When Lia woke up, she felt something in her body that changed. She looked at Edward, and he was sleeping peacefully. Then, she remembered the night that they had shared.

“Lia, still awake?” Edward mumbled. They were already lying on the bed, waiting to fall asleep.

“Yes,” Lia answered shortly.

“Is it okay to kiss you?” Edward asked as they stared at the ceiling.

“If you’re going to do it, please don’t ask me because it’s embarrassing. Just kiss me already,” Lia said, and Edward didn’t waste time.

Edward leaned toward her. He slowly moved his face to her, and when their lips met, it was like the fire inside them lit up.

Edward was kissing her passionately, but all of a sudden, he became aggressive.

Edward bit her lower lips, and his tongue entered her mouth. He was already above her as his hand roamed her body.

Lia shivered from his touch. She released a moan when he touched her in between her thighs with still her undies on.

His kisses traveled from her jaw down to her left. He licked her and bit her neck, leaving her a kiss mark. He undressed her clothes, so her bossom came into view.

Lia’s face reddened because of how Edward stared at her. She was about to hide it, but Edward held her hands over her head, dipped into her, and sucked her breast.

Her body arched with the sensation he was giving her.

Edward twirled his tongue to her crown and bit it for a little, which gave Lia a pleasure she hadn’t experienced before.

He was doing it simultaneously to her peak. At the same time, his other hand removed her underwear swiftly and inserted his finger down there.

Lia gasped when she felt his finger inside her, something was gushing out from her as Edward thrust it faster.

Then, his lips traveled down from her breast until his tongue reached its destination. He licked him down there and made Lia moan his name loudly.

When Lia finally had a release, Edward licked it and didn’t waste any of them. Lia was out of breath, but Edward hadn’t done yet.

He finally inserted his shaft and thrust into her slowly. Lia felt the sting at first . That made her moan in pain, so Edward made his thrust slower and conceded at Lia's pace.

But when Lia got used to it, his movement became hard and fast until both of them reached their peak.

Lia’s face flustered when she remembered it clearly. She tried to move a little, but she was sore down there, so she waited for a minute until she could walk completely.

Edward was still asleep, so she decided to go out for groceries to make their breakfast. Just ten minutes after she went out, Edward woke up.

But as soon as he opened his eyes, he got up abruptly because Lia was out of sight. He looked around his apartment, but he couldn’t see her.

He looked for her in the living room, kitchen, and bathroom, but there were no traces of her.

Edward started to think that he shouldn’t have gone too far, so she wouldn’t leave like that.

He couldn’t control himself when it came to her, but he hoped he did. Edward thought that Lia was against what they did last night, so when morning came, she left.

He returned to his room and looked for his phone to call her guardian in Macotta City. But he stopped in the middle when he saw her things were still there.

Finally, Lia returned to his apartment, and she was welcomed by Edward, who ran toward her while panicking.

“Hey, love. I thought you left me again,” Edward whispered.

“Oh, sorry, I just bought some food for us,” Lia explained.

“Don’t scare me like that. If you are going to leave my side, let me know beforehand. So, I’ll be less worried about you,” Edward said as he cupped her face.

Lia smiled at him and nodded. She could see the true feelings of Edward. She knew that his words were genuine and really loved her.

‘I wish I could stay with you forever.’ she thought.

“Alright, let’s go to the kitchen. Let’s prepare our breakfast together,” Edward said as he pulled her into the kitchen.

Lia was watching Edward’s back as she was being dragged by him. She felt at peace, her worries were forgotten because of him.

The happiness that she never thought that she would feel again was surging throughout her system.

…

After they had eaten, they decided to visit Edward’s school. When they got there, Edward became Lia’s tour guide as they roamed around.

Lia felt fantastic because she was like a simple girl who didn’t need a bodyguard with her.

When Edward spotted his colleagues, he called them and introduced Lia as his girlfriend.

“Lia, these are my friends named Lorenz, Janice, Lily, and Greg. Everyone, this is Lia, and we are dating,” Edward spoke, and everyone got amazed when he got himself a girlfriend.

They exchanged their greetings, and Lia was a bit shy because this was her first time meeting other people and being acquainted with them.

“Is that true? She’s not your cousin, right?” Janice asked ridiculously.

“I thought you would die a virgin, man,” Lorenz said.

Everyone was making fun of Edward. They didn’t think that he had an interest in a woman. But they were correct, not until he met Lia.

He fell in love at first sight, and he was sure that she was the one for him.

Edward invited them to eat with her, and they gladly accepted. Their lunch turned out to be fun, and most of the time they were being teased by his friends.

After the day ended, they went home together. Edward wished that this would be the scene every day.

They could be together for the whole day, or they could be apart for a few hours, but at the end of the day, they would go home together.

“Thank you for this, Edward. I will treasure my days with you,” she said genuinely.

“You are always welcome, and you will get tired cherishing our moments because this is only our start, and we will be together endlessly,” Edward said to her as he kissed her good night.

When Lia closed her eyes, her smile remained on her lips as she remembered what had happened today.

As the day passed, Edward decided to tour her around Hamilton Town. Every time she was with him, that was why she felt normal.

She was like an ordinary person who had no complications.

Every minute and hour that she was with him was magical. It felt surreal to the point she thought that she was only dreaming.

…

“You’re going back to your school the next day tomorrow, right?” Lia wondered.

Lia was looking for something to watch while Edward was busy preparing their snacks.

“Yes, but don’t worry. I’ll keep you updated,” he winked at her, and she couldn’t help but laugh.

“I’m not worrying at all,” she said as she bit her lips, trying to suppress her laughter.

“What are you saying? Don’t you worry about me and didn’t have me love me at all?” Edward said as he pouted.

Lia thought that Edward looked cute when he acted that way.

“We don’t know,” Lia shrugged her shoulder, and Edward took her remarks seriously.

“What!?” He exclaimed, and his face darkened.

He finished preparing the food and went to the living room where Lia was. He moved toward her with dangerous intent.

He was thinking of something dangerous that could trigger the burning desire inside of them

Lia felt it and got up from where she was sitting, but Edward caught her in his arms.

“Would you like to repeat your words, hmm?” he whispered in her ears, which made her quiver.

“I said, we don’t know,” she repeated it.

“No, I know that I’ve been in love with you since we met. How about you?” He said and started leaving her neck with feathery kisses.

She couldn’t help but feel good.

“A-Ah, yes,” she answered him, but it sounded like a moan.

“I couldn’t hear you,” he said as he sucked his neck even more.

“I love you,” she said as if she was surrendered.

“I love you too,” he said and stopped what he was doing and kissed her lips.

She couldn’t help but smack him because she was caught in fire. But Edward only grinned at her.

They spent their day watching movies, eating together, and talking about random things they could think of.

It was a life that she never imagined she would experience.

…

“Edward,” Lia called him, and he had just finished his bath.

“Hmm?” He hummed as he walked toward her, then he saw Lia holding something for him.

“What is this?”

“A gift, I bought it those days that we were apart.” Then, Edward opened the box and saw a watch.

“Have you thought about me that day?” He grinned as he thanked her.

“Yes, I did. I kept on thinking of you when we were away from each other,” she said and nodded.

Edward was surprised by her honesty because sometimes Lia didn’t want to admit her own feelings.

On the contrary, Lia’s eyes flowed with tears because she knew to herself that this day would be the last time, and Edward didn’t have an idea that she was crying because of it.

Edward cupped her face and started to kiss her passionately. Lia was willing to give herself over and over again to the man she loved.

As their lips sealed together, she couldn’t help but wish that this moment would last.

When Lia fastened their rhythm, Edward was taken aback, but he gave her what he wanted.

Lia’s hand started to wander on his body, and it felt like his skin was burning with the sensation as Edward’s lips went down to her neck and sucked it.

She sat on his lap and felt his thing grow as she moved her hips desperately. Her body was longing for something she wouldn’t imagine she would seek for.

Edward groaned as she moved faster than earlier. He stopped her movement and undressed in one swift.

No matter how many times he saw her naked body, he couldn’t help but be mesmerized by every bit of her.

He slowly dipped his head and put her peak in his mouth. He gave attention to both of them and played with his tongue, and all she could do was whimper in pleasure.

Lia was chanting his name over again, and it sounded like a lullaby to his ears which caused him to lose his patience and enter her deep cave to ravish her endlessly.

Edward’s thrust was deep, hard, and slow as they stared at each other’s eyes with flickering flames.

“Let’s get married,” Edward said, and Lia’s lips parted when she heard.

“Marriage? Are we going too fast?” Lia questioned him, but he only smiled.

“Yes, I’ll marry you whenever or whatever the place you want. But promise me that we'll still be together until I come back to our homeland,” he stated.

She thought that it would be a dream come true, but sadly after this vacation, her life would be back to the way it was before.

“When I graduate from college, I will return to New Zealand. Then, I will look for you and marry you,” Edward said with sincerity in his eyes.

Lia was too overwhelmed that she just hugged Edward and didn’t give him an answer.

Her tears rolled down her face at the thought of being away from Edward when she went back to New Zealand.

‘I wish I could be with him longer,’ she thought.

Before they fell asleep, Edward whispered in her ears, which made her fully awake.

“I love you so much, my Dahlia Gale. I love you,” Edward said as he drifted to sleep.

When Lia heard that, she couldn’t help but quiver in fear. It was all because her life started to be miserable five years ago.

Those words... It was the same words as her twin’s last words that kept hunting in her dreams.

FLASHBACK

Five years ago…

Lia and Mila decided to go out today and go shopping. Their mother's birthday was fast approaching, and they wanted to get her something special.

They were already inside the mall, and as they roamed around, a luxurious bag with an 'L' logo caught Lia's attention. She asked Mila about it, and the latter agreed to purchase the bag.

"For sure, Mom will like it. She loved bags so much!" Mila said with excitement. "I mean, Mom always told us that she loved everything we gave her."

"She always cherished everything valuable to her," Lia delightfully added.

"Yeah." Mila, thumbs up. "But wait… I just thought of something…."

"What was that?" Lia asked, confused. She stopped and glared at Mila.

"I guess we should buy something for ourselves, too," Mila said and started to look around.

"We can't go back home without bringing something for us. It would be a waste, as we can't always go out like this."

"We don't have enough time, Mila. We need to arrive home before five o'clock." Lia looked at the watch on her left wrist, then stared back at Mila.

"Don't be a killjoy!" Mila tapped Lia's shoulder and smiled. "Come on!"

"Fine," Lia finally conceded. She transferred the paper bag to her left hand and walked toward the teen's section.

"We need to manage our time. Just for an hour, and if we can see something fitted for us, we will go home. Is that clear?"

"Yeah, Dahlia Gale. You're acting too mature today," Mila chuckled.

Mila led the way, and they went to the teen's section. Mila squeaked as soon as she saw a pair of sandals. She's very excited as she asked the saleslady to get a pair for her size.

But moments later, the saleslady returned and announced that Mila's size was already out of stock.

"Oh, that's a bit sad then. I really like the design of this one. It was pretty. Right, Lia?" The sparkle in Mila's eyes suddenly vanished.

Lia looked at Mila and was about to respond, but she was cut off when she heard a familiar voice at the side.

Lia looked in that direction first, then Mila followed. They saw Eunice, who came out of nowhere. They wondered if Eunice followed them or if it was just a coincidence.

"Oh, hi, my dear cousins. The treasured Kennedy's sisters? Camilla, Dahlia. Nice meeting you here," Eunice smirked at them as she crossed her arms around her chest.

Lia and Mila were too stunned to talk back, so they just stared blankly at Eunice. The latter then started to look at them from head to foot. Her stare looked like she was judging them already.

Mila stood and placed the sandal back on the table. "How could we forget you, bully?"

Mila asked sarcastically, while Lia remained quiet at the side. They stared at each other like they were in a contest, and no one wanted to lose.

"Mila, let's go," Lia spoke softly. Eunice caught her attention.

"Oh, the scaredy-cat. The dependent twin sister, the weak ones. I thought you were mute," Eunice teasingly smirked at her and then laughed softly.

Lia held up the tears that almost escaped from her eyes. She bowed her head, and Mila noticed it, so she went close to her and held her hand.

"Eunice, you have no right to call her like that!" Mila exclaimed furiously. Not her sister. No one has the right to insult her sister.

"Whatever," Eunice replied and rolled her eyes. "You both still did not change. You remained a freak and loser."

"We are not the losers; it's you," Mila yelled at her, and Eunice turned her head to them as she heard it.

Eunice smiled at them devilishly. "Well, call me whatever you want. But we will see who were the true losers if something happened to both of you."

"Scare your ass!" Mila yelled back confidently, and she wanted to show Eunice that she was not afraid of her.

"Goodbye, losers!" Eunice looked at them and waved her hands as she started to walk slowly away from them.

When Eunice was already out of sight, Mila and Lia began to breathe peacefully.

Mila could not forget how Eunice had been a bully when they were still a child.

"What? You would always defend that freak, Lia?!" Eunice shouted, about to go near Lia to push her, but Mila blocked the way.

"Don't you dare touch Lia!" Mila yelled back.

Eunice was older but remained childish, even if she was two years older than Lia and Mila.

She always wanted to be the main character, the center of attention, and wanted to see Mila and Lia cry for her actions.

….

Mila and Lia's mother, Sandra, told them about their family's history. Sandra has an evil twin who tried to make their Mom's life miserable.

Her name was Sarah, and unfortunately, she had already died years ago.

"That's what happened. That's why Dad got very furious. You would surely not understand it for now, but soon, everything will be clear to you," Sandra said while smiling at Mila and Lia.

They are on the sofa, having a moment of conversation. "She has two children."

"Trevor and Eunice? Our cousins?" Mila asked while Lia remained listening to them.

"That's correct," Sandra nodded. "They are your cousins."

"But why do they always bully us, especially Lia?" Mila asked.

"I don't know. Maybe she was longing for love as her mother died...."

….

Mila and Lia never witnessed a complete family reunion with their Auntie Sarah's family.

They were always distant from them. And when their Auntie Sarah died, their Uncle Juanito, Sarah's husband, became worse.

As a family who has a unique history, Mila and Lia somehow understood why Eunice and her family happened to be bullies. One time, their mother, Sandra, said this to them:

"My father was upset with my sister, Sarah. She was the reason why I became pregnant with you two." She looked at Lia and Mila.

"She set me into a one-night stand. I never knew that man's name, but I somehow remembered his face for a bit. He was your father."

"It was also why your grandfather was upset with Sarah and never dared to forgive her, ever….one mistake then to another one. We tried to take her away from Juanito because he's a bad influence. But Sarah chose to be with him instead. Dad said that if she left that man, she could have her inheritance, but she never did. She's been blinded by love..."

With that, Mila and Lia realized everything. To why their grandfather never granted anything at Sarah.

Mila and Lia were already walking with the bodyguards in the parking lot when they suddenly heard a commotion not far from them.

Both stopped walking while they glared in the direction where the voices came. But they both end up hearing a gun fired toward them and a loud bang, almost destroying their eardrums.

A wheel screeching and seeming to escape from the gun fires and car alarms continue to make a sound.

Mila held Lia's hands as she saw Lia covering her ears with fear as her knees and hands were shaking nervously. Lia was about to hug Mila, but it did not happen anymore.

They both roamed her gaze around and saw unknown people heading toward them. Lia's body could not respond and could no longer run.

She did not see Mila where she had stood and did not know what was happening. Everything around them went in slow motion.

She shouted but could not even hear it herself. At the tick of the clock, everything already went dark from her vision. But she hoped for one thing: to wake up from this dream if ever it was.

But it wasn't a nightmare because Lia was already in a dark room the next thing she knew.

She could not describe what the room looked like. In her vision, it was only dark, but when she stared in front, she realized Trevor was sitting on the chair while he leaned on the table.

He was smoking and staring at Lia with his scary eyes. Trevor, Eunice’s older brother.

Lia looked around and remembered that Mila was not with her in the dark room. She slowly stood up from the chair and stared at Trevor.

"Where are we? Where's Mila? Please, I want to see my sister. Can you tell me where I can see her?"

She calmly stated and waited for Trevor's response, but he only laughed. It sounded evil and disrespectful.

Lia felt more nervous with his laugh. Her tears started to flow as Trevor didn't utter a word.

"Please, Trevor, don't do this to us. Let us go. Please, tell me where's Mila. I'm begging you," Lia pleaded and kneeled in front of Trevor.

Again, the latter just laughed at her without uttering any word.

Lia cried louder, like a child left by her mother. She's feeling weak, her sister, she must be in danger.

She stood up and looked at Trevot intently. Lia doesn't know what to know, whether she'll run away or just slap his cousin, Trevor, for doing all this.

She was trembling in fear but tried her best to speak up. She needed to know Mila's whereabouts.

Lia started to walk around the room, screaming her sister's name.

"Mila! Mila! Can you hear me?! Where are you?! Please respond to me! I want to know if you are fine! Please, Mila, answer me!"

Lia shouted with all her might with a cracked voice. She stood at the side of the table, almost collapsing as her knees were shaking.

Her heart was beating faster while negative thoughts ran through her mind.

"Mila, please tell me-,"

"Can you shut up?! Your voice is too loud!"

Trevor shouted, but Lia continued screaming. Thus, it pushed Trevor to get his gun on his back and point it directly at Lia.

"And besides, she cannot hear you, idiot!"

With a shocked reaction, Lia slowly shook her head, seeing the gun pointed at her. Tears and sweat fall simultaneously from her forehead down to her cheeks.

"Trevor, please don't do this. Please don't kill us. Please, tell me, where's Mila? Please, please," she begged as she raised her two hands.

Trevor remained in his position. "Mila was in the other room. She's having a great time with some random men," Trevor replied with a smirk.

"W-What? W-Why? What d-do you mean, Trevor?” Lia tried to calm herself down.

"T-Tell me, please, what have you done to my sister?"

"You're too slow. But to make it clear to you, little cousin, your twin sister, Mila, she's being r*ped!" Trevor was joyful as he told it.

"No, Trevor! Please, no! Don't do that to Mila. Tell them to stop, please. Stop this, Trevor!" Lia shouted as she wanted to beg him.

"Oh, I think it's too late to stop them. They say your sister was cool, huh," replied Trevor.

"And besides, that was planned to happen. So I guess you do not need to mind them."

Lia's knees became smooth and could not support her standing. She laid her hand on the table as she felt weakened.

She cried and closed her eyes. She could not think nor imagine the situation that her sister Mila had encountered.

Lia wanted to go there, but it would not be possible. Trevor would surely stop her.

Her emotions are mixed. She was so exhausted, and she was feeling nervous at the same time.

Everything happened so fast that she couldn't even think about it.

"Please, I am begging you to release her. She didn't deserve any of this. Just release her and..., and I promise, we will do everything that you wanted.”

Lia said, wiping her tears from her face. She was cautious with her actions and afraid Trevor would kill her.

"Are you sure you want to do everything?" Trevor asked as he stood up and placed the gun at the table.

Lia nodded. "Y-Yes, yes," she replied.

"Fine, let's do that then. I will release you, both of you, with one condition."

Trevor smiled and placed a document, estimated to be ten pages, with a black pen on the table.

"If you sign all these papers stating you will give up your Mom's wealth, everything will end. Your Mom would surely leave all her wealth to you and Mila, so it was a good deal then. Mila will be saved, including you, little cousin."

Lia did not hesitate to sit back and, get the pen, remove the cover. Trevor placed the documents and pointed out where she should need to sign.

The pen's tip reached the paper, and her hands were trembling as she tried to move her hand.

Trevor noticed it and tapped the paper thrice. "Sign it now before I change my mind," he said and held the gun again.

Trevor's words scared Lia even more. She wrote the first letter of her name, but she couldn't continue as she heard Trevor curse.

"Shit! Police had arrived!" Trevor shouted while looking at his mobile phone.

There are footsteps heard running outside the room. Trevor was worried and prepared himself with his gun.

He ran towards the door and stood there, trying to see if the authorities had reached them. With no words, Trevor went out.

It allowed Lia to throw the pen and start to march towards the door. She followed her instinct that might lead the way to see Mila.

Lia heard noises. Footsteps, fire guns, and shouts, but she did not mind such as she was now away from them.

Lia stopped and saw Mila, who was at the edge of the room, near the window, where, in one wrong move, Mila would fall and die instantly.

A man was also pointing a gun at her head.

Mila's situation was far from what Lia was expecting to happen. Mila looked like she had experienced great torture at their cousin's hands and the men they had paid to r*pe her.

"Mila…" Her voice was shaking as she saw Mila, who was naked. Bruises are all around her body. She looks so pitiful.

Lia wanted to go near her but feared the man might fire the gun on Mila's head. Lia was already losing all her energy.

Mila looked at her while expressing that she was traumatized by what had happened. In contrast, Lia could no longer see her as the bulletproof of her life.

Mila experienced this all, and Lia could not do anything but just look at her situation.

The bright smiles on Mila's face were already gone as those monsters took it all away from her.

The police came and tried to talk to the man who was pointing a gun at Mila, but the man didn't back off.

He held Mila closer to him and stepped near the open window.

"Mila, please… be strong okay? We'll get through this. We will save you," Lia's eyes were clouded with tears, but she tried her best not to stutter.

She needs to be strong for Mila.

Mila once again tried to open her eyes and looked at her. She smiled and slowly shook her head as if she was saying that it was already over.

Lia saw how Mila tried to speak up and uttered her precious words, "L-Lia…I-I love you. I love you so much, my Dahlia Gale. I love you, my twin…."

"Mila, we'll go home together… Mommy is waiting… please, be strong. Hold on, please…."

Lia almost lost her balance when the man suddenly pointed the gun at her. And before speaking, Mila suddenly pushed herself toward the man, making them fall together from the window.

At that moment, Lia knew that she had lost half of her life. Her sunshine was gone. And her life started to crumble down.