Maya's POV

Why was my room upside down? Oh wait, it wasn't, just a trick of the eyes. A piercing pain shot through my head causing me to groan as I sat upright - wonderful, I was having a hangover.

Just how many shots did I take last night? It felt like a hammer was constantly banging on my head; I swear I'm never drinking again.

In that horrible state, I dragged my sorry ass to the bathroom and did an intense brushing plus wash up. Now my head was clear, I came to realize that I was a fool by drinking with Eden last night.

Eden was a good yet sly one, what if he had taken advantage of my drunkenness and did something to me? I hit myself on the head, you stupid girl! That fox tempted you with wine and you fell right into it.

I could only imagine the kind of death stare Niklaus would give me if we were still together and he happens to hear of this; he would surely look for a way to teach me a lesson.

Weird, but thinking of Niklaus brought tears to my eyes , I missed him like crazy. At first, I was just tearing up next, I began to cry heart-wrenching sobs that wracked my body.

I missed him terribly: his voice, touch, face, every part of him. I longed to run my hands through his dark silky hair; kiss that sexy yet wicked lips of his; even those furrows on his face when he sleeps and watch him flaunt his bare chest.

My heart tightened, it felt like the air in the room was insufficient to support my lungs; was this what heartbreak feels like? Like someone was squeezing your heart, repeatedly stabbing you?

I experienced heartbreak when Andrew broke up with me but it wasn't as raw, as intense as this one.

With Niklaus I was real, I didn't have to hide who I was; I bore my soul to him. Perhaps, that was why it hurt too much now.

Gosh, stop being this way Maya, it's pathetic! Niklaus and you are just not meant together. Besides, why weep over a man that didn't feel the same way for you.

Yeah, that was right, crying over a man was the last thing I've ever imagined myself doing. Moreover, the man I was wasting my tears on, was probably in bed with another woman.

The thought of Niklaus in bed with a woman-Tina or not - made my veins boil and my lost senses to return.

keeping my emotions in check, I washed my tears stained cheeks and headed downstairs- today was my departure.

The house was surprisingly quiet when I walked into the living room, then I remembered today was a Monday. The kids must have left much earlier to make it to school on time.

"You're up, " Mrs.El said as soon as she spotted me.

I nodded a response while rubbing my temple with my hand, the crying must have aggravated the headache.

"Sir Eden guessed you would develop a hangover from drinking too much last night. So he prepared a hangover soup for you, alongside some medication" She informed me, gesturing to the direction of the dining room with her head.

"How nice of him " My gaze searched around," Where is he? "

"He left already"

"Left? " I was surprised.

"He took the kids back to the city and was sorry he wouldn't be able to accompany you back. But don't worry, he sent a chauffeur for you "

"Alright " I gave her a wry smile and settled in for breakfast. But I couldn't help but think Eden avoided me on purpose.

Since there was no one to keep me company or entertain me, the meal was rather short and boring. Once I was done, I headed to my room and packed up without wasting time.

"Thanks for taking care of me these past few days," I said to Mrs. El as soon as I was good to go.

"No, of course not " She replied humbly, "I was just doing my job "

"You did well at your job then" I complimented the housekeeper, expecting her to receive the praise in good faith but was surprised when she asked instead.

"Can I plead for a favor? "

"S-sure "

"Please take care of Sir Eden "

I blinked, wasn't expecting that one.

"Eden might look strong but he's extremely insecure and fragile inside. Moreover, you're the first woman he's ever brought here - he thinks of this place as his sanctuary, where he can be himself "

I shook my hands "I think you're misunderstanding something here, Eden and I are not - "

"He likes you" She announced and I stiffened, I probably didn't hear right.

"That night he thought you committed suicide, I saw the desperation in his eyes; he was scared of losing you " She explained but that didn't convince me one bit.

Anyone who witnessed such a startling traumatic scene would react the same way Eden did, it wasn't a concrete proof to support her claim.

I wanted to rebut her statement but having known it would lead us nowhere but more arguments, I gave in just for peace to reign

"Fine, I'll look out for him " I agreed.

Watching out for Eden and dating him were two different cases, no big deal.

"Till we meet again " I waved goodbye to her, walked outside to meet the chauffeur already waiting for me.

"Morning miss " He greeted me which I responded to and he opened the door as I climbed into the car.

The journey home began but my thoughts were in chaos, I couldn't get whatever Mrs.El said out of my head.

Eden liked me? No way, that was impossible. This must be one of his ploys to make me fall for him or something.

It was a long ride to the extent I fell asleep but made it home in one piece without getting kidnapped or trapped by reporters.

I took in the appearance of my apartment which was neatly arrayed but the dust was evidence of my absence.

My eyes settled on the bed which marked the starting point of my relationship with Niklaus a month again.

It was on that bed where he proposed we dated and I the foolish girl fell under his charm and sugary tongue and agreed with no hesitation; so much for taking a risk.

I tugged the cover off the bed and dumped it in the garbage bin. The best way to move on was to stop dwelling on the past, that was what I was doing - I wouldn't let the past haunt me.

Rolling up the sleeve of my shirt and tied my hair back in a ponytail, I began to clean up my apartment. By the time I was done, took a bath and all, it was late. So I ate dinner and went to bed.

That was pretty much my routine for the past two days: sleep, wake, wash, eat, study my script, answer Eden's incessant calls - he was worried I might have clumsily killed myself.

My audition was finally tomorrow, I was busy practicing the role I wanted to play when the doorbell rang.

I didn't bother to check through the peephole since I was sure it was probably Eden's people. After sending over the cellphone he promised to me, he wouldn't stop with his goodies.

Usually, I send back his gifts with a "Thank-you but I don't need them" note but that aggravated the situation because the more they came.

The game was childish, tiring, and irritating but it was pleasing to know that there was a person out there who remembered someone named Maya was in existence, unlike my family.

Opening the door with a vexed groan, I was already prepared to send back the delivery man but I was surprised to find…

"M-mom..? " The words slipped out of my mouth mistakenly. What mom? Mom, my butt!

Still, my jaw dropped, this was totally unbelievable. My eyes must be deceiving me, I thought, and had to pinch myself on the thigh to confirm I wasn't hallucinating.

Kim's mom barely responded and looked down the stairway while tapping her heels on the floor impatiently as if waiting for someone who was wasting her time.

I opened my door wider and peeped out, that was when I saw her: my grandmother.

"Grandma? Granny?! " Surprise and disbelief gleamed in my eyes.

I almost shoved Kim's mother out of the way, hurrying down to my grandma who I welcomed with a bone-crushing hug.

"Granny!" I squealed in delight, wrapping my arms tightly around her while dropping sloppy pecks on her face.

"I missed you " I tightened my hold when she tried to get away.

"Oi! " She cried out and knocked me on the head which prompted me to let go of her with a wince.

" What? " I pouted.

"Look at this kid, do you want to send me to an early grave? Don't you know my waist is now as fragile as an egg? "

I scoffed in disbelief "Fragile my ass"

Granny tried to keep a straight face which failed miserably. "You girl " She tousled my hair playfully while I flashed her a warm smile.

I took my granny from the maidservant assisting her, helping her climb the rest of the stairs. My grandma was quite aged, she could only walk with a cane.

I led her into my apartment and wasn't surprised to see Kim's mom checking my place out with a scrunched up face and a disapproving look.

Today was surely going to be a blast.