Chapter 69

        Priscilla's POV 

I opened my eyes and sat up in bed, scanning the room for Max, but he was nowhere to be found. Had he decided to leave me alone and go back to his villa? The thought made my chin tremble with fear. He couldn't stay with me after I told him the truth. Maybe he had decided it was best to leave and abandon the broken pieces of our relationship. The thought made my chest ache. I knew it was a possibility, but I didn't expect it to happen.

With heavy footsteps, I got out of bed and made my way to the kitchen. I was very hungry, and I thought eating something might ease my sadness. This was my fate, to be alone. The sooner I accepted it, the better it would be for me.

As I reached the dining room, I found the table already set with closed bowls of food. At least Max had left some cooked food for me. I decided not to heat it in the microwave and started eating.

I took a bite of fish that looked so delicious, but it turned out to be tasteless. It was hard for me to eat or sleep alone. I decided to save the remaining food in the fridge for later. I knew I had to stop feeling sorry for myself and go back to work. I needed to work hard to earn money and achieve my goals.

After I finished eating, I put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher and waited for them to be cleaned. A few minutes later, I was done with the dishes.

I went to the living room and sat on the couch, curling up with my feet tucked in. My thoughts drifted to my mother. 

           ~~~~

The old building was crammed with the sound of my mother's coughs. It was badly cold outside, and we didn't have enough blankets to keep her warm. Despite my attempts to rub her hands and legs, she was still shivering uncontrollably.

"Priscilla, my baby, come here and sleep. I will be fine. You must be tired after running around the whole day," my mom let out before coughing again. Tears welled up in my eyes, I was terrorized that she might not make it until tomorrow. 

"Priscilla, we both know that I'm dying every day. Stop worrying about me and think about yourself. "My mom said she coughed slightly. "I want you to learn to live alone, don't ever depend on anyone when it comes to your safety, happiness, and love. When I'm gone, I want you to live your life, work hard, make your own money, and make yourself happy. Don't let men fool you in the name of love because it doesn't exist, it is just an old myth that existed a long time ago. "My mom said, more tears welling in my eyes, deep down I knew that she was dying, but the way she was talking right now confirmed my fears, it was like she was saying her last words. 

"Mommy, you are not going anywhere leaving me behind. "I said, I let my tears flow out of my eyes, I was just holding onto hopes that she wouldn't die, leaving me alone. 

Unfortunately, my mother's cough has become more severe as her medication has run out. I am unable to afford more medicine for her, resulting in her condition worsening. It was heart-wrenching to see blood in the tissue she coughed onto, and I couldn't help but shed tears.

"You will be fine Mommy, everything will be alright. "I said through my sobs, I don't know whom I was convincing. Myself or my mother. It was obvious that she wouldn't make it until tomorrow. 

"I won't make it until tomorrow. Don't be sad over my death, please promise me that you won't be sad over my death, promise me that you will live your life and be happy. "My mom said, her breath was quickening.

"Mommy, you are not going to die, I will arrange money for your surgery and I promise you that you will be fine again. Don't talk about death or else I will cry. "I said between my sobs. How can I even allow her to give up just like that? What will happen to me if she actually dies? 

"Priscilla, promise me that you will not cry over my death, nor will you spend the rest of your life mourning me. Promise me that you will always be happy. "My mother said, her breath coming in short as if her soul was leaving her body. 

"I promise that I will always be a happy mom. Now take a rest, I will arrange the money for your surgery tomorrow and I will make sure that you are fine. "I said, seeing her in such a condition was sending a dagger to my chest and I couldn't take it. 

"Never trust a man, my child, no matter what happens, never fall in love, and always remember that love only exists in fairy tales, novels, and movies, it doesn't exist in real life, my child. Please do me a favor and protect your heart and be happy. "My mom said, why is she saying all these things like today is her last day on earth, I was going to do anything just to get the money for her treatment tomorrow and make sure that she survived. I wiped my tears, trying to act like I was not freaking out from the inside, my heart was aching at the thought that she won't make it until tomorrow morning. I can't just stand the thought of losing her, I can't. 

"Mommy, you need to save your energy, stop talking now and go to sleep. I will get more wood outside to light the fire so you will feel warm. "I said, I had to be strong, crying won't help me with anything. 

"P__Priscilla. "My mom said, but I quickly cut her off. 

"Enough Mom, go to sleep now and stop talking. "I said, I couldn't keep on listening to her when she talked like today was the last time we would meet. She was going to be fine and I believe that God would definitely keep her safe from all the danger. I believed in God and I know he won't let me down.

        ~~~~~~

The sound of the doorbell interrupted my thoughts, prompting me to leave the comfort of the couch. I guessed that it might be Liz. 

As I approached the door, I was taken aback to find Max standing there. His tear-filled eyes and red nose indicated his recent crying. The pungent smell of alcohol emanated from him. He was clearly intoxicated and upset. Numerous questions flooded my mind, wondering what had happened, where he had been at this late hour, and why he was in such a state.

"I__I'm sorry Priscilla. "Max drunkenly said, with his uneven steps, he entered the house and walked past me only to fall on the floor. I could feel my veins wrenching, why did he think he had to come here after drinking and getting this drunk? My stomach firmed up at the smell of alcohol and I wanted nothing but to throw up. It was making me nauseous.

"Max, please leave. "I said sternly, there was no way I was going to let him stay here when he was this drunk and I was definitely not going to take care of him like the last time, my body was weak already. I can't carry such a big man who knows how to buy and drink alcohol. 

Max rose off the floor with his uneven steps, he shut down the door and began dragging me to the sitting room. 

"Max, what are you doing!!? Let go of me. "I said trying to withdraw his hand from mine but of course, despite being drunk he was still stronger than me. 

Max ignored me, reaching the couch, he made me sit down and sit next to me. "P__Priscilla. I want you to promise me something! Promise me that if you ever find out that I'm hiding something from you you will understand that I'm doing it because I love you. Promise me! "Max drunkenly said, tears flowing out of his eyes, I swallowed hard. I don't understand why he was saying this and why he is crying but I'm not making any promises. What if he is planning to kill me and ask me to forgive him after stabbing me? No way. 

"Better tell me the truth now because If you are hiding something from me and I discover it on my own, just know that you will be dead to me. "I said, I don't care if he is drunk or not but I know he has heard what I said. I don't understand what had happened to him to make him drink so much. 

"Priscilla, I love you so much. Always remember that no matter what happens. Even if I betrayed you, know that I love you. "Max said he was acting weird. I decided to leave him alone. He was drunk and sad. 

"You know, I never thought I would fall in love with you. The first time I saw you, I decided to make you my surrogate because I thought I was sure that I would never fall in love with such a dirty girl. But when I actually saw you in that floral dress, my heart skipped a beat. You were so beautiful, the most beautiful I've ever seen. "Max said, he chuckled sadly, tears flowing out of his eyes, he looked so sad, I didn't know what had happened to him. 

"Both of us have something in common. We are both selfish, you only think about yourself and so do I. But if being in love with you is selfish, then so be it. I want to love you for the rest of my life, I want to protect you and fulfill all your wishes and desires. I just want to be with you. "Max said, it seems like today he wants to pour out his heart to me. I was so angry that I didn't want to say anything because he was crying. 

"You know when you left, I was so heartbroken after searching for you everywhere and found you, I almost committed suicide because I thought I had no more reason to live, luckily. Nicolas came in time, or else I would have killed myself. "Max said, causing my eyes to widen yet my brows furrowed. Did he try to kill himself because of me? I felt a lump forming in my throat, causing me to swallow hard!! 

Max rested his head on my lap and his leg on the other side of the couch where he was sitting. "I love you, Priscilla, I love you so much. Please never forget that, no matter what happens. "Max said, I felt tears welling up in my eyes. He shouldn't love me because I will never let him know of the feelings I have for him. My mom said that love exists in fairy tales and I Would not break my promise to her. Max fell asleep on my lap and I don't even remember when I fell asleep. 

            ~~~~~~

Another week had passed and Max had been avoiding me since that night, he started going to the office. He would leave early in the morning when I was still sleeping and come back late when I was sleeping. I don't know what I had done wrong or what he was hiding from me, I was glad that he would still come back to the apartment though, even if I was not talking to him. The feeling of knowing that he was there was all I wanted. 

It was already 4mp. And I had just arrived at the apartment. Mrs Cooke allowed me to come back home early after I told her that I was not well. I frowned when I saw the door open which meant Max was home today. I'm going to confront him today, he was going to tell me what his problem was. 

"Hi. "I said as I placed my bag on the couch and made my way to the kitchen where he was. 

"Hi, aren't you supposed to be at work? "Max asked without meeting my gaze, he was hiding something for sure and I knew it. 

"Max, look at me!! "I ordered sternly. I wanted him to tell me what was bothering him or if I had made a mistake unknowingly. 

Max averted his gaze from me, and my nostrils flared. He was testing my patience, something I didn't have. "I said look at my damn it!! "I yelled and slammed my hands on the counter, Max immediately looked at me and seemed shocked. I guess he was yet to find out my anger level. 

"I will not ask you again, tell me what the fuck are you hiding from me or if I have done anything wrong that Is making you avoid me like some stinking dog meat? "I asked glaring at him, I wanted nothing but the truth. 

"I'm not hiding anything from you, and I'm not avoiding you either. I was just too busy with work. "He lied through his teeth, shifting about like he wanted to do something he didn't know what. 

I let out a chuckle, maybe I thought I knew why he was avoiding me but I was not sure. "You are disgusted by me, right? After you discover the truth about me, you realize that I'm disgusting and awful right? I mean, why would want to get yourself involved with someone who had killed her father? "I asked sarcastically, trying to hide the ache in my heart. 

"It's okay, I will make things easier for you, so you won't have to tolerate me every day, "I said, I grabbed him by his collar and started dragging him to the door. 

"Priscilla, you are misunderstanding me, let me explain. "Max said, I ignored him, I opened the door and pushed him out before shutting the door in his face and locking it. I didn't want to throw him out but I didn't like the thought of anyone tolerating me, I wanted people to be happy to have me in their life, not to be in my life just because they used to. 

I walked to my room, and opening the door I entered inside. 

I took a quick shower and changed into my sleepwear before slipping into the blanket and falling asleep.