Xavier's pov:

Leaving was my form of self protection. There was no other way to accomplish it, or to give myself a chance to recover. When that happens, leaving New York was my choice but also a duty towards myself. Staying here would have broken me down. I didn't want to allow myself to lose me in the process of moving on.

This is the time for me to leave, for good. What was going on inside of me at this time was difficult, from the way she behaved it has become painful. Yet, there are times we must protect the self, protect our own hearts and souls if the damage from a loved one is too much. I wanted to walk to her through any and every storm, but it was akin to trying to hold a toddler who scratched and bit for years whilst alone.

And though I tried, but, she broke me, literally, in pieces. So I'm taking this rebuilt version of myself, "Me 2.0," and I'm not going to search for love. I'll never be able to love someone the way I love her. She'll always be my first and last love. But, the crack she left in my heart isn't easy to heal. Right now, I've lost complete hope. I know we'll never meet again. But, even if we meet, the pain she gave me will always leave it's mark.

"Sir, we've reached." Joseph, my driver informed me.

I looked around to find that I've reached the airport. I took a last look towards the city and went inside the airport.

I was missing everyone terribly. Maya, Anna, Liam, Daisy and Lucas and Dan. Lucas wanted to drop me off but, knowing myself I didn't want to break down in front of him. I did the procedures and went towards the VIP Lounge, waiting for my pilot to call me. After sometime, my pilot called me.

"Is the jet ready?" I asked him.

"I'm really sorry sir but, we can't take off." He answered.

"Why?"

"Sir, there are certain issues with the plane. It's very risky to take off."

"What do I guys pay you for? To inform me just before I want to fly. You should have checked all these things beforehand." I was really angry with the carelessness.

"I'm really sorry sir on everyone's behalf. This was something that came to notice just sometime back." He said.

"Fuck your excuses. Just tell me, when will be the plane ready to fly?"

"It'll take 3-5 days Sir." He answered.

"I need the plane to be taken care of. Otherwise, everyone of you will have your jobs given to someone else." I angrily hung up the call.

I thought for a while and called Lucas.

"Hey Xav. Hasn't your flight taken off?" He asked seeing my call at this time.

"No. There are some issues with the plane. And, those idiots informed me now. Your plane is on the airport, right? I'll take that. Inform your pilot." I told him.

"Sorry man. But, you're a bit late. My plane just flew to London to get Dan and then, she's directly going to Canada for her other exhibition. So, my plane is not there till the upcoming week."

"Ohh." I was thinking about some ways if I can go to France today.

"Uh Xav, why don't you do one thing? Stay back for some days and when your plane will be ready to fly, you can leave then." He suggested.

"I think you're right. There's no way I'm taking a commercial flight. I'll just return back to the penthouse."

"Okay. I'll see you then. I have a meeting right now. Bye."

"Bye." I replied and then, called my driver to pick me back and went to the penthouse.

I came back to the penthouse. I opened the door and suddenly a different, familiar essence filled my nostrils. It somewhere reminded me of Maya. But, it was a regular thing for me. Her smell revolves around me and sometimes, I even feel her with me. But, that's all just a dream. She isn't going to return back.

I walked towards my room, but I felt as if I saw someone in the kitchen. But, Mrs. Molly isn't going to come from now on. Then, who's there? I carefully went forward to see a beautiful, slender figure and silky, brown hairs swiftly flowing because of traffic wind coming from the open window. I could only see the back but, I recognized it easily. She was Maya. But, why would she be here? It's my dream again. I was about to walk away when a voice stopped me.

"Don't want to meet me?" I turned back to see Maya. Her beautiful, yellow sundress complemented her fair skin and those perfect flowing hair gave her face a wonderful, slick look. She looked all beautiful and gorgeous. So amazing that I fell short of words.

Fearing that it's still a dream of mine, I slowly walked towards her and poked her slightly by my index finger.

She chuckled lightly and said, "I'm in real. I'm not your dream anymore."

My heart leaped up for joy and I felt an extreme surge for happiness. But, suddenly I remembered everything. All things she did to me. And, my self respect refused me to smile at her or hug her.

She was still standing there, looking at me with slight tears in her eyes and a smile mixed with pain and relief on her face. The tear that she was holding on from the last few minutes, escaped her eyes. My hand automatically went up to her cheek to wipe it off but, I didn't. She looked at me for a minute and wiped off her tears.

She smiled sadly and said, "How are you?"

It was really hard for me to not reply her.

"Why are you here?" I asked her back looking straight into her eyes.

"I kind of expected this. But, let's leave this for now. I made dinner. Come we'll have it." She said and started to take me towards the dining table by my wrist.

I jerked her hand in the midway and said, "What are you trying to do?"

"Having dinner with my husband." She replied so casually.

That's when my anger surged up.

"I'm Not Your Husband. Get this thing in your brain. And, I am not going to have anything made by you. I have already given you the mansion. What are you doing here in my penthouse?"

"I want to stay with you." She replied.

"But, I don't want to. Get out from here." I shouted.

"No, I won't. You're still my husband legally and that gives me the right to live with you. Now, stop this right here. It's past the dinner time. You must be hungry. Even I haven't eaten anything. I want to eat too." She said.

"If you want, you can happily have your wonderful dinner. But, I'm not going to. Okay? And don't you dare disturb me now." I warned her.

"I have not eaten anything since long and I'll not eat anything till the time you feed me by your hands." She argued.

"Whatever." I said and left from there.

Finding Maya at my penthouse was a big shock to me. I expected anything, but this. I was taken aback by her responses and was totally stunned by her behaviour. I was pacing around in my room, thinking what to do ahead.

As everytime, I called Lucas to solve this problem. But, he didn't pick up even after several calls. In irritation, I threw my phone on the bed and went to have a relaxing shower to get my brain back on track.

After a good, hot shower, I decided to let go all the things right now and sleep well. I need to have a good sleep for tomorrow. Having Maya in the penthouse would be a long day. Switching off the lights, I fell into my slumber.

It was 4.30 in the morning, when my alarm started ringing. I got up and changed into my gym wear. I went towards the living room after finding the lights on at this time. As I went ahead, I saw Maya sleeping on the single couch, curled up in the fetal position. She surely must be feeling cold. I quickly went inside and took out a comforter. I properly covered her with it. Before leaving from there, I took a close look at her. Her beautiful doe eyes had dark circles underneath them. Her face that once radiated energy and happiness, was now under tremendous dullness. Still, it was a peace to my heart to see her after so long. But, I couldn't react or show my happiness to her. Even though, I wanted to stay there and keep on staring at her, I decided the otherwise. If she wakes up and sees me near her, it would be a problem.

Maya's pov:

Not able to bear the pain in my back anymore, I irritatingly opened my eyes to a complete different view. Then, the reality hit me that I'm at Xavier's penthouse. I looked at my phone to find it was only 5 in the morning. Too early for me to get up. But keeping in mind the important things I have to do today, I pushed my lazy ass out of the uncomfortable couch . It was really uncomfortable to sleep on the couch but, I couldn't take any room without Xavier's knowledge. He could get angry at that.

Right now, my main concern was to apologise to Xavier. But, looking at him, I don't think it'll be as easy as I thought. I looked around the mansion for couldn't see him anywhere. I was waiting on the couch in living room for him to come. He came back at around 5.45 in gym wear sweating profusely. I must say, he looks hot in his tight t-shirts that perfectly display his toned arms and his mascular biceps. His clearing of throat brought me back from my session of gawking at my husband.

He was about to walk away towards the stairs when I called him out.

"Xavier." He stopped in his tracks listening to my voice and turned around.

"Umm....I wanted to ask you if you could tell me the room in which I can stay? And, also will you please lend me one of your shirt and trousers, so that I can change into them till the time I'm done with my laundary? I haven't brought any clothes with me."

Xavier's pov:

It was becoming really difficult for me to have her infront of me and not hug her tightly and not kiss her like a hungry beast, till the time her lips swell up; all red. Only my soul knows how much I am suffering when I talk back to her with no respect and care in my voice. But, I need to do that to keep her away from me.

No matter what she must be feeling right now, but she has to go through my rudeness and hatred. She should have remembered our past experiences in the relationship wars and not let herself get so easy to be tricked. Evidently her emotions had overruled her common sense and she had become drunk on ego, the most potent, sanity- destroying thing in the universe.

"You need a room and few clothes?" I asked her.

"Yeah."

"Stop this drama Maya. Don't act like nothing happened." I raised my voice.

"I'm not acting like nothing happened. I'm trying to set it right, whatever happened wrong."

"You gotta be kidding me right now. Pieces of glass never join again together once broken. Now please, excuse me and don't disturb me. "

I walked away from there but, then I remembered how uncomfortably she slept on that couch yesterday. My anger is nowhere near her comfort.

"And, yeah you can take any fucking room in the penthouse if that's where you want to stay till our divorce. Just stay away from my room on the upper floor. Because, I know you disgust me and you never know how much disgusting things I might have done with my girlfriends in my room. So stay away from me. I might smell of infedility." I said it all with a bitter tone and without caring to look back at her, I went to my room.

After taking a shower, I dressed up in my casuals and went downstairs, towards to kitchen to make my breakfast. I found Maya setting up the plates on dining table. She was dressed in the same clothes as yesterday and looking more tired. I am terribly regretting saying all that to her. But, it was necessary.

"Oh you came. I made breakfast. Come. Eat something." She said noticing me there.

The wonderful smell of the pancakes was inviting me to the table and the sandwiches seemed like they are desperately waiting to be in my mouth. But, I can't let myself look soft infront of her. Deciding to do otherwise, I ignored her. I went to the refrigerator, took out two apples and a bottle of orange juice and walked away from there. I so badly wanted to eat the sandwiches and the pancakes kept on the table, but couldn't.

It was Sunday and I had no work to do today. So my empty mind couldn't stop thinking about the current situation right now. On top of that, Lucas wasn't responding to my calls. His secretary informed me that he had continuous meetings today. I was already getting tensed and on top of that I was hungry. I looked at the time, it was already 12.27pm. Past the lunch time. Thinking about going downstairs brought a frown on my face. Again Maya will be waiting for me and I'll have to say something bad to her again. To avoid that, I decided to order something. I ordered my lunch and it was there within sometime. I had my lunch but, Maya's thoughts kept on roaming in my mind the entire time.

What must be she doing? Did she have her lunch? Why did she come here? Does she know the truth?

All these things kept on disturbing me. After my lunch, I decided to go and meet Lucas to clear all this.

Maya's pov:

His anger came like an impossible build up steam, burning me on the way out, burning the one on the receiving end.

His anger, his sadness; all of this just keeps on tearing me from inside. Now, I understood, how he must have felt when I was upset. But, past; doesn't matter now. I'll calm him down and we'll mark a new beginning to our relationship.

I was feeling a bit of dizziness form morning. My body, it seems weaker. I know the reason for this. The amount of food that my body got from the last 24 hours. Everytime I make something, he refuses to eat. Respecting my own words, I have pledged to eat only after Xavier feeds me and no matter what happens I'll stand to my words.

I wanted to go and start with lunch, but I felt my body giving in the strength to stand at a place. Seeing that it was still sometime left, I decided to quickly take a power nap.

I went inside my room and before I could sleep, I decided to drink a glass of water to keep myself hydrated. I picked up the jug from the side table and poured the water into the glass. Before the glass could touch my lips, my knees began to tumble and I suddenly felt that my vision is getting blurry. Darkness consumed and before I could realise, the glass slipped out of my hands and I fell down to the floor.

Xavier's pov:

It was around 7 in the evening when I came back after meeting Lucas. That bastard, although I wanted to, didn't allow me to even take a sip of beer. According to him, I go all mad when I am under the effect of alcohol.

It always helps to clear your mind when you talk to someone who understands you more than anyone else. I talked to Lucas regarding the whole scenario and he very patiently listened to me. He suggested me that I should let go off my ego and my anger and talk to Maya about her stay at my penthouse. Also respecting my feelings, he told me to not forgive her completely till my own heart tells me to do that. Talking to her patiently would at least bring us both on good terms. I completely respected his point of view and decided clear this matter today itself.

But, I know that a relationship cannot survive one sided. It needs to have love from both the sides and knowing Maya she just cares for me and she likes me. She doesn't love me and I don't think she ever will. So, there is no point of postponing the divorce right now.

Anyways our contract is going to end very soon. It's already five and half months to our marriage and later we have to get divorced . So according to me, even if we both come on talking terms, we should proceed with the divorce. I can't take the risk of spending time with her. The more I spend time with her, the more I will get hurt after she leaves. Already, I'm way too much in pain only with the thought of her leaving. I can't make it any worse.

I walked into the penthouse only to find the kitchen and the living room completely empty and silent. I have to talk to her now. I searched for her in the balcony but, didn't find her there too. I took a look at the rooms in search of her. My eyes noticed a room in the corner, the smallest one in the penthouse and that's not frequently used or cleaned, which was open.

She should have taken a good room rather than settling for this rug. There were plenty of good rooms here.

I went inside the room and was dumbfounded to the sight infront of me.