Chapter 6 Blast from the Past

Esther's POV

I am not sure running away from Zara was the perfect option.

I could have stayed back to rebuild her trust and the bond between us, like the good old days.

I crawled my way back to her life to make her believe she can't do without me.

It's obvious I got this all wrong.

Somehow, it looks like I've screwed things up for the second time.

The first time I abandoned her ought to be a mistake. I made her believe so, and she bought my pity story.

She had no reason to doubt me. I was sure she missed my company.

I saw her smile.

I saw the way she looked.

I recognised that glare.

That was enough proof for me to believe I was getting it right.

But now? I doubt if she'd ever trust me anymore. She might as well see me as the devil.

I'm making it difficult for her to like me again.

She literally saw through me when I stood from afar when she sprained her ankle, without attempting to help her get on her feet.

If looks could kill, Zara would have definitely pulled a bullet through my damn skull with just a glance.

I saw regret hoarding her face. She might not have moved her lips, but I could bet the words on her lips were. “I wish I had never listened to her explanation.”

As though that wasn't enough, I refused to visit her ward to ascertain her health status.

Visiting her would have erased whatever negativity she was harboring about me.

“Oh, damn you, Esther. You suck like crap,” I cursed myself while hitting my car's steering wheel aggressively.

I certainly need a spanking on my forehead right now to help reset my brain.

It's been over twenty minutes since I cemented my butt in the car, and I still haven't ignited the engine yet.

I bet the security at the establishment would be keeping tabs on me and wondering what I'm up to.

They did see me walk inside my car. It's just a matter of time before they approach my car and start probing my overstayed presence.

How do I walk away from all of this knowing that my plan is about to get ruined?

Leaving her alone with Ethan for too long would be my biggest undoing.

“What if Ethan starts singing like a bird and exposes my secret to her?” I asked myself repeatedly as my voice echoed back to me.

That could mean more trouble for me. Perhaps I might spend a few nights behind bars before my father starts pulling the strings to get me out.

I never imagined that she and Ethan would never cross paths again.

I was the happiest person in the world when Zara relocated a few weeks after that horrible accident.

Witnessing her new partnership with Ethan irks the shit out of me. It pierces my heart like a dagger.

“Are you fighting a lost battle? Is this the point where you surrender yourself to the cops?” I heard a voice in my head.

I couldn't recognize the person behind the voice, but I'm glad it spoke at the right time.

I was puzzled

The earth stopped existing before my eyes.

I wanted the earth to engulf me like a volcano!

It was an easy question, yet I find myself racking my brain as though I had a gun pointed at my head.

I haven't felt this clueless all my life.

If this question was meant to save my life, I'd be long dead in the blink of an eye.

“I refused to believe this was a lost fight. I still have a lot to prove!” I vowed, beating my chest in the process.

I wasn't sure where that sudden courage emanated from. More like the spirit of strength just possessed my soul.

Walking away for the second time would only prove Zara right. Now she would have every reason to believe that I am the villain she always thought I was.

And I won't be there to defend myself.

“You can do this, Esther,” I mumble some words of encouragement to boost my hopes.

I needed to be my motivation since no one was there to ignite my spark.

On the verge of leaving the car, my phone rang. The call disrupted my plans.

At that point, I didn't want to speak to anyone.

My major focus was to finish up the agenda I started with Zara.

I ignored the call as though it didn't exist. I wasn't even bothered if the caller was my father.

The caller persisted. I was losing concentration as the call got on my nerves.

Alas, the caller won. I knew for sure that I wasn't going to keep avoiding the call for too long.

Slowly, I picked up the phone to feed my eyes.

Behold, the name that popped up on my screen nearly ripped my heart.

After everything that happened, he's the last person I expected to call. His call just made my situation more complicated than I ever imagined.

Zara's Point of View

“Esther Kane?”

That name has been on my lips for a long time.

I am still trying so hard to process Marcus's information.

I narrowed my gaze at the wall clock to confirm today's date.

It's not the month of April.

I would have assumed that Marcus was trying to play an ‘April Fools' Day’ prank on me.

“Zara?” Marcus called my name. “Are you there?”

It took him four attempts to finally get my attention. Yes, I am,” I snapped. “I am so sorry. I got carried away.”

I felt this sharp pain in my head, all thanks to different narratives I've been up to in recent times.

I knew something was off about Esther Kane, but to the extent of wanting to manipulate the actual footage of the accident three years ago?

That's something I can't fathom. What could have been her reason for such a malicious act?

Because the last time I checked, she is a thousand times better than me.

She has her life all figured out. A rich and supportive parent.

And me? A pathetic orphan who was fortunate to see herself through high school on a government scholarship.