Guillotine

A certain file retained from the public media around the time of Zion Cortez's assassination. It was being kept by no other than the Espinos, Tim and Nadine, a husband and wife. Both were oligarchs, acting as if they're cronies readying to party all night. They're already in a luxurious state where everyone wished for.

Zion Cortez is as wealthy as the Vasterian's former president. A solicitor general wouldn't go to work riding the bus, or even swinging by the subway. He is beyond the poor sectors suffering every day to get food on the table, because Tim wouldn't let that happen to his right hand.

Well, Ian and Nathan were far behind. They live like shadows behind Zion. They're the one covering the tracks, and Zion was the one navigating the road for the last ones. They cooperate with each other, and didn't even hold a grudge in their work.

Nathan was the one who's resistive. When their job got dirtier, and messier than ever, he compiled all of the trash in a file, naming it as 'Guillotine'. Like the traditional device used for beheading, he knew that file would reach a good hands, and clear their names when the time has come.

Thought Nathan lost it with Zion and Ian, the latter also defended him. Zion was the only one left being loyal to Tim, not until election came, and he got betrayed, too. The assassination of Zion Cortez isn't about the defiance between their friendships… but because of the former president's greed, and fear that he's caught red-handed.

Or so, that's where Prince concluded the certain situations the defense counsel of his father can prove. For all he knew, the Guillotine wasn't in the hands of the President now. It was with Lara De Leon, the mother of Aria, and the late Avery.

Prince pursued to get close to their family as soon as possible. But as the plan untangled in front of him smoothly, the details might get jumbled up if they aren't careful. Prince became her comfort, and in a while, Bryce would do what it takes to separate them both.

Falling in love with Aria is the most dangerous step. One wrong move and they'll be dragged to the end of a pit fire. As he and Bryce waited for their fathers inside the visitation room, their conversation left hanging with that question. Of course, he'd be angry to Prince.

Bryce was the father of the child, but he didn't look like one. Also, Aria doesn't want to come near him again. She's with Prince, and she felt safe. Prince can see it in her eyes, too. Bryce was only listening, but not to the extent of witnessing her doubts.

Bryce queried, "So what's your plan with Aria? Are you going to make her fall in love with you?"

Prince sensed the fear in his voice. It's the terrifying situation of losing both his lover and the child growing inside her womb. Bryce dealt with inflicting pain and violence, but never had the opportunity to overcome his fears he instilled. Prince was used to receiving backlash, so it's nothing for him.

"What do you want me to do? Surrender Aria to her Mom because she begged me to do so? I won't let the plan go astray just by a single mistake you did," Prince retorted.

He kept on repeating it, since this should be done a few months ago. What's unnecessary is that he took it in, and let Prince suffer. Bryce was unforgivable. His actions boiled down Prince's blood to the core. It's already wrong, so it's never right to get it back on track.

"So you're going to propose to her again and kill her, right? Like what you did to Avery."

Prince shrugged, "It wouldn't be that easy. My trust got wrecked. Aria does, too. We just have to make sure she'll fall in with my trap. It is part of what we should do, and it's not going to be that hard."

Bryce doesn't want to confront Prince's with his strange moves, and the kisses he gave Aria repeatedly, to the point of her comfort. She'd never leave that point on, and let it linger in her lips for a while. Every second, she'd think of Prince's lips, and Aria would calm down.

Whereas, it's the other way around for Bryce, whenever he came to Aria's subconscious, he'll be grinning wide, holding the gun muzzle close to her forehead. All of those nightmares wouldn't erase in a matter of talk.

"You came in her mind, and Aria will keep running to me. I gain, but I know that you lost."

Prince was being straightforward, and he despised it. Aria wouldn't have known Prince if it weren't for Bryce. If it weren't for him, Aria wouldn't even bump to him, and ask for his help. Prince wouldn't be in this situation if it weren't for Bryce's swerve.

"Do you think I'm losing this battle of love?"

Prince furrowed his eyebrows. Are they competing for the love they doesn't need at first? Prince doesn't plan on having a lover at the end of the day. He wanted to die alone, and not even betray someone. Prince doesn't want to get entangled on a mess that doesn't belong to him, anyway.

Someone who needed to be blamed was the choice he made.

"You already lost when you fell. Don't put it on me, because I swear, I'll never fall in love with her. You can have her after I kill her and the child inside her womb. Bury her all you want, and kiss her dying body. I don't care what happened after so many days we prepared for this appeal. What I need is to eradicate Aria from our life. That's it, Bryce."

Out of all the explanations, it was what enraged Bryce the most. Growing up with such a cold heart is enough to call him a trash. He's named Prince, but he acted like a thief and grimy servant. Bryce swallowed, and contained the anger.

If he had the chance, he'll punch his face repeatedly. Prince was rubbish that Aria doesn't deserve to have. Listening from her statements in the voice recording devices, Aria was already falling in love with Prince. Before she can even deny her wordy eyes, Bryce can feel it in the tone of her voice.

If he was able to kill his malicious thoughts, Bryce would do it multiple times.

Prince wasn't able to keep it down for a while. If he frustrated Bryce anymore, things would start to drastically change between them like their relationship can be popped off in a bottle. Prince was overly confident that Aria would hug his thighs in a few weeks.

Well, she's not a fool to realize he's playing on her. If Bryce had the guts to destroy Prince's reputation to get her back, he'd gladly do so.

…

Aria was already on the way back to the garden when suddenly, a stinging pain on the side of her womb erupted, making her halt in her track. Aria doesn't have a single clue of what it was, but one thing is for sure: it was coming from the child inside her. She let go of the gardening tools on the floor, erupting a clanging sound.

She caught the attention of the head gardener, who was making her way to check on Aria.

Before she could even say anything, Aria closed her eyes, and hissed. She tried to loosen the tension of her abdomen, and it's not working. Aria held onto the side of her womb, and fell down. She was reminded of the pain she had. It was a result from running the mountains down, and now, with no rigorous activities, but it still happened.

"Ms. Aria!" The head gardener shouted, coming into her rescue.