Mark's Guilt

Mark sat in his office, his fingers tapping against the polished wooden desk. His phone lay beside him, dark and silent, mocking his frustration. Two months had passed since Maya left, and no matter how many strings he pulled, how many people he questioned, she remained a ghost—out of reach, just like the life they had once built together.

He leaned back, exhaling sharply. "Damn it, Maya... where are you?"

The door creaked open, and Sarah stepped inside. She wore a fitted black dress, her makeup flawless, but there was a cold sharpness in her gaze. She had grown bolder since their scandal became public, no longer the timid woman who had once clung to him in desperation.

"Still no sign of her?" she asked, crossing her arms.

Mark clenched his jaw. "No."

Sarah sighed, a mix of relief in her expression. "What would you even do if you found her? You think she'd take you back? After everything?"

Mark shot her a glare. "It's not about that. I just... I need to see her. I need to explain."

Sarah scoffed. "Explain what? That you slept with me? That I got pregnant? That your mother forced you into taking responsibility? She already knows all of that, Mark. And she still chose to leave."

His hands curled into fists. "I didn't choose this either, Sarah. You think I wanted to ruin my marriage?"

"Then maybe you should've thought about that before crawling into my bed." Her voice was laced with venom.

Mark's temples throbbed. He had heard this argument a thousand times—from Sarah, from his mother, from the voices in his own head. He had made a mistake, but the consequences were unbearable. His world had cracked the day Maya walked away, and no matter how much time passed, the pieces refused to fit back together.

A knock at the door interrupted them. Mark's mother, Evelyn,stepped in, her sharp gaze flickering between the two of them. She was dressed in an elegant navy-blue suit, her posture stiff with authority.

"Still sulking, I see," she said, her tone clipped.

Mark exhaled slowly. "Not now, Mother."

"Oh, but it is now," she countered, stepping closer. "You've wasted enough time moping over a woman who no longer wants to be found. Maya made her choice. You should make yours."

Mark's nostrils flared. "And what choice is that? To pretend like none of this matters? Like I don't care that my wife is gone?"

Evelyn's eyes darkened. "She is not your wife anymore. She made sure of that."

Silence stretched between them. The weight of her words crushed down on him, but he wasn't ready to accept them.

Sarah shifted uncomfortably. "Mother is right. We should be focusing on our future, not chasing after someone who clearly doesn't want to be in our lives."

Mark let out a bitter chuckle. "Our future? Is that what you think this is?

Sarah's lips pressed into a thin line. "It has to be. I'm carrying your child, Mark. Whether you like it or not, we are connected now."

Evelyn placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "You need to stop chasing ghosts. Your responsibility is here. To your child. To your future,Hearts are fragile things, Mark. Easily broken. Easily replaced."

"I will find her," he muttered, voice low but firm. "I don't care how long it takes."

Sarah let out a frustrated breath. "And then what? You think she'll welcome you back with open arms? Mark, she's probably moved on already."

The words sliced through him like a blade, but he refused to believe them. Maya wouldn't move on so easily. Not after everything they had shared.

But then a thought crept in, unwelcome and suffocating.

What if she had?

What if she had found someone else? Someone who didn't betray her trust? Someone who deserved her?

The idea made his stomach churn, but he pushed the thought away. He wouldn't let it end like this.

"I need to get some air," he muttered, grabbing his coat and storming past them.

Evelyn and Sarah exchanged glances but said nothing as he disappeared down the hall.

For the first time in weeks, Mark felt something other than guilt and regret.

Determination.

Maya was out there somewhere. And he was going to find her.

Mark stepped out of the office, the cool air hitting him like a refreshing wave. He walked briskly down the street, each step punctuated by his racing thoughts. The city thrummed with life around him, but all he could feel was the weight of his choices, pressing down like a dark cloud.

His heart raced as he remembered the laughter and warmth he once shared with Maya. They had built a life filled with plans and dreams, a future painted in colors of joy and love. Now, those very memories felt like barbs stinging at the edges of his mind, twisting deeper with each recollection.

As he turned the corner, he spotted a small coffee shop, its windows fogged with the warmth inside. A haven of comfort amidst his turmoil. Maybe he could gather his thoughts, find a semblance of clarity. He pushed the door open, the bell chiming softly above his head, and stepped inside.

The rich aroma of coffee enveloped him like a familiar embrace. He ordered a cup of black coffee, finding a quiet corner table where he could sit and reflect. As he waited, he caught sight of a couple at another table, lost in laughter, their fingers interlaced. A wave of longing flooded over him.

Was this what he had lost? Was he destined to watch life go on without him, forever chasing the footprints of a love that might never return? The thought gnawed at him, a constant reminder of the heavy price of his mistakes.

His drink arrived, and he took a sip, wincing at the bitterness. Just like his current state of mind. He pulled out his phone, scrolling through the contacts, pausing on Maya's name. It felt like an anchor, drawing him into the depths of regret. He hesitated before putting the phone down, knowing he had to make a choice, one that could either bridge the chasm between them or widen it even further.

Back at the table, he caught sight of his own reflection in the shop window. Tired eyes stared back at him, haunted by the ghosts of his past decisions. He tapped his fingers against the table, recalling Vivian's relentless drive to mold his life into what she thought was best. It came in waves, the suffocating expectation to leave Maya behind and focus on what lay ahead—his future with Sarah, his child.

But at what cost?

Mark craved authenticity and the chance to come clean—to himself and to everyone he'd wronged. He missed Maya, not just for her companionship, but for the freedom she had given him to be vulnerable. He thought atleast maya would understand him.

As he left the coffee shop, determination replaced doubt. Maya may be out of reach for now, but Mark swore to himself that he wouldn't stop searching until he found her

Stepping back into the bustling street, he inhaled deeply. A cold and rutless eyes again ," you can't ran away from me"