SERENDIPITY

~34~ Disappointment And Guilt ✔️

"What the actual hell is happening here?" a voice exclaimed, filled with disbelief.

My eyes widened like saucers as I realized whose voice it was. Maverick's roaming hand froze in its tracks.

"Shit," he cursed, releasing his grip on me.

I shifted my gaze from the floor to the source of the voice, my lower lip caught between my teeth in sheer embarrassment. Heat rushed to my cheeks when our eyes met.

"Can someone please explain what the hell is happening here?" he furrowed his brows, fixing me with a penetrating stare.

"I... Uh...we... Um," I stammered, my lips trembling. I struggled to find a better explanation for what had just unfolded.

"You know what?" he interrupted, his voice rough. "Forget it. I'll pretend I didn't see any of this," disappointment etched across his face, he shook his head. "Excuse me," he said without sparing me another glance, and walked away.

I hurriedly followed him, taking long strides that nearly caused me to trip. Maverick came closer to me, but I held up my hand, signaling him to stay away. "Don't," I commanded firmly, my voice leaving no room for negotiation.

"Mariella..." he called out softly, his tone pleading. I turned my back to him and stepped outside, shutting the door behind me.

Frantically scanning the area, my eyes locked onto him making his way toward his car. I hastened my steps, gripping his hand firmly to prevent him from unlocking the car door.

"Let go of my hand," he uttered slowly, deliberately avoiding eye contact.

"Please, Adrian, let me explain," I pleaded, my voice filled with desperation.

"If my memory serves me right, I already gave you a chance to do that, but surprisingly, you couldn't," he tilted his head, his gaze finally meeting mine.

"Adrian, I was shocked and..."

"Shocked?" he interjected, disbelief evident in his voice. "You were clearly relishing every moment of what he was doing to you," he shouted, and I flinched at the intensity of his words. "I trusted you when you said he was forcing himself on you, but now, as a witness to what just unfolded, I'm compelled to think otherwise."

"What?" I muttered, taken aback by the accusation.

"Why did you lie, Mari? Why didn't you openly admit that you were cheating on Ethan with his own uncle, instead of weaving a web of lies for me to believe that Maverick was solely at fault, and you, the faithful girlfriend, were doing everything in your power to reject him?" He grasped my shoulders, shaking me in frustration. "Huh?" he exclaimed, abruptly releasing me, causing me to stumble.

"Adrian, I..." I began, my voice trembling.

"I'm disappointed in you, Mari. You could have handled this situation with more integrity," he shook his head, a deep sense of disappointment etched on his face. "Playing games with an uncle and his nephew? Wealth truly has changed you." I turned my head sharply to look at him, my eyes filled with disbelief.

"Sometimes, I feel like I don't even know you anymore," he uttered, his words heavy with sadness. With that, he opened his car door and drove away.

Collapsed on my knees, tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. If the only person who understood Maverick's true intentions, the one I trusted aside from Mia, believed I was betraying Ethan and saw me as a different person now, what would others think?

I wiped away the tears with the back of my hand, stood up on shaky legs, and smoothed out my dress. Taking deep breaths to compose myself, I made my way back to the house and stepped inside. Ethan stood next to Maverick, engrossed in conversation. Maverick appeared calm and collected, as if the events that had just unfolded never took place. They both halted their conversation as soon as they noticed my presence. Ethan's face lit up with a wide smile, and I forced my own lips to mirror the gesture. The muscles in my cheeks ached from the strain of maintaining a fake smile.