Dangerously In a Heartbeat

Chapter 16: The Fake

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ᴛʜᴇ ғᴀᴋᴇ

ʜᴇʟᴇɴ's ᴘᴏᴠ
୧‿︵‿︵  ✾  ︵‿︵‿୨

𝐌𝐘 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃 was throbbing and I hiss, lightly placing my hand on the soft bed while tilting my face up a bit. It felt like someone was hitting on my head with a heavy metal. I dip my head back on the pillow with a groan when my head starts pounding sharply.

"Easy there." A soft cold piece of cloth was placed on my forehead. I lift my gaze to see Ace sitting next to me. Oh, I fainted in his arms.

"How long was I out for?" My voice sounded hoarse, and I grunt at the constant pulsing—beating sensation in my head that kept getting worst.

"Thirty minutes. Do you want some water?"He speaks softly, glancing at his watch. He turns around, filling a glass of water for me when I nod. I tried to get up and sit, but it was inconvenient. I don't have any energy since I haven't eaten any food for two days.

Don't ask me how I survived, I honestly don't have an idea.

His hands slither to my back, guiding me to sit up and I lean on his arms, my back resting against his arms and chest. Ace's eyes travel to my trembling hands from the cold. He sighs softly, lifting his hand and bringing the glass up to my lips. I drink a few sips of water, wetting my dry lips.

"Done?" I shiver when his hot breath touches my neck. My senses heightened. I nod, swiftly getting away from him and laying on my back on the bed. Strands of my black hair fall to my face and I breathe out, relief washing all over me. I dip my face into the soft pillow, closing my eyes.

Why am I feeling such emotions when he is near me? It confused me and I wanted to slap myself. I hate him. Ace was cruel. It was because of him that I was abandoned because he returned home.

Ace stays silent for a while, and he breathes out. I could feel his hands creeping down my forearm to my hands. I squeeze my eyes shut.

"Helen, can you turn around?" His voice was calm, and so velvety. It was as if he was preparing to say something, and dread fills me up. I turn around. I didn't want to meet his eyes. Yet my body betrays me, and I lift my lashes, my eyes meeting his.

His gaze was heated as he stares at me as if he wanted to devour me—break me, but not in a way that would hurt me. I couldn't find the right words to describe it, but his gaze screamed possessiveness, and I have never seen him display this many emotions at once. My heart thumps faster in my chest, and I stop the sudden urge to pull my hands out of his gentle grip.

"What is it, Ace?" I stutter, my voice came out breathless and he clenches his jaw, his eyes darkening. The whole atmosphere was somehow different from before. The room felt too small. It was too hot. My throat was dry. His hands on my arms tighten a bit before his grip loosens, and he withdraws his hand. The warmth of his hand was replaced by coldness and I yearned for his touch.

"This might be very out of the blue, but I have to say this right now." He looks at me, hid mouth parts and my whole body freezes at his next words. My mind becomes blank. It was like an electric shock was going from my head to my body. My breath hitches.

"Can you repeat that again?" My request was barely a whisper. He lifts his intense gaze from me, tilting his head and staring at the ceiling above. His Adam's apple moved, and the clenching of his jaw made me stare at him. His raven hair hides little of his eyes and his dark eyes.

His dark eyes held secrets that were sinister–so frightening and I was drawn to them. To him.

"I'm not your brother."

His four words. That was enough for me to shock myself. So many emotions clawed inside me, and relief was the base of it. It was no wonder that I wasn't able to see him as my brother. I have never accepted him.

It somewhat confused me. I've always blamed him for my pain. Ace Kotov, my fake brother. Does that mean all the pain I've gone through was because of nothing? Why did he act like the eldest heir of this family? Who is Ace?

Where is my real brother?

I shake my head, focusing my eyes on him. I open my mouth to say something. "How?" It was all I could ask.

"You're brother disappeared, and someone had to fill in the role as the eldest heir of this family, or else everything would've been destroyed." He says, calmly running his fingers through his hair. He looks lost in thoughts.

"What would be destroyed?" I couldn't help but ask.

He looks at me, "Everything. The Kotov family would've been torn apart and destroyed. None of you would've survived. The day your family abandoned you, your real brother was supposed to take over your family and rule the Mafia, but as I said, he disappeared. It was really rushed, but you're Grandpa and Father had to align with me. I was the perfect person to play your real brother's role. There was simply no other choice." He explains, and I grew more confused and aware of the situation that occurred that day, and my heart drops. I was abandoned because it was the only way to protect me.

Ace recalls his past, and his eyes darken. He continues, "They had to abandon you in order to protect you. It was a disaster, really. Some of your brothers had gone through traumatic experiences during that time. We had to kill and kill to gain power and control everything. Sacrifices needed to be made so your family could be safe."

There was silence, and I couldn't help but ask the question that irked me the most. "Who are you?"

Ace's lips curls up, and there was a glint in his eyes that screamed something, and his lips parted.

"It's Ace Valente, Precious."

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Ace makes me wanna jump off a bridge, die and come back to life.

what do you think is going to happen now? Who is Ace actually?

I know this chapter is very short but I'll make the next chapter longer, promise. I have a headache and years' worth of workloads on my table rn. Ah, so exhausting.

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