TWO days after that day, I haven't seen him. I focused my attention on my dream house and to my business. It was quite distracting but at the end of the day, I'm still thinking of what happened between us. I knew for a fact that I can't keep running away from him. It's absurd to begin with.

"Lucy, are you alright?"

Fuck! My mind was flying somewhere else. I looked at her and gave her a tight smile "Yeah, I'm fine. What are we talking about?" I ask Levy again.

"Are you sure?" she gave me a curious look as if she wants to know what's going on inside my head "You've been acting so weird this past few days"

"I'm thinking about my business and other stuff," I said "Anyway, I have a question if you don't mind"

"Sure, what is it?" Levy said.

"Two days ago during the welcome party for me. Why did you leave me with Natsu?" I ask, I tried my best not to show any emotion in my face.

Levy pouted her lips before looking at the ceiling for a moment, as if she was trying to recall what happened on that night "Natsu said that he will bring you to my house. Natsu said that he'll just sober up" Levy said, "I was actually waiting for you to come home that night," she stop for a moment and then looked at me with a frown "Why are you asking me this question?"

"Am I not allowed to ask a question?"

"Stop answering my question with a question, Lucy"

I shrugged my shoulder before letting out a small chuckle "I'm just curious why you didn't bring me home that night"

Levy frowned but then, she didn't say anything and proceeded to the topic that we're talking about for more than thirty minutes. Actually we are talking about the book that she wrote years ago. She told me that a certain singer created a song about the love story of Princess Camille and the magician.

Levy and I talked for a while when you noticed the ringing of my cellphone one after another. Frowning, I opened my cell phone, I covered my mouth as I read the messages of my industry acquaintances.

"Lucy, Is there something wrong? What happened?"

I ignored Levy's question and immediately entered the living room and turned on the television. I closed my mouth when I saw the picture of the two of us sleeping on the bed while naked.

Natsu's face isn't very visible but my face is very visible.

Levy gasped as he reached for me, "Lucy..."

I clench my fist as I felt my heart starting to tighten causing me to have difficulty breathing. I felt the trembling of my whole body and my knees softened.

"I... I..."

I can't understand what I feel. I'm having a hard time breathing, my whole body feels numb and I started thinking about him, about his life.

"Levy, what should I do?" I ask her desperately.

"Lucy, you have to calm down!"

"How?" I almost yell at her "If I don't do something. The media will destroy him."

"Overthinking will destroy you too, Lucy," Levy hissed "You have to calm down!"

"I can't! This is my fault" my vision clouded with my own tears "I shouldn't come home! I should stay there. I should stay away from him"

"What the hell are you talking about, Lucy?" Levy hissed "Lucy, you need to listen to me. You have to calm down!"

I couldn't understand what Levy was saying, my chest tightened even more. Many scenarios are gradually forming in my mind. Scenarios that I don't want to happen to him because I'm sure it will just ruin his life.

I grabbed my chest and gently massaged it. Levy left my side for a moment, I don't know where she went. Probably, she will call one of my friends.

I got up and went to my room to take medicine. Because of the trembling of my body I threw almost all the contents of the medicine in my palm.

And without any second thoughts I put it all in my mouth.

I don't know if I'm hallucinating but I saw him there... his eyes wide open, his face full of emotions as if he's seeing something that destroys his life.

"Lucienne!"

Even his voice sounds so real.

"I'm sorry, Natsu" I sobbed "I'm sorry..."

Darkness... Darkness embraces me again.

I BIT my lower lip as my eyes focused on the news being broadcast on television. There were different pictures shown regarding us and the very last picture showed him kissing my forehead that day. It's been a week since the scandal exploded. I just got home from the hospital because I took an overdose of medicine.

I haven't even asked Levy how the media found out Natsu Dragneel was with me in the photo. I felt Levy's gentle caress on my back, as if she was trying to calm me down.

"Lucy," she said, her voice full of concern "everything will be okay."

I looked at her, tears welling up in my eyes but I still forced myself to smile "I ruined him. I ruined his life again. My work ruined him again, Levy"

"You know that's not true," she calmly replied to me.

What is true then? Because no matter where you look, it's my fault why his name is associated with mine. If we hadn't met on Christmas day, if he hadn't taken me to the airport, and if it weren't for the alcohol, his life wouldn't have been in turmoil.

"Lucy, why don't you take a break?" Levy suggested.

I was about to answer when my cell phone rang. The cell phone I bought for my father. I looked at the screen before I looked at Levy.

"Looks like I have to answer this" I mumble under my breath.

"Lucy, you know, that you don't need to answer that call," Levy said.

"This is the first time that my father called me," I said. She could not speak. I got up and went to the kitchen to answer my father's call. "Hello--"

"What is this news that is spreading in the country?"

"What did you watch?" I couldn't help but be sarcastic. This is the first time he called me in a few years. He wouldn't even greet me if I was okay. Anyway, what can I expect from my father? "We need to talk!"

"Aren't we talking now? What kind of conversation do you want to happen, Father?"

"Lucienne!" he shouted angrily.

I sighed, "I'll just text you the address. Bye!"

I didn't wait for what he would say next because I had already killed him. I immediately sent him the address where I was staying - then I went back to the living room where Levy was now anxiously waiting for me.

"Are you alright, Lucy?" Levy asked me worriedly. I gave her a tight smile "You know, there was a time that I wished you stop being a strong person, Lucy. You should try asking for help if it's too much" she said sadly.

I chuckle, "I'm fine, Levy" I inhale sharply "by the way, my father will visit. Probably today or tomorrow," Levy look at me as if she was patiently waiting for my next words "I'm not really sure why he wants to talk about this issue but probably because of family honor,"

"Lucy, may I hug you?" I was caught off guard because of her request. It was a request that I wasn't expecting. I didn't say a word but I nodded to her.

And so she hugged me as if she was giving me strength.

MY HEAD almost turned when he slapped my face. Though, I'm not really expecting him to hug me but I wasn't expecting that he would slap my face after opening the door for him. This was the first time I saw him after the conversation on grandma's inheritance. I sighed, I knew Levy was surprised by what he saw because I heard his faint breathing on the force of the impact of his slap.

"Do you know how much embarrassment you brought to our family when the picture of you with that man was spread? Even your mother was upset because her friends were talking about what happened to you"

My lips twisted into a smirk, "First of all, I'm not part of the new family you formed. Second, well, I don't know what to answer because as far as I remember... my mother has been dead for a long time"

Another slap hit my other cheeks. I laughed and saw how much darker his vision was because of my reaction.

"I don't know what your problem is, Father. Because as far as I know you don't care about my life" I said sarcastically.

"Show some respect, Lucienne!"

"If you want to talk about respect here then try to tell that to yourself, Father. Slapping someone's face knowing that it's not your house. And for the love of God, I told you! Stop claiming your rights as my father because you have never been a father to me, not even once!"

"Stop bringing the past"

"Then stop trying to be part of my present, Father!" I emphasize my words "I'm not that kid who wants your attention."

"Then stop humiliating our family!"

"Am I?" I ask angrily "This is the first time that I embarrassed the 'Heartfilia' family because of my job. Whenever your step daughter gets into trouble – I never asked you for compensation. I never demand an explanation from her or from you. And I never tried raising my hand to her whenever I got involved in her problems like you are doing right now!"

"Stop comparing my daughter to you!"

I laugh as I brush the tears that started to cascade into my cheeks "Daughter? Father, may I remind you that I am your real daughter and not her" I said sarcastically.

"You are not my daughter, Lucienne"

What? I don't understand,

"Yes... you heard it right! You are not my daughter, Lucienne"

I don't know how to react to what he said "But I accepted you because I love your mother. I accepted you as a real child. During your mother's pregnancy, I poured all my attention even in exchange for losing me in the life of my real child"

That's why... that's the reason why I can't be part of their so - called family. That's why no matter how hard I try to enter the family he built - that's why I'm outside the new family he built. Because I'm not really his child.

"All along, you're just fooling me. All my life I've carried the last name that isn't mine! Who? Who is my real father?"

"You are the daughter of my younger brother. Jude Heartfilia"

He said a lot about my real father but not a single one entered my mind. I don't know why, I can see him talking but I can't hear anything. It almost looks like my body was protecting me because I'm too tired of acting strong.

"So what's the point of you being here, Uncle" I said emphasizing the word 'uncle'. I saw his eyes wide for a moment but he just glare at me "Because honestly speaking, I really don't see the point you are here"

"Where's your brain now! After the shame you gave us"

I shrugged my shoulders "We're in the modern world now, Uncle. Your brains are just too narrow" I almost shout "Aside from that, am I not allowed to have a sex life?" I said sarcastically.

"You ungrateful brat!" he hit me again and this time I can taste my own blood in my mouth, "I gave you a life but you wasted it... that doesn't mean you don't owe me. Because you owe me big time."

I tilt my head "So what do you want me to do? Pay you? How much?"

"Marry Natsu Dragneel"

I was completely opposed to what he said when suddenly someone answered - a familiar voice. My eyes immediately searched for the source of the voice and I saw him standing near the foyer.

"I will do it even without you asking it, Sir"

He was not looking at me and he was just looking straight at my uncle. When he turned to look at me, I felt even guiltier.

____________________________ End of Chapter #22