Chapter 165
Sophia's POV:
I spotted Maya Bennett at Menton. I waited until I saw her stand up. I watched her walk toward the restrooms, and I followed her.
Inside the restroom, the lighting was soft and flattering. Maya stood at the sink, washing her hands. She looked infuriatingly calm.
I stood next to her. I checked my reflection, fixing a stray hair that didn't actually need fixing. I watched her in the mirror.
"Has Julian contacted you?" I asked. My voice was colder than the marble countertop.
Maya paused. She looked at my reflection, her expression blank. "Why would he contact me?"
"Because he likes you," I snapped. I turned to face her. "Don't play dumb with me, Maya. I know how men work. Why would he call you?"
Maya turned off the faucet. She reached for a paper towel, drying her hands with slow, deliberate movements. "Sophia, are you serious? We talk all the time. Just yesterday, we were planning our secret getaway. Is that what you want to hear?"
My face heated up. "You—! You have no shame!"
I took a step toward her. "Does Adam Sterling know about this? Do you think he would tolerate you being so loose? You are disgusting."
Maya tossed the paper towel into the bin. She picked up her clutch. "This is my business. It has nothing to do with you."
"It is my business!" I cried out. My voice echoed off the tiled walls. "Julian is my fiancé! You are overstepping!"
I was close to tears.
Maya looked at me. She let out a short sigh. "I was kidding, Sophia. I haven't spoken to Julian in ages. Don't blame me just because you can't keep your own man interested."
She turned to leave.
"Wait!" I grabbed her arm. I didn't care how desperate I looked. "Is that true? You really haven't talked to him?"
"Believe what you want," she said, pulling her arm away. She started walking toward the door.
I ran in front of her. I blocked her path. "Maya, stop. Please. You have to listen to me."
She stopped, looking annoyed.
"Julian treats me like I don't exist," I confessed. "I have tried everything. I tried to learn how to cook for him. I made a whole dinner from scratch. He took one bite, said it tasted terrible, and told me to stop wasting food."
Maya stared at me, her face unreadable.
"I tried to knit him a scarf," I continued, my voice trembling. "It took me weeks. My fingers were sore. He looked at it, called it ugly, and threw it on the floor."
Tears pricked my eyes. "He said I was too spoiled. So I tried to be gentle. I tried to be soft and understanding. Then he called me fake. He said I was acting."
I wiped a tear from my cheek. "It breaks my heart. What am I supposed to do? How do I make him like me? You have to tell me."
Maya looked at me for a long time. The annoyance in her eyes faded slightly. It was replaced by something else. Pity? Or maybe understanding.
"It is actually very simple," she said.
My eyes widened. "Tell me. Please."
"Find someone else to like," she said flatly.
I stared at her. "You... you are mocking me! I am asking for serious help!"
"I am not mocking you," Maya said. Her voice was quiet but firm. "Pleasing someone is the most exhausting thing in the world. I used to do that. I did stupid things. I walked on eggshells. I tried to be perfect. I hoped that if I was good enough, she would love me. I wanted her to care about me."
She looked past me, staring at the wall. "Later, I realized something. It didn't matter what I did. She wasn't going to like me. She hated me for no reason. I was sad for a long time. But then I stopped trying. I stopped caring."
She looked back at me. "Look at me now. I am happy. If something causes you pain, pull yourself out of it. Don't force it. The moment you stop caring, the whole world gets better."
I was confused. "Who are you talking about?"
"My mother," she said.
"Your mother?" My jaw dropped. "Your biological mother?"
"If the hospital didn't make a mistake, then yes."
"But... she is your mom," I whispered. "How can she be like that? You are so pitiful, Maya."
Maya laughed, a dry sound. "I am not the pitiful one, Sophia. You are."
She stepped around me and walked out the door.
I stood there for a second, stunned. Then panic set in. She was leaving.
I ran out of the restroom. I chased her down the hallway.
"Maya! Wait!"
She didn't stop.
"Please!" I caught up to her near the coat check. "I really like Julian. I can't just let him go. The thought of losing him hurts too much. I can't just 'find someone else to like.'"
I grabbed her sleeve. "You are amazing, Maya. You handled Adam Sterling. You must have a secret. Tell me. Please help me."
Maya stopped. She looked down at my hand on her sleeve, then up at my face. She pulled her arm free.
"I have a method," she said slowly. "But I won't guarantee it works. And I won't take responsibility for the side effects."
"Tell me! I don't care about side effects. If it fails, I won't blame you."
Maya looked around to make sure no one was listening. She leaned in slightly.
"Make him think you're cheating," she said.
I frowned, freezing in place. "What?"
"Make him jealous," she clarified, her voice devoid of sympathy. "Find another man. A better-looking one. Parade him in front of Julian. Make him angry. Really angry."
I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth. "I can't do that! That's... that's insane! What if he gets too angry? What if he leaves me for good?"
"It's a Hail Mary," Maya said with a shrug. "You're already losing him, Sophia. You have nothing left to lose. It's a last resort. Use it or don't. It's up to you."
"Is there no other way?" I asked.
Maya shook her head. She just turned away and walked back toward the dining room.
Five days later.
I sat on my bed, staring at my phone. I had called Maya twice. She didn't answer.
I dialed again. Finally, she picked up.
"Are you crazy?" Maya's voice was sharp. "Why are you calling me right now?"
I froze. "Maya? It's me, Sophia."
There was a pause. Maya coughed. "Sorry. I thought it was a spam call."
I didn't care about her tone. I needed to talk to someone. I needed to vent.
"Maya, I used your idea. I found a guy friend from college. We put on a show. We went to the club where Julian hangs out. I got really close to him. I touched his arm. I laughed loudly."
"And?" Maya asked.
"Nothing!" I wailed. "Julian didn't get jealous. He didn't even look up! He didn't come over to punch the guy. He didn't say a word."
I took a breath, my voice shaking. "And now, it's been days. He hasn't called me. I went to his office, and his secretary blocked me. She said he's busy. Maya, it's over! I think I acted too well. Julian is completely mad. He's ignoring me completely."
"He hasn't ignored you for days?" Maya asked.
"Yes! He won't answer my calls. He won't see me. I messed up!"
"Don't give up," Maya said. "Keep doing it. If he is ignoring you, that's good. It means he noticed."
"Really?" I sniffled. "You think so?"
"Trust me," Maya said. "If he didn't care, he would be polite. He'd treat you like a stranger. The silence means he's stewing. He's definitely jealous."
I sat up straighter. "You think Julian is jealous?"
"It's highly probable," she said. "Trust me. Keep acting with your friend for a few more days."
"But I can't see him," I argued. "How can I show him if I can't get near him?"
"Use Instagram," Maya said. "Post photos. Only let him see them. Post pictures of you and your friend being intimate. Put them on your story. He will look."
"Wow," I said. "You are so smart, Maya! That is a great idea."
"Okay," Maya said, her voice hurried. "Go work your magic. I gotta go."
"Wait." I picked up on her breathless tone. "Why were you so mad I called? What are you doing?"
A beat of silence.
"I got married today, Sophia," she whispered.
My mouth fell open. The realization hit me hard. The wedding night. And exactly why she was breathless.
My face flamed.
"Oh," I squeaked. "Okay. Bye."