Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose novel Chapter 134

**Healing Slowly But Surely By R. Joseph**

As I opened my eyes to the world around me, a wave of euphoria washed over me, unlike anything I had ever experienced before. It wasn’t merely the enchanting snowfall that blanketed the streets outside, nor the vibrant, twinkling lights that danced in the frosty air. Even the exquisite bouquet of pink roses that Jarek had thoughtfully sent my way, now proudly displayed on my kitchen counter, paled in comparison to the source of my newfound joy.

No, the true reason for my elation was the wedding package I had painstakingly pieced together, an accomplishment that felt like a monumental victory in my otherwise tumultuous life.

A radiant smile blossomed on my face as I savored the warmth of my coffee, but I could feel Maya’s piercing gaze upon me, her eyes sharp and observant like a hawk watching its prey. There was something heavy in the air, a tension that I couldn’t quite place.

Finally, she set her cup down with a deliberate slowness, her breath catching as she whispered, “I rejected Gavin.”

For a moment, time seemed to freeze around us. My mind raced, struggling to process the weight of her words. I studied her closely, noting the redness that tinged her puffy eyes and the way her lower lip was caught between her teeth, a habit that seemed to draw blood as the tension mounted.

“I’m so sorry!” I exclaimed, the sincerity of my words ringing true.

“I really am sorry,” I repeated, my heart aching for her.

“I used to want to know him better,” she continued, her voice trembling. “We had lunch a few times, and I tried to see things from his point of view. But lately, I’ve been reminded of everything he did to you, and I couldn’t stand by any longer. I had to reject him.”

“Maya—” I began, but she cut me off.

“He’s a violent man, Leilani. He hurt you deeply, and I don’t care if he thought he was saving Chalice from you. Domestic violence is domestic violence!”

Her words were charged with emotion, and the conviction in her voice made my heart ache. I rose from my favorite red sofa, crossed the room, and enveloped her in a comforting embrace. As I held her close, I felt her body tremble as she let go, her sobs echoing in the quiet of the room. The sound of her tears pierced my heart, leaving me feeling helpless, as if I could do nothing but hold her tight.

The truth was, I could never advise her to confront Gavin, knowing full well how he had threatened my own safety in the past. I loved Maya more than words could express, but I could never bear the thought of her being with someone as cruel and thoughtless as Gavin.

We stood there, lost in our shared pain, until the sudden ring of the doorbell broke through the moment. I pulled back slightly, looking into her tear-streaked face. “I need to answer that, okay?”

She hiccuped, her gaze drifting away. “Okay.”

“Stay right here!” I instructed, my tone firm as I rose to my feet and made my way to the door. But when I peered through the peephole, a surge of anger coursed through my veins. Without hesitation, I flung the door open and stepped outside, slamming it shut behind me.

“What do you want?” I spat, glaring at the man standing before me. Gavin, the person I had once admired, now stood before me as a figure of disdain. “What are you doing here?”

“Leilani, please, we need to talk,” he rasped, and only then did I notice the disheveled state he was in. He looked broken, devastated, and a part of me wanted to laugh at the irony of it all.

“About what?” I demanded, a sarcastic smile creeping onto my lips as I watched his eyes fill with a mixture of desperation and regret.

“About you. About me… about everything I did to you in the past,” he stammered, his gaze flickering briefly to mine before he dropped it to the ground, unable to meet my eyes.

“Last night, Maya rejected me,” he continued, his voice heavy with remorse. “But throughout the night, it wasn’t the rejection that haunted me. All I could think about were the things I did to you.”

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