Jasmine returned to the guest house, feeling angry and frustrated. The moment she stepped inside, Nathaniel approached her, concern immediately written across his face.
"How did it go?"
"Bad." Jasmine sighed. "I'm sure they don't want you anymore."
Nathaniel's expression fell.
"Oh no."
He lowered himself into a chair and remained there for a long while, silently thinking about everything that had happened. His mind kept returning to Maya and the way she had reacted to the truth.
After some time, he finally lifted his head.
"I need to meet her myself."
***
Maya went to Valcrest Mansion. When she entered, she found Duncan in his office, occupied with some work. She didn't bother knocking. She simply walked inside.
"I heard what happened," Duncan said, putting his work aside for a moment.
"The Duke isn't as perfect as we thought." Maya sighed.
"That's bad. But what are you planning to do now?" Duncan asked.
"Father said he has found me another suitor."
Duncan gave her a questioning look. "Do you want another suitor?"
"No." Maya shook her head. "I don't even know what I want anymore. I'm just tired."
Duncan smiled gently. "I'm sorry. It must be stressful. I wish I could help, but I don't have any suitor in mind."
Maya simply nodded and sat down opposite him. For a while, neither of them spoke. The silence between them was comfortable until Maya finally broke it.
"It isn't easy being a woman, you know. Sometimes, I envy men."
Duncan smiled. "Yes, I do. I remember when my sister was young. My mother did everything possible to find her a suitor until Lord Skender came along."
"You're lucky." Maya sighed. "If I were your age, I would probably have been married with children a long time ago."
Duncan chuckled. "Yeah. And you would probably be bossing your husband around."
Maya looked at him. "And why would I do that?"
"I don't know." Duncan shrugged playfully. "Because you're you."
"Hmmmm, sure." Maya smiled. "I would boss him around. After all, he would be my husband."
Duncan laughed. "Let's see then. Whoever marries you, I'll have a serious warning for him on his wedding day."
Maya laughed, too.
For the first time that day, their laughter was genuine. As they continued talking and teasing each other, Maya found herself missing moments like this-when they could laugh over silly things without worrying about anything else. It reminded her of their childhood and how simple everything used to be.
After spending more time with Duncan, Maya eventually returned home.
The ride back was smooth and quiet. But the moment she stepped down from the carriage, she noticed a tall figure standing behind her.
"Maya, can we talk?" Nathaniel asked.
The anger returned to her face immediately. She didn't answer. She simply turned and began walking toward the mansion.
"Maya, please. Just give me a minute. Let me explain myself."
Nathaniel hurried after her, desperate to catch up.
"Enough!" Maya snapped, stopping abruptly. She turned toward him, her expression cold. "I have nothing to say to someone like you. I still can't believe I was ever so close to someone like you."
Nathaniel's face tightened with pain.
"I know I should have been sincere from the beginning, but I had my reaso-"
"Keep it to yourself!" Maya cut him off sharply.
Nathaniel swallowed hard.
"I really love you, Maya. I do." His voice became desperate. "Please. Let's go back to how things were before."
"No way!" Maya flung her hands into the air. "I can't be with a liar and a deceiver. And please, get out of my house. I never want to see you again."
Nathaniel stared at her as though those words had physically wounded him.
"No. I can't leave." His voice cracked slightly. "I'm already attached to you, Maya. I can't just walk away from you as if none of this ever happened."
Maya's expression hardened.
"Guard!"
The guards arrived almost immediately, bowing their heads as they approached. They already had an idea of what was happening after everything that had occurred.
"Throw him out," Maya ordered coldly. "And make sure he never returns."
The guards immediately stepped forward and grabbed Nathaniel.
"Maya!"
Nathaniel struggled against their hold as they dragged him away.
"Maya, please!"
His voice echoed across the grounds.
She didn't turn around.
"Maya! Please, just listen to me!"
The guards pulled him farther from the mansion. Nathaniel's desperation grew as he realized she wasn't going to stop them.
"I love you, Maya!"
His voice broke as he called her name again.
"Maya!"
For a brief moment, his eyes remained fixed on her back, hoping she would turn around.
She never did.
The guards dragged him through the gates and away from the Ashbourne Mansion while his voice slowly faded into the distance.
Maya stood there for a moment, forcing herself not to look back. Then she turned and walked inside.
She had had enough for one day.
The moment Maya reached her room, she closed the door behind her and walked straight to the bed. She lay down, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Her heart was beating rapidly, so hard that it felt as though it might burst from her chest.
She closed her eyes, but Nathaniel's words kept replaying in her mind.
"I really love you, Maya."
Her chest tightened.
Did he truly love her? Or had he only wanted to marry her because he needed someone to become the mother of his child?
Was everything between them real? Had the bond she felt between them ever meant anything to him?
One question followed another, leaving her more confused than before.
Maya eventually sat up. As she looked across the room, her eyes fell on the gifts Nathaniel had given her.
She slowly got up and walked toward them.
The dress.
The flowers.
The jewellery.
She stared at them for a long moment before her eyes settled on the sapphire necklace.
She picked it up gently.
The necklace shimmered under the light, and for a moment, she simply stared at it. Then the memories came rushing back.
Their date.
The way Nathaniel had looked at her.
The way he had treated her.
The moments when she had believed she finally understood him and now, everything has felt different.
A tear slipped down her cheek, then another.
Maya quickly wiped them away, almost angry with herself.
"Why am I crying?"
Her voice trembled. She looked down at the necklace again, but this time, she couldn't stop the tears.
She remembered everything they had shared and, for a painful moment, remembered what their fate had once seemed to be.
Maybe that was why it hurt so much.
Maybe she wasn't crying because she wanted to forgive him.
Maybe she was crying because, despite everything he had done, a part of her still remembered the man she had loved.
The man she thought she knew. The man she had once believed she would have a future with.
Maya's fingers loosened around the necklace, and it slipped from her hand. She turned away, wiping her tears again, but they continued to fall.
She had told Nathaniel she never wanted to see him again. She had meant every word.
So why did her heart still hurt?
Exhausted from everything that had happened, Maya eventually returned to her bed. She lay down, her eyes still wet, and stared into the darkness.
After a while, sleep finally claimed her.