Amy

"Aaron", I stopped him.

He stopped in his tracks.

"Aaron, please talk to me", I pleaded softly.

He turned around and said, "Why should I talk to you? Did you talk to me?"

"Aaron, I can explain. Just give me a chance", I pleaded sadly.

"I don't think that anything you say can possibly make this any better", Aaron shrugged.

"Aaron, I am still the Amy you knew. If Daniel can accept it, why can't you?" I asked him.

"Because you didn't break his trust", Aaron told me making me stumble back.

"Aaron..."

"I don't get it. I tried. A lot. But, I don't get it. Why did you not tell me? Even that night when Lia was continuosly saying that she is Amelia Lawson, I didn't believe her. Because I thought that you wouldn't hide such an important fact from me! Why? Why didn't you tell me before? Before marriage? When you fucking claimed to love me!" Aaron's eyes were burning with rage.

"I wanted to. Initially, when we started dating, I didn't know where we would land. I didn't want to complicate things for anyone so, I didn't tell you. Later on, as we grew closer, I was scared. I was scared about you just turning your back on me. I really fell for you and I didn't have the guts to tell you. Nonetheless, I wanted to tell you. I couldn't bring myself to do it. After you proposed, we got married in two months. All the time just flew by in preparations. I even tried a week before the wedding but, you were too distracted. But, I had decided that I'll tell you on our wedding night. Then, you dropped this whole revenge thing on me and I didn't have a reason anymore to tell you. I didn't even know that your revenge was related to Marcus Lawson's sister otherwise I would have told you. Believe me", I cried.

"Really? Then, what about after? After I told you about Julia?" Aaron asked angrily.

"I tried to tell you before Lia arrived, Aaron. You didn't listen-"

"What about that whole week?! You knew everything for a whole week! You didn't get five minutes in the whole week?" Aaron asked angrily.

"At first, I wanted to. But, later, I thought that maybe I should wait for a few days. I didn't know where Lia was, Aaron. We had searched a lot eight years ago. We couldn't find her. Her father said she was lost and I didn't even know if she was alive or dead. It had been eight years. I was scared if I tell you, you will try searching for her and what if she isn't even alive. So, I told Luke to look-"

"Luke! You decided to tell your long lost friend and not your own husband!" Aaron looked at me with anger and scoffed, "Unbelievable!"

"Aaron, I didn't have a choice. I wanted to make sure before I tell you anything. I was scared that you might want to track her down just for the sake of your revenge-"

"I had told you I was done with it!" Aaron yelled angrily.

"Did you ever really trust me? I told you everything about Julia, I told you I was done with the whole revenge shit and I am letting it go and you are saying that you were still scared?!" Aaron scoffed.

I cried, "Aaron, I was trying to protect you. I was not sure how you'd react. I trusted you when you said that you don't want the revenge. But, I didn't even know if Lia was involved in it or not. I was not sure if you would believe me or not. I was not sure about if you'd be angry that why I didn't tell you before. I didn't know if you'd hate me for ruining your plans."

"Yes, you ruined them. You ruined everything for me!" Aaron yelled with frustration.

"Aaron, I didn't mean to-"

"If only you would have told me before marriage, I wouldn't have married you. I could have found Lia and-"

"Aaron, stop it! You heard what Lia said, right? Marcus Lawson never cared for her. Your plan wouldn't have worked anyways", I cut him off fearing he'd say something I wouldn't be able to hear.

Aaron laughed sardonically, "Bloody hell, woman! You are still fucking stuck on it? How many times do I have to say it? Forget my plan! If only I had found Lia on time, I would have known who wrote the letter. I would have known that she is his sister. I would have made a bloody different plan for punishing Marcus Lawson and I wouldn't have married you for just revenge!"

He threw me one last frustrated look and stomped to his room, slamming the door shut.

I dragged myself to my room and sat on the bed as I replayed everything.

I am not hurt by anything he said today because I know that he is hurt too.

Listening to what he said in the end, I knew that he was right. It could have worked out better, if only I had told him.

But, it isn't too late yet.

I could tell Lia the truth and make her help Aaron to get Marcus Lawson to face justice.

I had to do this for Julia, Lia, Daniel, Aaron and myself.

"Hello, Lia? It's me Amy. What time can I see you tomorrow?"

Next Evening....

"What are you doing, Lia?" I asked her as she was opening and closing the kitchen drawers messing things inside.

Right now, we are at Daniel's and now Lia's apartment. I came here almost an hour ago. As per my decision, I have been telling Lia the whole truth about Aaron and my marriage. I had just reached the part where I landed in the hospital and Lia suddenly got up and went to the kitchen.

"Lia? What are you doing?" I asked again when she didn't reply.

"I am finding something. Uh..does this man have anything in place? This house is just as useless as it's owner!" Lia said angrily.

"What are you trying to find?" I frowned.

"The butcher's knife."

"What? Why?"

"So, that I can cut that son of a bitch into pieces and throw him to a dog. And after that, I will cut his loving brother too and feed him to a different dog otherwise the poor dog will suffer from indigestion", Lia told me angrily.

"But, Daniel didn't even do anything", I said chuckling slightly.

"I don't care. I just hate him and if I am going to go to jail for murder, I might as well commit two", Lia said still trying to find the butcher's knife.

"Lia. Lia, sit", I told pulling her towards the dining table.

"I don't want to", she pouted.

"Lia, listen to me. Aaron just harassed me for three weeks and you are this angry. Julia suffered a thousand times more for months. Doesn't Aaron have a right to be angry? Aaron hasn't even lifted a finger on me while Marcus has abused Julia with god knows what. I landed in the hospital but, Aaron saved me and I am still alive. Julia is dead, Lia. There is no bringing her back. I have never met her. You knew her for a month. Yet, we got affected by what they did to her. They have spent their entire childhood with her. Imagine what he must have felt on seeing Julia's dead body and reading your letter", I explained to her.

"But, he had no right to pull you into this", Lia argued.

"Lia, we all make mistakes for things that we feel are right. I didn't tell him about you. You ran away in middle of nowhere because you thought Marcus was wrong. That was wrong too, right? You could have got hurt. He did something because he thought that it was the only way to punish Marcus. The day he realised that I was not involved with Marcus and nothing he would do to me will matter to Marcus, he stopped and he told me the whole truth, Lia. He is not a bad person. He repented for everything and that is what matters", I told her.

"But, Jasmine Trent, Amy? I mean you did cry to him that night, didn't you? Yet, he cheated on you", Lia told me.

"You think I would have let go of that? He didn't really cheat", I told her.

"What?" Lia asked confused.

I nodded and continued my story. I reached the point when Aaron finally told me about everything that Marcus had done to Kingston House and him.

"He burnt their home?!" Lia yelled with shock.

"Yes, and caused Aaron's accident", I nodded.

"That is sick. But, I wouldn't expect any better from him", Lia shrugged.

"Well, I guess we have to make a stronger plan then to make him suffer enough", I told her.

"That we have to", Lia gritted.

"And then, later that day Jasmine came and claimed that she was pregnant. But, Aaron proved her wrong because he was not with her at all that night. He had given her sleeping pills, the ones that Martha had found. He told me that he never cheated even with Ruby", I shrugged.

"What?" Lia asked confused.

"Yes, he was actually helping her for her daughter's cancer operation. He was just being a jerk trying to make me see the worse of him", I rolled my eyes.

"And that lipstick mark?" Lia asked.

"He was in the bar and knocked into someone", I said sheepishly.

"I told you!" Lia gave me a proud smile.

"Yup, I guess I did jump to conclusion", I nodded in agreement.

"So basically, in reality, he did nothing at all", Lia nodded in understanding.

"Yes", I nodded.

"And he is a supportive and caring husband", Lia frowned.

"Yes, he is", I nodded.

"But, he led you into believing things and made you cry", Lia pouted.

"Well, guilty as charged", I agreed.

"I still hate him", Lia scowled.

I chuckled and shook my head knowing that she will come around.

"Oh! I forgot. Aaron made me slap Jasmine", I told her.

Lia snapped her head to me and said wide eyed, "I love him."

I laughed looking at her, "That one has to be the quickest escalation in the history of escalations."

"No, seriously", Lia grabbed a chair and sat next to me. "You slapped Jasmine?! That is supposed to be record time. I had been trying to get you to do it for years. Years and what did you always say? I can't stoop to her level", Lia mimicked me.

"Well, that I still stand by. You know what Jasmine did to me, right? I guess I was just too traumatized to even look at her in the eye. Even that day, I didn't want to at first but, Aaron pushed me and gave me strength and then, I just gathered all the pent up trama inside me and slapped her. The look on her face was priceless", I laughed.

"Did it feel good?" Lia waggled her eyebrows at me.

"It did. It felt so relieving. It felt like all the trauma just escaped in one bloody second. It was funny too because Aaron kept blackmailing her saying that if she doesn't let me slap her, he will send her to jail for trespassing. Umm..After that night, Aaron's got a restraining order against her for staying outside a ten mile radius from me so, she was trespassing when she came", I explained to her.

"He did that?" Lia asked with awe.

"Yes, he regrets that day more than anything", I said with a smile.

"Has he told you yet?" Lia asked.

"What?" I asked blushing as I understood what she meant.

"Come on, Amy. Even a blind man can say that he loves you. I have seen him looking at you with those longing stares yesterday and day before, even when he was really angry at you", Lia rolled her eyes.

"Why do I never know of such things?" I cribbed.

"Because he looks when you don't look at him and you are dense otherwise", Lia rolled her eyes and I smacked her arm.

I just averted my gaze and told her, "He was going to. But, he didn't after the bomb dropped on him."

"Have you told him that you still love him?" she asked me.

"What? No. I am waiting for him to go first", I thinned my lips.

"Oh god! Seriously? The guy should say first thing?" Lia rolled her eyes. "This isn't some medieval times, Amy. Women can go first too. In fact, I think that guys are so stupid that if you leave it on them, then you can dream about marrying with gray hair. You have to make the first move. I say go tell him."

"What?" I asked bewildered.

"Yeah, tell him that you love him and that he can jump off a hill if he thinks you are going to divorce him anytime soon", Lia told me.

"Lia", I laughed, "Not right now. I don't think he is in the right mindset to hear it and also, I want everything to clear up between us first. Which is why I am here. To ask for a favor."

"What?" Lia asked with a frown.

"You need to help Aaron to get Marcus caught for what he did to Julia", I told her seriously.

Lia's frown changed into a cold face as she said, "It won't be a favor if I am the one leading it."

I gulped and nodded. I called Daniel from my phone.

"Hey, Amy", he said on picking up.

"Hey. Can you come to my apartment in one hour?" I asked him.

"Sure. Did something happen?" he asked with confusion.

"Not yet. But, something is going to happen", I told him.

"What?" he asked with confusion.

"You will know when you come. Also..", I took a breath.

"Yes?"

"Get Aaron with you", I told him as I hanged up.

Lia and I left after sometime and drove back to my home. Soon Aaron and Daniel came home too and we settled down on the couch.

"What is it Amy? Why did you call me here?" Daniel asked with confusion.

I sighed and said, "I have been thinking a lot lately. I know that you have left it to fate and Aaron's...initial plan failed. But, I think Marcus Lawson needs to be punished and we are the only ones who can make it happen. So, I have asked Lia to help us and she agreed."

"No", Aaron said getting up and stepping towards his room.

"What? Why?" Lia asked him.

"Because some people may not understand it when I repeatedly say that I am done with revenge", Aaron gritted, obviously taunting me.

"But, why? You don't think he deserves to be punished?" Lia asked him.

"I do. But, I have left it to fate just like Daniel", Aaron told her.

"But, that is not just for you to decide, Aaron", Lia told him angrily.

"Julia was our sister and if we want to leave it to fate, then no one has any right to stop us", Aaron replied with equal anger.

"I have a right to stop you!" Lia gritted.

Lia looked at both of them with frustration and continued, "Julia wasn't just your sister. She was mine too. I gave up eight years of my life fighting and running because I couldn't support the wrong. She meant a lot to me and the day I ran away I promised myself that I will avenge her. You, Aaron, spent eight years working like a mad bull and reached where you are for just revenge. Amy, got stuck in all of this and suffered so much. You, Mr. Stupid, I am sure you must have felt something too in these eight years. All of this and you both want to just give up at this point?"

"There is nothing we can do", Daniel said.

"And there will not be anything either if we don't even try for once", I told him.

"When humans can't do anything, destiny can, Amy. God will punish him for what he did. Revenge will only complicate it further", Daniel told.

"You left it to destiny and fate for eight years, didn't you? Did that lead you anywhere?" Lia asked him.

"God helps those who help themselves, Daniel", I told him.

"We all owe this to Julia. That's the least we can do for the person we love", Lia told them.

"But, what can we even do? There is no proof whatsoever", Daniel told us with a sad smile.

"Look, Mr. Idiot. I am not a coward like both of you. I am not going to sit here and let that man fake his good behaviour in front of the world and he ruins more lives. We called you here so that we can tell you that we need to make a plan together. Now, if both of you don't want to help us, it is fine. I am going to make a plan and get Marcus punished with or without your help! Just remember one thing. Staying silent is as good as supporting the wrong", Lia told them angrily.

"He has ruined five lives, Daniel and broken hearts of two parents. You may think that destiny will do its job. But, I think enough is enough. So, I am with Lia in this. I am just asking if you are or you aren't", I told him.

"I didn't say I am not in. I just asked what can we even do without a proof", Daniel told me.

Lia and I looked at each other and then, we both looked at him with question as a small smile started forming on my face.

Daniel nodded and said with a sad smile, "I am in."

Lia and I grinned with happiness and smiled at Daniel.

"Well, good luck to all of you then", Aaron said and left to his room.

As soon as he shut the door, Lia scoffed.

"I can't believe this! And here, I thought he was better than this idiot", Lia rolled her eyes.

"What the hell is your problem? Why are you constantly calling me idiot and stupid?" Daniel asked her with frustration.

"Because you are one", Lia shrugged and looked at me, "Guess it is just three of us."

"Not three. Four. It is four of us", I told her looking at Aaron's door.

"He won't agree, Amy. He's made up his mind", Daniel told me.

"And I have made up mine. Start brainstorming idea about what to do while, I knock sense into my husband", I told them and walked in the direction of his room.

I paused midway and turned to look at them, "Also, kids. Don't fight while I am gone."

I smiled and went inside Aaron's room without knocking.

I went in and locked the door.

Aaron was standing near the glass window staring outside over the city.

"What the hell is your problem?" I asked him making him look at me.

"If you are here to try and convince me-"

"I don't want to listen to your crappy warning and treats. I want to know what is your problem", I cut him off angrily.

"I don't have any problem", Aaron frowned at me.

"Really? And that is why you are so adamantly refusing to help us?" I asked him.

He opened his mouth but, I beat him into it, "Do not say that 'How many times do I have to say that I am done with it' crap. I trust you on that one. But, I also know that you mean that you are done using people against Marcus for just revenge and not done wanting to punish him!"

He looked at me with surprise as I hit the bull's eye.

"Yes, I know it, Aaron. I know you more than you think I do. I know that I have never been able to read your mind before, though I am definitely starting to now, but, I have always felt what you feel here", I said jabbing my finger in his chest where his heart is located.

"I know you are angry at me for hiding my reality from you. But, I also know that you can see my point too and somewhere, you understand me too. Because if that wasn't the case, you wouldn't be listening to me right now. So, tell me, what is your problem?" I asked him again softly.

Aaron closed his eyes and let out a deep breath.

He turned to look outside the window and said, "Marcus Lawson is worse than an animal. Until now, it was just me against him. If we team up against him and things go haywire, he will be worst than the worse nightmare for all of us. I don't want to put more lives in danger. Julia is gone and no matter what we do she will not come back. I don't want anyone to be possibly dead just for her. She wouldn't want that."

"And what about people who are still alive?" I asked him.

"What?" he turned to look at me.

"What about the six people he has hurt who are still alive? What about that one small part of those six people that died that day with Julia? Don't they deserve to be fought for?" I asked him.

"You don't understand, Mel. One wrong move and we all will be dead", Aaron told me.

"So, you are planning to just let him go? Is that what you want me to believe? Because I know that can't be true", I told him.

"He has a lot of illegal dealings. I am planning to expose them and put him behind the bars for good. Peter and I are already halfway through it", Aaron told me.