Chapter 75

GIULIA

"You can't just forgive him, girl!" Mary hit her palm on the table, almost sending my heart on a hitchhike. "What happened to our plans to make him pay for all the things he did to you? Don't tell me you let that slide?"

"No, that's not it." Sighing, I got up from the bed and leaned on a pillow. "Can't you see how pitiful he looked? Didn't you notice how he ran to brush up on his appearance after I commented on how dishevelled he looked?"

"That still doesn't mean he should be forgiven easily." She folded her arms stubbornly, glaring at me. "You are making me look like the bad guy, you know?"

"It wasn't my plan." I felt it was time for me to let things slide. It doesn't mean I was ready to be with him. I just thought keeping malice wasn't the right way to go. He seemed genuinely repentant, which caused a change in my heart.

"Not your intention? But I saw it as that." Sighing, she leaned back in the chair. "Do you want to get back with him? Are you willing to forget all he did to you because of his poor excuse for an apology? Don't tell me you are getting swayed by that. Or is it love?" She scoffed, her face morphing into an ugly shape as if she tasted something bile.

"I don't intend to get together with him," I confessed. "I just wish to…put the past behind us." Sighing, I looked up as another thought crossed my mind. "Do you think he will want me after what happened? I can't give him an heir anymore, and-"

"Shut up." She rose from her chair and hugged me. "There's nothing wrong with you, Lia. It's not your fault."

"It is."

"No, it's not." She broke from the hug and placed her hands on my arms. "It's not your fault, Lia. Mark caused all this. You are not at fault."

"But-"

"Trust me. You are not." Smiling, she reached out and wiped the tears from my eyes. "You are still you, Lia. Any man who would judge you because of something you couldn't control isn't worthy of you, and that includes Mark. Should you choose him, he should count holds lucky to have your love."

"You think so?"

"I do. Now, wipe those tears, darling. You look ugly when you cry." She made faces at me as she stepped back, her face breaking out in a grin when I smiled. "Now, what do we do? Should we see a movie or watch funny clips on my phone?"

"I'm game for anything." I relaxed back on the bed and watched her. Having a friend like Mary was the best thing that ever happened to me. Even though I didn't take her as a best friend back then, opting to tell her as little about me as I could, I didn't make any mistake in knowing her.

"Why are you staring at me? Realizing I'm more beautiful than you gave me credit for?" She wriggled her brows at me as she walked back to the chair and placed her phone on the bed.

I chuckled warmly, rolling my eyes, but made no sarcastic comment in return. Instead, I glanced up at the ceiling as my thoughts returned to Mark. Now what? Where does this leave us?

Mary's phone ringing interrupted my reflections. Frowning, I turned to watch her answer the call.

"Hello Mum," she greeted.

"Hi, darling. How's Lia doing?" June asked.

"She's good. We just had dinner a few minutes ago and planned on spending some time together. Why? Do you want to speak to her?"

"No, let her rest."

"Why did you call then? Just to ask how she's doing?" Mary frowned, looking at me with a puzzled expression as if I were her mom.

June didn't answer. It took her a minute to do so, and when she did, she sounded perturbed. "Is Mark there with you?"

"Mark? No. He left an hour ago. Is there any problem?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I thought he was with Mary since he told me he had some things to take care of."

Mary rolled her eyes as he dropped the phone back on the bed. "He's a grown-arse man, mum. Why do you sound worried? You are making it seem like he's a toddler."

"I'm not worried. I just…"

"Call him if you want to know where he went. Lia and I need to watch our movie if you don't mind. Speak to you later."

Before June could say anything, she had already disconnected. "He's probably out in a bar partying his head off," she grumbled under her breath, glaring at her phone.

I said nothing because I couldn't think of what to say. My emotions felt off. I wasn't worried about June's concerns or Mary's snide remarks. I just didn't care because I knew nothing would come out of this. I had already decided to let the past relationship be. We would remain friends. But as for lovers, I doubt it would ever work out between us.

"So, which do you want? Movie or YouTube videos?"

"YouTube please."

"Great!" She got up from the chair and picked her phone up from the bed as she asked me to adjust the bed to make space, which I did, not minding the tongue-lashing we got from the doctor when he discovered her in bed with me. I guess we were both rebellious. Having the doctor almost talk our ears up made us eager to break the rules.

"Are you worried about him?" She asked, causing me to blink.

I looked up from the phone. "Who?"

"Mark. Are you worried about him?"

"Why should I?" I returned my gaze to her phone. "He didn't give me any reason to be."

"What will you do if he returns to Madrid without you?" She pressed.

"What else do you think? Life continues without him, Mary. If he leaves without me, it's for the best. I won't fault him for that. After all, I'm a broken woman who has nothing to offer. No family, and no womb. I'm just a mess. I will be nothing but a burden to him."