Hers to Love

Chapter 28

As the celebration continued, Maria felt an overwhelming wave of sadness wash over her. The sight of Amir with another girl, Elodia, cut deeper than she expected. It wasn't just the jealousy or the pain of seeing him with someone else—it was the culmination of everything that had been building between them, the unspoken words, the tension, and now this. The hurt she was feeling was unlike anything she'd experienced before, even surpassing the heartbreak she had thought was the worst she'd ever felt.

Maria could feel the tears welling up in her eyes, but she forced herself to hold them back. The last thing she wanted was to break down in front of everyone and draw attention to herself. She quickly pulled out her phone and sent a message to Chad, asking him to pick her up. She couldn't stay there any longer, not with this crushing weight on her chest. She would make an excuse to Amir's family, something about not feeling well, and hope they wouldn't ask too many questions.

Meanwhile, Amir was growing increasingly anxious. He was scanning the crowd, looking for Maria. He knew he needed to talk to her, to explain himself, but the words were elusive, slipping away the moment he tried to grasp them. The fact that he had brought Elodia to the celebration only made it worse. He had hoped it would be a distraction, something to ease the awkwardness between him and Maria, but now it felt like a terrible mistake. The guilt was gnawing at him, making him feel even more uncertain about how to approach her. But despite everything, he couldn't shake the need to find her, to somehow make things right.

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Maria spotted Amir's mother across the room, and as she approached, she noticed the concerned expression on her face. It was as if Amir's mother could sense something was wrong, her eyes searching Maria's, trying to read the emotions she was so desperately trying to hide. Maria forced a smile, but she could feel her composure slipping.

"I'm so sorry, but I'm not feeling well," Maria began, her voice steady but soft. "And something urgent came up at the office that I need to attend to."

Amir's mother kept her gaze on Maria, a mixture of worry and understanding in her eyes. It was as though she could see right through the excuse, recognizing the pain that Maria was trying to mask. There was a brief moment of silence, where Maria feared that Amir's mother might ask more questions, but instead, she simply nodded.

"Of course, dear," Amir's mother replied gently, her voice filled with warmth. "You take care of yourself. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to let me know."

Maria nodded, grateful for the understanding, but she couldn't shake the feeling that Amir's mother knew more than she was letting on. As she turned to leave, Maria felt the weight of the situation pressing down on her even more. She hated lying, especially to someone as kind as Amir's mother, but she couldn't stay there any longer. The hurt was too much to bear, and all she wanted was to get out before she completely broke down.

---

As Maria was about to close her hotel room door, she heard hurried footsteps approaching. Before she could react, Amir caught up with her, his expression a mix of guilt and desperation.

"Maria, I am so sorry," Amir said, his voice strained, as if he was struggling to find the right words.

Maria held up a hand, trying to keep her composure. "Please, stop it, Amir. I know you were sorry about last night."

"No, Maria, it's not just about last night," Amir started, but Maria cut him off.

"Don't worry, Amir," she said, her voice bravely steady even though her heart was breaking. "It meant nothing."

The words stung as they left her lips, a defensive shield against the pain she felt. But Amir's expression shifted from regret to something darker. He suddenly looked angry, his eyes narrowing as he took a step closer.

"Really? It meant nothing?" Amir repeated, his tone sharp with frustration. There was a tense silence between them, charged with unspoken emotions. Before Maria could respond, Amir smirked, a bitter twist to his lips as if he was mocking both her and himself for what they were pretending to feel—or not feel.

Without warning, Amir reached out, his hand pulling her closer, and before Maria could react, he kissed her. The kiss was not gentle or tentative; it was filled with the raw intensity of all the emotions they had both been holding back. Maria struggled at first, pushing against him, but the anger and pain she felt melted away under the force of the kiss.

The heat between them grew as Amir's hands moved to cradle her face, his lips demanding and insistent. Maria found herself giving in, her own hands slipping up to grip the front of his shirt, pulling him closer as if to anchor herself in the storm of emotions that had been unleashed.The kiss deepened, becoming more urgent as they both surrendered to the passion that had been simmering beneath the surface for so long. Amir's hands roamed down her back, pulling her against him as if he couldn't bear to let go. Maria responded with equal fervor, her body pressing into his as they lost themselves in the moment.

Every touch, every movement was charged with the intensity of everything they had tried to deny. It was as if all the barriers between them—the doubts, the fears, the unspoken words—had crumbled away, leaving only the raw, undeniable connection that neither of them could escape.But as the kiss continued, a flicker of reality broke through the haze of passion. Maria pulled back slightly, her breathing ragged, her heart pounding in her chest. She looked up at Amir, her eyes searching his, trying to find some clarity in the midst of the confusion.

"Amir," she whispered, her voice trembling with the weight of everything left unsaid.Amir looked back at her, his expression softened by the vulnerability that neither of them could hide any longer. But before he could say anything, Maria gently pushed him away, her fingers lingering on his chest for just a moment before she stepped back.

"We can't," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "This... it's too complicated."Amir nodded slowly, the fire in his eyes dimming as he realized the truth of her words. They both stood there for a moment, the tension between them still thick, but now laced with the bitter reality of their situation.

Maria finally turned away, her hand on the door handle as she tried to steady herself. "Goodbye, Amir," she said softly, not daring to look back at him.

Amir said nothing as she closed the door, the echo of the kiss still lingering in the air between them.