the stars are fire

doubt the sun doesn't move

doubt the truth to be a liar

but never doubt the love I feel for you..."

Nick's POV

"Are you feeling better?"

The only sound I have been hearing is the sound of a ticking clock, which I absolutely hate. She's so quiet. Sh refused to see a doctor. I brought her back to the villa and we hav been in doors for a full day. Bruce had to leave. So it's just us two.

"Much better." She answered.

"I want to talk about b hat happened. What do you remember?"

"After you left, I went outside. I was just going to walk around the compound. Uh... I went to the edge, where the cliff is barricaded off by the wood? I was leaning over to look down when a force propelled me forward."

I leaned forward to rest my elbows on my knees. She's cuddles up under a blanket on the leather sofa, holding a mug of tea. "Keira, sometimes when you are looking down from an extreme height like the deck, there's this feeling of being drawn down almost like you're falling. You are scared of heights. Maybe that is what happened."

There's a part of me that doesn't want to accept that Margaux could have pushed her. If that is the case then Kei will never b safe. She will try to hurt her again and again until she gets what she wants.

"So you're saying I tipped over?"

"Probably."

"So the force that pushed me was imaginary? It was in my head. That is what you're saying." She's getting upset.

"No mia amore. I'm not saying that you're imagining something-"

"I was pushed. Is that more certain for you?"

It is.

"Margaux was here when I got back."

The mug tilted and she jumped when the hot liquid burned her. I hurried with a throw blanket to dab her dry but she pushed me away and got on her feet hastily. "Margaux was here?"

"Yes."

"So she pushed me."

"We don't know that for sure."

"Nick she threatened me. The last time I saw her she threatened me. If she was here then she's the one who pushed me! Stop defending her!"

"I'm not defending her. I'm just being careful about throwing around accusations like that!" She walked away. "Kei!"

I heard the door slam after she went upstairs.

I also think Margaux pushed her. The intention was probably that Kei dies but Kei isn't dead. Margaux must have a back up plan. She waited for me to get back. She knew damn well what she had done and that I would figure it out but she waited for me to come back. Why?

I pursued her upstairs. Her door is locked. "Keira. Baby I know you're upset. I'm sorry if I made you feel I'm defending her. I assure you I'm not. I'm stepping out for a bit to meet my cousin. I would prefer if you come with me." She isn't responding. "Fine. Stay in the house. I'll lock the door on my way out. I changed the locks. The new keys are in the pantry, behind the door. I'll be back in an hour or so."

I left and kept glancing back at the door but she didn't open.

On my way out, just when I opened the front door, I came face to face with Theo Sinclair.

"Good evening. Is this a bad time?"

"What do you want?"

"I wanted to to check in and see how Keira is doing."

Is he serious right now? At what capacity is he checking in to see how she is doing?

"She's fine. Thanks for dropping by." I clenched my jaw.

He chuckled. "You know something? This is textbook. A wealthy married man having an affair. No strings attached. Just great sex. But the mistress is getting attached and she wants more. So she tells you and you turn her down. She threatens to tell the wife. And what does the wealthy man do? He pushes her over a cliff hoping that she will die."

"You have the overactive imagination of a child. But I'll indulge you. Why would the wealthy man jump into the sea of his wish is that she dies?"

He smiled wickedly. "Because he wanted to retrieve the body. He wanted to bury the evidence before it floats ashore."

I frowned at him. "How about part two? The noisy neighbors pokes his nose into the rich man's business. He's not happy. The rich man kills the most neighbor."

His eyes flickered with excitement.

"Touché." He noted.

"Are we done with story telling?'

"I want to see her. I must make sure she's alive and well. Be a dear and get her for me."

I showed him my middle finger. "Be a dear and fuck off."

He chuckled.

"I believe you and I will see each other more often. Have an eventful evening Mr Bale."

I stood at the porch until he was completely gone and out of sight. The nerve!

A car is driving up. It Better not be anyone who will get on my nerves. It's little and it's moving fast. It started honking. I know the pink car. It pulled up dangerously close to my SUV, nearly ramming into it. Before she even switched off the car she stick half of her body out of the open window. "Nicko! Hi!" She's eaving frantically.

Athena is an extrovert and she exhausts me!

I raised my hand.

She hurried out running straight into my arms. "Whoa! Easy there."

"You come to my wedding and you don't say hello?" She smacked the back of my head. "Rude! Your mom didn't RSVP. She's rude too! At least uncle Nate came! Even Helena was there and she hates weddings!"

"I'm sorry. I had company and I wanted to leave immediately after."

"Margaux was with you? Can I meet the witch?"

"What?"

"We all call her that behind your back but with the rumours of the divorce I won't pretend anymore."

I laughed softly. "I was coming to you."

"And then I decided that I will come to you. Move. I love this house. It was just an excuse to-" she froze when she saw Keira. "That is not the witch."

"No it's not." I leaned against the entry way wall watching Keira and Athena staring at each other.

"Hi." Keira broke the silence. "I'm Keira."

"Hi yourself. Nicko, don't be rude. Who is she?"

"She just told you. Her name is Keira."

"Yes but who is she to you? Is she the one you brought to the wedding? We're you at my wedding?"

"I was."

"Aha! So you were running away!" Athena poked me. "I'm hungry! What's for dinner? Will you cook or what?"

"I'm sorry about her. She's... all over the place." I apologized to Kei."

"It's all right." She smiled at me. "I'll help her cook."

Athena is already putting things on the counter. "Why are you so pretty? You know he likes them pretty! I think he has a type!"

"Athena!" I warned her from talking too much about my past. I would prefer if Keira hears it from me.

"Okay okay!" She raised her hands. "I'm quiet."

"Kei, why don't you sit down. I'll cook."

"Aw! Look at you being all sweet! He is never ever this sweet. He is fussy and rude. His superpower is stubbornness."

"Athena, I'll tape your mouth shut." I warned her.

"Cooking is not my forte. I'm Greek and I can't cook! What irony! It's like being Italian and not knowing how to make pasta!"

"That is racist." I remarked.

"Marianna's words. Not mine." She defended herself.

"Who is Marianna?" Keira asked.

"You haven't met the woman who birthed this wonderful man? Nicko, you haven't taken her to your mother?"

"I will... soon."

"Marianna is such a treat! She's short so never bring her height up. Complement her shoes and she will probably give you a pair of Manolos or Balenciagas. She's so pretty! She's so young! She looks like his sister. She will absolutely like you. You know what? Tell me about you. I have said too much! But before you do..."

She will talk all night.

I better zone out.

"Hi."

"Hi." He smiled at me. "Come inside! Come on!" He urged me.

"It's a warm day. Out here is fine. I'm not even staying long. I just. This is stupid really but these are for you." I offered him a plate of cookies covered with w kitchen towel.

He received them with a smile. When he uncovered the plate he started laughing. "This isn't stupid." He frowned a little and his gaze seemed deep when he looked at me. "It's sweet. Thank you so much. You should join me for tea."

"Maybe some other time. I just wanted to say thank you for saving my life. When I hit the cliff I lost consciousness. I regained it just when I hit the water but by then I was frantic and panicking. I took in a lot of water and just when I could feel the life leaving me... when I couldn't breathe, I saw you swimming towards me, reaching out... but I couldn't reach you. Thank you for not leaving me in the water. Thank you for relentlessly trying to resuscitate me. I saw you at the house. You were asking about me and he wouldn't let you see me. I decided to come over and apologize for that. Your efforts were wasted."

"You don't have to apologize for his actions. I know this is none of my business but... why a married man?"

"What?"

"Why are you with a married man?"

I looked away for a moment. I sighed when I faced him. "Because he makes me feel like I matter."

He nodded his head. "And the bruises? Who does that to you? Is it him?"

I frowned at th man. "I should get going. Thank you again Mr Sinclair. Have a lovely evening."

"Mrs Burke." I froze. I turned slowly to look at him. "Men are violently jealous. Nickolas Bale is hot tempered. If he is putting his hands on you and you are only his mistress, what will he do when you are his wife?"

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"He pushed you, didn't he? Did you threaten to tell his wife about the affair? He has a lot to lose once this affair is exposed. He has a child he will lose. No judge will grant q cheating man custody. It's a character flaw. A serious one."

"Thank you for your concern Mr Sinclair. Keep the plate. We won't be home to receive it."

I walked away in a hurry.