Y/n's Pov

I woke up in Five's bed, stretching out under the duvet, imbued with his intoxicating scent throughout it. I reached my hand to his side, jonesing for his body warmth, but he was nowhere to be seen. I sat up, rubbing my eyes, yawning. I didn't remember falling asleep last night. I remembered snuggling into his chest that felt like home and talking—talking for hours. The memory of how he caressed my arm still lingering on my skin. I felt so safe in Five's arms, so right. He was like medicine of my pain. My drug of choice. My drug I could never resist. All that in such a short time period.

"Hey." Five's low yet soft voice reached my ear as he lurked in the slightly ajar door. "You're up?"

"Yeah." I smiled. "Where have you been?"

He walked in, leaving the door ajar before moving closer and sitting on the other side of the bed. "My family called me," he said, his voice dry. "They'll be hosting an event in New York in a couple of days. It's a fancy event that became a tradition for us."

"Oh, that's sounds exciting." I said softly. "So what about it?"

He covered my hand with his, caressing it with his thumb. "You know, as being a sibling to my family, I have to be there."

I nodded, and my stomach dropped at the thought of Five leaving for New York. I knew this couldn't last forever. At the same time, I wished it could. I let out a heavy breath.

"Y/n?" His raspy voice brought me back to reality. I gladly at his perfect face and smiled, drowning in his blue-greenish gaze.

"Hm?" I muttered as he brought his hand to my cheek.

"I want you to go with me," he said softly, a mischievous smirk curling up his lip. "As my date."

I straightened up, staring into his eyes, bemused. "But what about your family? You know that my father will never let me go."

"Actually, my family wants to invite your whole family, too."

"What?" I raised my brow. "Your family hates my family. What has changed now? Is it because of you?"

"Maybe," Five muttered, a sly smirk curled up his lips.

I let out a deep sigh. "Five... and the press? If we show up there together, we'll make the front page headlines. Especially since I broke my engagement off just recently."

"Do you care?" Five whispered, leaning closer so that our lips were only inches apart. "Because as long as I have you by my side, the world could be crumbling down, and I wouldn't  give a damn."

I slid my hands a ring his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. We feel back onto the bed, Five resting his body weight on his elbows above me. I draped my fingers down his back, untill I finally broke the kiss and turned my gaze to Five.

"Come on, let's get coffee." I whispered, and he slowly smiled before pulling me in for another kiss.

"I knew you're the right woman for me." He smirked and picked me up from the bed bribe style. "Your so beautiful, baby," he whispered against the shell of my ear, teasing me with his tone, before carrying me to the kitchen to make us coffee.

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"Are you sure you have to go back home?" Five asked, staring at me with his black brows furrowed. One of his hands of the steering wheel and the other on mine.

"I can't keep crashing at your place like that. It feels like I moved in with you," I joked, and he chuckled.

"Not that I would mind." He smirked wickedly to the side, and I rolled my eyes. God, the effect this man had on me. His mere smirk was enough to set my body on fire.

"You're unbelievable." I giggled. "We've known each other for a few days."

"So?" he teased before focusing on the road.

I couldn't fight the broad smile desperately forming on my lips as I watched the boy of my dreams casually shifting the gears. He wore a slightly unbuttoned shirt, and fancy dress pants with a matching black blazer. His dark hair was push to the side of his head, longer on top, going to left side, and his adorable dimple on his cheek, which I loved the most.

"You're doing it again," Five said teasingly.

"I'm doing what again?"

"Drooling over me." He turned his gaze to me, grinning.

"You cocky bastard," I gasped, rolling my eyes before smiling.

"You love it, babe," he teased, and we both laughed.

Before I knew it, we parked in the front of my academy. I glanced over at the off cream white building by a stunning metal gate and well-maintained small garden in front of it.

"We can still go back to my place," Five said as he took my hand, leaning toward me.

"It's okay, Five. It's still my home," I replied, my tone on the verge of sarcasm and sorrow.

"If it was up to me, I wouldn't let you go." He pressed his lips softly to my forehead before I pulled back, unfastening the seat belt. "Just promise me you won't let him mistreat you."

"I've learned how to deal with him, Five." I forced a smile. "I may look vulnerable, but I'm stronger than you think."

"I know, Y/n," Five said softly, caressing my cheek, His piercing eyes set on mine. "That's my girl."

I kissed Five goodbye before getting out of the car. I walked toward my home, looking back to send a smile to the man I wished I had stayed with. But I knew I couldn't. Life wasn't a fairy tale, and as much as I didn't like it. I had to face my reality. I took a deep breath before pushing the gates and entering the luxurious home, reflecting my father's love for his child.

"NUMBER EIGHT, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!" I jumped, gasping at the harsh tone welcoming me as soon as I stepped inside.

I expected my father, who, at first glance, in his tailored suit and grayish hair neatly combed back, looked like a trustworthy man. My gaze moved to my siblings who stood there beside my father with worried looks on there face, except Ben. They all faces gazes focused on me, except Jayme's was trouble and my fathers vexed.

"I asked you a question!" he shouted, giving me a spiteful look. "You haven't returned for the night, didn't answer out calls, Number Eight!"

"I was with Five," I said dryly.

"You slut!" Ben hissed angrily. He wanted to proceed with giving me shit, but Sloane jumped in the conversation.

"Ben, please take it easy of her" Sloane said pleadingly.

"I'll go to my room." I turned on my heel toward the stairs. I wanted to be above him. Them. I wanted to avoid any unnecessary drama. But then I heard my father again.

"If you don't stop interacting with that boy, Number Eight, I'll throw you back into the vault where you belong."

I stopped at the end of the stairs, I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply before turning to face him. "I almost forgot, Daddy. The Hargreeves family invited us to his annual event. But I'm sure they'll send formal invitations," I said, my tone dripping with sarcasm, and my father's face went pale and my siblings mouths gasp. I knew my father's weak spot was Five's family. I had no idea why he hated them so fiercely, but I knew a mere mention of Five's family would drive him mad. "I'm leaving with Five a few days prior to the event to spend some time with his family." I faked a smile, savoring the hideous expression of my father. I couldn't tell if he was more furious or dumbfounded, but the sight was priceless. But then Marcus said something that threw me off scent.

"Y/n, you can't go. He doesn't care about you. All he wants is revenge," he said frantically. "They blame dad for—"

My father cut him off, turning his gaze to him. "Number One!"

"Blame you for what?" I insisted. It was now crystal clear that he was keeping a secret from me—a secret I had to learn.

My siblings glanced at me, terror in there eyes while my father threatened them, his voice harsh. "If any of you say a word, you're going to regret it."

"Stop it, you monster!" I ran toward my father with a intent of separating them, but my father instinctively turned to me and slapped me, and the room fell silent, with only the sound of my sibling's gasp echoing through the walls. I held my cheek of my oppressor. "I've had enough. I'm going to ruin you." I cold-bloodedly threatened him. I decided to fight him using his own methods, but I didn't consider the horrid consequences it entailed.

"You wouldn't dare, Number Eight." He shook his head, staring at me with rage.

"Oh, I would," I retorted and pushing him out of my way to go back downstairs, but instead of scaring my father, I only rattled his cage, unleashing the true beast in him.

He followed me the way to the stairs and grabbed me by my elbow, squeezing it forcefully.

"You won't go against your own father. We both know that!" he screamed in my face in a frenzy of rage.

"Watch me, Reginald!" I shouted. "I'll tell the whole world the truth about you and ruin your a flawless reputation!"

"Number Eight!" he yelled in my ear, yanking my arm with a forceful grip that hurt.

I wanted to to use my energy blast on him to push him away from me and escape this hell, but right before I could the next I knew, I was falling down the stairs. My siblings terrified voice shouting my name was the last thing I heard before I hit my head at the bottom of the stairs, and everything went black.