Nobela ni Roseava

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO She didn’t expect a voice behind her. “Maya?” She froze. That voice. Slowly, she turned, her spine stiffening the moment she saw him. Ryan. He stood a few steps away, wearing a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, his shirt was slightly unbuttoned at the top. She stood up quickly, heart pounding. “I don’t want to talk to you,” she said under her breath and began to walk away. He followed her, picking up his pace. “Wait—i have been trying to explain to you. You don’t pick my calls. Did you block me or something?” Maya didn’t answer. “Maya!” His voice sharpened. She stopped and turned to face him, but not with warmth, only tiredness. “Please just leave me alone.” But instead of stepping back, Ryan suddenly grabbed her elbow. Harshly. His fingers locked around her arm, forcing her to face him. “Don’t you dare walk out on me!” he snapped. “Answer me!” Maya tried to pull free, but his grip was tight, painful. “Let go of me!” “No! You don’t get to tre

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE The drive back was quiet. Ethan kept his eyes on the road, both hands on the steering wheel. Daniella stared at him for a while, then looked outside the window. The silence between them was thick and uncomfortable. She let out a small sigh, then turned her head toward him again. "Is that bar still around?" she asked softly. "The one we went to that last time... I think it was two years ago. Just down this road." Ethan remembered it, two years ago, when she had come visiting, Ethan had taken her there after dinner. They had laughed over a bottle of wine, talked about work, and even danced a little. It had been fun. But it was two days after that day that they broke up, calling off the engagement. Ethan didn’t look at her. “We’re not here for drinking.” Daniella smiled, gently placing a hand on his knee. “Come on, Ethan. Just a quick stop. It’s not a crime.” He didn’t flinch, didn’t move. “We’re taking you home." She chuckled, still caressing his knee li

CHAPTER TWENTY She jumped at the knock. Her heart started racing. She knew that knock. It was Ethan. Without thinking too much, she grabbed her comb, did one last fix of her hair, then opened the door. Her eyes didn’t meet his. “I..I just needed some air,” she muttered quickly, brushing past him. Her voice was low, and she didn’t stop walking. Ethan blinked. “Maya—” he tried to say something. But she was already down the hallway. She didn’t want to hear his voice. Not now. Not when she felt like this. Not when she felt like a shadow. A shadow beside Daniella. Ethan probably didn’t even notice her leaving. Not when a goddess like Daniella was in the house. ---- When Maya arrived in the dining room, the table was already half full. Mr. Bennett sat at the head, looking sharp in his clean white shirt. Mrs. Bennett was to his right, smiling sweetly as always, and Daniella sat beside her like a doll on display—her red lips curled in a polite smile, her blond hair shini

CHAPTER 19 As Daniella pulled back from the hug, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett walked away smiling, clearly pleased with how warmly the greeting had gone. But the moment their backs turned, Daniella’s smile vanished. She looked Maya up and down, slowly and deliberately. Her eyes scanned Maya’s simple outfit, her gaze dropped to Maya's shoes, slowly climbing up to her plain jeans, her oversized hoodie, her messy bun. She raised a single perfect brow. " So now you wear his hoodie" she said more like a sentence. Maya smiled politely. " Oh, it just happened." Daniella let out a soft, dismissive scoff. Maya stiffened. Before she could fully process what had just happened, Daniella turned away, her hips swaying like she knew exactly how beautiful she was. Maya just stood there, still frozen in the moment, like her feet had forgotten how to move. Had she imagined that? That… scoff? That look? No. She hadn’t. Her throat tightened. She glanced down at herself. Ethan's hoodie. Loose jea

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Daniella arrived late in the afternoon. She stepped out of the car looking like she had walked out of a fashion magazine. Her skin glowed, her long black hair flowed smoothly down her back, and her dress hugged her curves in a way that made people turn. Ethan had driven her, and Nathaniel was with them too. As Daniella walked into the house alone, Ethan and Nathaniel remained by the car. Ethan leaned on the hood, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the door she just disappeared through. You could’ve told me she was calling you," Ethan said. Nathaniel gave a tired sigh. "It wasn’t important. She wanted to talk to you. Said she was sorry. But honestly, I didn’t see the point, it wouldn't have changed anything," "You know… I always knew. From the beginning.” Nathaniel continued. "That the real reason you ended things with Daniella wasn’t only because you two weren’t ‘aligned,’ like you told everyone, or because of she cheated on you. It was because of her. Maya.” Ethan si

CHAPTER SEVENTEENEthan could barely believe his eyes.He stared at the woman below.Daniella.Blonde. Beautiful. Breathtaking.He hadn’t seen her for over a year now, and yet, it felt like no time had passed. She held her phone to her ear and looked up at them, her lips curling into a soft smile.Daniella ended the call, slipped her phone into her bag, and began to walk up the stairs toward them. Her steps were calm, calculated—like she had all the time in the world. She wore a cream blouse tucked into pale blue jeans, her long blonde hair flowing behind her like a waterfall.When she reached them, she looked first at Nathaniel, then at Ethan. “Hi,” she said softly.“You shouldn’t be here,” Ethan said stiffly.Daniella tilted her head, her soft pink lips forming a smile. “Why not? We used to be engaged, remember?”Ethan didn’t return her smile. “What are you doing here?”“I thought I’d surprise you,” Daniella replied.“You shouldn’t have,” Ethan said, flatly.Daniella gave a short la