April.

Gracie slowly tore her eyes from Christian and her icy gray eyes settled on me. She was practically ogling at him all the while spitting nonsense about love.

"What? Alone? Are you out of your mind?" She exclaimed. "I can't possibly leave you alone with the most wanted guy. You know how big is this April? We have the most important person in our captivity! He's the unkillable! No one has been able to touch him, and we own him now."

I clenched my teeth and held back ignoring her toxic words. In addition, I was getting exhausted trying to control my eyesight. I can't look at him. One look at him and everything will get ruined. Our plan will fail.

After reminding myself that I ignored Christian who was trying his best to get a better look at me.

"I know. Don't forget that it is all because of me." I hoped Christian didn't hear me clearly because it would break him if he believed my act.

The success of this plan heavily depended on me. I had to make sure Gracie bought it as well as others. The people who supported Dad were a lot but there were also some who were adamantly loyal to uncle. They needed to believe it too.

"Oh? Showing off are we?" Gracie took a step towards me. Making Gracie believe was going to be onerous but I had no other choice.

"If you can convince me that you hate this guy's guts just as I do I'll leave you two alone." She snickered as she finished. "Which obviously you can't. You just did this to save your sorry family, didn't you?"

Control yourself. April. Deep breath.

"Fine. I'll prove it to you."

Austin was on his way. He must have shut down all the CCTV cameras by now. No one will be able to see anything. I needed to trust him.

I turned to those who were still pointing their guns at Christian. "Get him." They held his arms from behind.

At last, after some indescribable struggle I let my eyes land on him. His face was pale and it looked like he was in a trance. It's been so long. I wanted to hug him so tight that we could never get separated again. I took a deep breath and tried to control all the emotions that were erupting inside me.

I pulled out the handgun which was given to me by my Dad for self-defense. I could not use it accurately yet, but I was able to act like I could.

Christian eyed my hand and the gun miserably. I couldn't fathom what was going through his head, his heart. He must be feeling backstabbed.

My hands shook a bit, but I managed to make it steady. I pointed my gun at him. Something inside me crushed. What was I doing?

"Why are you doing this?" Christian asked, locking his eyes with mine.

I heard his shaking helpless voice and my heart broke into a million pieces. Christian! I wanted to throw the gun and kiss him. I love you so much that it gets hard to breathe when I think about you. I have missed you. The slightest possibility of your death had killed me these past months. I can't live without you.

But my mouth couldn't say those words. Not yet.

"Is that all you want to ask before you die, Christian McKinney?" My voice didn't shake, but my heart was. My chest became heavy and breathing uneven. Just a few minutes. Few more minutes. You can do this April. Do this for him.

His eyes dilated in horror. "Hazel are you, are you serious? You hate me so much that you don't want me to..." His tone was shocked. I was mentally screaming. No of course not! I love you! Christian I love you!

"I'm sorry! I broke my promise. I know I've put through hell! Please forgive me!" He lunged forward, but the men who were holding him pulled him back.

"Hazel please don't hate me! That's the last thing I want!" He pleaded.

Gracie was staring at me, and I couldn't even cry out. What was I going to do now? My heart was racing rapidly, slowly my body has started to shake. What if she saw my tears? Our plan will fail for sure. Gracie had already informed Uncle. He was on his way here as well. We must leave before he reaches here. What if he got here and saw through our plan and hurt Dad and Austin and-

He will torture Christian.

"Gracie!" Fortunately Austin surged in and relief washed over me. I'd never been this happy to see my brother.

"Austin?!" Gracie practically ran to him and threw her arms around his shoulder.

"McDermotts have attacked! We need everyone to be on high alert. You guys need to come with me! Gracie you too!" Austin ordered and nearly dragged everyone out of the room. Gracie, however, was still cuddling around Austin's neck. "They must have come to save this bastard!" She yelled pointing her index finger at Christian.I threw a disgusting look at her.

Austin was doing award winning acting. He was profusely sweating as if we were under attack for real.

"Come Gracie!" He pulled her towards him and left the room in hurry after throwing me a deliberate glance.

Their hurried footsteps disappeared in the passage and the automatic door closed itself.

Few hefty seconds passed.

The sound of my handgun hitting the floor reverberated through the room. I surrendered to every emotion I was feeling. Tears gushed in my eyes as they focused on him. He was intently staring at me dejection was writing over his face.

I took two massive steps and leaped towards him, launching my body over his. Our bodies collapsed on the floor together.

"Hazel?" He exclaimed, relief echoed in his voice.

"Where were you?" I howled out anguish crowding my heart all of a sudden. "I thought you were dead Christian! Why did you leave? Why did you leave me all alone? I was so scared!"

I kept on weeping for few minutes until I realised something. He wasn't hugging me. His hands were not holding me.

"Chris?" I pulled back, sniffing and glanced at him.

He was quiet in his position, leaning on the wall behind him he was sitting still as a statue, his eyes blankly stared at me as if his brain was not able to be register anything. What happened to him?

"Chris what's wrong?" I got up, kneeling down in front of him. I cupped his face with my hands. "Christian?"

"What... Hazel, you don't hate me?" I froze on my spot. I was so busy, drowning in my own emotions that I completely forgot about it. I had made sure that everyone around will believe that I hate Christian. He was yet to get out of that shock.

"I'm sorry Chris! It was all an act! I don't hate you!" I kissed his cheek. "I love you."

And as quickly it had disappeared, light returned in his eyes.

__END OF CHAPTER__