от
Not long after, Maria was released.
A friend informed me that her father had moved to Wave City and rented a modest
apartment with her and her three children.
I thought that after everything she had been through, she might finally focus on her kids and
move on with her life..
However, I was wrong.
One morning, as I headed downstairs, Maria followed me.
“Ryan, I made your favorite chicken soup. Try it!”
Before I could respond, she had already placed a lunchbox in front of me.
She looked up at me, her eyes cautious, her tone soft. “I know I’ve done wrong before. I
ignored your feelings, but I’ve learned my lesson. Please, just give me one more chance!
I promise I’ll…”
Before she could finish, the slam of a car door cut her off.
I turned toward the sound and saw Elena standing next to her car, her face set in a severe
expression.
My heart sank. I instinctively stepped forward, wanting to explain, but Maria grabbed my arm, holding on with surprising force.
“Ryan, are
re you really going to leave me for another woman? We were married for five years!
That’s not something you can just throw away!”
She tugged at my arm, tears spilling down her cheeks. “Look, I even cut my hand while making this soup for you. It hurts so much…”
Her performance was cut short by Elena, who stormed over and slapped Maria’s hand away.
“Maria, wasn’t Hector’s punishment enough for you? Now you’re trying your tricks on my
man?” Elena’s voice was sharp.
“Why don’t you go home and take care of your kids instead of harassing other people’s
boyfriends?”
At the mention of Hector, Maria’s face twisted, but the moment she looked at me, her
expression softened.
“Elena, why do you always have to pick a fight with me? I know I wronged you before, but
haven’t I suffered enough? Must you drive me to despair?”
She took my hand in hers. “Ryan and I share five years of history. That’s something you can’t just take away.”
Her manipulative act sent a wave of nausea rolling through me.
I yanked my hand free and stepped back, wrapping an arm protectively around Elena.
*Maria, I’ve told you before: whatever we had is over. Please respect that.”
With a firm but calm voice, I added, “Elena is my girlfriend now. I’d appreciate it if you stayed. far away from her, too.”
12:00 Tue, 17 Dec
With a firm but calm voice, I added, “Elena is my girlfriend now. I’d appreciate it if you stayed for away from her, too.”
I saw a hint of a smile flicker across Elena’s lips.
Without hesitation, she leaned up and kissed my cheek.
The sudden rush of warmth and affection made my heart race.
Maria, on the other hand, froze, her expression locked in a mix of disbelief and fury.
She gripped her lunchbox so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Maria probably had never imagined, not in her wildest dreams, that she would face such humiliation.
As if to rub salt in the wound, Elena kissed me several more times.
Maria couldn’t take it anymore.
She threw a hand over her face and ran off, her sobs trailing faintly in the distance.
* 71%
I thought Maria would eventually give up, but to my surprise, she seemed to revel in this ridiculous pursuit.
Every day, like clockwork, she brought food to me. If she failed to block me at my place, then she would come to my office.
When I arrived at work, my desk would invariably have a bouquet of flowers with a note tucked inside, filled with apologios and desperate attempts to win me back.
ith
After work, during my usual basketball games, she always appeared courtside, sitting there
ith her foolish, hopeful grin.
Even when I ignored her completely, she stayed.
My friends joked about my “dedicated fan,” but I could only shake my head in exasperation.
At first, I chalked it up to her being unable to cope with the upheaval in her life. I thought she just needed time to accept reality.
But I had underestimated her.
That day, our company hosted an interdepartmental basketball tournament. In the final moments
our team scored a game–winning shot.
Everyone celebrated with a barbecue right on the court.
As the night wore on, I felt a little lightheaded from the drinks and decided to sleep in my car
rather than drive home.
- to.
car.
