We All Wear Masks...

After an 18 hour and 15 minute flight, I could literally hear each and every inch of my body cry out in pain as I moved around. You could only imagine how ecstatic I was when we finally checked into our room. I sprawled myself over the bed.

"Shift." Eric said in a grumpy voice.

"No, go away." I moaned into my pillow.

"Violet there's only one bed so move!" he said angrily.

Just before I could say anything he rolled my body over towards the other edge of the bed, "Hey!" I said very slowly. Shit, I am really tired.

"Just shut up." He said in a desperate tone. I would have taken offense to that but neither of us had the energy to argue.

I turned to the left-hand side of the bed and let sleep consume me.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

I turned around to an empty bed and noticed the sun shining brightly through the windows.

I had a quick shower and put on a white off the shoulder shirt and a red, black and white wrap skirt that had a pattern on it.

I walked around the suite, seeing no sight of Eric I decided to go for a stroll on the beach.

The salty air filled my nostrils as a light breeze kissed my skin. I felt my feet sink into the sand whilst the water gently brushed over my feet. The calming view of the crystal clear water, the baby blue sky above me and the magnificent green palm trees surrounding me. It all had me reaching the ultimate state of relaxation.

When I looked straight ahead, I spotted a familiar figure. I walked closer to the person and sat beside him, "Hey stranger ."

"Hello Violet." said Eric as he continued starring into the horizon.

We sat in a comfortable silence until Eric broke it," I call a truce." he said randomly.

"A truce?" I repeated confused.

"Yes, instead of trying to kill each other let's just establish a friendship because to be honest it is quite exhausting." he stated.

"Excuse me, for your information you poisoned me." I said earning a glare from him, "Okay..so I don't get an apology." I mumbled to myself ," Fine, you are right. Friends?" I asked as I extended my right hand out towards him to shake on it.

He looked at my hand and then at me and then back at my hand, "Really?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Just shake my hand." I said and with that we established a friendship. We sat on the sand bank talking about random stuff and started to get to know each other better," Oh shit, look at the time! Your mother made reservations for us at 'The Itaa'."

"The Itaa?" he asked confused.

"It's a really cool underwater restaurant." I explained whilst dragging him along.

I was more then grateful that the kiss wasn't brought up so there was no awkward moment between us, I am not even sure it was real...

*****Alister's POV*****

"Doesn't it feel good that she is finally gone. Right father?" asked Olivia. She had really grown up to be a very bitter person. I held my head in shame wondering where I went wrong. No, i know exactly where I went wrong. I gave her everything she ever wanted out of guilt, I spoilt her.

"Be quite Olivia! She is still your sister!" I yelled.

I got off the sofa and walked into my study and locked the door behind me. I shoved my hand into my pocket and fished out my phone so that I could make a call, "Hello, Markus?"

"Allister, brother you finally called." he said with a light laugh.

"How are you brother?" I asked.

"I am good and you?" He replied.

"Still stuck. How is Violet? Is she doing well? Is she happy?" I asked worried about my daughter.

"She is doing well Allister and she seems to be very happy, you need not worry about her. You have lots of other worried that burden you, especially everything going on with Lillian and Olivia." he said concerned.

"Markus I feel so trapped. I don't know what to do anymore." I truly loved Violet with all my heart and if I am being honest, I love her slightly more than Olivia but the circumstances are such that I have to pretend as if I don't. I wear a mask that hides my true feelings and emotions to protect my daughters.

"Why don't you tell Violet the truth?" asked Markus, the truth was something that release all your burdens, but my truth would have everything crashing down.

"No! It's a secret I am willing to keep for as long as I can, I shall carry it to my grave and even in death my lips shall stay sealed. It would hurt both my daughters tremendously if I tell them."

"Allister, nothing can be kept forever. The only ones that don't know the truth is our children. One day the truth will come to the light and the destruction you predicted will be much more fatal." I knew my brother was right but I have to remain stubborn to protect my children and it is too painful to even mention, "And another thing is that you need to fix your relationship with Violet before it is too late. I am honored that she sees me as a father figure but she is discarding you as her father because of misunderstandings, you must fix it."

"I know she doesn't consider me as her father, the time of reform is long gone. I can only just watch her from a far as her guardian angel. Thank you brother for being there for her , fulfilling the duties that I can and could not fulfil." I said to him.

"Stop this shit! I don't want you damn thank! Allister, she is your daughter have a heart you idiot!" He yelled which is something my passive brother does rarely.

"I will try, only when the time is right." I felt a pain tug at my heart," Goodnight brother." I said tp him and hung up. I walked up to my desk and unlocked my top left draw and lifted up a photograph, letting the tears fall free.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

*****Markus's POV*****

I turned around to my wife and saw her eyes filled with tears, "Don't cry my darling. Don't cry." I whispered in her ear and rubbed her back soothingly until she fell asleep.

My mind kept refusing to rest, the only thing I could think about was my brother's predicament. I hope he tells Violet the truth about...