Maria walked calmly back to class after the chaos, her steps light, as if the earlier scene hadn't shaken her at all. As she rounded a corner, Mike grabbed her wrist and turned her toward him.
"Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" he asked, scanning her wrist with a frown.
Maria paused, her eyes meeting his. There was a storm of emotion behind her calm demeanor—confusion, anger, memories.
"I'm fine. Thank you for earlier," she said, gently pulling her hand from his grasp.
One of his lackeys suddenly chimed in, trying to lighten the mood. "Sister-in-law, you have no idea how fast Mike ran when he heard you were in trouble!"
He said that to improve Chris reputation in her eyes but who except Maria to say this.
Maria gave him a soft smile. "Thank you all for helping. But I'm not your brother's wife, nor your sister-in-law. We're not friends, and I would appreciate it if we didn't pretend to be. I'll return the favor eventually, but I'd like us to stop interacting from now on."
She turned to Mike, meeting his eyes with a blank stare. "That includes you."
And with that, she walked off.
Behind her, one of the boys blinked. "Did… did she just reject Mike?"one of Mike lackey asked
"Tsk why is she acting so proud for Chris rush here to help her the best she can do is at least appreciate it yet she is cutting the rope after crossing the bridge"one of the lackey with brown hair replied
"Tsk since when do you know metaphor one of the lackey rex asked the lackey with brown hair "
"Maybe it's her attitude that made him fall for her…?"
"Brother Mike what make you..."rex stop talking when they notice Mike was not there
They looked around. Mike was gone.
---
Back at the hall, the silence was broken by the sound of an ambulance. The vice principal had snapped out of his daze and made the call. Students were scattered everywhere, some gossiping, others filming, while teachers tried to regain control.
Some students look at ivy with weird eyes still not believing the story some walk up to ask her .
Hey Ivy do you know Ella is like this she will go this low and I notice ella and you are not close but not this close the girl asked looking at her suspiciously, Ivy Open her mouth to say something the hold her head and pretended to faint.
the school bully quickly carried her princess style "how can you suspect ivy after everything and even after someone fainted you want to still ask her to satisfy your gossip story if anything happened to ivy I will make your life hell" he said and ran to the infirmary.
---
In the nurse's office, Ivy lay on the bed with her eyes closed, lips trembling.
She slipped out of my control… Maria… she's changing she tried to deserve herself and tell herself she is still in control after all the signal now see how it land her . And Mike—why did he help her? This isn't how it was supposed to go Mike was hers for ever…
Outside, the bully softly stroked her hair, thinking she was having a nightmare.
---
Maria placed her trophy into her locker, her fingers brushing the cool metal. She sighed.
Mike never helped me in the past during the art festival maybe is because I didn't participate so everything is going different that mean something that didn't happen in the past might happen now . The timeline is shifting. That's not a good sign… If things keep changing, I'll have to speed up my revenge .
After packing her things, she left. With everything that had happened, classes had been canceled for the day.
At the convenience store, she grabbed a basket and began selecting snacks. The door behind her opened with a small chime.
A tall boy entered, dressed in a white shirt and black joggers, a black cap hiding his hair. He wasn't as tall as Mike, but tall enough. Pale skin, a well-proportioned face, and phoenix eyes that gleamed michivouly ,pink lip his fingers where slender like the hand of a pioneset and he has that delicate look about him making adding a touch of cuteness to his cool boy look.
He walked straight to the ice cream freezer.
Maria glanced at him briefly and went back to her snacks.
A woman with a small child entered the store the boy told his mom he want ice cream the one in the strangers hand the mother asked the salesperson who told her that only one of that ice cream is left as it was the popular brand the mother and son walked up to the boy.
"Excuse me, can we have that ice cream you're holding? My son wants it."
The boy raised it slightly out of reach. "There are others in the freezer. Take one from there. Why should I give you mine?"
" But this is the last one and my son needs it don't tell me that you will not give my son this small child ice cream the woman accused.
The boy look at her and rolled his eyes"is he my brother his he my son why should I give him the ice cream first come first serve have you heard of that and is this how you ask someone for help acting like a wife if a governor"
The woman gasped, insulted. "Tsk. Kids these days. No manners. Would it kill you to just give it? Are your parents raising you like animals?"
He simply shrugged and walked to the snack aisle.
Her son, meanwhile, snuck toward Maria's cart and tried to grab a candy bar.
Maria caught his wrist before he could snatch it.
"Let go! It's just candy it is mine all candy is mine !" the child whined.
The mother turned and saw her son crying. She rushed at Maria, raising her hand to slap her.
Maria caught her wrist mid-air. "Your son tried to steal. And you think slapping me is the solution?
The woman glare at Maria " my son is just asking for some candy and you refuse to give my son ice cream and bully the child and you said I should not slap you she yelled
Maria sneared and let go of the woman hand and look at her
" You rushed in without asking for anything and raise your hand to slap me even if you don't want to ask me and you got angry cause your kid is crying and trying to slap me it is justified and so is me holding your hand so you will not slap me I first thought your kid is acting this way as tantrums but you still angry after finding out he tried to steal my chocolate is enough to talk about his home training"
The woman glare at Maria then slapped herself and began wailing. "She hit me! This generation has no morals!"
People gathered, whispering.
"Tsk. No respect," someone murmured.
The boy from earlier leaned against the shelf, watching. "Tsk this generation did not have respect this woman want to act drama and make someone apologize to her even if she is in the wrong and you did not let her do as she wants very bad manners he said to Maria then look at the woman is that what you want to hear at least she should have slapped you to make it feel real Would've made the drama worth it. You guys just rush into conclusions just because a older woman said she was being abused did you miss the CCTV above your heads?"
He pointed upward. "You're all judging blindly. That's what happens when people believe crying louder means being right."
The child screamed, "You're all stupid! Mommy said everything in the world belongs to me!"
Maria raised an eyebrow. "Everything in the world belongs to you and your mother can't afford to buy you a candy and you try to steal mine "
The woman looked around. But no one defended her.
"Even if your parents didn't raise you right, shouldn't your grandma have probably don't have it is good cause if they see you guys character they would have jumpy to their grave?" the woman shouted one last time.
The boy scoffed. "I'll ask my grandma to teach me manners the moment your son learns what stealing means and the moment you have manner and seeing you it is going to take a long time ."
He walked to the counter.
Maria followed.
"Thanks for speaking up. I was getting a headache thinking about how to explain all that."
"I didn't do it for you. The stock I bought rose today. I was in a good mood so I think if helping and next time don't try to prove yourself right by talking show them action and give no fuck how they think by your actions of proving yourself right cause even if you prove yourself right calmly some people will still have way to talk back at you. I'm Jake, by the way."
Maria nodded, paid, and left.
Jake watched her leave with a grin. "Interesting."
---
At home, laughter filled the living room. Maria stepped in quietly nobody noticing her .
Oliver sat on the couch, surrounded by their parents and grandmother. Everyone looked so happy… until they noticed Maria.
"Tsk. What kind of daughter comes home this late?" Grandma snapped.thsibsu what you raise she asked our mother.
Grandma give Maria a break she just came home and you are shouting at her let the girl rest Oliver said calmly to their grandparents and gave Maria a smile.
Maria's mother sneered. "Don't help her Oliver I know this girl She probably went chasing after Chris again who doesn't know will think I didn't raise her right. Thank God for Oliver. At least I have one good daughter."
"Don't say thatmkm or I will get angry" Oliver said sweetly. "Maria's still my sister and your daughter you should not care what others think of her as long as she is happy and for Maria chasing Chris I don't believe it my sister is so beautiful it is the other way around right Maria doistand there come hug me ."
" Tsk stupid child standing there like a statue go to your room and stop being a eyesore already can't even greet her grandparents and parents her father said
"Glad you're back. The house won't feel empty now and I hope you have a safe journey coming home ," she said flatly and went upstairs.
---
That night, Maria lay on her bed, eyes closed.
Oliver. The favorite. She was always perfect in their eyes the golden child always knows how to light a room the opposite of her and the only one who cared about her and also the one she is being compared to so she doesn't even know how to feel around her .
Did she cry for her when she died ?Did any of them cry when I died? Did they found out how she died?
Her breath slowed. Sleep took her.
---
Past Life - After Maria's Death(1)
"Tsk. I wouldn't have killed you if Mike had let go of you," Ivy muttered, standing over Maria's lifeless body. "But no. He still loved you. Even after I told him you gave your heart to Chris and took Chris failing heart . He even came back from abroad… for you. So I killed you. Simple."
She kicked Maria's body. " I would have let you stay longer but you gat to go Bye Bye, sweetheart. You ruined my plan for making Chris love you, but now you're out of the way."
---
At Oliver's Home (Past Life)
Maria's mother scoffed at her phone. "She called again—said Ivy kidnapped her. That disgusting girl. Always lying. Ivy treats her like family and support her no matter what she did to ivy but she continues to blame ivy for her downfall tsk if not that she is my child I would not have given a care !"
"She's no daughter of mine. Don't tell Oliver. She'll only try to defend her again and find ways to bring her back which is not fair our reputation she is a lost cause," her father replied.
They didn't know Oliver stood on the stairs, silently listening.
---------
The moment Mike helicopter landed he came down and walked to the limo ,find her and bring her for me he instructed his men and wave his hand as his driver started driving convoys of expensive cars following him
---
Chris house
Mike cars drive to Chris estates,Chris bodyguard tried to stop his men probably giving instructions by Chris not to let him in but who is he Mike Hade Night. He came down if his cars as his men and Chris men fought it out he entered the house hands inside his pocket looking like a cool Mafia boss he walk upstairs.
Mike kicked the door open. "WHERE IS SHE?!"
Chris looked up lazily from his desk. " Tsk I thought only in drama that actors kick down people doors but here you are .Do you think you're in a drama? Only actors kick doors like that where is the cameras
Mike just look at him
Did your hand break or something? That you have to kick my door like that not like it was locked "Chris countinued
"Why did you do it?! When did you know?, why did you not try to help !" Mike asked .
"What are you even talking about? If you're going to ask questions at least make it have sense is this a math question that you are asking confusing questions."
Mike clenched his fists. "Don't act stupid! When did you find out about everything he roared.
Chris look at him camly and chuckle "556678990"
Mike raise a eyebrows at him.
That is my account number I receive transfer you broke my door don't you think you will pay for it this door is expensive you know not everyone have money like you don't you know that I can't be spending money on doors all the time "Chris replied lazily.
Mike glare at him and walk to him and stop when his phone rang he answered it and his expression went cold he looked at Chris then left the house.
Chris walk to the window and look at him as he rush to his car his expression calm and thoughtful then he turned and look at his door and frown.
"He did not pay for the door tsk is this what people feel like not to be safe at their own house and not able to change destiny forget destiny my door is broken and I pick this wood personal it was so expensive " he muble to himself as he looks at his door with pity .
(End of past)