Alicia POV
I arrived at the hotel room a few minutes ago, and I haven’t been really at peace. Did I make the right decision? Should I have worked with him? Those are the questions that keep lingering on my bed as I toss on the bed before I sit up.
Memories of the past came flooding my mind, and for the first time, I feel guilt wash through me. Thinking about Max makes me go crazy. I feel like I was being unfair to him. Although he later changed, which was all I ever wanted, but still, it didn’t change the fact that I hurt this emotion. I know this is too sudden, and you must think that I’m really crazy, but trust me, it’s nothing of such. I’m just feeling remorseful for my actions in the past. I don’t want to end up like Dennis, and with the way I’m going now, I might end up clouding my heart with hatred like him, and end up tormenting people, which is the last thing I would never want to do in my life. I need to make things right. Besides, I’ve always lived a sweet life after what happened in the past. Mr. Daniel and every other person gave me everything my parents couldn’t give me, so hurting them in return was like biting the fingers that fed me, and now I’m regretting everything.
Bearing in mind that I need to make things right, I reach out to my phone and unlock it. As I scroll through my phone, I feel my heart thumping heavily against my chest. I want to call Max, but I don’t even know what I’m going to tell him. Confessing to him will make him hate me so much, but then, I will feel at ease.
“Calm down, Alicia… Everything will be fine,” I assure myself before I dial his number, and as the phone starts ringing, I feel my blood pressure rising, my heartbeat multiplies now like it’s running a marathon in my chest.
The call ring for some time before he finally answers, and as his voice sounds through the phone, I feel my heart sink into my stomach.
“Hey…” He utters for the second time when I didn’t answer him at first, and I immediately regret calling his number in the first place. Maybe texting him would’ve been better, but since I already called him, what can I do but just talk to him?
“Uhm… Max… It’s me, Alicia,” I stutter, and I hear him scoff.
“Yes, I know… I can hear your voice,” He replies to me, and I slowly nod my head.
“Hmm… Can we meet? I have something to talk to you about,” I request, and silence reigns on the other end for some time.
“Ok,” He replies to me…
****
Later at the restaurant
My heart beats rapidly against my chest, my blood went cold, body trembles as I sit in front of him minutes later. I jam my sweaty palms together, rubbing them and trying to decrease my nervousness, but with his eyes boring into me, I don’t think that is ever going to be possible.
“Do you have something to say?” He asks as he leans forward, and I finally raise my gaze to look at him this time, our eyes piercing into each other.
“Uhm… Yes…” I pause and bite my bottom lip, thinking of how to say this to him.
“I’m sorry,” is The first word that escapes my lips, and he pulls a puzzled look as he stares at me for seconds before he reclines on the chair.
“Sorry? About what?” He stares at me confusingly, and I gulp down nothing nervously. I’m about to confess my crimes to him, but I don’t want to involve Alex. I don’t want him to hate his brother after I tell him everything.
“About everything… For playing you all along, for all of the things I have ever done to you. I know you loved me so much, but I…” I pause as a drop of tears slid down the corner of my cheeks.
“My life was full of lies and deceit… I lied to everyone around me to keep myself on the safer side… I lied to my dad, you, and even Alex. I know I don’t deserve to be forgiven, but can you please do this for the sake of the love you use to have for me?” I ask him, but he only stares back at me with an unreadable expression on his face.
“What are you sorry about? Is the fact that my dad and Alex set you up for me? The part that you all knew about Ariel from the onset? Or is it the part you aborted your baby and blamed me for everything, making me feel guilty?” He asks me calmly, and I narrow my eyes. Did he know about it all along?
“When… How did… did…”
“That’s not important. I want to set this straight, Alicia… I don’t care if you feel remorseful about your actions or not, but don’t you dare come anywhere close to my wife and kids. I won’t hesitate to kill you if you try something stupid,” He utters, and I slowly nod my head.
“I’m not thinking of harming them, Max… Yes, I have every reason to do that, but I won’t ever do such a thing… There is an enemy to be aware of. He is after Mr. Daniel’s family, and he is forcing me to evacuate the family and take all the properties for him,” I lean forward and whisper to him.
“It’s kind of complicated, but this man we are talking about now is my biological dad. Don’t ask me to explain how. I will tell you everything you need to know later, ok? You need to protect Mr. Daniel and his family, and…”
“Do you think you can fool me, Alicia? Do you think I will still believe you after everything you have done? I will be a fool to believe any of the things you say to me,” He cuts me off, and I bite my lip as I feel a sting in my heart. Those words hurt, but I don’t blame him though.
“I know everything, Alicia. How you and Alex are planning to get married… Is it Dennis you think I don’t know about? The man that has been blackmailing you to keep your dirty secret of not being an orphan from the onset, and you falling for all those shits and giving him money each time he required for it… Wait! Is it the part where you met him today that you think I know nothing about?” He scoffs, and my eyes slowly widen in shock as I freeze on the spot.
“Or the part you came to the restaurant yesterday and saw me with Alex? What part do you think I’m clueless about?” He asks as a smirk plays at the corner of his lips, and I gulp down nothing. How much more does he know about me? How much more of my secrets does he know about?
“Ho… how did you know?” I know the question doesn’t really matter at this point, but I still can’t help it. I need to know more about the secret he knows about me.
“You can’t fool me, Alicia,” He slowly shakes his head, ignoring my question.
“Alex… Are you two by chance playing me? Does he know you knew about this all along? Does he…”
“Yes, Alicia,” I freeze on the spot when I hear Alex’s voice behind me. No! This is not happening, please.
“Alex?” I spring up to my feet and turn to see him standing behind me. My heart sinks into my stomach as the realization dawn on me that I have been fooling around all this while. They have been playing me!