Chapter 19: Chapter 19

During the ride home, my mind was filled with so many thoughts. I can't believe everything is happening this fast. I never imagined getting married anytime soon. I know people date for years or months before the proposal and then engagement before wedding. But Mark is just something else. Who wants us to start planning our wedding tommorrow.

Sure I am excited. I want everything to be perfect. I will be all his, in spirit, soul and body. What a lucky girl I am. I felt like Cinderella going to the ball after meeting her fairy god mother. This seems to be a dream.

But I could not seem to take my mind off Tilda. How will she take this news? I know they don't love each other but since both of them agreed with both families support, it will be terrible to call off the engagement. This is such an uncomfortable situation and I felt sad thinking about it.

Mark's POV

Seeing Maya drives me crazy. It makes my blood boil like a vulcano. It's always very hard to resist her when I am with her. But since our little encounter at the balcony and how embarrased I made her feel, I decided not to put her in that situation anymore. At the office today, she looked stunning. I mean, she always had this angelic look but there was some kind of innocence with sexiness I have never seen in her. Her new style of dressing was perfect. I know that we will face a lot of challenges after I break up with Tilda but with every challenge, I am ready to go through with her by my side.

I won't let her go no matter what. I will fight for her with my life. These were the thoughts going through my mind as I drove to the airport to pick up Tilda. I know she will be sad about this decision but I can't go on like this. I will not sacrifice the love of my life for wealth and power.

When I got there, Tilda was already waiting for me. I think I was late because I should have been here before her flight landed. I noticed a very sad expression on her face. I could not tell what it was. Maybe she is just tired.

She gave me a quick hug when I got out of the car but she didn't make any eye contact. That's very unusual of her. Since we decided to get married, we both tried everytime to act as the perfect couple whether or not we were surrounded by people. But for her cancelling the trip and how she looks, I felt really sorry for her.

Are you okay, I asked her as I closed the door of the passenger seat where she just sat.

"I am fine", She replied weakly and just like that, she closed her eyes and slept.

I decided not to disturb her because of the news I was going to break to her tommorrow. I hope she will understand.

"Tilda", I whispered when we got to her house but she was still sleeping. She could barely open her eyes. I carried her to her bedroom and left her a note that I will see her tommorrow. This is the first time she slept during a car ride. Something doesn't seem right but I just can't get my head on it. Maybe she is just tired. I should stop worrying unecessary.

I Could still see Maya with her angelic smile. She captured my mind from the very first day I met her. Maybe we should have the wedding by next week, I thought. I want to make her mine immediately.

The next day, I went to see Tilda. She looked refreshed. I think she was just stressed out yesterday.

You look good today Tilda

"Thank you, " she said giving me a warm hug.

How was your trip? I asked

"Good, but something came up so I had to return."

What came up? I asked curiously.

"Nevermind, I will tell you at the right time. So what did you want to tell me? You sounded urgent."

Hmmm...I cleared my throat as I started. Tilda, I don't know how you will take this but I want you to know that I am really sorry and if there was any otherway, I would have opted for it. I paused.

I cannot marry you Tilda...I said looking straight at her. I was expecting her to be angry or anything but she rather had a relief look on her face.

"Is it because of her?" She finally asked after a moment of awkward silence.

Who?

"The new girl who works in your company. The same girl you told Tom to stay away from."

How did you know? I asked with surprise

Come on, Mark, walls have ears.

"Its fine with me but you just have to find a way of breaking the news to both our families. I will support you in my own way but don't count on it. You are the one to face the consequences coming with it," she ended as she stood up to leave but rather fell right into my arms.

Tilda, I shouted panicked, attracting her parents attention. She has passed out, call an ambulance I yelled at her mom as I began checking her pulse. I couldn't understand the calmneess on her mom's face. No parent will react so calmly to something like this, especially with an only child. Could they be hiding something?

Reaching the hospital, she was sent to a VIP room instead of the Emergency Room but the Doctor ordered us to wait at the visitors lounge. As I kept waiting, her mother spoke all of a sudden.

"What did you tell her?" She asked

I just told her that we couldn't proceed with the engagement... I told her truthfully.

Ohhhhh was all she said.

God, somebody bring it out. This people are hiding something. We weren't just getting married. It was going to be a very big time event. We were supposed to merge both of our companies. It's something both families wanted. Just then, my phone rang. It's my dad.

Hello, I whispered.

"Son, I want to see you and that girl in the next two hours. "

Dad, that's not possible. Tilda is in the hospital and I can't leave her.

"It's okay Mark, You can leave, we will take care of her." her mother said indifferently.

No, I am not leaving. Yes, I broke up with her but I am not a monster. Her welfare is still my concern.

"Trust me, its for the best" was his father's voice behind me as he tapped me on the shoulder. This is the first time he has spoken to me today but I felt that they were really hiding something.

Okay, let it out, I yelled. What's going on here?

"You will know, but not from us. She will have to tell you herself. That's if she wants to." Her mom said.

Fine, I said defeatedly as I drove to the office, walking straight to Maya's office without even knocking. She was startled but relaxed when. She saw me.

"What happened to you, you look terrible she asked with care. "

I am fine, Maya, Tilda is in the hospital

"What? What happened?" She asked with a lot of concern even more than Tilda's own parents.

Nobody will tell me and the next thing is, my family wants to meet you. She stood there, frozen to the spot without uttering another word.

Whats wrong? You don't want to meet them? I asked with confusion.

Ofcourse I want to but I have this strange feeling I've never had before. I think something bad is about to happen...she said with fear in her eyes.

I walked to her as I cupped her face in my hands. Nothing bad will happen. Don't worry about a thing. I am here with you. You just have to promise me, that you will not give up on us. It's two of us against the world, I said as I hugged her tightly.

I promise, I will not give up, she said burrying her face in my shoulder.

Reaching the house, Maya was holding my hands so tight as if she will fall if she lets go. I understood her perfectly. She lost her parents as a child and now she has to meet my parents who she knows will not like her because of her background. But I am ready to leave everything for her. I am ready to walk away and start my life afresh with her.

My Dad was already in the living room pacing here and there as if he was in a deep thought. Mom was trying to calm him but it seemed impossible for her. He walked to me immediately he saw me and slapped me on the face. I didn't feel the pain of his slap as much as the terror on Maya's face. She instantly turned pale as if she saw a ghost. She was completely terrified.

"How could you son, How could you do this to us?" He asked with rage.

I wonder when the information even reached him. I was supposed to tell him myself. I will find out who did this and what their reason is.

"If you call off this wedding, You cease to be a Snowman. I will take all your inheritance and give it to charity. He continued. Everything was going on well until she came around. He said looking at Maya. What do you even see in her? She is just a normal girl. Tilda is better than her in everyway, he kept on."

I could take it when he scold me but I couldn't take when he directed his anger at her. She is just innocent in all these.

Yes Dad, she is just a normal girl but she gave me what money could not buy Dad, She gave me a heart. She thought me how to be human. All my life, you thought me that wealth and power is everything but you are wrong. You are wrong. So take your inheritance and give to charity. I will keep my love...I yelled at him. It was the first time I ever yelled at him.

Mom kept trying to calm both of us but it didn't work. Maya was completely broken. she was crying like a baby. I pulled her closer to me as I hugged her tight ignoring my Dad's cold stares. You belong to me Maya, you are all I have I yelled as I kissed her tears, walking her out of our mansion.

Son, Come back, I heard my Mom calling but for the first time, I didn't respond to her calls. We sat in the car and I held her to my chest as I whispered.

"Everything will be fine".