You can go

CHAPTER TWO

“Hello, Maya? Sorry I haven't been picking your calls; it was a long flight, but I'm back now. Can you come pick me up?. I missed you so much; I can't wait to see you, my love.

Maya stood frozen, her phone pressed against her ear. Daniel was back; after seven years of waiting, he was finally back, but she was married to another man, a stranger, a man she met only a few hours ago. Her lips parted, but she couldn't utter a word.

“Maya?…..are you there? Daniel's voice came through the phone; her fingers went numb, the phone slipped from her hand, and landed on the marble floor. Maya kept staring at it without picking it up.

She had waited seven years for this moment; she had imagined running into his arms, crying against his chest, telling him just how much she missed him; he had imagined himself kneeling right there in the airport to propose to her.

Instead, she had become someone's wife, the very day he returned. Her chest tightened. “No…” She shook her head as tears filled her eyes. “No, no, no, this can't be happening.

Adrian, who had been standing a few feet away, took a step closer, noticing her change in expression. “Maya?” She didn't answer; she stumbled. Adrian instinctively caught her around the waist before she could fall. “Hey… are you okay? You look pale."

“Get your filthy hands off me!” Maya pushed him away; he released her, his expression hardening at her sudden anger. “This is all your fault!”

“My fault?” his voice remained calm, but confusion flashed across his face. Maya wrapped her hands around herself; she couldn't believe this was happening.

"Maya, are you okay? What are you even talking about? I already apologized and told you the condition of our marriage"

"My boyfriend is back; can't you understand? How do I even tell him about this? We were supposed to get married once he returned." Maya shouted, tears kept streaming down her cheeks

Adrian said nothing; his confident composure slipped a bit. "Your boyfriend?

"You heard me, my boyfriend "

Adrian didn't know what to feel, but he knew the terms of their marriage; he made those rules himself. He already told her she could do whatever she wanted. So why did he feel a little betrayed?.

Why did knowing that her heart already belonged to another bother him so much? He brushed the thought aside. " You should go see him."

Maya looked at him, bewildered. "What? You are letting me go?"

Adrian gave a half-smile. " I am not a jailer; you're my wife on paper, and I already told you that you could do anything you like. Seven years is a long time. Go on and see him; don't keep him waiting.

Maya's eyes filled up again. "Thank you. She picked up her phone from the floor with shaky hands. She looked at Daniel's bracelet on her wrist rather than at the wedding ring on her finger.

Maya quickly grabbed her handbag and asked Adrian, "Can I borrow your car?

Where to?"

"I have to pick Daniel up from the airport." Daniel nodded and handed her the car keys. Her hand was on the door handle when Adrian's voice stopped her.

"Maya, " she half-turned to look back at him. Be careful "

She stared at him. Is he serious right now? She nodded and opened the door. Neither of them knew that from that moment everything about their three lives would change.

Because Daniel isn't just Maya's boyfriend but also Adrian's only best friend. At that point, Adrian's phone rang, and he looked at the screen; his face broke out in a genuine smile.

Best Pal calling..........

"Look who decided to call"

Adrian kept smiling as he stared at the name flashing across his phone.

He answered immediately. Daniel! Where the hell have you been?”A familiar laugh came from the other end.

“Don't start, bro. It was a long flight, and I'm exhausted.”

Adrian leaned against the edge of his desk, his smile widening. “Seven years, Daniel. Seven damn years, and you're telling me you're exhausted?”

“I know.”

“You couldn't even give your best friend a proper warning that you were coming back?”

“I wanted it to be a surprise.”

“Well, congratulations. You surprised me.”Daniel laughed.

“I missed you, man.”Adrian's expression softened.

“I missed you too.”

They had been inseparable before Daniel left the country. University had brought them together, business had strengthened their friendship, and despite the distance, they had remained in contact.

Daniel had disappeared into another country to deal with his own responsibilities. And now, finally, he was home.

“So,” Adrian said, breaking the silence, “when am I seeing you?”

“That's why I called. I just landed. I wanted to come see you.”

“You should have called me. I would have picked you up.”

“I know.”

“Where are you now?”

“At the airport.”

Adrian laughed.

“Of course you are. Where else would you be?”

“I'll come over later.”

“Later?”

“Yes.”

“Absolutely not. You're coming over tonight.”

Daniel chuckled.

“You haven't changed.”

“Neither have you.”

“That's debatable.”

Adrian shook his head.

“I can't believe you're finally home.”

“Believe it.”

Adrian smiled. There's a lot we need to catch up on.”

“Definitely.”

Daniel paused.

“So, what have I missed?”

Adrian's smile faded slightly.

“Quite a lot, actually.”

“Like what?”

Adrian glanced down at his wedding ring.

He hadn't even noticed how strange it felt until that moment. Something happened this morning.”

Daniel immediately became curious.

“What happened?”

Adrian hesitated for a second.

Then he smiled.

“I got married.”

Silence.

“What?”

Adrian laughed.

“I got married this morning.”

“You? You must be kidding me "

“Yes, me.”

Daniel burst out laughing.

“No way.”

“Believe it.”

“Adrian, you didn't even tell me you were dating someone!”

Adrian leaned back against the desk.

“That's because I wasn't.”

“What?”

“It was arranged.”

Daniel went silent.

“Arranged?”

“Yes.”

“You're telling me you got married to someone you barely knew?”

“Basically.”

Daniel laughed in disbelief.

“Only you, bro.”

Adrian smiled.

“Don't worry. It's complicated.”

“Obviously.”

Daniel paused.

“What's her name?”

Adrian's eyes flickered toward the door.

For a brief second, Maya's tearful face came to mind.

The way she had looked at him, the way she had blamed him, the way she had rushed out of the house to meet another man. He pushed the thoughts away.

“You'll soon get to know her.”

Daniel laughed.

“That's not an answer.”

“You'll meet her when you come over.”

“Come on, Adrian.”

“I'm serious.”

“Is she beautiful?”

Adrian smiled faintly.

“Yes.”

There was something about the answer that surprised even him; he had barely known Maya for a day, yet the word came easily.

Daniel laughed.

“Now I'm definitely coming.”

“Good.”

“I want to meet the mysterious woman who finally convinced you to get married.”

“She didn't convince me.”

“Then what happened?”

“It's a long story.”

“Fine. I'll hear it when I get there, and I might bring my girlfriend with me.”

Adrian nodded.

“Deal.”

Daniel paused before saying softly,

“I'm really glad to be home.”

Adrian's smile returned.

“Welcome back, brother.”

They ended the call.

Adrian lowered the phone slowly; he stared at the wedding ring on his finger.

Daniel had no idea that Adrian had gotten married.

He had no idea that Maya was now Adrian's wife.

And Maya had no idea that the man she had just rushed to the airport to meet was the best friend of the husband she had married less than twenty-four hours ago.

Three people.

But none of them knew that the truth was already moving toward them.

Fast.