Standing by the truth
Standing by the truth
Flora's POV
I woke up to the smell of delicious food. For a few seconds, I remained still, my eyes closed as the wonderful aroma filled the room. My stomach growled loudly, reminding me that I hadn't eaten properly in what felt like forever.
I slowly opened my eyes.
The first thing I noticed was a small table beside my bed, covered with plates of food. There were fluffy pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausages, fresh fruits, toast, and a steaming cup of tea.
I blinked in surprise. I turned my head and saw Lucy sitting in a chair beside the window. She was smiling at me.
“Who is all that food for?” I asked sleepily.
Lucy raised an eyebrow.
“Who do you think it's for?”
I looked at the table again.
“Me?”
“No, I prepared all that food for the ghost hiding under your bed.”
I laughed softly. Despite everything that had happened, Lucy always found a way to make me smile.
“You're ridiculous.”
“And you're hungry.”
As if to prove her point, my stomach growled again.
Lucy burst out laughing.
“See?”
I pushed myself up against the pillows and reached for the plate.
“I don't care who prepared it. I'm eating.”
“You'd better.”
I took the first bite and nearly closed my eyes from how good it tasted.
“This is wonderful.”
“I know.”
“You made this?”
“Of course.”
I looked at her suspiciously.
“Since when can you cook this well?”
She placed a hand over her chest.
“Are you insulting my cooking?”
“I'm just surprised.”
“You should be grateful.”
“I am.”
I continued eating, and for the first time in days, I felt a little normal.
I didn't think about the past.
I didn't think about Maverick. I didn't think about Lyra.
I simply ate. Then the door opened.
My hand stopped halfway to my mouth.
Maverick walked into the room.
The happiness I had felt moments earlier vanished instantly.
His eyes moved from me to Lucy before settling on me.
“Lucy,” he said quietly, “can you leave us alone?”
I immediately put my fork down.
“No.”
Maverick looked at me.
“Flora, please.”
“She's staying.”
“I need to speak with you privately.”
“Then speak.”
He hesitated.
“There are things I need to tell you.”
“Then tell me.”
His eyes shifted toward Lucy.
“Not in front of her.”
I folded my arms.
“Lucy is my best friend. If you have something to say to me, she can hear it.”
“Flora, please.”
“No.”
He took a step toward me.
“I promise it won't take long.”
“And I promise she isn't leaving.”
Lucy remained quiet, watching both of us carefully.
Maverick sighed.
“Please, Flora. Just give me a few minutes.”
I shook my head.
“You've had plenty of opportunities to talk to me. You don't get to decide now that I need to hear you privately.”
He stared at me for a long moment.
Then something unexpected happened.
Maverick dropped to his knees.
I froze.
“Maverick?”
He lowered his head.
“I’m sorry.”
My heart tightened, but I refused to let him see it.
“I’m sorry for everything I did to you,” he continued. “I'm sorry for hurting you. I'm sorry for making you feel unwanted. I'm sorry for choosing someone else when I should have realized what you meant to me.”
I stared at him.
There was a time when those words would have broken me. There was a time when I would have given anything to hear Maverick say he was sorry. But that girl was gone.
“You're wasting your time,” I said.
He looked up.
“Flora…”
“I don't want your apology.”
“Please.”
“I don't want anything from you.”
His expression crumbled.
“I know I've hurt you, but…”
“Then leave.”
He shook his head.
“I can't.”
My patience disappeared.
“Why?”
“Because I need you to know the truth.”
I laughed bitterly.
“The truth?”
“Yes.”
“What truth could possibly change anything?”
He opened his mouth, but before he could answer, the question that had been burning inside me suddenly came out.
“What about Lyra?”
Maverick went completely still.
I watched his face carefully.
“What about Lyra?” I repeated.
He didn't answer.
My stomach twisted.
“She is pregnant, isn't she?”
His eyes widened.
Then he looked at Lucy.
It was only for a second, but I saw it.Lucy immediately looked away.
My chest tightened.
“You knew,” I whispered.
“Is Lyra pregnant?”
“Flora, don't believe everything you've heard.”
My anger grew.
“I asked you a simple question.”
He looked away.
“Maverick.”
Silence.
“Is Lyra pregnant?”
He finally looked at me.
“Yes.”
I swallowed.
“So it's true.”
He nodded slowly.
“Lyra is pregnant.”
I stared at him.
“And you knew?”
“Yes.”
“You've known all this time?”
“Yes.”
I looked at Lucy.
Her eyes were filled with guilt.
“You knew too.”
“Flora…”
“You knew Lyra was pregnant and you didn't tell me.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“From what?”
Lucy didn't answer.
I turned back to Maverick.
“So you came here to apologize while Lyra is carrying your child?”
“I didn't come here because of the pregnancy.”
“Then why did you come?”
“Because I couldn't keep pretending everything was fine.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Everything isn't fine.”
“I know.”
“You chose Lyra.”
“I know.”
“You rejected me.”
His eyes lowered.
“I know.”
“And now she's pregnant.”
His jaw tightened.
“Yes.”
I turned away from him.
I thought I had already accepted that Maverick didn't love me.
But hearing that he had gotten Lyra pregnant made everything feel painfully real.
I wiped the corner of my eye before either of them could notice.
“Go away, Maverick.”
“Flora, please listen to me.”
“No.”
“There's more to this.”
I turned sharply.
“What more could there possibly be?”
He hesitated.
“That pregnancy isn't as simple as you think.”
I frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“I can't explain everything.”
“You just told me Lyra is pregnant, and now you're refusing to explain?”
“Because there are things you don't know.”
“Then tell
me!”
His expression hardened with fear.
“It's not safe.”
I stared at him.
“Not safe?”
He nodded.
“Someone has been lying to you.”
“Who?”
He didn't answer.
“Maverick, I'm tired of secrets.”
“I know.”
“Then stop keeping them from me.”
He looked at Lucy.
She shook her head slightly.
I noticed.
“You both know something.”