Maria's world was shrouded in paradoxes, her life in the new world was veiled in a peculiar aura. Among its residents was Mark, a man whose past was steeped in disdain for all things related to the Ongatuny family, especially their daughter, Maria. To everyone's surprise, however, Mark found himself inexplicably drawn to her.
His driver, an observant fellow named Jake, noticed Mark's prolonged gaze fixated on Maria as she moved past. "Sir," he ventured tentatively, "what's wrong with you? We all know how you hated that young lady. So why are you staring at her like she's the sun?" The question hung in the still air, crackling with curiosity, for everyone was aware of Mark's disdain.
Well , guess that was the previous mark.
What they did not know was that Mark's body was merely a vessel at that moment. Inside, a different entity roamed—an individual cloaked in vulnerability, seeking a purpose that had long been buried beneath layers of pain. The new presence felt a magnetic pull toward Maria, one that obliterated the walls Mark had constructed around his heart.
"Stop the car," Mark ordered suddenly, his voice calm yet authoritative. "Take her home."
As the sleek vehicle approached Maria, who had never laid eyes on such a daunting machine, panic fluttered in her chest. When Mark opened the door for her, his actions bore an unusual kindness that starkly contrasted with the Mark she thought she knew. "Miss, can we give you a lift?" he asked, his tone polite.
Maria hesitated, uncertainty clouding her mind. "Is it your job to offer lifts to strangers? Do you even know me?" She shot back, suspicion creeping into her voice.
Jake couldn't contain himself, bursting into laughter. "Please, don't kill me with your joke! Who in this town doesn't know the rejected and ignored daughter of the Ongatuny family?" His words, meant to be lighthearted, struck a deeper chord within Maria.
After all she isn't the one.
She quickly grasped what she needed—an easy direction home. Without further thought, she slid into the car, curiosity bubbling beneath the surface.
As they drove, Maria couldn't help but marvel at the motion of this "moving house," as she dubbed it. The sights they passed were a blur of unfamiliarity, and questions flickered in her mind.
As she continued to glance here and there, her gaze fell on mark, as she glimpsed and noticed that mark was glancing at her secretly. "Sir, is there something on my face? Mark smiled and responded calmly, "nothing miss" then was she relieved.
Suddenly Maria remembered over hearing nurses at the hospital taking a bout cameras، that can record and event, well she didn't know what they were but she knew that could be her hope. " l need to go and see if the place Maria died had cameras then will have evidence of their murder" she thought .
Without hesitation, she calmly requested if they cold drop her at serena hotel. Mark didn't was curious about it but didn't want to pry on her matters, father he told his driver to drop her as Serena hotel.
Unbeknownst to Maria that someone was far a head of her , and had already cleared the footage. Soon they reached, without wasting time , she rushed at the reception, well they knew her since the party the previous night was her birthday.
Welcome , miss Maria, how may we help you?" Alady aasked her. Can you show me the control room? She requested as the lady pointed at the direction. She left in a hurry to the room were she found a security guard.
As she requested for the footage of the previous night, but was surprised as the guard sighed, "miss the cameras had a problem , so yesterday's footage got cleared."
She walked a way with a frown face as her only hope has be shattered, but at the corridor , she bumped on mark, who has been following her. " Is it a coincidence or have you been following me? She asked , but mark didn't deny rather his response was awkward." Since you already guessed it right, then let me drop you off". They both treked to the car , After some moments, Jake brought the vehicle to a halt.
"Aren't you getting out? Is this not your home?" he inquired, looking back at her.
"Thank you," she replied, her voice unexpectedly steady, though a newfound confidence tinted her demeanor. This earned her another surprised glance from Jake; he had always known Maria to be timid, overshadowed by her family's reputation.
As she stepped out, Maria gazed up at the towering two-storied building, awe washing over her. "How do they build such houses?" The marvel was short-lived; as she turned to leave, a familiar face approached—the friend of the girl who had long made her life turbulent.
"Finally, a jinx has arrived!" The mockery dripped from the words as the friend smirked. But in a moment that startled everyone, Maria reacted with unexpected ferocity; her fist connected sharply with the friend's cheek. "Now listen," she said, her tone deceptively calm, "the next time you try mocking me, I will skin you alive."
With that, obedience took hold of the girl's feet as she fled in terror. Maria's newfound assertiveness felt exhilarating, a stark departure from the meek persona she had inhabited for too long. The house stood silent, yet within, the family was gathered around a lavish dinner, oblivious to the storm brewing outside.
As Maria ascended the stairs, she noted the familiar faces—her family, yet they felt like distant memories. They displayed all the affection for Jennie, the girl who had stolen her spotlight for years, and her grandmother, Miss Magdalena, coddled Jennie as though she was the queen of the universe. Frustration simmered in Maria's veins.
"Grandma," Jennie pouted, "I think I've lost my appetite." Her words were a whispered dagger aimed at Maria.
"Oh, my child, are you still traumatized because Maria pushed you?" Miss Magdalena cooed, pretending concern, but the mockery seeped through like a poison.
Maria paused at the stair railing, rising anger igniting her spirit. She gathered all her courage, a pulse of power surging through her as she declared, "Stop! Stop it right now! Did I push you down the stairs, or is it because you slept with my fiancé?"
Her voice echoed through the dining room, halting every movement and silencing all snickers. The room froze—the tension palpable, the drama ripe. In that moment, Maria transformed. The girl they once dismissed was reclaiming her narrative, rewriting a story long dictated by others.