Maya’s POV

Gabriel sat next to Olivia with rehearsed precision, his actions smooth and intentional—perfect. He acknowledged the waiter with a formal nod while his arm rested behind my mother's chair and his fingers brushed her back.

It felt impossible to believe those hands had touched me mere days before.

Like he hadn’t kissed me like a man starved , held me like I was something he didn’t want to let go of.

Beneath the soft dress fabric my stomach twisted violently yet I maintained a steady expression. My reaction remained unaltered. I smiled.

Olivia’s talked to me about the Tuscany plans while she leaned against Gabriel displaying the radiant glow of a woman deeply in love. “We’re thinking spring right? ”

Gabriel shifted his position toward her and his eyes swept past me during a brief moment before he gave a nod.

“Spring sounds perfect.” His voice was like velvet smooth and measured. Unshaken.

Before my frustration led to destruction, I compelled my gaze to shift away.

The restaurant blurred around me. The sound of silverware clinking blended with diners' quiet laughter and the mellow piano music which reached me from across the room.

How?

How could he sit there beside her discussing wedding venues and whispering sweet nothings when just over a week ago he had me pressed against a hotel wall breathless and begging for more?

I stretched my hand toward the wine and drank at once which caused the bitter liquid to scorch my throat. The distraction became a necessity for me.

“Are you okay sweetheart?” Olivia turned toward me with a furrowed brow before posing her question.

My eyes closed briefly before I nodded while wearing a smile that remained disconnected from genuine emotion. “Yeah. I’m just…surprised that’s all, nothing else.”

My mother giggled softly. “I know.

Our coffee meetings quickly changed into nightly outings with him before I realized what was happening. He just swept me off my feet. ”

A wave of bitterness swept through me as my cheeks flushed and I thought, "I bet he did."

“When he asked me to marry him I considered the proposal and decided it was worth accepting.” She looked at him adoringly. “He’s different. He makes me feel safe. ”

Safe.

My gaze fixed upon the untouched food on my plate while any desire to eat had vanished.

Gabriel smiled at her—so tender so perfect it made my stomach twist into knots—and I wanted to scream. My desire burned to rise and shout that everything was a lie and he cheated on her with me. The man she trusted who was her future partner had taken a piece of her daughter without ever learning her name.

Or maybe he did know.

I attempted to maintain a regular breathing pattern. I struggled to prevent the corrosive effects of jealousy from destroying my inner being. The man who made him feel good will now give my mom the same.

Jealousy. Twisted ugly shameful.

I did experience it even though I had no desire to do so.

Her beauty tonight filled me with resentment because she looked so happy. My inability to feign excitement to match her feelings filled me with frustration. A deep-seated loathing burned within me because some part of my being still yearned for him, yearned to make him mine and mine alone.

The moment the check arrived Gabriel extended an offer to cover the payment. Of course he did. The gentleman. The provider.

We found ourselves outside the restaurant minutes later, where I expressed my gratitude by saying “Thank you. For dinner and making my mother so happy.”

His hand rested awkwardly on the small of her back as he pulled Olivia into an embrace. "Meeting you was a delightful experience, Maya," he declared with polished courtesy.”

My gaze scarcely landed upon him before I averted my eyes. His eyes were too calm, too guarded.

I plastered yet another artificial smile on my face. “Sure. Of course. I’ll head home now. Big day in the office tomorrow.”

Upon arriving home I collapsed onto the couch with my heels still on and my coat hanging off one shoulder. The quietness within my living room reached an overwhelming intensity.

My eyes remained fixed on the ceiling for an extended period as I attempted to decipher the mental turmoil within my mind.

I should be angry. Disgusted. At him. At myself. At all of it.

I placed my palms against my eyes with force until the resulting pressure caused dizziness. This was a nightmare. And the punchline? My future stepfather and I had engaged in a sexual relationship even though he was engaged to my mother.

The living room became my pacing ground as I stood up abruptly.

I found myself unable to communicate my secret to anyone. Not Olivia. Not Rachel. No one. It would destroy her.

God what had I done?

My teeth clamped onto my lip with such force that I almost drew blood in my frantic attempt to erase the memory of that night. His gaze enveloped me as if no other woman existed in the world. He made me experience a sense of being wanted and wild while feeling weightless.

He made me feel like I was the most important person in the world but he had already placed a ring on my mother’s finger!

My fists tightened as I halted before the window to gaze upon the darkened city skyline.

Act as though the event never took place. He clearly had.

The flicker in his eyes tonight stood as undeniable evidence that he knew who I was and what we did.

He remembered.

He just chose to pretend it meant nothing.

My hand reached for the light switch to plunge the room into darkness while I prepared to slip into bed when an unexpected vibration from my phone on the coffee table disrupted my routine.

A text.

An unknown number.

As I extended my hand toward it my breath came in short gasps.

“We need to talk. “