The next day, Maria felt someone touching her face, caressing it gently.
She opened her eyes and saw Alex.
“Alex?” she whispered.
Alex’s face lit up.
“You’re awake!” He reached for her hand.
“Yes, I’m awake,” she said softly.
Alex grabbed her and hugged her tight, his voice shaking.
“Maria, thank God.
You don’t know how mad with worry I was when you were gone… when you vanished.
Thank God you’re safe.”
Maria, still in shock, patted his back gently.
“Yeah, I’m good.
I’m safe.
There’s nothing wrong with me.
I’m okay.”
They were still holding each other, crying into each other’s shoulders, when Mr Thompson cleared his throat.
“Time for breakfast.”
Alex groaned, still not letting go.
“Okay, Uncle, stop scaring my girlfriend.
She’s shy.”
“I just wanted you guys to come for breakfast,” Mr Thompson said, smirking.
“We’re coming, we’re coming,” Alex replied.
Mr Thompson left them.
Alex pulled back just enough to look at her.
“So how was it, Maria?
You weren’t hurt, right?”
“No, they didn’t hurt me,” she said.
“How did you get your knee scraped?
I felt awful… I was trying, but I couldn’t reach you in time.
I’m sorry.
I’m useless.
I wasn’t there to be your knight in shining armor.”
“You don’t need to be,” Maria said.
“You’ve already been one, remember?
You saved me twice at the bar.”
Alex managed a small smile.
“Well, those people were easy to deal with.
But you being kidnapped… who was it?
Who kidnapped you?”
Maria took a breath.
“Let’s eat first.
After we eat, I’ll tell you everything.”
Then they held each other’s hands and went for breakfast.
Mr Thompson was already sitting down.
They sat side by side and ate in silence for a while.
Finally, Mr Thompson spoke.
“Ehm.
You see, this situation is getting tough.
I don’t think it ends here.
Your father died, and they came for Maria.
I don’t think they’ll give up.”
He looked at Alex.
“I think you should be careful.
Especially you, Alex.
You need to train.
No time for romance.
You get that?”
“Uhm… okay, Uncle,” Alex muttered.
Mr Thompson turned to Maria.
“Maria, how’s your holiday going?”
She blinked.
“Yes?”
“When is your holiday going to end?”
“Uncle, why are you asking that?
Are you trying to chase us away?”
“No.
Just asking,” he said quickly.
Maria sighed.
“Yeah… what day is today again?
My phone’s dead.
I think I’ve already spent more than my holiday here.”
“Well, I’d like to see Maria.
I need to discuss what happened yesterday.
Come with me to the study.”
Alex stood up.
“Why just her?
Why can’t I come?”
Mr Thompson glanced at him.
“Your emotions are all over the place.
She’s even more composed than you.
You’ll hear from her what we discuss in the study.
Come with me, Maria.”
Alex looked at Maria, searching her face.
She gave him a small, reassuring nod.
“Everything’s alright.”
She followed Mr Thompson.
The moment the study door closed, it locked.
It was soundproof.
Alex tried to eavesdrop.
He pressed his ear to the door, listening for anything.
Nothing.
He gave up and had to trust that Maria was okay.
He went back to his room.
In the study, Mr Thompson took a seat.
Maria sat across from him.
“The reason I called you,” he began, “is that I need your help.”
“Help with what?” Maria asked.
“With Alex.”
She frowned.
“What about him?”
“You see the way he is.
He’s become so soft around you.
He can’t think straight when you’re here.
And your holiday is ending soon, right?
When?”
“In three days,” Maria said quietly.
“Good.
In these three days, I need you to make a decision.
Break up with him.”
Maria’s eyes widened.
“What?
I can’t do that.”
“You have to.
It’s the only way to toughen him up.
I know it’s going to hurt him.
But you know the enemy now, don’t you?”
“…His stepmom,” Maria whispered.
“Exactly.
He looks innocent, but he’s vulnerable.
I need him focused.
I need him to find his mother and father’s killer.
I believe someone is behind all of this.”
Mr Thompson leaned forward.
“So here’s what I want: Use two days to give him the best of the best.
Then, on the third day, break up with him and leave.
Don’t tell him anything.
Give him a reason to focus.
To find his parents’ killer.”
He paused.
“We also look into your background.
It’s mysterious.
I don’t even know who your adopted parents are.
The ones who took you in before you were found by James.
Well… it’s a secret.
You were told not to tell anyone about them, right?”
Maria nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
“And maybe you can still help Alex.
In your own way.
This _is_ your way of helping him.
I know you’re not indifferent to him.
He needs this.”
“Okay,” Maria said again, her voice hollow.
Maria didn’t remember how she left Mr Thompson’s study.
The next thing she knew, she was in the room prepared for her.
Alex rushed forward and grabbed her.
“Maria, what’s wrong?” He led her to the bed to sit.
“Nothing’s wrong,” she said, forcing a smile.
“What did my uncle say?”
“He said… that you have to toughen up.
Be strong.
And not be a crybaby.”
Alex blinked.
“My uncle said that?
I don’t remember him ever saying something like that about me.”
“Yeah,” Maria said softly.
“He’s funny, actually.
But… I think he’s right.
You should toughen up.”
“So, I have a surprise for you,” Maria said, forcing a bright smile.
“We’re going on a three-day date.
Then, on the last one, I’ll tell you something.”
Alex raised an eyebrow.
“What is it?
What’s the surprise?”
“It _is_ a surprise,” she said, tapping his nose.
“You’ll know when the time comes.
So tomorrow is our first date.
I’m going to be prepared for it.”
“What’s the plan?”
“The first date will be at a restaurant.
The second date, we’ll be touring Paris.
The last date… is going to your racing place.
You’ll race with me.
And then I’ll tell you what I want to tell you.”
Alex grinned.
“Okay.
Anything that makes you happy.”
“Are you sure?” she asked, watching him.
“I’m sure.”
She was happy on the outside.
But inside, her heart was breaking for him.
_He has lost so much,_ she thought.
_His father, his mother… and I’m the only person he has left.
If I break his heart on the third day, I don’t think he’s going to survive this._
_No.
He’ll survive,_ a voice in her head answered.
Mr Thompson is there for him.
She swallowed hard.
“Yeah,” she said out loud.
“He’ll be fine.”
“Can I go see my friend Priya?” Maria asked.
“Mm, okay,” Alex said.
“But you know you won’t be returning to your apartment soon.
It’s not safe.”
“Yeah, I know,” she said.
“Eh… can you excuse me?
Let me prepare.”
“Sure, you can prepare,” Alex said with a smile.
“I can’t wait for our first date tomorrow.”
Then he left.
Maria went to the bathroom, turned on the shower, and called Priya.
The phone rang, then: “Maria?
How are you?” Priya’s voice came through.
But Maria was silent.
“Maria?” Priya said again.
“You know we have three days to go back to New York, yes.
Then what happened?”
“I… I have to break up with Alex,” Maria whispered.
“Why?
With your voice like this, you sound reluctant.”
“Yes,” Maria said.
“But… I have to.
It’s the only way to save him.”
“Save him?
Maria, wait.
Where should we meet?”
“I’m coming to your apartment.”
“Oh, I didn’t—” Maria stopped.
“Did you have a meet up with your boyfriend?”
“Yeah, but I’ll cancel it for you.”
“Thank you,” Maria breathed.
Maria arrived at Priya’s apartment and sat down.
“Okay, Maria.
Speak up.
What’s going on?”
Maria looked at her hands.
“Why do you want to break up with him?” Priya asked softly.
Maria sighed.
“To save him.”
“How?” Priya leaned forward.
“How does breaking up with him save him?
Haven’t you both lost more than enough?”
“His uncle told me to do it,” Maria said.
“He said it’s for the best.
That Alex needs to grow strong.
He needs to fight.
And with me here… he won’t toughen up.”
Priya closed her eyes.
“I’m sorry this has to happen to you, Maria.”
“Did you tell Alex?”
“No,” Maria whispered.
“I won’t tell him anything.”
“So he’s going to feel like you abandoned him.
Like you betrayed him.”
“He’ll understand later,” Maria said, though her voice shook.
“But for now… it’s for the best.”
Priya took her hand.
“So what’s your plan now?”
“I’m going on a date with him.
Three days.
And on the third day, I’ll break up with him.
Then the next day, we go back to New York.”
“I can’t let you suffer alone,” Priya said suddenly.
“If you’re breaking up with him, then I must break up with my boyfriend too.”
“What?
No, don’t do that!” Maria’s head snapped up.
“Why would you break up with your boyfriend?”
“Because he’s also related to Alex,” Priya said quietly.
“And I don’t want you to feel any connection to Alex through me.
I don’t want you to suffer alone.”
“No, don’t do that,” Maria pleaded.
“Don’t do such a thing.
I’ll do this alone.
I’m just telling you so that when the day comes, I’ll have someone that will support me.”
Priya pulled her into a hug.
“Don’t worry.
I will support you.”
They held each other and cried, heart to heart.
“So on the fourth day, we’re going back to New York?” Priya asked.
“Yeah,” Maria said.
“Keep your boyfriend.
Don’t let my relationship destroy yours.
I don’t want anything that will break your heart.”
Priya held her tighter.
“Okay, Maria.
I won’t.”