FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIM - HER FIRST LOVE

"My job here is done. What else is there for me to do?" Deacon asked the moment Johnathan reached within his earshot. The latter looked at Sebastian's body soaked in blood. Johnathan couldn't tell if he was unconscious or already dead. But the pool of blood around him almost confirmed his death.

"Where's the baby?" Johnathan questioned, eyeing everywhere to get a glimpse of Hera. Deacon appeared to be in a delightful mood. He let out a chuckle as his finger pointed at the water running below. Johnathan whipped his head around so fast to look at Deacon it surprised the latter.

Deacon noticed the displeased frown on Johnathan's face, his eyes glaring at him in anger. Without provoking the anger any further, Deacon explained everything he saw or did before killing Sebastian.

Wordlessly, the prince walked to the edge of the road.. Deacon followed him, slowly measuring his steps. His stance was that of a scared cat trying to protect itself by scrunching up into a small, less exposed shape. He didn't want to offend or disappoint Johnathan in any way, especially now that he had double-crossed Alexander. Deacon needed that money and protection the prince had promised to provide him.

Deacon couldn't understand why Johnathan looked displeased when he had done his job with perfection. No one from Alexander's team was alive to intrude, and he could bet on his life that the baby wouldn't have survived under the water. Not daring to risk his chance, he kept quiet and waited until Johnathan spoke.

Meanwhile, a tornado of thoughts ambushed Johnathan's brain. He couldn't find any human form swimming in the lake. It couldn't be possible for any inexperienced person to cross the lake so fast unless they were swimming champions.

Johnathan's logical brain leaned towards the conclusion that they might have died by drowning in the water by now. Something tugged the insides of Johnathan, and an unexpected stinging sensation caused discomfort to the point of suffocation.

'This was my mission all along. Why am I feeling this guilt?'

Johnathan should've felt great at the accomplishment. After all, he had achieved what his father demanded from him. Yet, something didn't feel right, and Johnathan hated the nagging guilt throbbing in his chest.

'I have nothing to do with Alexander's baby.'

Choosing to ignore the discomfort, he took a deep breath and walked back to Sebastian's body.

He studied Sebastian's injuries from head to toe. Johnathan didn't need to measure the depth of his wounds to know the damage it caused. The crimson red coating every part of his body was enough proof of his demise.

However, Johnathan didn't miss how there was no ounce of worry, fear or pain on Sebastian's face.

Strangely, there was peace written all over Sebastian's face. He looked relieved as if a burden had lifted itself off his chest before his death.

'Because he has made sure of Hera's safety before dying.'

Johnathan smiled at the realisation. He had seen and heard enough about Sebastian to know he wouldn't die without rescuing his boss' daughter.

'Xander, you lucky bastard, how many people have put their lives at stake for you without any hesitation?'

Johnathan scoffed and wished he could lead a day of his life without dying from jealousy over Alexander's fortunate fate. Shaking his head at Sebastian's wasted life, he called for Rouvin and asked him to bring a water bottle.

Rouvin clicked his tongue in pity as he saw Sebastian's unmoving form. "Alexander is one lucky fellow," he remarked, passing the water bottle to Johnathan. The prince nodded his response. "You don't find a friend like him every day who would sacrifice their life for friendship without any second thought or regret," Rouvin stated, appreciation coating his voice.

Johnathan laughed, remembering his last conversation with Sebastian. The latter had asked for the former's phone but not at all in a friendly manner. It would've been nice if he was alive. Johnathan would've loved to return the favour.

"Where's his phone?" Johnathan demanded. Deacon promptly admitted that he threw Sebastian's phone into the lake. The prince glanced briefly at him before shaking his head in annoyance.

"Did he speak to Alexander before dying?" Johnathan asked, not taking his eyes off Sebastian. "He dialled his number but disconnected it before Alexander could receive it," Deacon informed and shrugged his shoulders to let him know he was as clueless as Johnathan.

"You can leave, Deacon. Wait for my call tomorrow," the prince ordered in a dismissive tone, and the man in question obeyed, immediately driving off. Rouvin stood quietly and patiently waited while Johnathan stared at Sebastian's face.

Johnathan noticed one of Sebastian's hands rested on his midsection while the other was lying on the ground. He found it strange for some reason. He was thinking too hard trying to find out how Alexander would know where to search for his daughter. Johnathan let his gaze wander, scanning every car, every dead body around him.

His eyes fell on an old abandoned truck, and it was the only odd thing that didn't add up to their situation.

'Whoever jumped into the lake with Hera might have used some form of transportation before crossing Sebastian's path.'

A small smile of victory graced Johnathan's lips. It didn't take much time for him to put two and two together. He discovered the stone with a sharp edge near Sebastian, and it concluded everything. He told Rouvin to check his pockets only to be on the safer side. But as he expected, they didn't find anything.

Unscrewing the bottle cap, Johnathan poured water on Sebastian's hands, washing off the bloodstain. He found the numbers that matched with the truck on Sebastian's forearm. It had swollen wherever he had pricked the skin with the sharp-edged stone.

Johnathan couldn't smile to celebrate his success as he felt sad for Sebastian. He had sacrificed his life for nothing because Johnathan would make sure that Alexander would never reach Hera. It felt wrong to pour water on the dead man's dedication and hard work, but he had to do it.

He ordered Rouvin to erase every trail of evidence that would take Alexander towards his happiness.

Rouvin gasped in shock when he grabbed Sebastian's wrist. He could feel the faint movement of his pulse, indicating how slow his heart was beating. He wasn't dead yet, but he was barely breathing.

Rouvin took out a pocketknife and peeled the skin off Sebastian's forearm.

Neatly dressed in his expensive attire, the prince swallowed hard, trying not to vomit. The longer he watched, the more he started to suffer. The metallic stench of the blood was nauseating. Adding more to his distress, the ugly scene in front of him brought back the memories of his last time spent with Felicity.