Destiny or Desire ? Lie

Max's father wasn't sick. Max's father owned a huge well-known successful company. He loved his wife beyond words. He is the one who makes rules in the house, the one who messes it up wouldn't be forgiven. Max's mother was the daughter of a wealthy businessman who wasn't hesitant to let his hand get dirty for the sake of his daughter. Max's mother cheated and gave birth to Jasmine and Rose. When Max knew about this he didn't want to get close with his sisters because once his father knew about that he was sure they would be kicked out along with his Mom, when his father got to know the truth his Mom was killed by his father who was dead drunk. Yet instead of turning himself him, he tried to cover it up as a car accident. Max only knew about this and hid the truth from his sisters. He ended up taking care of his sisters.

Max was 10 years old and the sisters were 2 years. As Jasmine and Rose started to grow up they resembled their mother. Which drives his father crazy. One night when Rose tried to wake her father up, he saw the same eyes that resembled her mother. He started to cry seeing them as those eyes were haunting him as the worst nightmare in his dream but then he started to attack Rose. As Rose screamed, Max rushed quickly and tried to stop his father. His father ended up punching Max saying to stay out of it. Max trembled in fear and didn't know what to do, seeing the sight of his father trying to hurt his sister. Even if they were half-siblings, Max cared for them. His love for them drove him crazy and pushed his father away from them. It became silent as his father fell down. Jasmine rushed to check on Rose and when she saw her father he froze.

Jasmine mumbled, "He is bleeding".

His father knocked his head on the table and started to bleed. They rushed him to the hospital. Max contemplated the whole night thinking "Father wouldn't let these two live and his grandfather already got to know Father killed his daughter. He must have already hired assains to kill us. Grandfather won't let us live too. he will end up killing us for not stopping his daughter as he is wild. We must leave and hide before it is too late".

Max asked, "Would you like to live with me ?". Jasmine and Rose stared at him. 

That night, they escaped from that house leaving father behind with his loyal secretary. They took all the money and the savings kept in each of their accounts by their mother and traveled far away. 

Chapter 3, Past. Jane looked at Max to tell them about his life. Max took a huge breath and started to think. He didn't want to tell the ugly truth to her as he didn't want her to leave him after hearing it out. Max lied. A lie led to another lie. In the end, everything Jane knew about Max was all a story made up by Max. Max was living with regret yet he was happy to enjoy what love felt like. 

The day when they broke up, Max got a call as he was rushing towards Jane's house in happiness to meet her. It was his father. He started to tremble as he still didn't forget that night. He declined the call and walked up to Jane's house. He was a huge man in a black suit standing before the house. As that man's graze turned towards him, he realized who it was. It was his father. Max clenched his hands and said, "Let's not talk here...". They both walked away. 

Present, Jane contemplated where it went wrong as she was lying in bed. Her mind was busy puzzling through memories. Max was quiet as his heart aced. He wanted to tell the truth which was not supposed to be revealed. He lied and hid the ugly truth about himself from Jane for fear of losing her. Yet he refused to say the truth for an unknown reason. 

After 3 weeks, after Jane's recovery, they all went to the Maldives and enjoyed the summer before their exams. As the exams passed, Jane avoided all possible measures to avoid Max and Max's classmates.

On Jane's farewell, It was conducted by Max's class as they were the juniors. After a long time, Max saw Jane in a green dress that coincidently matched Max's tie. Lucas giggled and took a candid picture of them both. Max saw this and glared at Lucas. Lucas gave a cold sweat and ran away to talk with Jane. Lucas mumbled, "You look beautiful. I got the picture. I will send it to you". Bella grabbed his ear dragging him away and saying 'No need-". Jane mumbled "xxxxx-xxxxx". Bella shouted, "You can't be serious !". They three started to laugh. Max was staring at them contemplating. Max mumbled "Green suits you". Ruth who was beside her said "But I am not wearing green-". Max mumbled smiling at Ruth "Shut up before I lose my temper. You already did enough". There was an awkward silence. Jane saw this from far contemplating. 

After farwell, Lucas came to Jane saying Max wanted to meet her today since it was her birthday. Jane hesitated but still went along because anyway, things won't change. Jane asked Lucas to make him come to her home. 

Max saw Jane with an eyes of longing to meet and desire to hold her tight. But there was a chill in her eyes instead of warm. She dodges his hands without realizing it. She said, "Come in". As he walked inside, the home was familiar but strangely it was different from before. There was an awkward silence. He handed over a gift asking "Where are the others?".

Jane replied "They left to buy cake and drag father from his office" as she was unwrapping the present. 

Max gave a small smile saying "I see". 

Jane looked at it and controlled herself from questioning him, saying "Don't smile...I might punch you in the face". 

It was her favorite novel named 'Can't Escape from Me'.

Jane looked at him saying "I already read it"

Max smiled saying "You didn't. You borrowed it from Bella and ended up not reading the last 5 chapters because she kept on nudging you to return. You gave it to her out of temper without finishing it...I still can't believe it's a romance and not a horror...judging from its title". 

Jane was embarrassed to hear the true story of her temper. Jane thought to herself "He must have left me for my temper...I did laugh and beat him when I got shy or scold the hell out of him when I lost my temper...but ! he always used that as an opportunity to kiss me. Never mind".

As Jane started to read the rest of the novel sitting on the couch lying upside down sticking her legs upwards to the wall. Max went into the kitchen to get some snacks. When Max beside her in the pouch, Jane started to giggle seeing how the villain's wife got punished by the villain for trying to hurt his pet snake.

Jane rolled and snuggled between his legs showing him the text saying "You liked that snake right? Looks like they don't particularly have gender. They change their gender using power. What makes me wonder is did the villain liked the pet as a male or a female ?". Max patted her head saying "Better stop your creativity before you regret liking the wrong answer more than the correct one". 

They both spent their time reading it just like those days when used to be happy. Jane noticed how strongly he held her preventing her from running away before she realised where she was sitting. Jane smiled saying "What was the reason-". Max's phone vibrated. Jane said, "Who is-". As Max took it from the pocket. Jane got a glimpse of the name. It was Ruth. Jane snapped out of her imagination. All Max could think was "Oh sh*t".