My Ex Next Door

Novie pressed the locked button of the doorknob and sat on the small couch in the balcony, she leaned back on the chair while crossing her legs.

"You're right Daniella. You have caused me too much trouble. I think it's time for you to explain yourself"

Novie signals Daniella to occupy the chair in front of her and closed the balcony door.

The woman sat and rested both hands on the metal armchair.

"What's your question" Daniella starts.

Novie gulped, the aura around Daniella was making her tongue to numb but she knows that she needs to gather all her courage to clear all the questions in her head.

"Is it true? Can you read my mind?" she asked, still doubting the information she received from Ken.

She could see the faint smile on Daniella's lips through the moonlight and the sweet smile she had on her face somehow made her feel at ease.

"There is no reason for you to be jealous of me. I love Ken as much as you do but in a brother's way. I favor him more than Danny, but Ken loves you that's why I hypnotize him. Because if he knows that you're in danger. He will not think twice about using all the resources he has to protect you"

Novie was stunned, but she decided to let her continue.

"And I don't want you to see the previous Ken, he's not a broken man like everyone thought, but he's a strong man who suffered a lot. I know Ken hasn't told you, but the first man he killed was when he was eight years old. His father asked him to kill the man or else he will kill his friend, Evan, and Glen, the only people who care about him."

Novie felt huge iceberg drops on her shoulder as she heard those words. Ken never told her about his previous life, but she was not expecting it to be this severe.

"What?" she asked in a faint tone.

"Even we stay here for a month, I will not be finish naming all the people he killed. Every time I look at his eyes. I see everything… it's painful… and…" she could see Daniella's struggling as she tries to find the words to explain it.

She bite on her lower lips when tears dropped from Daniella's eyes, she wanted to reach and hug her but she decided to let her continue.

"So when I found out that he's my brother. I was so happy… and then he met you… the way he looks at you… It's different… it's not like the way he looked at me and then you left him. I've never seen him so vulnerable, so when I heard that news that he's getting married to Anna, I let him… I didn't stop him, because I thought… Finally, he can have a family," Daniella pauses to sniff and wipes her tears away.

"Let me get a tissue," she said and about to stand up, but Daniella used her feet to kick her back to the chair.

"Stop! I am being emotional here. Don't ruin it" then Daniella smiled which made her lips to stretched a smile.

"Sorry" she giggled.

Daniella rolled her eyes and continue.

"Then I find out about Anna and Bea's scheme when I looked at Anna's eyes. I warned her but she didn't listen. So I ruined their wedding. Call me a bitch, but I don't really care about other people's feeling"

Novie shook her head in disbelief, she had seen Daniella, and the woman really cares about the people around her.

"When I told him about you, he was so happy Novie. So happy that he forgot to thank me… would you believe that?" Daniella asked her.

She giggled and nodded, knowing Ken, there's a possibility.

"Don't be angry at your parents. You're lucky to have one. Me, Ken and Danny, we never got a chance to have a normal family so if there's someone who needs to be insecure, it should be me. Novie, don't envy me, if we can switch our life. I would prefer to be in your shoes. Reading people's mind… yes, it' fun and useful, but also seeing their dark past it can break anyone's mind."

Novie could no longer hold it, the pain she's seeing in Daniella's eyes was throbbing her heart. She felt like Daniella was his sister that needs her guidance.

"So, Novie I need your help. I consider you as my sister… Will you take the throne?" When she heard the word throne, the first thing that registered in her mind was the responsibility. She's still overwhelmed with the truth and she's not ready, and will never be ready.

"If we could switch… yes, I will take the throne… I am not a daring person like you Daniella. I admire you so much and I apologize for being so insecure but I hope you understand that I only want to have a simple life… with Ken" even though in a short time, she had made up her mind.

She will never be a person who needs to act according to everyone's words. As her father said, he wants her to be free.

Free of making the decision for herself.

Free of loving the person she loves.

Daniella gazed at her so deeply that it's almost like she's looking at her soul, but unlike before, she doesn't feel uncomfortable because she knows that Daniella is reading her true feeling and she wants her to know that she doesn't want anything than to be with Ken.

After a long silence, Daniella pats her shoulder.

"Fine… you can live with Ken in peace here. Get married and starts a family but don't forget to invite Alexa" Daniella giggled, but Novie could hear the fear in her laugh. Even Daniella's eyes were glooming in fear.

At that moment, her heart pulverized. She doesn't know what will happen now that she will not take the throne but she trust Daniella.

"Don't worry… My husband has enough resources to keep us both alive" seems like Daniella read her mind and when she heard those words, her heart lifted. She smiled and let her hands go.

"I have two requests to you," Daniella said which made her look at her direction.

"What is it?" she asked in confusion.

"About Saina… Since I will be busy, would you help my brother Danny get her back" Novie creased her brows in confusion. Wondering why she needed to do it.

"The day Saina broke up with my brother, it was because he needed to help me. They were on a date and as far as I know, they were discussing their future, but I called my brother for help so he decided to leave. Saina asked him to stay, and they got into a fight and when she asked Danny to choose. Danny chose me"

Novie parted her lips in shock, she was not expecting for Daniella to tell the story.

"Then what happened?" she was not a curious type of person, but suddenly she wanted to know more.

"She broke up with Danny, my brother tried to explain why he needed to leave but she didn't even try to listen to him. If she just did, they will not be hurting now" then a bitter smile formed in Daniella's lips.

"Why… what was the reason?" she asked.

Daniella exhaled and looked at the sky.

"We got ambush on the way from the hospital. Evan was with me and we were outnumbered. If Danny didn't come. We will be dead. Evan took a lot of bullets for me. I kept him alive by pulling the bullets I could take while his back acted like the gun target." her lips trembles as she heard all the words Daniella was saying, she could not imagine what would have happened if Danny chose Saina, then, the triplets would have been orphan while Ken and Danny will condemn themselves for not helping their sisters.

"Why didn't Danny tell her?" she asked in a trembling voice.

"We went hiding for almost three months after the incident, we can't let our rivals to know that we are weak so Danny didn't get a chance to explain it, but when he came back. Saina was with someone else already" Daniella shook her head while laughing bitterly.

"Saina doesn't want to listen to his explanation so I told him to stop chasing her. A person who closes her mind doesn't deserve to know the truth" Novie bites her lips in guilt as she heard those words.

That must be the reason why Ken didn't bother her again after she asked him to leave when they were in Vegas, and Daniella was right, she was so blinded that she didn't care about Ken's feeling.

"What do you want me to do?" she asked in determination. Since Daniella helped her to get Ken back, she decided to help Danny to get Saina.

The bitter smile on Daniella's face faded and replaced with warmth.

"Can you tell Saina the truth? I can't face her… all the thoughts she had about me is making my hand itch to slap her" Daniella's nose crinkled in annoyance.

Novie laughed and nodded. To her, Daniella has been helping her family so this small favor is nothing.

"No, problem. I will help them to get back together"

Then the silence mixed with the air as they both stared at the sky above.

"What's your second request?" Novie broke the silence.

Daniella looked at her and smiled, "Can you look after my kids for some time? Evan and I need to fix some issue in Aldovia and I can't trust anyone but you and Ken to look after them. Peyton and Matthew are the worst babysitters, because of them Leo has been asking me about sex."

Novie rose an eyebrow by her request, she's been missing the triplets and being their guardian is something she's looking forward too.

"Of course! If ever you change your mind. You and Evan can make new babies and just give us the triplets" she jokingly said,

They both laughed until tears fell from their eyes.

"I need to go. My husband is waiting downstairs" saying that Novie heard a metal sound and Daniella's body jumping from their balcony.

She almost had a heart attack when she Daniella's body floating in the air, she was able to get her breathing back to normal when she noticed the rope attached to the balcony.

Novie looked at the ground and saw a man catching Daniella's body followed by Evan's voice calling her name in a deep tone.

Before Daniella get into the car, the woman looks up to her direction and wave a hand.

She blows her a kiss and bid her goodbye.

The next day…

Novie had explained it to her parents about her decision and they both respected it, they decided to go back to their province and continue with their simple life while she stays in the city with Ken.

With all the tears she shed yesterday, her whole body throbbed.

She woke up without Ken by her side which made her wonder if he already went to his work.

She slackly got up from the bed and walked outside, then she found Ken sitting on the couch with his legs on the table, as soon as the man saw her staring at his legs, he immediately lowered it and smiled at her.

"It will not happen again," Ken got up and wrapped both arms on her waist. When she thought he was about to kiss her, the man's lips went to her forehead to plant a small kiss and spank her butt.

She parted her lips in surprise when she was about to scold him, the doorbell buzzed.

Novie and Ken walked towards the door with Ken's arm on her shoulder, as they opened it, they saw Anders with five luggage next to him.

Before they could even greet him, a familiar squeal sounded in the hallway.

"Aunt Novie!" the three ran to her direction and embraced each of her legs.

Novie laughed and forgot what Ken did to her. She squatted on the floor and plant a small kiss to each of their cheeks.

"I miss you all, come and give me a hug too" Ken spoke and sat next to her while his arms stretched as he waits for the kids to hug him, but the triplets only looked at him and grabbed something from their backpacks, and before Novie could ask what it was, the three started sprinkling it to their Uncle's face.

Novie's jaw dropped on the floor to see Ken's face all wet, and it was not water. It was like an oil with a stinky smell.

"This is for forgetting us!" the three shouted at Ken at the same time and ran after Ken got up to catch them.

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