Maya's pov:

Beach. Yes, we were at the beach.

The waves were making a beautiful sound that gets attached to the soul.

The beach at night feels completely different from the beach during the daytime. It is the same place, yet the atmosphere is changed.

The darkness of the beach at night envelops with a sense of peace; the absence of the crowds illuminates other aspects of the beach not noticed during the day, it gives a feeling of freedom, and a little fear in contrast to the dominant sense of peace.

The moon and the stars shining in the water, moving up and down along with the dancing waves, feels like they are inviting us to a whole new world, filled only with happiness and peace.

I looked at Mr. Adams to see that he was intently looking at me.

"Thank you so much Mr. Adams. I can't even explain how contended I'm feeling right now. It's been ages I saw a beach. It feels really nice to be here. Thanks a lot." I really appreciate Mr. Adams'effort and thought to bring me here.

"Thank God you liked it. I was afraid if you wouldn't like it." He says keeping his hand over his heart, as if his life was at stake.

I looked over again at the beach and the set up he made .

There was a small arrangment of table and chairs for dinner in between the trees. It illuminated like sparkles in the yellow - orange light. Decorated with candles and white curtains, it seemed like a small royal castle.

At some distance from it, there was tent sort of canopy stuffed with beautiful pillows and lightings. It looked like a cosy small bed.

"Do you like it?" Mr. Adams asked me with his eyes waiting for the answers.

"Are you kidding me? I just loved this. This is my ideal date. Thank you so much." I excitedly hugged him.

He was taken aback for a moment but, then hugged me back.

I find this strange peace in his arms. I don't wish to leave them.

After our little hug, he took my hand and dragged me towards the beach.

We stood there for a while enjoying the sparkling beauty of stars in the waters. He then, took me towards the table set up.

As a gentleman, he pulled the chair for me. Dinner was already set up.

"Mexican!" I exclaimed with joy.

"Now I'm a bit suspicious about this. Daisy helped you with all this, right?"

"Actually yeah. I asked her about the things you like. She told me that you love beaches and you're fond of Mexican food. But, I promise she just told me this. I arranged all other things."

"Thank you so much. I loved this a lot."

"That's my pleasure." He smiled.

We talked about each other's like and dislikes and other things in life during dinner.

I got to know that he is fond of guitar and knows to play well. He also told me that he never had any girlfriends or serious relationship. He only had girls like Caroline who serve him for his pleasures.

He was quite open about these things. I also told him that I had a boyfriend in past but, I spared the details of the incident for other time. He was respectful of that.

I got really comfortable with him . I wanted to just keep on talking with him.

We had our dinner, which was no doubt amazing. We had a walk near the shore and then, went towards the canopy.

We sat there, witnessing the mind blowing beauty of the beach and the bouncing waves.

I don't know what happened to me, when I rested my head on his chest. It seemed like the beautiful silence and the surreal atmosphere has taken over my body. I leaned towards him and kept my head near his heart. I could feel his racing heartbeats adding on to the music of waves.

In response, he brought his arm around me and held me more close to him.

"I want to talk to you Maya." Mr. Adams broke the silence.

"Hmm." I replied.

"It's important Maya. Look at me."

I lifted my head and looked at him. His eyes held a different type of pain.

"Uh...I..I." First time in these days, I saw him losing his confidence and stuttering with hesitance.

"What happened Mr. Adams? Everything alright?"

"Yeah. I'm just not understanding how to say this."

"By mouth, I guess." I tried to lighten up the tension.

"Not funny."

"Just say whatever you want to. I promise I won't judge you or say anything."

"Okay." He waited for a minute, taking deep breaths and said, "I'm sorry."

"What?" I didn't know that he would say sorry. But, for what did he apologize?

"Please let me complete. I am really sorry for every thing, from the smallest one to biggest. For insulting you, for calling you by filthy names, for doubting your character, for putting your life in danger, for being a complete asshole and for everything that I can't even remember.

I never knew that your entry in my life would bring such huge changes in it. You entered like a stranger and now, you've become the most important person for me. You brought back the compassion in me. Before you came, I was like a machine in a human body. You made me a human back.

You're really an inspiration for me. The way you survived with your parents without any financial and emotional support , really makes me proud of you.

And, I'm really very very sorry for calling you with those names. I don't know if you can ever forgive me or not for what I did to you, but I'll never be able to forgive myself for that. Still, I'm very sorry for everything."

Honestly, I couldn't form words. I was left in tears with his apology. I never knew that he was so in guilt. I thought we were over that. But, he had so much inside.

I wiped my tears and looked at him only to find that he was looking down at his lap, probably waiting for my reply.

"Mr. Adams, it's completely fine now. We were over the apology session. No need of being guilty of the things that you did in past. I see that you're trying to change and that's what is most important to me."

He looked up. I could see that his eyes were glistening with tears. He closed them tightly as if he is trying to make the water in his eyes flow back.

"It's not okay Maya. It's not." He shouted. "You were about to die because of me. I couldn't afford to be someone's reason of death again. Not again."

"What do you mean by again?"

He stayed quiet for a moment before saying, "My parents. They left me and Dan all alone in this world because of me . I'm the reason for their death. I'm the reason why Dan couldn't get the love of our parents. I'm reason for two deaths Maya. Two deaths.

I couldn't afford one more. I couldn't lose you. I couldn't."

His words broke up and all he could say were stuttering sounds. Hot tears streamed down his face, and he squeezed his eyelids shut in the hope his tears would stop. His choppy breathing and watery eyes remained for quite some time, and he sat there unmoving.

I couldn't see this state of him. My heart broke into pieces. Who knew that this tough , arrogant man is so delicate and broken.

I moved closer to him and hugged him. He cried over my shoulders as if he had buried everything inside him for years.

After few moments, when he seemed to have calmed down, I released the hug and said, "You want to talk about what happened that day? It will make you feel lighter."

He was quite for a long time. Only the sound of waves could reach our ears other than each other's breathing.

"I was 16 at that time. Dan was 12. My father, he was an investment banker. My mother ran a play school. We never had to worry about anything when they were there.

It was my 16 th birthday and as a normal teenager, I also wanted to party with my friends. I also, learnt to drive some days back.

Without even asking my parents, I took their car and went to my friend's house to party. For the first time, under peer pressure, I drank alcohol.

It was around 10 in the night when I left his place. I already switched off my phone to avoid my parents' calls.

I was a bit drunk at that time. On the way, cops found me exceeding the speed limit. Not having my lisence and being drunk, were the fuel to the fire.

They immediately called my parents. They both were coming by a cab. But, before they could reach me...." He closed his eyes as if he is trying to stop those tears that were threatening to spill out.

"It's okay. If you want to stop, it's okay. I won't force you to continue." I said running my one hand over his back and the other one holding his hand tightly.

"No, I want to let it out. It's been years I have talked about this. I want to continue." He said. He took deep breaths and said, "Before they could reach me, the cops recieved a call regarding an accident nearby. Not wanting to leave me alone at night, they took me with them.

The sight I saw was the most dreadful one. My mother was lying on the ground in a pool of blood that was coming out of her head. My father, he was stuck inside the cab. The driver was also injured.

The cops were talking about a truck that hit the car. The driver ran away but, he was soon under bars.

Mom died on the spot. Dad and the driver were taken to the hospital immediately. The driver survived the accident as the attack was on the backside of the car. But, dad died while getting operated on his brain.

That was the reason I was so scared when you went through a surgery. I couldn't lose one more person Maya. I couldn't be a murderer again."

He put his head over my shoulders and I hugged him . That moment, I realised how much pain he carried inside him.

We stayed like that for a long time before he moved back suddenly.

Xavier's pov:

I was in Maya's arms right now. This is the first time in years, I've talked to someone about this. I really felt a lot lighter after talking to her.

Suddenly, I realised that this date was about her. I shouldn't have ruined it by my misery.

I moved back and said, "I'm sorry Maya. This date was for you. I shouldn't have ruined it. I shouldn't have brought my past here."

She held my face in both her hands and said, "This date wasn't for me. It was for us. And, it's good that you shared that with me. You had to let it out. You can't walk around with so much inside you. And, the most important thing is that it showed me that you trust me enough to share your feelings with me. You do trust me, right?"

"More than myself Maya." I said smiling at her.

She smiled back at me and removed her hands from my face.

I held her hands and said, "Thanks a lot for handling me now. This is a really sensitive topic for me and I kind of avoid to talk about it. But, talking with you felt like, I was talking to my own soul."

Her face blooming with smile, felt like a star radiating light of happiness.

That smile is the prettiest thing I've seen in a while, for it extends to my eyes and deep into my soul.

"I want to talk something else too." I said looking down.

"First of all, look up. You don't look nice when you lose confidence."

"Trust me, you're the only one who makes me lose my confidence.Otherwise, no one has seen me this soft and vulnerable.

But, I want to say something. Can I?"

She nodded with a smile.

"Being away from you all this while, it was the most difficult challenge I faced. It had become nearly impossible for me to not see you.

I realised this even before going to France, but I thought that this will get over soon. But, not being able to see you or talk to you made me feel lonely. I really missed you a lot. That's why, I don't want to waste anymore time in just beating around the bush. I can't keep this inside me for long.

Mrs. Maya Xavier Adams, I really really like you a lot. You entered as a part of my world. But, now you're becoming my world. You have become the most precious thing that ever happened to me.

Will you forgive me for all the things in the past and give a chance to our marriage? Will you give me a chance to be your husband, not only on papers but also in your heart? Will you?"

That's it. I confessed. I don't know how will she react to this but, I wanted her to know my feelings.

She was quite for more than a minute now.

"Maya, hey. Look at me." I made her look at me by holding her face by my index finger under her chin.

Her eyes were filled with tears and as soon as her eyes met mine, tears fell down from her eyes.

I wiped them and said, "It's completely fine if you don't reciprocate the same. There's no pressure. I just wanted you to know what you mean to me and what I feel for you. It's okay if you don't like me and it's completely justified after what I did." For the first time in my life, I was ready for rejection.

She let out a chuckle while crying and launched herself into my arms.

"I like you too Mr. Adams. I really like you a lot."

I couldn't believe what she just said. "Do you really mean it Maya?" I asked her.

"Yes. I mean every word I said. I really like you a lot and I want to give this marriage a chance." She said, still not ready to leave me.

My happiness knew no bounds now. I hugged her back with all the joy I had in me.

We stayed like that, enjoying each other's hold, for a while before releasing the hug.

"You don't know, how happy you made me by saying this." I told her.

My hands, still resting on her waist and hers on my chest, giving me experience of, the best feeling ever.

"You do the same to me." She said.

We stayed into each arms for a while. It had started to get cold around.

"Should we head towards the mansion or you wanna sit here more?" I asked her.

"Let's go home." She said.

I've always addressed it as a mansion. It never felt home before. Mom always used to say that there's a difference between a house and a home. Today, I felt that.

Earlier, it was just a house for me. Now, it's my home where I live with my wife.

"Okay. Let's get you home." I said. We stood up and walked hand in hand.

Car was a bit far away from the set up because of the sand on beach.

On the way, she asked, "Why aren't there other people on the beach?"

"It's a private property. They rent it out for those who wish to spend their quality time here."

We reached our car. She was about to sit in the car, when she looked towards the end of the property.

"Mr. Adams , I saw this car following us when we were coming here. I thought it might be going in the same direction as us. But, now it's standing here also."

"Those are the bodyguards Maya. I always have one with me as my driver. But, today you were coming with me. So, I brought 4 of them along. I couldn't take any risk with you."

"But, what would happen to me? No one knows me." She said.

"You have to understand that I'm the owner of the top grossing company in New York as well as other parts of the world. I have rivals. So, we need to be careful."

"That must be a lot of pressure."

"Well it is. But, it has become a habit now."

She was going to sit on the front side of the car but, I stopped her.

I took out my phone and called Peter, my driver and bodyguard.

"Peter come here." I said and within some seconds he was there.

I gave the key to him and sat at the back with Maya. I pulled out the partition between the front seat and the back one. Maya looked surprised to see it.

"I don't want him to look at me, having my moments with my wife." I told her. Natural pink blush spread over her cheeks quickly.

She put her head on my chest and closed her eyes. Within minutes, she was asleep. She must have been tired.

We reached home and I picked her up from the seat carefully not wanting to wake her up.

I put her on the bed and kissed her forehead. She stirred a bit and finally woke up.

"I was in the car. How did I reach here?" She asked rubbing her eyes.

"You fell asleep in the car. I brought you here. I didn't want to wake you up and lose the peace on your face." I said.

"That's fine. Anyways, I have to change. I can't sleep in this dress."

"Okay. I'll take your leave then. Good night." I said and was about to leave when she held my wrist and stopped me.

"What happened? You need something?" I asked her.

"Yes."

"What?"

"This." She said and hugged me tight. I smiled and hugged her back.

"Thank you so much Mr. Adams. It was the best night of my life. I had a wonderful time with you. This date will always be special to me." She said and released the hug revealing her blushing cheeks.

I ran my thumb over her blush and said, "I too had an amazing time with you and your blushing cheeks. It was the best night indeed."

I gathered the courage to kiss her cheeks and said, " Good night Maya."