Chapter 27 - .

"Augh, my ankle!" she gets up,

"Ah, nope! Not happening." again she falls down.

"Help!" she cries.

" What the fuc....?!" says Gideon.

*rustles*

Cara comes crawling from the grass and Gideon sees her and faints.

Gideon picks Cara into his arms.

CARA'S POV

Gideon stared straight as he carried me in his arms. Way to be a damsel in distress, Cara. It was unnaturally quiet between us despite the lapping of the waves and the sound of his footsteps in the sand.

I couldn't stop myself from sneaking glances at him. Wrong move. Under the soft glow of the moonlight, his sharp jawline and features just seemed more impeccable.

"You don't really have to do this."

'What? And let you ju-on your way across the beach? You're lucky I have a strong heart. Couldn't say the same for other beachgoers. I'm just doing the townfolks a favour by sparing them a new horror tale.'

'Do I want to know what you were you doing out here at night? Or how you sprained your ankle?'

'No. ' I reply him.

'You like to say 'no' a lot, don't you?'

There was a flicker of emotion in his eyes as he said that.

'Gideon...'

It starts raining.

"F*ck."

"Hold on tight."

.....

They find a cave and reside in it.

"There's no reception... We're going to be struck here for a while." says Gideon.

" Thank you for carrying me to a shelter."

" You're welcome."

And it gets a. but awkward between them and they both turn to opposite direction.

'This is not awkward.'

"I'm sorry I snapped at you."

"No, you have every right to. I'm....sorry....Those were the words I wanted to tell you when we meet again....I'm sorry, Gideon."

" You shouldn't have to apologise for your feelings, Cara. Can I just ask you something? And I'm not taking 'no' for an answer this time. How did you know I was the one who saved you? How did you know about Damian?"

" Adrianna told me about it. I can't believe you guys had a child at 16 and you hid him from the rest of the world, Gideon."

" WHAT?!"

" Damian is the son Adria bore you at 16...?"

" Adrianna told you that?!?!"

" Yes, she did. Right before the wedding."

" Damian is not my son! Adrianna lied to you. And you walked out on me because of a lie?!"

" There was a DNA test, Gideon!"

" One she obviously faked. She's been acting weird since she got back. I should have known she was up to something."

" I asked and you said you were related."

"Yes, we are! But not in a father-son way! He's my half-brother! We have the same father, but different mother, Cara."

" Can you blame me? Fact is, you saved me that day, and you were at the beach! You lied to me about that! How was I supposed to know what are the lies and what's not? Maybe if you told me the truth from the start, this wouldn't have happened!"

' I couldn't tell you the truth because Damian's birth mother was indeed 16 when she had him. Expect my mother was damn horny bastard who couldn't keep it in his pants."

" She was a classmate of mine and by the time we found out, she was too far along for us to do anything expect to hide her in my dad's summer house here. When Damian was born, which was the day of our incident, nobody wanted anything to do with him. I took it upon myself to come down here and take him home with me - my innocent little brother whom I promise to protect from this f*cked up world. I was taking a stroll on the beach when I saw you. You looked so sad and vulnerable, and you told me the story of the loneliest whale. I left you for a bit and the next thing I know, you were drowning. I pulled you out if the waters but I couldn't stay for long, because it was of absolute importance that Damian's birth is kept a secret. For both my family's reputation and his happiness. That's it, Cara. That's everything."

" So Adrianna was never involved? Then how does she knows the bits of the story? She mentioned about a quarrell I had with my mother and I could have sworn I had a flashback similar to that."

" Her father was my Dad's most trusted legal consultant. He must have been the one to draft the non-disclosure agreement with the girl. Maybe that's how she knew, but I don't know about the rest."

" Wow. Why didn't you tell me.....?"

" I don't know. I wanted to protect Damian? I didn't want to let you know how f*cked up my family is? I."

" Couldn't trust me completely with a dark family secret like that...?"

" Knowing this now, would it have changed anything...?"

" No. Don't you see our problem, Gideon? It's not that enough that we each carry our own complicated baggage from the past, we started all this of a lie. You said it do yourself, without trust, we're nothing. We each had our own selfish reasons coming into this and I don't think we'll ever shake the fear that either one of us might just be making use of the other. Or that any of this is just as fake as our marriage. How can someone like you fall in love with someone like me? The Gideon, that everyone wants a piece of, some even going to extent of faking a pregnancy, wanting a nobody like me? That only happens in a fairy tale. But this is reality. I kept waiting for you to disappoint me. I'm used to seeing the ugly side of people. It's easier that way because you don't get disappointed by the expectations you place on them. I got really scared when you were so nice to me, Gideon. It wasn't something I was used to. I know it sounds stupid but that's me. So when you came close to the person I feared you really were, I clawed at it."

" This is so messed up. Why does it have to so difficult? So what do we do now? I go back to New York and you stay here? Pretend we never met? Pretend none of this ever happened?"

Cara's eyes comes into tears.

" What do you want, Cara? Because I can't believe I'm saying this - you practically destroyed me a months ago but all it took was one look at you and I know I still stand by everything I did for you everything I said it you." says Gideon.

"What do I want?"

" A reset. For us to start over."

Gideon is in shock. A wide shock.

" What?"

" Hi, Cara Black. And you are?"

" Seriously? That's kind of lame, don't you think?"

And he looks at Cara who is giving puppy eyes.

"Gideon Clemonte." he says shaking his hands with her.

And they both look at each other.

They start laughing.

CARA'S POV

Yes. I think I'd like this very much.

At CARA'S home.

Gideon is applying Cara the ice pack at her ankle.

"You didn't have to send me all the way home and get the ice for my ankle."

" It's what friends would do."

I couldn't help but wince at the sarcasm that was literally dripping from his voice. I know Gideon didn't like my idea of a fresh start between us.

But it feels like the right thing to do. It was as if my heart and brain finally agreed on something after an intense mouth-long battle.

"All done."

"Thanks."

"I just thought you should know that I'm leaving tomorrow morning."

" Oh. Well then, have a safe trip back! Send my regards to Trinity and my parents."

"I mean this as platonic as possible, but don't you want to come back to NYC with me? You already know most of what happened."

" But not all. I have to do this, Gideon."

Again she shows puppy eyes.

...

Next morning,

Gideon is in the plane.

GIDEON'S POV

"Friends?" I scoffed internally. There's no way I just want to be friends with you, Cara.

"Are you okay? Did you managed to say your goodbyes?" asks Smith.

" No. A wise man once said ' never say goodbyes because goodbyes means going away and going away means forgetting.'

"Did you just quote Peter Pan?"

"Save the judgement, you already know."

.....

At bar,

" Cara! I have great news! It's Anne Marie! She's back!"

" Anne Marie?"

" The snobby widow who lives in the big mansion overlooking the entire beach! She was on vacation when you moved here so you hadn't had the chance to ask here about the incident? She just requested for our catering services for tea party she's holding to celebrate her return - Rich people. We can use a extra pair of helping hands for the set up - But it's your chance to go over to meet her!"

At the mansion.

And from the stairs a rich old woman comes walking.

She's in her mid 50s.

" Naia! Kai! Thank you for arriving on time! You can set the food out at the patio!" says Anne Marie.

Kai and Naia leaves.

Anne and Cara make eye contact.

"That's a beautiful Jade necklace you have."

" Thank you! It's one of my prized possession! It's one of a kind in this world!"

" Huh...I could have sworn my mother has a necklace that's similar to yours."

Anne is shocked.

" T- that's impossible!"

"Actually, Mrs Anne Marie? My name is Cara and I'd like to ask you some questions -"

" Madam! We need your opinion on the table cloth to be used!"

" Excuse me, Cara. Perhaps later?" she leaves.

After some time,

Cara is doing some work.

And Anne enters from behind.

" Mrs Anne Marie! I didn't see you there!"

" Please, Anne Marie will do. Will you join me for short while on the rooftop?"

At rooftop.

" It's you, isn't it? You're the girl who walked out on Clemonte's wedding aren't you? I know this is a quiet lazy town where the locals can't be bothered by such celebrity gossip, that's the whole reason I moved here - But u actually received a wedding invitation from Maisha, which I had to respectfully decline because I was away. The news of Gideon getting dumped was everywhere. I thought you looked familiar."

" Guilty."

" May I ask, Why?"

But she doesn't reply.

" My apologies, I must have overstepped my boundaries there. You mentioned something about wanting to ask me questions? The thing is, what you said about the necklace just now had piqued my curiosity. If you don't mind, I have some questions of my own."

She nods.

" You said your mom has a Jade necklace similar to mine? Are you sure it's not counterfeit?"

" No, of course not! My mother takes pride in the necklace. She's always showing off to everyone."

" I see. The thing is, dear Cara, while my necklace might be one of a kind in this world. I had the Craftsman do up a similiar piece for me. And I gave it to my infant daughter before we were forced to part."

Cara is in shock.