I noticed Henry coming my way, after I waved bye to Edwin and told him to go, so I turned my back towards him and waited for a taxi to appear so I can leave as fast as possible..

"It's great, isn't it?" he uttered, the moment his footsteps halted, right beside me.

I knew he expected some sort of response or reaction from me, so I remained silent and just kept looking away.

"A month after the divorce and you already found a man, now you can play house again right?"

"Henry please, just get back in and don't talk to me. Please!" I spat, not even sparing him a glance. Instead, I kept glaring to the far distance focusing on everything but also nothing in particular as I was trying to calm myself and not fight with him.

"WHY?! You said all you wanted and left, then appear out of no where to show me that you are happy.. Make it seem like I was the freaking wall that blocked your happiness!. You're happy that you got rid of me, AREN'T YOU?!"

"Henry" I uttered his name through gritted teeth before I turned to glare at him... I was trying to WARN him, to STOP him but a part of me knew there was no way, he was about to burst, and so was I.

"HAPPY THAT HE IS RICH AREN'T YOU?! YOU WENT TO THEIR HOTEL ON PURPOSE SO YOU CAN GET A CHANCE TO MEET HIM! Oh, wait! Who knows what you did in a hotel for a month... Or maybe he is the reason for the divorce, in the first place!!"

I was getting accused by my ..

This is great!

JUST GREAT!

I'm sorry, that you had to live with a low life_ that is me_ for five years; a woman that stays in a hotel for a month, god knows what she did there! A woman who goes after a man for his money. Oh! and a woman who divorces just because she fell for some man!" I spat, turning my whole body to face him, glaring fully but making sure to control the tone I used so I don't grab much attention our way and also not to infuriate him more.

"So fall for him"

"Is that all you heard?" I turned my head away "Of course what can I expect from you to understand.."

I was trying to calm myself down; looking away from him, but he didn't allow me to, as my hand was pulled roughly to turn me to face him. His clenched jaw was now hanging low before his mouth parted "You fell for him, didn't you? That's why you left?" with a low tone almost like a whisper, like he was afraid that his voice won't allow him to hear the answer to the question he threw at me.

I noticed how his eyes trained on me waiting patiently for an answer with a now much more steady but shaky breath coming out from his parted lips "I loved him" I answered like a punch in his gut making his hold on my hand loosen a bit "Loved him for years but we parted ways when I was twenty. I met Ivy later on, and you know the rest" I took a hold of his wrist and pushed his hand away from mine slowly.

"At the age of twenty-two, I lost another friend of mine but this time to death. And there was a two-year-old baby that was left behind, I couldn't just turn away, heal and then have the time of my life when I was worried about his own life... I helped you take care of him for two years then we got married for ... And that is Louis... But now that the reason is gone, now that he doesn't need me anymore. In fact, he needs me to leave, ... .." I threw my hands in the air then put them back to my side "I've waited nine years, Henry, nine freaking years of my life! I was going to go to him the moment I was back on track, , I met Ivy and trust me... I wish I never did"

"She told me to wait for him, not to go after him and not to throw my pride for a man. Four years later, I threw my pride for HER MAN! And HER SON!"

Just when I started to lose it, a car halted right beside us, the slamming of its door and a booming voice were heard "Amanda!" Joshua announced his presence loud and clear but I had one more, thing to say.

"The reason why you had nothing to say that day and even now, Henry, is because you did nothing for me. Heck! You don't even know me! But I did so much for you two, that is why I can say and do all of this with an eased mind and heart... Because I tried... I really did" I closed my eyes tight, then opened them again as if that helped me reset myself

"Goodbye.. Mister Henry Stephens" I turned away, not even glancing at him again. I was tired, of reading him and matching myself to his needs.

I don't care anymore! Just let it be, let him feel!

He is not my responsibility and nor was Ivy.

I walked away and got in the car whilst Joshua followed behind me before he had driven off without a word being exchanged..

A couple of minutes later and I decided to break the thin but thick silence that fell on us "Thank you for not butting in"

"Just felt like it was not the time"

"And I think I have to remind since I think you'd forgotten but.. You didn't get to meet Madeline"

"God! I forgot!" his expressions from anger and worry turned to annoyed. It was almost comical but not as much as his words after "This 'LADY', dare I say, got on my nerves today. To the point where I forgot about Madeline..."

I chuckled at his frustration and he turned my way for a second, before a smile made its way to his face "Is she pretty like in her pictures?"

"I think you should wait for a little"

"Why? is she in a relationship?"

"I think you will be"

"What rubbish is that?"

"Five years are not enough. Heck! even my whole life is not enough to make me not see through you"

"Cut to the chase woman"

"You only forget a pretty girl, when another one catches your eyes.. And if she made you forget about her, then that means you are not serious about getting to know Madeline, so let her be and don't be a jerk"

I noticed a frown make its way to his face "She annoyed me that is why I fo-"

"Do you find her pretty?" The frown disappeared when he zoned out a little, probably having a flashback about her.

"So?" I poked his bubble making it burst and disappear 

"I'm driving stop distracting me" he responded with his grumpy childish tone.

"That's a yes. It's normal to get attracted to looks Joshua, but try not to base it on looks only, try to get to know people... Maybe, start by knowing why she truly annoys you"

He parked the car abruptly, shaking me up for a second before he twisted his body to turn and face me with a very serious expression, like he was about to tell me the secret for my existence "She's Aiden's old friend; Victoria, remember her?" he spat

"Oh... The short clumsy brunette?" I asked, to which he nodded in affirmation "You did have a liking for her when you were seventeen" I stated the truth that made him send me a glare "What?! You did!"

"Fine! I did!.. Anyway, she keeps asking about Aiden. How is Aiden? What does he do?... How is he today ? Does he still do this. Do that? He used to do this, do that!" he spoke mimicking a girl's tone, before he reversed back to his usual tone "I don't care! For god sake!"

"Did she ask if he was in a relationship?"

"No. But she probably will, thanks for the notice!"

"Yeah, probably will.. . 'cause she is not interested in him" I turned my head back to the road looking at the passing cars around us which made me feel a bit dizzy for a second there, so I chose to close my eyes and enjoy the temporary darkness.

"Don't die on me. At least not before you explain"

I chuckled at his remark, and with my eyes closed still "Has it ever crossed your mind that Aiden is the only subject she can use to talk to you" I muttered.

"So you're saying that she's interested in me?!!" Took him the whole ride back home to understand.

"Dunno dumbo, It will be easier to know if I met her" I said while taking my shoes off to get in the house.

"We scheduled a meeting on the twelfth of this month" he took his off in a hurry and followed me inside, straight into the kitchen.

"Don't even think about it, I won't help you, you need to do this on your own."

"You're my big sister!"

"And you're a twenty-seven grown-ass man! You were the one to tell me not to treat you like my baby bro" I stated pouring myself a glass of water to drink

"But I AM your baby bro!" 

"Shut it and go to your room then" I put the glass on my lips and gulped its content before my ears were cursed

"Amandaaaaa" he whined tugging at my dress shirt trying to act somewhat cute 

"What's the commotion all about?" mom asked, her elegant silhouette going down the stairs and coming to find us both in the kitchen.

"Nothing!" .. "He has a crush" we both said at the same time.

"?" he gritted his teeth glaring at me

"That's what big sisters do"

"Serves you right!" Aiden came in the house and blessed us with his presence, wiggling his eyebrows at Joshua after he had witnessed our last exchange "Now you can get to feel what it's like to be someone's baby bro"

"I know it might not be the time, but honey, Amanda. I have a confession to make" Us three turned to mom and her uneasy stance didn't go unnoticed by any of us.

"What?" we asked cautiously, not sure if we truly wanted to know since we were all scared of the unknown

"Edwinisinyourroom! "

"WHAT?!!" our mom flinched at how loud we were

"You are all in sync today" she grinned but the uneasiness was still there

"WHO and WHERE?!" Joshua was the first to ask and confirm if what we heard was right.

"Edwin... In Amanda's room" my mom answered in a reticent way...

"How come he's here?" now it was Aiden's turn to inquire about this whole thing

"It's been years since we last saw that douche!" added Joshua

The excitement in their voice is so evident that it irked me.. They didn't act this way when I came back!

"Hi guys!" his shadow appeared at the top of the stairs that led to our roomsw and we were all able to notice his awkward stance from where we stood

"EDWIN!" Aiden ran to him while Edwin came down the stairs in a hurry and hugged him like the little kid he was. While on the other hand, Joshua controlled his urge to run to him, he just tried to act cool and walk towards him but the shine in his eyes said something else

"How are you man?" he gave him his hand but Edwin pushed it aside

"Stop acting cool and hug me! I missed you, you idiot!"

Their 'HI' and 'how are you' came to a halt when they noticed me not moving from my spot "Girl stop acting cold and come here, we know you missed him"

"I saw him this morning"

"WHAT?!"

"I said I saw him this morning!" I repeated louder, like I was talking to a grandma with hearing problems "The owner of the tv station is his father" I explained.

"And you're telling me that you didn't know" my little sweet brother DARED to accuse ME! His older sister!!

I glared at him defending myself "I never met his family and he never even talked about them before"

"Someone is disappointed for not meeting 'HIS FAMILY' " Aiden teased me and I faked laughed, giving him my crazy 'imma kill you if you don't shut your mouth' eyes at the end 

"I think we need to join hands Joshua. Seems like someone is rebelling"

"That's fine by me" Joshua smirked looking back at Aiden

"Edwin is here so you two can do nothing about it!"

"I'm actually here for Amanda not for you"

Upon hearing those words, Aiden pretended to be shocked and hurt, holding his heart and taking few steps back away from Edwin "You.You hurt me.. But it's okay. I will let go of you if that means your happiness... I will sacrafi-"

"I don't get how you get accepted in plays" I said interrupting his hideous act

"I don't get how he's even dreaming of being an actor" Joshua added, both of us unimpressed with the scene that took place in front of us.

"Don't tease my son, you two!" mom went on with her protective and encouraging mode and hugged Aiden who gave us his famous smirk of victory before she spoke again "Well... Us three will go up, you two can stay in the living room to talk"

The boys took mom's hint, following the instructions, but not before making sure that Edwin will stay for dinner.

"So? What's the sudden visit for? You said you would call, not appear out of nowhere"

"Meeting you again, made me miss your home"

"Really now?"

"Well sixty percent of it, but the rest is because I wanted to talk to you"

"About?"

"I got to know who your... Ex-husband is"

"Edwin, I don't really want to talk about him now, it's over.. I'm over it."

"Good! But I think you need to know about this." He started spiking up my curiosity "He resigned, and when his team leader asked for the reason, he said that he doesn't want to ever cross paths with you again" he filled me up. However, I notice how he kept trying to read me, searching for any sign of hurt or discomfort as he spoke and that only made me smile at him "I know I could have just sent you a message to tell you, but I wanted to tell you in person" he added

"I know, you wanted to witness my reaction" I put it out there, for him to know that I was aware of what he was doing.

With a slight widening of his eyes he asked warily "Did that.. By any chance... Offend you?"

"No, I like it better than just a message"

"Good" he smiled, making his eyes smile along with his lips

It was good to know that he never wants to see me again... I will be living my life, minding my own business and so should he.

So, I believe it is time for