FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIM - HER FIRST LOVE

"You can't believe your crazy husband, Felicity," Johnathan snapped, losing his cool. 

She only chuckled, ridiculing his accusing tone. "John, if my Alexander says you're guilty, then you're guilty," she said, declaring her verdict. The confidence in her eyes shone bright, proving how much Alexander's words meant to her. She trusted him with all her might. Even though it's the truth, Johnathan felt hurt and looked at her in disbelief. 

"Then why were you arguing with him? You fought with him defending my innocence in this conspiracy," he reminded her, his frustration reaching its limit. "I thought you genuinely trusted me and valued my life because of our friendship. It felt so good to assume you care about me too," he said, feeling disappointed. 

"Don't you get it, John? I was protecting your life," Felicity said, giving him a sad smile. Pursing his lips, Johnathan clenched his fists and looked away for a brief second. When he met her gaze again, he opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.. He felt speechless. "Of course, I care about you, John. If your friendship didn't mean important to me, why would I try to save your life?" She asked, resentment dripping from her voice. 

"It's useless if I ask how could you do this to me or why did you do this, blah blah blah, because nothing you offer as your reason would justify your actions, John. I don't care how helpless you're under your father's tyranny. But you shouldn't have joined hands with him, John," she said, shaking her head in disappointment. "You assisted my enemies in kidnapping my children, and I'll never forgive you for that," she voiced out. Johnathan was still quiet and had his head ducked in shame. 

"Never thought you would hurt me like this though," she admitted in a low whisper. 

At last, Johnathan found some nerve to face her accusing eyes and spoke. "If you knew I was the culprit and trusted your husband's every word, then why did you pretend otherwise and fought with him?" He felt like a child fighting for his favourite toy, silly and kiddish. But he couldn't avoid this jealousy. 

"I told you I was saving your life. If not, do you think Alexander would've let you breathe for a second more?" She asked rhetorically. Johnathan scoffed, anger building up in his chest. "It would've been less painful if you'd let me die instead and I don't think that devil is so foolish to kill me without finding out the whereabouts of his daughter," he spat out the words in pure hatred. 

Felicity shook her head and ignored the jealous fit he threw. She rubbed her temples with her fingers in a circular motion, and her eyes pinched shut as her headache intensified. Johnathan's chest ached with guilt at that sight. 

"If you knew, then why did your husband leave you alone with me? What did you bargain my life with?" He asked, curiosity written all over his face. "How come Alexander is not scared of losing you? How do you know I won't kill you?" He spoke using a hypothetical tone, earning a smile from Felicity. 

He heard it before he saw it. The guard who stood behind her with his hands clasped behind his back moved in a lightning speed. Johnathan saw the gun in his hand as he aimed it directly at him, finger hovering over the trigger point. Another guard standing a few feet away to his right side was in front of him before Johnathan could even blink. Thankfully, they didn't pull the trigger, and Johnathan was very grateful for they looked at Felicity for permission. 

The guards moved back, returning to their previous positions as Felicity didn't show any sign of acknowledgement. "This headache is killing me," she muttered under her breath. The guard behind her moved and immediately brought her a glass of water. "Keeping hydrated helps with the headache and caffeine works fine too," he said, pointing at her coffee cup. He also produced a cold compress to apply to her head and neck. 

Felicity rolled her eyes, though a smile graced her lips. Her husband had made them memorise everything the doctor advised. Her poor bodyguards had to babysit her as per his command. She sighed, lifting the coffee cup to her lips. 

"So you're comfortable around me only because of your guards," Johnathan stated, catching her attention again. She shook her head in denial. "Maybe because I'm stupid enough to trust Alastair's brother, even after what you did," she answered, shrugging nonchalantly. Her reply irked him more as if someone rubbed salt over his wounds. 

'All I'm to you is just that, Alastair's brother.'

A while later, Alexander called, and Felicity wouldn't stop beaming. Why would she? Her husband said he'd found his enemies and successfully retrieved his daughter from their clutch. Felicity heard the sweet gurgling of her baby as Alexander cooed at her. Her tired eyes shimmered as tears of happiness flew out. 

Alexander didn't say what he did to the Baresi twins, and Felicity didn't ask either. But Johnathan heard the loud cry of agony in the background through the speaker of the phone. It was Marco's voice begging Alexander to spare his brother's life as Franco, his twin brother, screamed in sheer horror. 

As soon as the call ended, Johnathan leapt to his feet, but the guards stopped him from reaching Felicity. 

"For God's sake, Felicity, ask them to stay away. Don't forget I'm a royalty and your husband would face the consequences," he said. It wasn't his intention to issue a threat. It was his frustration and anger speaking. He knew, threatening her would only bring him more trouble. 

"Ask them to let me go, Felicity. Your husband is bringing your child home. What am I waiting here for?" He asked, yelling in anger. He couldn't afford to fail his father in this mission. He couldn't let Alexander win this. "I'm sorry, John, I can't do that," Felicity spoke. "You can't leave until Alexander returns, but don't worry, John, you're safe. I promise I won't let Alexander touch you," she assured him. It only angered him more. 

"I don't need your help or your pity, you self-centred, selfish woman," he shouted at her and Felicity stood up from the couch and moved closer to the guard on instinct as he advanced towards her. The guards drew out their guns, ready to pull the trigger. Alarmed, Felicity screamed not to shoot, drawing the guards' attention to her. 

It all happened within a few seconds, as soon as the guards' attention wavered, Johnathan jumped on the couch and grabbed Felicity's pistol. Before she could stop him, he'd fired and killed her bodyguards. Two bullets pierced right through their heart, and Johnathan couldn't be any more proud. "Right on target," he muttered. Felicity watched shell-shocked while he laughed maniacally.

He brought the endpoint of the pistol's attached silencer to his mouth and blew air on it for the added effect as a villain in the movies would do. 

"What the fuck, John! What did you do?" Felicity asked after her shock wore off. Johnathan walked to her where she was crouched down, checking the pulse of her guard. She grabbed the gun from the dead guard's hand as he neared her. 

"You didn't have to do this, Johnathan. If Alexander," she was saying, but he cut her off in the middle, sneering at her. "If Alexander what? Come on, Felicity, why do you look so offended? Your dear Alexander does this every day as if killing is his side dish before the full course meal. I don't see you complaining then," he said, scowling at her. 

"Have you ever thought about how much I suffer every day because of you? You never thought anything beyond your Alexander, and now it's your child, your family," he spat the words, grimacing in disgust. "God, that bastard child is not even yours, Felicity. I hate picturing your happy family with Alexander. I hate him so much," he admitted. 

Felicity still held the gun aimed at him, but it didn't affect him one bit. He continued rambling out his pent up jealousy. "I don't understand why you love that devil so much. That bastard child is so important to him that he left you here alone with me, not even caring I might kill you. What a pity, Felicity, Anna gave him what you couldn't, a daughter he wanted to complete his family picture," he said, eyeing her with sympathy. 

He was trying to imply that Alexander and Marianna cheated on her. Though she believed he was uttering bullshit, his words still stung. She couldn't give a daughter to her husband. 

Felicity slapped him hard, leaving the imprints of her fingers on his cheek. His head whipped to the side, and the sound of the slap echoed in his ears. "You can shoot me if you want, Felicity. I would gladly die for you. This slap is nothing," he said. She shook her head, disappointed and scoffed at his stupidity. 

"It's your jealousy speaking, Johnathan Castellanos. I love Alexander with all my heart, body and soul, nothing you say, or do is going to change that. I'm lucky because undoubtedly my husband reciprocates everything I feel for him," she stated. He didn't miss the pride lacing her tone. 

She took a deep breath as Johnathan pointed the pistol at her.