Fate's Identity

Chapter 55

I walk upstairs and peek into Niall's room, where he now rests in his bed with a bandage on his arm. Once his eyes meet mine, a smile appears. "Ally," he says. I reveal myself and pace myself as I approach him. "Is everything alright? You don't look too good."

"Niall," I begin calmly. "You know that Liam was leaving, yet you lied to me so I could miss my chance to see him." His eyes widen a little. "I get that you might not like him, and that you disprove of him, but you did not have to lie to me to prevent me from seeing him."

Niall clenches his jaw. "But you did see him even though I was injured. You left me to go see him. Ally, don't you see? He's bringing the worst in you. How selfish are you, Ally?"

"Selfish?" I question him. "I was willing to help clean your wound and bandage it for you, even if it meant that I didn't get to say goodbye to him. The only reason why I saw him was because you lied to me. You know very well when Liam was leaving, yet you made sure to get into my business. I thought I could trust you. As a friend."

"You can," Niall says, but I shake my head.

"I can't," my voice begins to shake once more. My heart breaks. I hate doing this. "Not anymore."

"But I love you," Niall blurts.

"Niall, you should stop thinking about us because it's never going to happen," I said. "You're getting married soon. And I'm in a serious relationship with Liam."

Niall breathes in slowly as tears well up in his eyes. I give him an apologetic look, but I did mean the words I spoke.

"Ally," Camila says behind me, anxiously. I turn around and see her biting her nails, nervous. Worried was written all over face. She was having a hard time breathing as well as she stood a feet away from me. "Simon w-wants to see you. He does not seem to be happy. Especially since you ignored him outside."

My eyes raised a little while my brows loosen. Terrified chills run down my spine, around my waist and my legs. My legs twitched and trembled as I exit the door. I pace myself, ready for the words and the punishment he had in store for me. If it's just another whip, I can deal with it. I've had too much to be scared anymore.

Camila walked with me, fearing for me. As we stood at the bottom of the staircase, she wraps her arm around me and sets her head on my shoulder. I smile a little at her sweet gesture. I hold onto her arms and pat her head. "Thanks, Mila," I said. We walk into the living room in this position. My smile fades once I saw Simon sitting on one side of the living room on the couch. I swallow hard, seeing his rage boiling to the surface more and more.

Camila and I settle down on the opposite side of him, where Dinah and Lauren gathered. The four of us sat on the long couch and waited for Simon to begin speaking. His silence was rather intimidating enough as it is. Camila tightens her hold on me, and Dinah brushes my shoulder lightly.

"Lauren, hand me the yardstick," Simon says hoarsely.

My heart pounded twice in one beat. Lauren answers, "No, Dad. You need to solve this by something else other than physical violence. This problem is more than a rule breaker."

"Dad, it's Ally and her heart," Dinah adds. "You can't punish her for feeling this way."

"I can punish her for not preventing it," Simon raises his voice. "She knew very well what I expected. You can't back her up on that. She knew the risk, and she was willing to risk it." I clench my fist.

"We've all have done it, Dad," Dinah begins as her voice cracks. Her eyes puffed, and I knew what she was going to bring up.

With my free hand, I hold onto her hand and shake my head. "Dinah, you don't have to reopen that wound," I tell her.