novelraw Chapter 45: Old times
Chapter 45: Old times
Chapter 45: Old timesMara lay awake, staring at the ceiling, her mind restless. No matter how hard she tried, there was something her memories refused to reveal—a piece of the past just out of reach.
"You can sleep in my room tonight," Steve murmured, his voice gentle. "I’ll have Mom’s room prepared for you and get you new things." It was an old habit of his, as if he could read her thoughts before she even spoke them.
Mara offered a small smile. "No, it’s fine," she whispered.
Steve leaned against the doorframe, watching her. "Everything’s just as you left it. We didn’t want to risk you throwing a tantrum if anything had changed." His lips curled into a teasing grin. "Someone did touch a few things, but I guess you’ve outgrown this room. Our little Stafania, ten years old in my mind... and now, about to be a mother."
She barely heard him. The room around her felt frozen in time, yet everything in it seemed to reach for her, urging her to remember. And just like always, her thoughts stopped at that one night—the night that changed everything.
"Yeah, and she’s twenty," Mara added with a small smirk.
Steve chuckled. "Don’t feel bad. Stay in my room tonight. I’m sure the others will be jealous."
He had only stopped by to check on her, to see if she was comfortable, but there she was—still awake, lying on the bed, lost in thought.
"Make yourself at home," he continued. "You’ve always loved stealing my clothes anyway. First thing tomorrow, we’ll get you new ones." His voice softened. "And I’ve already started the process for the annulment. Don’t worry about a thing—I’ll handle all the details. You won’t have to see him again."
Mara let out a quiet smile, but her heart felt heavy.
Before everything fell apart, Ethan had given her a place when she thought she belonged nowhere. He had loved her, cared for her. She wondered—when had that changed? Had she been too blind to see it coming?
"Alright, Steve, but I..." Her voice faltered.
"You don’t have to go back to Anderson Law either," he said gently, studying her face. "You can start fresh at Shepherds Law Firm. It’s not as big, but we have high-profile clients too. You’ll fit right in."
She looked at him,
"I don’t mind," Caleb said, resting his arms on the table. "It’s been too long. We have a lot to catch up on."
And just like that, the conversation flowed. They talked about old memories, childhood mischief, and the way life had pulled them in different directions. For the first time in a while, Mara found herself genuinely laughing. Caleb had a way of making things feel light, easy.
But just as she was beginning to forget the weight of everything, a presence loomed behind her.
"Mara."
Her heart stilled. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. The voice alone sent a shiver down her spine, she turned to face the person standing there.
Daniel.
His tall frame was relaxed, but his sharp eyes held something unreadable, amusement, maybe even a hint of triumph.
"Well, well," he drawled, crossing his arms. "Look who’s finally coming up for air."
Caleb tensed beside her, instantly sensing the shift in mood. But Mara kept her expression calm, unwilling to give Daniel the reaction he was looking for.
"You’re in a good mood," she noted dryly.
Daniel chuckled, shaking his head. "I warned you, didn’t I? Told you not to trust her." He leaned in slightly. "Tell me, Mara, where’s Maria? Haven’t seen her around."
Mara’s fingers curled around the edge of the table. The mention of Maria—her best friend, the woman she had seen with Ethan—sent a fresh wave of anger and betrayal crashing over her.
Daniel tilted his head, studying her. "You really thought she wouldn’t betray you?" His smirk deepened. "And now, what? You’re running? Hiding?"
Caleb’s voice was calm but firm. "Man, if you came here to cause trouble, you can leave."
But Daniel ignored him, his gaze locked on Mara. "You know I won’t let her raise our child alone, right?" His voice dropped lower, a quiet challenge. "I won’t make the same mistake twice."
Mara’s heart pounded. She had spent so much time trying to forget, trying to move forward. But Daniel, Daniel was here to remind her that the past wasn’t done with her yet.
Daniel smirked, his words sharp and deliberate. "If you don’t know where she is, maybe your husband does. Besides, here you are with another man—one thing I’ve always admired about you, Mara. You move on fast."
He turned and walked away, leaving his words to linger like a bad taste in the air.
Mara clenched her fists, her mind racing. As much as she hated to admit it, Daniel had a point. What if Ethan did know where Maria was? What if they were still seeing each other? The thought made her stomach twist. And worse—Ethan hadn’t even tried to call her, hadn’t come looking for her since last night.
Is this how he planned to fix things? By doing nothing?
Her anger flared. Without thinking, she grabbed her bag and pushed back her chair.
"I’m sorry, Caleb," she said hastily, barely meeting his concerned gaze. "We’ll catch up another time, I need to go."
"Stafania, wait—" Caleb started, but she was already turning away.
By the time he managed to settle the bill and rush outside, she was gone, her car speeding down the road.
Caleb exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. Whatever had just happened, it wasn’t good. And something told him Mara was about to make a reckless decision.