Maya's pov:

It was late summer. The weather was gradually changing to autumn, which was noticeably seen on the leaves that were starting to turn orange. The sun was out, but it wasn't too hot or too cold outside. In fact, it was actually soothing; the cold wind blowing, paired with the warm sun shining above.

After taking a stroll in the park nearby, I came back to the mansion only to find the irreplaceable darkness around my life and heavily depressing mood. I thought that the nature might heal my heart but, seemed to do the otherwise. The park gave me back the memories when I went out with Xavier and spent a good time with him. Coming back to the mansion, it was all about Xavier. There wasn't even a single corner in the mansion where I wouldn't get reminded of him. It was just a matter of few days and when I'd be able to get my own place, I'll leave this mention forever. But, till the time as I had no other option, I had to live here.

Side lining all the thoughts, I did my morning chores, had a good, relaxing hot shower, did my breakfast with Anna and resumed for my day. The time flew very quickly. In the middle of my meeting with a client, Anna came in to give me my lunch. She kept the lunch on the bed and left from the room. It was around 4.15, when my stomach started growling badly. I was hungry and then, my eyes fell on the food kept on the bed.

Before I could start with my lunch, a knock on the door made me look at it. It was Chris. A wide smile automatically made it's way on my face after seeing him. I terribly needed someone to talk to and spend time with and seeing him here at this moment made me excitedly go and throw myself at him. Being a good friend indeed, he understood my emotions and hugged me back tightly assuring that he is there for me.

"You're eating at this time?" He asked me seeing the food kept on the bed.

"Yeah. I kind of lost the track of time while working on a code."

"That's really not acceptable Maya. You should take care of your health. Working for such long hours on an empty stomach, is not good at all. You should take care of yourself. This is not way to behave." He scolded me like a father does to his child.

I don't know why but I couldn't take it anymore. Everything inside me started to flow out making their way with my tears. I knew I would look like a stupid to start crying on such a thing, but it's been week or more than that someone cared for me, looked after me, scolded me for my carelessness. Otherwise these days, not that I am bashing anyone but it was like, I had no family, no one to look after me.

He immediately hugged me, rubbing my back to comfort me. But, it didn't seem to help me at all. All that I had kept hidden in my heart, bounced back like a spring seeing someone there for me after so long.

"I'm so sorry Maya for shouting at you. But, you should also take care of yourself. This isn't a way to act. Sorry if you felt bad. I'm really sorry. Now, please calm down and stop crying. It's making me worry." Hearing his caring voice, I held back my emotions. I released myself from him and said, "I'm sorry for crying at such a small thing. Actually, I don't know what happened to me . But, I really felt good seeing you after so long."

He smiled back and even after my refusal, he took me out for lunch. I had an amazing time with him this afternoon. Soon it was the evening and time for us to go home. He said Bye only after promising that tomorrow he'll come back to take me shopping and for a movie.

The remaining night passed the same way. Eating dinner with Anna, both of us trying to initiate a conversation but not succeeding and then, finally crying myself to sleep.

.....

I was getting ready. Chris sent me a message that he's coming to pick me up in 10. I quickly put on a dress, made my hair and went downstairs. Chris was talking with Maya and it didn't seem like a good talk. Their stressed faces gave me the feeling that somewhere I was their topic of discussion. I cleared my throat and they were back to their smiling faces. But, tears in Anna's eyes weren't hidden. I decided to talk to Chris about this. Soon, we went out but, instead of taking towards the plaza, Chris turned the car towards the other side saying that he wanted me to meet someone.

"This is Lina. My girlfriend." He introduced an amazingly beautiful girl. Both of their eyes shining with happiness and love.

"Hi Maya. It's really nice to meet you in real. He keeps talking about you a lot and finally seeing you in front of my eyes, it's an honour." She said hugging me.

"It's nice to meet you too. You're really beautiful." I genuinely complimented her.

"Thanks. Even you look amazing." She said.

"Thank you. But, I think I've seen you somewhere. But, I'm not sure where." I was trying hard to remember if I've met her before.

"She is a model Maya. You might have seen her somewhere on the magazine or some hoarding."

"Oh yes. I have seen on the Beauty Peagents Magazine."

"Yeah." She said.

After a bit of chit chatting, we set out for some shopping and a fun day. Not that I was complaining but, Lina was one hell of a shopper, more than Daisy. After a really tiresome shopping, we decided to drop the movie plan and set out to Chris' home to relax.

His apartment or I'd rather say penthouse was really cozy and gave a feeling like a five star hotel. Seeing my shocked expressions, he made fun of me saying, "Your stupid brain does remember that I work as a really important asset to New York's top company, right?"

We were relaxing on the couch in his living room and watching FRIENDS when ringing of Lina's phone disturbed us. She cut the call and focused back on the TV when her phone ringed again.

"Pick it up Lina. It might be important." I told her.

"Hello....Yeah Lina speaking....Uhh sorry I don't know anyone of this name.... Who's this?.....What the hell are you talking. I don't know any Chris. I'm busy." Saying that she hung up the call.

"Who was that?" I asked her looking at her stressed face.

"Caroline. She is a model and I have worked with her before. I don't know how did she get my personal number."

The colour of my face faded out as soon as I heard her name.

"What was she saying?" Chris asked.

"She some how got to know about us both. She told me that she knew that we were dating from a long time and now if she doesn't get to talk to you, she'll expose it to the media. She'll let the media people know that I am dating you. She said that if I would not get her in touch with you within an hour, then she will do something." Her words shocked us both. Me and Chris.

Earlier Lina told me that she doesn't want to make her relationship with Chris public as of now. Because of the bad reputation of the entertainment industry and the people who are always ready to stir poison into other's life. If everyone knows Chris then she may lose him to some planning and plotting and she doesn't want that.

"How did she get to know about you both?" I asked them both. Lina was scared of the situation and Chris was all quite.

"Chris say something. She is really scared." I nudged him.

"Call her." Chris told Lina.

Both me and her were shocked by his words but we trusted him. Lina called her and put the phone on speaker.

"Well if it's not the great model." Her bitchy voice irritated me.

"Why are you troubling her Caroline?" Chris straight up launched his question at her.

"Ohh... Boyfriend for protection huh?" She let out a laugh.

"Straight to the point Caroline." Chris raised his voice.

"Oh attitude huh! Even I am not free all day to make efforts to talk to an assistant. You know what I want. Talk to your boss and get off those restraining orders, plus all the deals that he is snatching out from me."

"And what made you think that I will do all this?"

"Because I know about you and Lina. So if you care about your girlfriend even a bit, then you will go to your boss and do as I say." Caroline said. I was not getting a single thing from their conversation.

"You have worked with my boss for so long Caroline and you have been in touch of me on professional basis for so long. You should have known me enough for this. For me, my work and my boss, they are always my priority. And what do you think that if you expose our relationship, I'll let anything happen? By now, you should have known me better. I am very much capable of protecting my girlfriend and our relationship. You can do whatever the fuck you want because I am not doing as you say." Chris straight away refused.

"You can't do this to me Chris. He has done every possible thing to ruin me and my career. Because of the restraining orders, I can't even go near him and convince him by myself. He is not reachable through any of my contacts. He snatched all of my deals from his companies and because of that, it affected my reputation a lot. Everyone who got to know about Xavier backing out from casting me as his model, they withdrew all the partnerships and deals. I can't let this thing happen. My career is drowning. You can name anything, just anything. I'll give it to you. What do you want? Money? Luxury? Whatever you want, just name it." Caroline said.

"Rather than thinking about me so much, you should focus on trying to save your career. And let me just warn you this time. If you try to do any thing that will by any chance hurt my boss, me or my girlfriend, then this time you won't be saved. And as far as I am concerned, if you keep on troubling my girlfriend, then beside my boss's restraining order, you will find a legal notice from my side too. I'll make sure that I'll drag you to court. Just keep this in mind and if you don't want to defame yourself because of the court procedures then, stay away from me and my life." With that Chris hung up the call and rubbed his forehead in irritation. Lina tried to calm him down.

I was shocked with all the things I heard. I was really flabbergasted to listen to Caroline. I thought Xavier loved her. That's why he cheated on me. But, here he is trying to destroy her. What's happening? I need to know everything. Something is surely missing in the information I have.

"Chris explain." I asked Chris.

"Maya please. I'm really stressed." He replied.

"I said now Chris. I don't care how much stressed you're. But I know one thing for sure, that you know each and every detail of this whole scene."

"Yes, I know everything. I am aware of all the things that you are not. Just because I listened to Mr. Adams and you refused to do that. I trusted on him but you didn't." He shouted.

"Chris will you please stop taunting her? This time I am with her. She must be aware of what is happening with her and her husband's life. Just spill out the things Chris. She is really stressed." Lina interrupted for the first time.

"I know baby, she is stressed. But, I can't do anything in this. She was the first one who got to know the reality. But, she refused to trust her husband.

I am not taunting you Maya. I am just stating the fact and as far as revealing the details to you are concerned, I am not going to do that. I will respect my boss and his decision as well as his order for me to not say anything to you."

"Don't you dare rant about your boss. If you don't remember this thing, then let me remind you that I'm still his wife. And, I'm ordering you to tell me what happened. If not, then I'm going to Caroline. From somewhere or the other, I'll get her address. If you want me to go to her and risk myself, then I'm all ready."

"You can't do that Maya. Mr. Adams won't like it. He'll kill me if I let you do that."

"That's not my concern. Either you tell me or you'll be seeing me for the last time." I stood up to leave.

"Okay fine." Finally! He agreed.

Chris told me everything happening from the day I saw Caroline with Xavier. I was shocked would be an understatement. I didn't know what to do and how to react. I was taken a back by his revealations and stood rooted to my place.

"Wait. I also have to CCTV footage of that day of Mr. Adams' cabin. We used it for issuing the restraining orders from the court." Chris got up and brought his laptop.

As soon as I saw the footage, my heart stopped. It means he was saying the truth that day that I should have stayed there one more second, then I would have found out the truth.

Oh God, what blunder did I make? I really should have trusted him. I committed huge mistake and I know he won't forgive me for that. He was saying truth all the time and I was the idiot one who didn't trust him. I was really not worthy of his trust. When he needed me the most, I wasn't there to support him. Rather, I was the one who caused him that pain.

I collapsed to my knees and clutched the shag carpet underneath me. My chest heaved as I forced breath after trembling breath from my lips. I coughed and choked on my saliva. My muscles were still quaking and my head was still buzzing from the adrenaline surge. This was not supposed to happen like this. Tears poured down my face as a sob escaped from my mouth before I could stop it: " Why?"

Lina and Chris immediately came and hugged me from both the sides. I was crying hysterically, not being able to hold back neither my tears, not my guilt. This whole thing is even worse than the accident.

I immediately got up and said, "No, I can't keep on crying like this. I made a huge mistake. But, I'll convince him. I will go to him and beg for forgiveness. I should go. I have to go right now."

"You can't do anything right now Maya. He is at the airport right now. He is moving to France." Chris' words made me tremble with fear.

"No, I can't lose him forever. No." I shouted.

"There must be some way Chris. I can't let him go. No. Just help me please. Please, I can't let him go."

"He won't listen Maya. He must have reached the airport. Within sometime he'll board his plane and go." Chris told me.

That's it. My world stopped right there. I lost him. I lost my husband. The only person who truly and genuinely cared for me. I did a huge mistake and I am not even able to correct it. My knees gave in and I stumbled on the carpet, crying my heart out on my terrible fate and destiny that give me a wonderful man to cherish but, I lost him because of my stupidness and lack of trust. He was mine to cherish but, I rather broke him down completely.