Ana was dressed in a pink long gown, looking like a fairy and was smiling at the camera before blowing out the candles of her cake. It was her 14th birthday. I was 20 and the next day I was supposed to catch a flight to California because I got my admission to Stanford University to complete my master's in business analytics.

It was also the time when I realized I had feelings for her. I love her and it was the dawn of my realization clear to me like a day. It hit me like a tunnel. However I could do nothing but to accept it.

My father always wanted me to complete my MS at a reputed foreign university so I grabbed the opportunity to keep myself away from her. It is the best move at that juncture for keeping my sanity intact. She is like a family to me and her parents treated me like their son. Loving her is a sin I should never commit and I tried my very best to submerge the arduous emotion.

I came once to meet my parents after completion of my studies, before taking over our family business and it was when she went to meet her grandparents as it was her vacation time too. Though one side of my heart craved to see her, the other taught me better that it is always best for me to be away from her.

She is much younger than me and I shouldn't be nourishing such passionate feelings towards her. I began to blow my ears chanting the same mantra for years. Now after four long years of sequestration, I'm returning to my family home.

With infinite emotions, I walked ahead into the familiar mansion of creamy prolonged walls in which I spent 20 long years of mirthful life. The mansion had its usual quaint view of a beautiful garden ahead with flowers of different colors. I walked through the foyer to the main door with my mind full of thoughts and remembrances. Within seconds of ringing the doorbell my mother with a bright smile appeared in front of me and encapsulated me in her warm hug. I reciprocated her and my eyes were searching all over the enormous hall for the 'one' person who occupied my every thought till the present.

After a feeling of several eons passing, finally, my eyes meet hers. There she is, sitting on the corner sofa! My heart thuds indicating her presence as my eyes studied her carefully while hugging my mother. She gave me a pleasing long smile but I could understand better. The smile never reached her face. After so long years of remoteness, I may not be familiar with her likings but I always know her essence. That pristine naughty little girl full of mischief was no more present being replaced by a dispirit colleen.

The blatant realization clenched my soul to chips.

Her eyes were red and fluffy because probably she had been crying all night. I released my mother and my father walked towards me with a welcomed smile. He laid a hand on my shoulder and gave me a friendly pat. Returning my father's twinkle I took a few steps towards her and tucked the hair behind her ear which was covering her angelic face. She slowly lifted her eyes to meet my gaze and I could see tears welled up.

My kernel wringed like never before as though it's been tattered to pieces but not a single word came out. She looked at me with those glistened orbs and everything was absolutely clear. The world stopped moving around us as if there was nobody except she and I. No words were spoken and neither were they required.

I'm hers and it will stay that way forever.

Chapter 3

Ana's Pov

Like every day I got up early in the morning, did my chores, and went for a walk along with Dad. Suddenly his phone beeped. He picked up the phone from the pocket of his track pants and stiffened looking at the name but anyways answered the call. I could hear the commanding male voice practically yelling on the phone. Dad looked at me for a second almost going pale and asked me to continue with the walk while he would join me later. I obliged him but he never joined me. After I came home, I took a bath, got ready, and went to college but my instinct told me something wasn't right.

During mid-day, I got a call from the principal's office. I left my accounts class and went to his room anxiously on why I would seek his attention out of the thousands of students studying in the institution. I made no mistakes and have always been a disciplined student. Much to my surprise I found Alex uncle speaking to the principal. As soon as I entered the room he gave me a weak smile and ushered me to get home with him immediately.

I looked at him with several questions crossing my mind but I got answers for none and on the contrary found him very tense. After the principal permitted me to leave, I got into the car of Alex uncle (Ulrick's father) and asked the reason behind his sudden appearance in my college. After much contemplation, when he gave me the reason, the earth shattered under my legs making me spell shocked.

My dad was shot and my mother was admitted to the trauma center. She saw someone try to kill him right before her eyes and thereby suffered a panic attack. She is now in a coma. I did not know how to react to the information given by Alex. My tears ran amok. I immediately went to the hospital along with uncle and the doctor told us that my dad's condition was critical as the bullet passed very close to his heart.

Will Alejandro Saint be able to live for his daughter?