Maya's POV

His calculating gaze ran over my face expressionlessly and his brows lifted.

" Really? Why? " He asked, still fixing his intelligent gaze on me.

I glanced up at him sternly " Firstly, you saw me as some sort of game. A prize to be won just to irk Niklaus "

A look of surprise crossed Eden's features which I didn't fail to capture " I cannot deny that Maya , Niklaus and I has always been competitive from birth " He explained but that didn't makeup for the fact that he used me several times as an instrument to cause trouble.

"You see ? " I pointed out " Niklaus never saw me that way from the very beginning, he saw me as a normal human being, someone to be respected and- "

" To have sex with? " Eden interjected.

"Let's be frank here, that's what you guys think anyway. You see a pretty girl and you approach her, beginning to shower her with sweet nothings while your eyes roam over her body. Tell me then, what are you guys thinking about with your eyes fixed on the swell of her breast, the fullness of her lips and the way her waist sways when she walks? "

Eden chuckled deeply " I think you're being cynical here "

I shot an eyebrow " Am I? "

Then slowly I moved towards him, enough for our eyes to be in the same level as I challenged " Tell me then, look me in the eyes and tell me you didn't think about that when you first saw me? "

His eyes narrowed down at me surprisingly before it turned darker "Trust me when I say I did think about it , just as I am thinking right now "

My eyes widened in both surprise and shock, the contents of his words hitting me hard as I blushed.

I swallowed deeply, this was not how I expected his answer to go. How could one innocent question turn ambiguous in a mere second?

"W-well.. you see. I was absolutely right! You guys are all the same, hehe!. Thinking abut it on the first meeting... I'm right "

Even I knew I was babbling nervously just to ease this awkward tension hanging around us talk more him, there was no sense in whatever I was saying.

Suddenly, I closed my face with my palms as I pleaded " Please drive me home cause I'm embarrassed to the core "

Thankfully he didn't say anything and just roared the engine to life and continued his journey.

The ride this time wasn't as tensed as earlier though the awkwardness still remained. while I would steal occasional glances at Eden wondering what he was thinking cause he wrinkled his forehead in grim concentration.

Was his taut face because of my response earlier or was he concentrating on the road ahead?

"I'm -"

"Don't say a word " He shunned me " Or I might get distracted. "

He gave me a short side glance " You said to give the road my full undivided attention " He reminded me.

Oh about that ' I said that in a fit of anger ' , I wanted to say to him but decided against it. It was better that way, at lest I don't have to spend my time deciphering if any words he vomits is true or not.

Without wasting much time, we arrived at Nik's place and he pulled the car to the side. I removed the seatbelt and was about to climb out the car when I felt someone tug gently on my arm.

"About what I was asking -"

"Nik was the first person that reached out a helping hand to me when I needed it the most" I said , interrupting him in the process

"Though he dislikes tears so much but he still gave me his shoulder to cry on " I mulled it over in memory with a smile on my face and a dreamlike fascination.

" Honestly, he was quite frustrating when he kept making decisions that were over the counter without my permission and though I was angry, I was delighted too ..." I trailed and found myself facing Eden "Because for the first time ever in my entire life, I found someone who was on my side without faking it "

Eden's Jaw tightened while his gaze turned cold , stormy even , yet with a hint of sadness, he seems to have guessed what I'm about to do.

" So I would really love it if you stopped dragging me into your wars.I might not know what transpired between you and Nik to bring on this kind of hatred but it's consuming the both of you already, don't you see it - "

"With this kind of heart, you won't even last a day in the Spencer family " He replied with a tone that sent shivers down my spine.

Suddenly he grabbed my chin, firmly but not tight enough to leave a bruise.

"Niklaus has been taking from me since childhood till now, everything I had to work for was given to him on a platter of gold ! " He spat, his face leaning closer to mine until our noses were touching

" Even the one I loved " He continued " He took her away and not only that, caused her death and now, what do you expect me to do? wish him happiness? "

I gulped, so late Kay is the problem here.

I clenched my fist at the sides and shut my eyes close when his eyes flickered to my lips, he was going to kiss me.

But just when I thought his lips was going to meet mine, he moved his lips to my ears and muttered " Just relax love, I'm coming to take you away from him soon and then proposal or not, you'll want nothing but to be with me "

My heart didn't quicken because of the way he suddenly nipped at my earlobe but the fear that clutched my heart when I heard his words.

I now understood why Nik wanted me to drive home with Eden, he wanted to open my eyes. It seems I was too relaxed with Eden and that's the goddamned truth and problem.

I know the two cousins were at war with each other but I never took it serious, I just waved it off, thought of it as a constant squabble between family members.

But this wasn't a simple scuffle but a survivor of the fittest and I had to put my guard up whether I liked it or not.