Author's Note:

Hey guys! I am back on time*throwing flowers in celebration*

Err, dramatic sorry.

Anyway, I corrected a few things in the last chapter, after finding out some faults, if you want, you can read the corrected version. Otherwise, the content is the same. I really hate to disappoint you guys but—

I won't be posting from tomorrow till Sunday because I am going on a camp.

….

….

Please forgive me…

….

I hope the next chapter won't disappoint you as patience has its own reward! :D

Enjoy!

Chapter 9

"Sis, how long are you going to stay in here?"

Amy didn't answer. She just curled her head into her chest, tightening the covers around her body until she was as small as she felt. The memory from last night wouldn't leave her alone. Even though her precious necklace was rightfully where it belonged (Amy ran a finger over the cool gem upon her neck), the image of Julie wearing the necklace was twisting her stomach into painful knots.

When she walked out of that ballroom last night, she was too furious to think straight. She quickly made her way to the exit, startling a few people along the way at the flaming look in her eyes, but Amy could have cared less. She needed to get some air. She needed space or she was going to do something she knew she would regret.

When she finally arrived home, Amy threw the front door open with everything she had and slammed the necklace onto the coffee table before dropping her head into her hands. As she sat there in the silent darkness, trying to slow her rapid breathing, the fire within her eventually died until a wave of misery ebbed its way through her consciousness. She would have done anything to stay angry, but she couldn't…not when there wasn't any good reason why.

Of course he would find someone else. Of course he would move on. Although the sting of betrayal was still raw, Amy couldn't be mad. After everything she had done to him, how could she possibly be mad?

"Amy."

…

"Amy, I'll give you three seconds to come out from under there before I get really irritated. One. Two. Thr—!"

The wool blanket slowly moved down until her tousled hair came into view. Amy glanced up at Dan with eyes that were somewhat swollen, but her cheeks were completely dry. "When did you get back from the party?" she mumbled in a thick voice.

"Around 11 o'clock or so. You?"

"Nine."

"That's a little early, even by your standards."

Amy sat up and combed her fingers through her tangled hair. "I didn't want to stick around."

"Did something happen?"

She shook her head.

"Were you able to talk to Kabra?"

Feeling the knots tighten at the sound of his name, she looked down at the palm of her hands and murmured, "I left before I could say anything."

Dan nodded once. "I see. So are you going to try again later?"

"Aren't you going to ask me what happened?"

He shrugged. "You don't want to talk about it and I'm not one to push."

"You pushed the other day."

Glaring, Dan stuck a finger in her alarmed face and said, "If you plan on running again, don't ever think about coming back, do you understand?"

Amy quickly wrapped her arms around his shoulders and shook her head. "I'm sorry, Dan. I didn't mean that. I just...I'm sorry."

Dan sighed. "It's fine," he said as he gently shrugged off her embrace. "Just get your butt out of this bed and do something productive. You're going to get fat."

"I haven't even eaten anything."

"There's breakfast on the table."

"You cooked, Dan?"

He narrowed his eyes. "Just because I don't want to be married and be servant to some dominant wife, doesn't mean I can't know the skills." Dan swiftfully flicked Amy's forehead once before he walked out of the room.

Rubbing her forehead, Amy closed her eyes for a few more minutes before she swung her legs off the side of the bed and made her way into the bathroom. After brushing her teeth, washing her hair, and changing into real clothes, she felt "together" enough to tackle the long day ahead that she knew would befall her once Dan left to his meeting with someone he didn't bother letting her know.

It was a Saturday morning and Amy had no plans at all except for wallowing in her grief and waiting for the numbness to take over. Realizing that she couldn't stomach much of a breakfast anyway, she silently joined Dan on the couch with only a glass of orange juice in her hand. Dan was checking his phone for emails as Amy stared at the television set, trying not to think about last night, but failing miserably.

"I see you're wearing the necklace again."

Amy didn't say anything as her hand instinctively grasped the chain.

Dan placed his cellphone back in his pant pocket. "Any particular reason as to why?" he asked, still not looking at her.

"I missed it," Amy admitted in a soft voice.

"Then I guess last night wasn't a total waste of time."

Raising her head, she looked at Dan in silent alarm. Her brother scoffed at her expression and gestured at her precious necklace. "It's a good step in the right direction. At least you're not trying to hide how you feel anymore."

Amy smiled weakly. "It's not by my own resolve, Dan."

"It's not the means that matters," he said as hooked the headset to his ear and got to his feet. "It's the result. You'll be alright by yourself?"

She nodded. "When will you be back?"

"Around nine or so. If you need anything, just give me a call."

Dan picked up the house keys from off the table and was about to open the door when Amy suddenly hugged him from behind.

"Thank you, Dan."

"For what?"

"For worrying and caring about me. I don't know what I would do without you."

Dan rolled his eyes, but placed a warm hand over Amy's. "If you don't do stupid things, then I wouldn't have to worry or care. So get your act together."

Laughing softly—her green eyes peered into his same ones, noticing how much he matured and behaved like an elder brother to her—Amy murmured, "Why? I like you fretting over me."

Dan growled.

"I'm kidding, Dan. I'll fix this. I promise."

"Good, now let me go before I miss my cab." Dan turned the handle and looked over his shoulder. "Try not to burn down the house, alright? I'll see you later."

After giving him one last good-bye, Amy closed the door behind her and leaned against the wood. She stood there for a few minutes before she let out a breath of relief. "So far so good," Amy thought as she walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge, thankful that her emotions weren't overpowering her just yet. She didn't have much of an appetite, but she wanted to keep her hands moving. Having something to do will help with her nerves. Opening random cabinets and counting how many spoons were in the drawer, she finally found herself back into the living room where she fluffed the pillows and straightened the cushions.

She sat down upon the couch and curled her knees to her chest. The feeling of restlessness wouldn't leave her. Maybe this was her heart's way of telling her that sitting here and doing nothing was wrong, but what could she do when she felt so helpless?

Last night was a blatant sign that he had moved on. Last night he proved that there was nothing left. But what killed her the most was that she still had hope. There was a part of her that still refused to give up. Amy pressed her hands over her ears, as if it would help to stem the misery from swallowing her whole.

But just when the quiet buzzing was starting to calm her, a knock on the door pulled her out of the trance. Thinking Dan must have forgotten something, Amy quickly got to her feet and unbolted the lock.

"Did you—?"

She stopped breathing.

Time could have grinded to a halt. The world could have stopped spinning and burst into flames and Amy wouldn't have noticed a thing. She was too busy trying to breathe, too busy trying to slow her heart that felt like it was going to burst within her chest, too busy staring into his amber eyes.

"Are you busy?" he asked in soft voice, british accent somehow faint even though he didn't say anything more.

Amy felt her head move side to side. It was as if she had lost all control of her body. She was just reacting to his movements, unable to make any decisions of her own. His entire body took up the doorway, exuding a power much like last night, but this time, he was too close. He was standing much too close. She couldn't think. She couldn't focus.

She didn't even hear his question. She barely registered the movement of his lips. All she could see was his hand, his outstretched hand that was held out towards her.

xxx

"Mr. Cahill, would you like us to meet your sister to ask her some questions?"

"Miss Kabra, can you elaborate on how he was the culprit to bringing the Cahill family down?"

"Why didn't Amy find any clues to Jake Rosebloom being the murderer of her parents? She is a detective right?"

The questions kept firing as the singer was led into the police van. The two detectives ignored the reporters that surrounded them as soon as they stepped out of the entertainment industry. It was as clear as day that someone from inside the industry had spread the word around; Dan and Natalie were too late when they tried to escape from the clutches of media as quietly as they could.

As soon as they shut the doors of their car, Dan grinned idiotically.

"I guess, Jake will now get what he deserved." he happily sang. he just wanted to cut Jake into two pieces, fry him and feed him to the vultures.

For, leading him and his sister on. For creating an impression that they both were fooled. For lying that Jake loved his sister with all his might even though his brother was arrested like him.

Even though Dan knew that this…..this wasn't the Jake they knew, he still felt angry at him.

Jake was supposed to be the one for his sister, he was so…..perfect for her. He could have changed into a better person, maybe just maybe his sister wouldn't have to suffer so much heartbreak.

He still remembered the look on her face when he saw her after he returned from the party. He just wished she wouldn't turn the TV on, or Ian for that matter. He wanted things to be hidden until they both make up for the damage Jake caused.

Dan felt his nerves twist, his stomach doing strange flipflops like the ones he used to do as a boy. He couldn't believe he was actually being ordered around by a woman—Natalie to be exact, his previously hateful nemesis's sister.

Even now, he wanted to punch Ian's face for making Amy suffer so much. But Dan knew that he had to give them time, and the required privacy.

Until then—he glanced at the tape and recorder—he would present evidence in the court for Jake's folly.

Author's Note:

Thank you for reviewing,

iheartNYcity: I agree with you, Jake here is a jerk. But I guess hatred and revenge turned him from a sweet guy into a despicable person. Believe me, I feel bad for Julie actually. She tried so hard to get close to Ian and in the end she fell apart. it seems your hopes got granted!

Farjana: Well, there was this thing that I would not have posted today because I am actually a very very lazy person, yeah, I know, truly a hateful trait. Other than that *grinning slyly* you will have to find out about it in the later chapters. I'm sorry, suspence can't be revealed.

MademoiselleEtincelle: Thank you for pointing out the mistakes, I corrected them. And sorry for the confusion, I thought I had Amy name the necklace already….haha…..sorry. But anyway, I changed it so I think it will not be an issue. But if it so happens, please do tell me I will try to make it better. For a moment, I was actually thinking about something else…..and the result showed. Really sorry. And no, Ian didn't date her, rather he and Julie became really close friends. The explanation will soon be given as I have thought about it from before so don't worry.

Thank you everyone for reading my story, I really really am grateful.

Goodbye! (Hopefully, see you on…. someday. Please don't kill me!)