Maya’s P.O.V
“My wife cheated on me,” he said in an eerily tranquil voice, totally contradicting the conflicted look on his face. I grabbed my glass of rosé and took a sip, trying to wash down the lump that had formed in my throat. “I never imagined that the person I’d decided to spend the rest of my life with would do that to me, with somebody I considered a trusted business client no less.”
His voice didn’t quiver, but I saw that hollowness wash over his eyes for a brief second before he blinked it away. I couldn’t possibly imagine how broken he’d felt when he found out. My lips stayed sealed as I listened further to his narration. “I met her in university. It was love at first sight, as cliché as it might seem. It could have been infatuation…but I was so certain that Dana was the woman I wanted by my side forever. She played a very pivotal role in my road to success. In fact, I give her a lot of credit for the continuous and unconditional encouragement she gave me in starting up my business. And when she told me she was pregnant…I thought my life was complete,” he smiled sadly and my heart constricted.
I scooted my chair closer to his and held his hand in mine. Giving it a squeeze, I gently urged him to go on. I thought this day would never come; I was finally hearing the story behind his heart break. “Happiest moment of my life it had been, and when we went for the first ultrasound and heard two heart beats…I cried. I felt so accomplished… I’d made myself a complete family, something I didn’t have the privilege of having when I was growing up,” he said with a hint of nostalgia. I don’t know why but his words made me want to cry, but I held my self together. It wasn’t the right time for that.
He sighed and rubbed my hand with his free one. “Things just began to change so quickly after the Aiden and Brianna came. My business skyrocketed and I became so busy that I was barely at home. And so, I brought my mother to live with us at the mansion I bought to help us out. I had no clue how to juggle being a CEO, a husband and a father at the same time, you know. I so desperately wanted to make it work but I guess in the process, I prioritized one over the other two and ended up driving my wife into the arms of another man.”
“Don’t say that, it wasn’t your fault,” I rebuffed almost angrily, visualising myself giving his ex-wife my two cents. How could she do that somebody who basically gave her his everything?
He shook his head. “It was partially my fault, because I neglected her. I no longer gave her the attention that she needed-,”
“But she could have at least told you, right? Didn’t she understand that your goals and aspirations mattered too? I mean, communication in a relationship is really important,” I retorted passionately and he smiled at me.
“You’re right, but that’s the issue here. I never communicated with her and vice versa. That’s why our marriage was such a catastrophe. She gave up on us before I could get the chance to fight for us,” he trailed off disdainfully.
I clasped his cheek. “If she gave up on you that means she never deserved you. If I had been in her shoes, I’d have fought to my dying breath for a man like you,” I whispered.
He tucked a loose strand behind my ear. “You’re right, she never deserved me and it took me a while to realise that I made a mistake in thinking that she was the one for me. Yes, I’ll admit I loved her but the love I once felt for her is nothing compared to what I feel for you. Maya, I came all this way to tell you personally why I kept myself from being with you. I wasn’t ready to commit to you because I wasn’t the man for you back then. And I more than anyone know that you deserve everything someone has to offer rather than a mere fraction. I don’t know how you did it, but my entire family adores you and it doesn’t feel right that you’re not with them…with me. I know I hurt you when I let you go but I needed to heal, because you made me want to heal. You mended my heart, Maya. You made me feel whole again,” he breathed before he pressed his lips onto mine.
I let myself be immersed in that kiss because nothing mattered at the moment besides the man that was in front of me…the man who I was deeply and unequivocally in love with. But as usual, the moment didn’t last very long due to an unforeseen disturbance.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing with my girlfriend!” Brian roared as he stormed over to our table. When he arrived, he grabbed Theodore by the collar and landed a huge punch on his jaw, making him tumble to the ground.
I was stunned at his brutal action. “Brian, why did you-,” I was cut off by Theodore rising from the ground and making a swift upper cut on Brian, who hadn’t been anticipating the blow and lost his footing. And then all hell broke loose. I didn’t know what to do so I just yelled in horror when blood began to drip in either direction. It felt like years had elapsed when a bunch of people decided to intervene before it turned gory.
Both men were battered, but I’d say Brian received the most damage. Theodore is kind of a boxer after all…and that is not important right now. He spat some blood on the ground before wiping his bloody nose. He turned to glare at me. “This is what you call watching Gossip Girl, huh? You were cheating on me with this bastard,” he seethed.
My face crumpled in guilt. He was right, I did cheat on him and I couldn’t even forgive myself for it. “Don’t you dare speak to her like that, moron,” Theodore tried to defend me, his voice thunderous. The whole restaurant had gone quiet, and everybody’s eyes were on us. I caught a glimpse of Lexi watching from the corner, a look of shock on her face.
“I’m sorry,” I cried, warm tears beginning to cascade down my cheeks. “I shouldn’t have come to dinner with him and I shouldn’t have let him kiss me. In fact, I shouldn’t have started any of this with either of you.”
Both sets of eyes snapped over to me. “What did you say?” they both said at the same time.
The water works didn’t stop. “All of this was a mistake. I shouldn’t have dated you Brian and I definitely shouldn’t have agreed to meeting you, Theodore. Look at the mess it caused, and now you almost killed each other because of me. I’m not sure about anything right now and I think it’s best that we never see each other again,” I verbalized in despair before grabbing my purse and turning to leave but before I could, someone caught me by the arm.
“You can’t just do this. I love you Maya,” Theodore said, hurt written all over his face. Brian came to stand and the other side of me.
“And I love you too,” he added softly, his eyes shining with unshed tears.
I bit my trembling lip and shrugged off Theodore’s arm. “I’ve got to go.”
And then I walked out of the restaurant.
***
It had been three days since that fiasco at Ooh La Food. I hadn’t left my apartment since then and I also hadn’t been to work. I called in sick on Thursday and Friday, and the weekends were a half-day shift I alternated with Penny. Thankfully it wasn’t my turn so it all played out well for me. Avoiding people, however wasn’t all that easy.
I don’t know how many calls I’d received from Lexi, Brian, Theodore and even my dad. The most came from Theodore, who had even stopped by twice to check up on me. I, of course, didn’t open the door due to how ashamed and conflicted I felt, so he had left with a defeatist mentality on both occasions. But today, I really needed to talk to somebody…and that person was my dad.
After prepping up, I called him and asked if we could have lunch. He happily agreed and drove us to one of his favourite luncheonettes. It wasn’t long before we arrived there and my mouth opened up like a can of worms, telling him about everything that had happened leading to this point. I watched as his aging face went from awe, worry to a bit of grief.
He raked his hand through his salt and pepper hair. “That’s a rather confusing situation, might I say. I won’t sugar coat it and say you didn’t mess up but we all make mistakes. You’re human just like everyone else,” he muttered soothingly, making me feel slightly better.
“So, what do I do now?” I asked him.
He sighed and took my hand in his. I briefly flinched at the contact, it being foreign but I didn’t push his hand away. “Sweety, you may not know it but you made your mind up a long time ago. It’s time for you to come to terms with it,” he said cryptically. When I was about to ask him what he meant by that, his phone went off. Apologising, he picked it up. “I need to get back to the hospital, I have an appointment in half an hour,” he told me once the call ended.
I nodded in understanding. “Okay. Thanks for listening to me, dad. I really appreciate it.”
He smiled and patted my head. “I’m the one who should be grateful that you let me back into your life after all the nasty things I did and said to you. I’m still ashamed you know,” he trailed off with slight tremble in his voice. We both stood up, having finished our meal long ago and began to walk out.
“I know, dad. But at least you were willing to work for my forgiveness.”
“Just like that Theodore guy, you mentioned,” he added wisely.
Then it finally clicked in my head. All this time I’d been blind and in denial. The ball had been in my court but I simply refused to play. It wasn’t even up for debate; I’d already chosen Theodore. I love him with all my heart, and he loved me too. How could I have been so stupid?
I threw my arms around my dad in a hurried embrace. He was surprised by my action. “Thanks dad!” I yelled in glee before dashing down the street to hail a cab. On the first attempt, one stopped in front of me by the curb and I immediately hopped in. I told the driver the address of the place I wanted to go. Heaven only knows how I’d managed to memorise it given the fact that I’d only been there once.
Almost an hour later, we pulled up to the gate of Theodore’s beach house. After paying the driver, I practically shot out of the vehicle like a canon and ran to the gate. The guard came up to me, eyeing me suspiciously. “Is Mr. Duke here?” I questioned him, desperation evident in my tone.
He shook his head. “No, ma’am. He left for England earlier today.”
Everything froze for a second before my stomach wrenched. I muttered a thank you to the guard and turned away from the gate. He came all this way for me and all I had done was ignore him. And the worst part is I had a chance, now I was afraid I’d blown it to hell. I walked down the posh neighbourhood, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. I realised that I wanted to be with him more than anything, and now he was gone. Who knows when I’d see him again? If I’d ever see him again…
I needed to do something about this, and I needed to do it fast.
___________________________
So, the truth finally came out and all broke loose.... what a debacle!
I'd warned you in previous chapters about this pivotal moment.
Anybody upset with Maya for waiting too long to pick Theodore?
I bet nobody even shipped her with Brian 😂
Lastly, is it too late for her to go to him?
Next update is the last chapter amd I'll upload next week. It will be a surprise one, not sure which date but I'll do it randomly. Then the epilogue will follow.
Getting a bit teary eyed...😭🥺
Toodles!
~Deetronite