Beneath The Surface

Chapter 30: Forsaken

--- Raven's POV ---

The next morning, I wake up feeling like I’ve barely slept at all. The weight of yesterday’s revelations sits heavy on my chest, making it hard to even get out of bed. But I can’t just stay here forever. I force myself up and head out of the bedroom, moving as quietly as I can.

I pass by Marco’s office, hoping to see him there, but it’s empty. Maybe he’s holed up in one of the guest bedrooms. A small part of me wants to seek him out, but his words from yesterday echo in my mind: “Stay away from me.” It stings, and the little hope I had fades away.

Downstairs, the silence is thick, almost suffocating. I decide to make breakfast, more to keep myself busy than because I’m actually hungry. The kitchen feels cold and uninviting, but I go through the motions anyway, hoping that some semblance of normalcy will help calm my racing thoughts.

As I cook, memories of better times flood my mind. Marco’s laugh, the way his eyes would soften when he looked at me, it all feels like a lifetime ago. Now, all I can think about is the anger and betrayal in his eyes when he found out the truth about my identity.

The smell of bacon and eggs fills the kitchen, but the house remains eerily silent. I glance at the clock, noting that it’s still early, but I know deep down that Marco isn’t going to come down. He’s probably avoiding me, just like he said he would. The thought makes my heart ache even more.

I set the table and sit down with my own plate, but I can’t bring myself to eat. Every sound makes me jump, hoping it’s Marco, but it never is. The silence is unbearable, filled with the echoes of my own thoughts and fears. What did my father do to Marco’s family? How does he know so much about him?

I think about Ace, wishing he were here. He’s always been the one to calm things between Marco and me. Maybe he could help make sense of all this, help us find a way through the mess. But until he comes back, I’m left to navigate this alone.

The rest of the day drags on. I stay mostly in the bedroom, not wanting to risk another confrontation with Marco. My mind races with unanswered questions. How much does Marco really know about my father? And why does it affect him so deeply? The more I think about it, the more I realize how little I actually know about the men I’ve come to care for.

By the time evening rolls around, I feel completely drained. I hope Ace will return soon, that he might be able to shed some light on what’s happening. Until then, all I can do is wait and hope that somehow, some way, Marco and I can find a way back to each other, despite the secrets and lies that have come between us.

Later that night, I lie in bed, unable to sleep. The silence of the house is almost oppressive, pressing down on me with the weight of unspoken words and unresolved tension. As I’m staring at the ceiling, I hear a door open and close down the hall. My heart skips a beat. I sit up, straining to listen.

I quickly get out of bed and move towards the door. As I peek into the hallway, I see Marco’s retreating figure disappearing around the corner. Where is he going? The thought nags at me, and before I know it, I’m following him down the stairs.

At the bottom of the staircase, I stop, seeing him at the front door. His back is still turned to me when he speaks, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. "You need to be gone by the time I get back. I don’t want to see any sign of you when I return."

His words hit me like a physical blow, knocking the breath out of me. He’s kicking me out. Panic surges through me, and I rush forward, my eyes filling with tears. I grab his arm, desperate. "Marco, please, don’t do this. Don’t push me away."

He turns to face me, and the cold look in his eyes stops me in my tracks. It’s like he’s a different person, a stranger. "I mean it, Raven. Be gone. I don’t care where you go, but you can’t stay here."

"Marco, please," I beg, my voice breaking.

His expression doesn’t change. If anything, he looks even more resolute.

I grab his arm more tightly, hoping to reach him somehow. "Marco, please," I plead, tears streaming down my face.

He pulls his arm out of my grip, the motion quick and decisive. "No," he says firmly, turning away from me. Without another word, he opens the door and steps out into the night, closing it behind him with a finality that makes me feel like I’m suffocating.

I stand there, frozen, as the door shuts, the sound echoing in the silent house. Tears blur my vision as I realize the full extent of what just happened. He’s shutting me out completely.

I slide down to the floor, hugging my knees to my chest. The house feels colder, emptier. The weight of his words, the coldness in his eyes, it all crashes over me. How did things get to this point? How did we end up here?

My mind races with the possibilities of what I could do. But every thought feels hollow, meaningless. I don’t want to leave. I want to stay and fight for what we had, for what we could still have.

But the look in Marco’s eyes ... It’s like he’s already given up on us. And that realization is more painful than anything else. I curl up on the floor, sobbing quietly, feeling more alone than I ever have before.