30 Chapter 30: Like me back

Kevin's tears coming from his eyes were the only expression he had as he walked away from Gaia's grave. The tightness of Kevin's feeling coming from his heart as he takes a step away is like killing him inside silently.

From the day Kevin accepted that Gaia would never return, he became busy and attentive to his work, especially in the company.

Anthon can see the old Kevin. The cold and unapproachable is back again.

"CEO is back at his old attitude, everyone," someone chatted on their group chat. All employees were suspecting that Gaia's presence did change him, but now, without Gaia, he's back again.

While the employees were busy with their jobs, they noticed a gallant woman pass behind them. They all looked at her.

"Who's that?" they murmur.

"I guess, she's the one who says in the article that Sir Kevin will get married," replied one of the employees.

"Back to work!" Anthon shouted at the gossiping employees who had nothing to do but gossip all the time.

Maya entered Kevin's office after she knocked three times. She saw Kevin was busy typing at his laptop.

She smiles, "Hey, Kevin. Do you miss me?" she asked.

Kevin stopped what he's doing and looked at her, "I don't want to play games with you, Maya. All I want is for us to get married and expand the business. No strings attached, just business,"

Maya laughs awkwardly, "Ah, I remember that. But, try to be sweet to me when we're in front of the people, Kev. You know me. I'm an actress and I'm protecting my image,"

"I understand,"

Breaking news: Actress Maya Garcia and Mr. Kevin Han from Han corporation officially announced their engagement.

All people were happy for both of them. They look good together, they went viral and the top searched couple on the said day.

"Mr. Han, congratulations on your engagement," the shareholders and directors and all staff at the company greeted him.

"Ms. Garcia, congratulations," some of the actors and actresses greeted Maya and they hope and pray for their happy marriage. Maya smiled at everyone who greeted her but she couldn't hide that Kevin didn't really love her and she knew vaguely it would happen.

She sighed, "What should I do to make you fall for me, Kev?" she asked inside her mind.

"We could happen if Gaia didn't come into your life," she said angrily at herself. She was inside her dressing room, looking at herself as a fool when tears slowly dripping.

"Why? Why do I have to suffer like this? Why it can't be me? Why it has to be her as always even if she's dead?" she tearfully utters.

A knock on the door got her attention.

"Ms. Maya? Are you ready for your interview?" her manager asked.

"Yes. I'm coming out right now,"

Maya was ready for the interview while Kevin was still in his office. He can't come due to his busy schedule even if Maya knew he doesn't want to come. Maya knows he's not busy right this time.

"Lady and gentleman, let's all welcome our star for tonight. Ms. Maya Garcia," people were applauding as she went out from the backstage.

He gave the audience a wide smile.

"Thank you for joining us here, Ms. Garcia," the host said to Maya.

She smiled, "I'm glad you invite me here,"

"So, you've gone viral right? Congratulations on your engagement. I hope the two of you will have a happy marriage,"

"Thank you,"

"Where did you two meet, by the way?"

Maya looks at the host and smiles, "We ..."

"We meet ten years ago, we're just kids when we meet each other. I thought meeting him again is destiny," she added.

The audience was listening to her.

Kevin was busy on his laptop when Anthon entered.

"Sir, you need to see this," he then gives the iPad to him and he saw Maya was being interviewed about their engagement. The employees were also watching the interview as they feel happy for both of them.

"Ah, I didn't know Mr. Han would be this sweet," they can't believe what Maya had told everybody. Kevin seems sweet, the way she describes him.

Kevin watches Maya from the iPad. He can feel Maya's sincerity, but he can't let anything happened between the two of them.

"Sir, I guess Maya really like you," Anthon said.

He looked at him, "I'm doing this just for the business and nothing else," he replied.

Maya's mom was watching her interview on the TV. She feels proud of her daughter, but there's also sadness. She knew Maya will get hurt about this marriage, but her husband chooses Kevin because of business.

It's around six o'clock when Maya went home. She feels tired as all eyes were on her lately because of their engagement. She was about to go to her room when she saw her mom, smiling at her.

She rolled her eyes as she clearly remembers she gets slapped. She went to the stairs, but her mom stops her.

"Maya, let's talk," she said with a smile on her face. Maya looks at her as if she disgusted her.

"What is it? What are we going to talk about? Is it her again?" she asked directly.

"No, it's not. I wanted to talk about you with something," she replied.

"Are you happy Maya?" Maya suddenly looked at her mother. Just now, she asked about her. Maya's eyes were teary while looking at her mom.

"What are you talking about? Of course, I'm happy," she said as she wiped her tears.

"Are you happy with the engagement?" an evil look she responded to her mother's question.

"Ah, the engagement? Is that what you want us to talk about?" she asked and her mother nodded.

"If you're not happy you can back off, Maya," her mom said and she just smirked.

"Me? When did you worry and become concerned about me, mom?"

"Maya, I know you're mad at me but I'm just doing this for you. Stop that engagement, you'll only get hurt. I don't want to hurt you-"

"Can you stop now! I don't want to hear that damn advice from you! I don't need you! What if I get hurt? Then I'll be hurt! That's what you want, right? Money, you only want money in this world, mom," her mother could not help but cry at what she said.

"I know I have never been a good mother to you, Maya. But, please ... this time, listen to me. Just this once," she said.

"It's too late now, mom. I'm happy about that engagement and I... will never listen to you ever again," she said and walked out.

Her mother just cried as she walked away from her. She sobs so hard, the doorbell rang and she knew it was her husband. She wiped those tears from her eyes and fixed herself.

She was smiling while facing her husband.

"Are you okay? Your eyes look red? Your eyes look swollen, are you alright?" she smiles and nodded at him.

"I'm fine, my love," she said.

"Where's Maya?" he asked.

"She's in her room at the moment. She's tired after the interview,"

They were eating as she was still thinking about canceling the engagement. She clears her throat as she was looking at her husband.

"I have something to tell you," he then looked at his wife, frowning.

"Go on, what is it?"

She swallowed first before talking, "Cancel that engagement," her husband was confused and shocked to hear it especially from her.

"What? What did you say?"

"The engagement-"

"What do you think you're doing, mom? You can't cancel that. It's all planned and you can never change that," she said and went towards them. She sat down and give her mom a cold and rude look.

"Maya's right, honey. All is planned now, all is settled," he said.

"What? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you too occupied because that deceased woman!" Maya answers.

"Maya! That's enough of you! How could you say that to your-"

"Honey, Maya, stop it,"

"I have lost my appetite, Dad," she then walked and left the house.

Aliah, her mom sighed, "What should I do? I wanted to be close to her, but she's pushing me away," she utters inside her mind.

Maya was out, she's at the bar as she was having a hard time with her mom. "Why! Why I can't be her only daughter? Why does she have to think about her? I'm here! I'm here," she angrily said and drinks her wine.

She's at a private bar and in a private room. She was tearing up while a sad song was playing. She even cried more while feeling the lyrics of the song.

"That should be me..."

Kevin was at his office when he received a call from Maya. She's drunk. He was in a hurry to go to where she was. He then let Anthon drive and went to the bar where Maya was.

Maya was asleep when they arrived. She drinks too much. Kevin was looking at her as he suddenly saw Gaia. He shook his head.

"Maya, let's go,"

"Why? Why can't you like me back, Mr. Han? Where do I lack? I'm beautiful, I'm smart, I'm everyone's type, Kev, but why? Why don't you like me back?"

"Your drunk, let's go,"

"No, I'm not and I can see you clearly. You! You still like that woman! You still like Gaia,"

To be continued...