Adrian flipped through his private album looking at his childhood photos when one caught his attention. A picture of him and his beloved Emily. They looked so happy together. He had practically fixed it there when they were still together. But she was no longer his beloved. He couldn't tell if he still loved her or if what he felt inside was pure hatred and anger. Emily had been his high school sweetheart. He had never loved a woman before like he did with Emily. He didn't have enough money by then. But he still did everything to provide her with whatever she needed. But instead, she chose to break his heart after all he had done for her.

I gave her everything. Why did she do this to me. He thought.

He remembered the painful thing she had done to him and how he had gotten himself in the world he was in at the moment.

Flashback

"Emily, I have to go visit my parents. They said they needed to talk to me urgently. I will leave you my house keys so that whenever you want to spend the night here you can always come," Adrian had said to her.

"Do you have to go today?" she asked sobbing in his chest.

"Yes my love. I have to. I will be back before you know," He said comforting her.

" Just promise me you will be back soon," She replied hesitantly in a shaky voice.

"I promise you my love. I won't be staying for long,"

"Okay. I don't want you to miss your bus," she said wiping her tears, "Take care love," She added pecking his lips.

He realized how much he'd miss her face, her smile, her kisses, her body, her everything. He loved her so much. He would trade anything he had just to be with her. For the three years they had been together he had learnt to respect her a lot.

They had made love five months after they had started dating. He had wanted her to make the move not wanting to rush her at any cost. It had been the most pre-eminent time they had ever had as a couple.

"Am I just going to receive a peck?" he asked her faking a frown.

She smiled at him, grabbed his shirt and brought his lips to hers. Aroused by the sudden move, he devoured her lips hungrily caressing her breasts making her moan softly in between the kisses.

She started unbuttoning his jeans but he held her hand before she could get to his manhood. He had to stop her because if she continued he wouldn't stop himself and he'd miss the bus. And he didn't want that to happen considering the fact that Emily was turning him on.

"Love, we can't do this now,"

"I know sweetheart. I am sorry," she replied calmly.

"It's okay my darling. When I come back we will make endless love all night," Adrian said giving her a comforting smile.

"And I can't wait for that. Come back soon,"

"I will pretty one. I love you Emily," he said to her giving her a light peck on her forehead.

"I love you too Adrian,"

At 5:20 pm, he had boarded the bus after saying his goodbyes to Emily.

The visit to his parents did not take long. All along it was just a surprise from his younger Sister who had been away and had missed her brother very much.

After five days, he had decided he would be going back home to surprise Emily. He would not alert her that he would be coming back. On the same visit he had told his parents about Emily and the intentions he had with her and how he was planning to propose to her when he got back.

His parents and his sister had been very happy about it. They couldn't wait to meet her.

But things never went well.

That night after returning he had a feeling Emily would be at his condo. And he was right because he could see the lights on. Happily, he held the ring that he had bought on his way back and hid it in his back pocket. He didn't care if he were 23 by then, Emily being 20, they would still start a family. They loved each other and nothing or no one would stop them.

Luckily, the door wasn't locked so he just opened it silently but the sight he saw after opening that door would haunt him forever.

Right there in front of his eyes was his beloved Emily in an another mans arm having sex on his damn couch.

He had never felt betrayed like that all his life. He thought he had a wife, a mother to his children, whom he would spend his entire life with. But he had been wrong.

And for the first time in many years, he had cried because of a woman.

She had tried to explain herself but he couldn't listen. There was no point in listening. She had been playing with his feelings all along.

He had left her there sobbing begging for his forgiveness. He couldn't bring himself to forgive her. He couldn't imagine he had been sharing her with another man.

That night he had slept at his uncle's place the only relative he had in town who had later introduced him to his mafia world and had made him the boss afterwards. He was hesitant at first but due to the hurt he had experienced, he wanted to forget about Emily hoping it would be easy but it wasn't that simple. He had to focus on his work so he began sleeping with other women but still, it did not work.

But all in all he made a promise to himself never to fall in love again and to forget about Emily and focus on his work.

End of flashback

"Adrian we have a problem," Leo his second in command who was also like family to him interrupted his thoughts.

"What is it, Leo?" He asked putting back the album in its safe place.

"The guy we caught yesterday has escaped,"

"What do you mean that he has escaped Leo. Whom did you put in charge?"

"Marcus boss,"

"Son of a bitch. Tell him that I need to speak to him now!" Adrian said angrily.

"Right away boss," Leo responded as he headed out.

***

"I don't know how he got away sir," a trembled Marcus answered to Adrian.

"You don't know! Weren't you supposed to be keeping guard!"

"Someone helped him sir. The door was locked and I carried the keys. Someone might have opened the door using the spare keys,"

"So what are you trying to say. That I have a traitor amongst my employees!" Adrian shouted at him.

"I a.....m no...t sure sir but...," He trembled.

"Listen here Marcus," Adrian cut him short. "In the next one fucking minute I want you out of here. And do not come back without that guy. Consider yourself dead if otherwise,"

"Of course boss," Marcus said bowing his head in respect heading out.

"You and I know Marcus won't find that guy Adrian," Leo said after Marcus was gone.

"I do not care Leo. I want that guy back! If he gets to Adriano then he'll know our secret hiding place and we don't want that to happen. Do we?"

"Of course we don't,"

"Good. Prepare my car, we are going out,"

"Where to?"

"I'll tell you on the way. I'll meet you downstairs," Adrian said.

"Sure,"

*******

Hayley Archer woke up feeling tired due to the events that had conspired the previous day. She had had a rough time running away from some lunatic cops that had been chasing her down again on the streets. Life had not taken a good turn as she had expected. After the death of her parents in a car crash, life never seemed to be the same again. Dropping out of school, Left with two of her younger siblings, she had to earn a living through selling fruits on the streets which had been an only option.

Days were never the same. Sometimes she would sell enough to buy a whole day meal, but sometimes the cops would chase her and she would end up selling little amount. But giving up wasn't in her list of vocabularies.

Making her little bed, she headed to the kitchen to make some tea for her siblings.

"Hay, I'm hungry," her five years old sister Anna said as she joined her in the kitchen.

"Let me make us some tea dear Anna," Hayley replied as she gave her a small peck sitting her down on the kitchen stool.

"Okay Hay," She replied.

"Where is Nick ? Is he still asleep,"

"Yes. He refuses to wake up. Should I go wake him up again?"

"No baby. Let him get some more sleep. He probably hasn't gotten enough. Here, drink some tea,"

"What about Cake?"

"There is no cake for today baby. But when I get back in the evening I'll bring you the best chocolate cake in town. Okay bunny?" She said to her giving her a hug tears threatening to roll down her cheeks.

"It's okay Hay. Don't cry, I understand,"

If only I would get a chance to make a wish, I'd sacrifice my life for this kids to have a better life. She thought embracing her sister in a tighter hug.