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42. Determination
Last Updated:
2023-07-29 23:33:46
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He Can't Forget Me 43. Epilogue
Mariana is thirty-two weeks pregnant. Lost in thought, she caresses her belly and sighs, closing her eyes afterward.Knocking at the door. She turns when a man enters, smiling, and kisses her on the forehead."How are you, dear?" he asks."Good. Just a little anxious.""About the arrival of our child?""Yes," Mariana murmurs, looking back at the window. "Yes, that's what I'm thinking about."James crosses his arms."Did you know you're a terrible liar?"The woman rolls her eyes but doesn't disagree. Instead, she takes short, heavy steps and sits on the bed in the spacious room."Love," James murmurs, sitting next to her.As if she simply couldn't bear the idea of seeing him or looking at him directly, Mariana just keeps staring at nothing. Then, she starts caressing her belly once again."Love," the man insists."What do you want me to say?""The truth."She remains silent. James continues:"It's about him, isn't it?"Although she doesn't mention any specific name, Mariana knows who h
Last Updated : 2023-09-14He Can't Forget Me 01. The Betrayal
Mariana felt as if a huge crack had opened in the floor, dragging her down to the depths, when she opened the door to her husband's office.The girl with expressive green eyes, shoulder-length black hair, and moon-pale skin didn't know what to do or say, or believe what her eyes were showing.On the wooden table in the man's living room, there was more than a small yellow plaque with the name "Maximilian Phillips". In fact, there was a beautiful girl, tall, with red hair tied up in a tight bun. She was wearing, or at least partly wearing, a black social outfit.Holding the redhead, eager with desire, was Maximilian. The two kissed as if the rest of the world did not exist. They were so engrossed in each other that they didn't even hear the door being opened.Mariana's lips trembled as the girl tried to contain her crying, screaming, panic and hatred; all the feelings that took over her blood, causing the fingers of her hands to spasm."Maximilian."Immediately, both the businessman's
Last Updated : 2023-04-30He Can't Forget Me 02. The Strange
Everything happens quickly and slowly at the same time.First Mariana sees that the car is almost touching her body, and she accepts that she will be thrown by the impact of the hit. Her reflex is to close her eyes and in vain try to protect herself by raising her arms.Strong and fast, but very fast, arms pull her back instantly, knocking her out of the path of the vehicle.A sudden braking sound is heard. Startled, Mariana looks at the car. The driver has managed to stop it, but much further away than he should have. That is, if it weren't for the strange rescuer.A muscular man with curly hair caught in a loose ponytail and blue eyes holds her shoulders, helping her up."Miss, you need to be careful. Are you okay?"He notices her olive green eyes filled with sadness, as well as her face wet with tears and her swollen nose."Come on, let's get off the street."He leads her to the sidewalk. Passersby and onlookers watch the girl, who puts both hands on her face as she starts to cry a
Last Updated : 2023-05-04He Can't Forget Me 03. In the coffee shop
A few people present were quietly observing the little scandal. Maximilian's veins are bulging out of his neck and forehead. James stands up."What's going on here?""What's going on?!" Max is upset. "I'm here to fix my marriage and get back the woman who loves me! Or at least, who I believed loved me!""What did you say?!" Mariana gets to her feet as well, feeling the tremors returning once again."I came after you, Mariana. I came after you because I love you, and because I want us to be okay. But the first instant you find yourself free, you're already on a date with a complete stranger!""How dare-""I should have known. All those years of leaving you inside, keeping you from working, from having to sweat or leave those hands.... Oh, those beautiful hands intact.... It was all for nothing, wasn't it? Because that's your nature.""You can't be serious!"James watches everything in silence, shocked. Maximilian is red with anger."Of course I'm serious! I am speaking what my eyes are
Last Updated : 2023-05-04He Can't Forget Me 04. Turning Point
Mariana is sitting on the huge double bed, where two huge suitcases, clothes, make-up items and some books rest. Drying another of her insistent tears, she puts a few more items in the suitcase on the right.How embarrassing she had been in that coffee shop! A few seconds after James and Maximiliano started punching each other, three employees of the place had to separate them, and the real fight only ended after they threatened to call the police.Max left the place, kicking a few tables and chairs. James escorted Mariana out of the place, and then hugged her and offered her his shoulder to cry until she couldn't take it anymore.He still hadn't given any sign of life. After talking some more, apologizing, and thanking James for the invitation, Mariana returned home feeling defeated.This episode was what she needed to make a decision. She had no more time to lose. The girl would never again be humiliated like that.No, Mariana would not allow anyone to treat her in such a cruel and
Last Updated : 2023-05-04He Can't Forget Me 05. Indigestible Revelation
"Mariana?"The girl takes her eyes off the computer screen and looks at her colleague, Ruth, who holds a clipboard in her hands."Mr. Jones wants to talk to you."The girl snorts audibly."Really? What does he want?""I don't know. But he asked me to give you this message. After office hours, stop by his office a little bit.""Sure. Thanks, Ruth."The woman leaves to take care of her own business. Mariana tries to concentrate on the work in front of her, but can't.What did her boss want? Ever since she arrived in town and got the job, modesty aside, she was the most competent employee in that office. She was always on time, and when necessary, she stayed late to help another employee.Irritated, the woman frowned and grumbled:"This better be a promotion opportunity."When finally the digital clock on her desk showed her the time to leave, Mariana finished her activities, put on her coat, grabbed her purse, and instead of going straight home and taking a nice shower, she walked with
Last Updated : 2023-05-16He Can't Forget Me 06. An offer you can't refuse
Mariana drums her fingers on the office table and stares at the blank screen, a sign of her fatigue and stress.Now that was an irony, since the office was in her home, and working indoors was supposed to be the appropriate solution to keep her calm.It had been a week since the terrible incident in Mr. Jones' office, and every time she remembered the look of sadness, shock, disgust, and death wish on her boss' face, she felt red with shame.That week's prenatal appointment was still coming up. Mariana didn't want to know the sex of the baby. Just knowing that he would be healthy, and that he would have a more dignified life than she herself had...The girl sighs. She gets up and goes to the garden to look at the flowers.Her mother had been much more generous than she had ever thought. When she told her what her scoundrel of an ex-husband had done, and the situation Mariana was in, she had made a point of letting her keep the property she used to rent. Now, besides having a job and
Last Updated : 2023-05-16He Can't Forget Me 07. Snake Poison
The first thing that goes through Mariana's mind is to just get up and walk away, without saying a single word.The second thing is to smile, wave and tell that old woman to go to hell, and then get up and walk away.But nervousness, confusion and hesitation cause the girl to simply stare for a few seconds before saying:"Hello," Mariana replies, trying to keep her composure, although her thoughts are racing. She observes the serene expression on Isabella's face. How had that woman found her? Although she is trying to remain calm, Mariana really wants to hold her by the collar of her blouse and shake her as she fills her with questions.Isabella smiles gently and says: "I hope you don't mind that I have kept my anonymity. I was concerned for my safety as well as yours in choosing this method. I have been following the difficult situation you are going through and felt it was time to intervene."Mariana frowns, still processing the revelation. She had a hard time believing that Isabe
Last Updated : 2023-05-17
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He Can't Forget Me 43. Epilogue
Mariana is thirty-two weeks pregnant. Lost in thought, she caresses her belly and sighs, closing her eyes afterward.Knocking at the door. She turns when a man enters, smiling, and kisses her on the forehead."How are you, dear?" he asks."Good. Just a little anxious.""About the arrival of our child?""Yes," Mariana murmurs, looking back at the window. "Yes, that's what I'm thinking about."James crosses his arms."Did you know you're a terrible liar?"The woman rolls her eyes but doesn't disagree. Instead, she takes short, heavy steps and sits on the bed in the spacious room."Love," James murmurs, sitting next to her.As if she simply couldn't bear the idea of seeing him or looking at him directly, Mariana just keeps staring at nothing. Then, she starts caressing her belly once again."Love," the man insists."What do you want me to say?""The truth."She remains silent. James continues:"It's about him, isn't it?"Although she doesn't mention any specific name, Mariana knows who h
He Can't Forget Me 42. Determination
Mariana's words hit Maxmilian like a punch in the gut. He feels a knot forming in his throat and his eyes fill with tears again. The hopes that had begun to flourish are drowned out by the painful reality.He looks at her, searching for words that can express his pain and regret."Mariana... I know I was a terrible husband. I know I did terrible things. I don't take away your reason, you must be dying of anger at me, and in your place, I-""In my place? You have no idea what it's like to be in my place! You didn't before and you don't now!""Mariana-""I was kidnapped! I was taken hostage. And even worse, by YOUR family! I had to fake my own death, and I even dragged an innocent person along in the process. James, who barely knew me, had far more consideration and empathy for my life than you, Maxmilian. There is NOTHING you can say or do. Absolutely nothing. That's the truth."Mariana's words are like arrows straight through Maxmilian's heart. He feels the weight of his guilt and reg
He Can't Forget Me 41. Hurt
Mariana simply cannot absorb the vast amount of information that takes over her mind.The words, images and attitudes of the last few hours are etched in her mind, and try as she might, she relives every frame and every second of what could be an action movie, drama and definitely a tragedy.In mere months, her life had turned into a total and complete mess. And now...And now she was there, in that hospital, after once again almost losing her son: her most precious possession.The heart monitor at that moment, however, signaled that everything was fine... At least for now.The door to the room opened.And... there he was.His situation was deplorable: blood and dirt still covered his skin in some spots: one of his eyes was seriously damaged... But the shine of his eyes, of those eyes, still remained.Mariana remained motionless, trying in vain to appear indifferent towards Maxmilian, but failing. Her son stirred in his belly, as if guessing that his father was there.Slowly, the man
He Can't Forget Me 40. Attendance
Maxmilian arrives at the hospital dirty, not only with blood, but with dirt.His gait is heavy and difficult. One of his eyes is partially closed and swollen from the enormous amount of punches he has taken.The only thing that made him happy, and even then partly, was that Maxwell would never again be a problem for anyone.Michele was gone. Since she was the owner of that property that was made to be inhospitable and difficult to access, her former lover probably knew well about the escape routes and the most complicated way to be located.He himself had a hard time getting out of that maze, walking in directions he knew were wrong, but with no choice. Then, after finally gasping and stumbling, Maxmilian managed to find a dirt road that, minutes later, became asphalt.It was a man who gave him a ride as soon as he saw the state Max was in. When the stranger dropped him off at the hospital door, the businessman pulled out a small wad of one thousand dollars from his pocket and discree
He Can't Forget Me 39. Escape
Mariana had felt fear many times before.She remembered how frightening it was when, when she went to sleep, all the lights in the house were turned off. The darkness made her head ache with panic, and nightmares often stunned her mercilessly.The girl also felt an unusual fear of butterflies, although she had never told anyone about it. When they took off, flapping their colorful wings in the sky, everyone around thought it was beautiful. She just wanted to run away.But Mariana had never felt so afraid as she did at that moment, when she saw the amount of blood running down her legs and knew that yes, she was losing her baby.Maxmilian immediately releases Michele, who runs out the back door of the house as if her life depended on it.Isabella screams and makes mention of going after her, but hesitates when she sees Maxwell's wound.Mariana is so shocked and immersed in loss, grief and pain that she can't move. Maxmilian holds both sides of her body and embraces her."Mariana! Maria
He Can't Forget Me 38. The shoot
At first, Mariana really believes that everything is over.She sees the pale, tear-stained, hate-filled face of the former secretary, the way she snarls and cries. The gun doesn't stand still aiming at a specific point, because the hand that holds it is also terribly shaky.Then, in a space of time that could be hours, days, minutes or seconds, Michele pulls the trigger.But Mariana feels nothing. Not even a burning sensation or the beginnings of pain.Because she has not been shot.In a burst of screaming courage, coupled with a very high speed and coordination, Maxmilian pushed the redhead's wobbling body, causing her to miss, and badly, the target.A loud male scream echoes throughout the room as Maxwell, holding his left shoulder tightly, falls on his own knee. Blood drips down his shirt, spreading rapidly."You bastard!" shouts Mariana's ex-brother-in-law.Mariana watches in shock as chaos unfolds before her eyes. Hearing the gun fire and seeing Maxwell wounded awakens a mixture
He Can't Forget Me 37. Final point?
Mariana watched in a mixture of astonishment, curiosity, and even denial as the car actually started to come closer to the house.This place had been tailor-made to be her captivity. It was obvious that these were not mere passersby."I guess it all ends here," Maxwell mutters, between his teeth.Mariana puts her hand on her belly. The baby begins to fuss wildly.When the door finally opens, the woman doesn't know where to look first.At the secretary who wasn't really just a secretary, Michele, wide-eyed from what could be panic.To the gray-haired but imposing woman holding Michele by the shoulders as if she were a prisoner.Or to the man... the man who simply could not take another step when he saw Mariana.Not only alive, but pregnant. Pregnant with their child.Tears stream down the girl's face. Maxmilian is still standing there, staring at her, dumbfounded and absolutely in shock.Isabella looks at Maxwell:"Everything is over now," she says, in a stern tone. "Our role in this g
He Can't Forget Me 36. The day of the rescue
Emanuele takes a step back."What did you say?"Maxwell doesn't answer, just stares at her."What did you say?!" she repeats, exasperated. Her voice comes out much shakier and wobbler this time.Her ex-brother-in-law just shrugs."That's it, Emanuele. I'm sorry."Was he? Everything seemed to indicate that she didn't.She sits back in her chair, slowly."The secretary... No, it's not possible.""You don't believe me?""How would a secretary do all those things? That's impossible."A sad little smile appears on Maxwell's younger brother's face."Impossible, you say?"Scratching one of his eyes, he tries to keep his tone of voice as cool as possible, but fails:"It would be impossible if we followed the normal course of things. If we followed... you know, the established pattern. But you know, my dear Mariana... Everything you know so far, and even everything I know... They are nothing but a beautiful web of lies, perfectly contrived to leave anyone who is the most curious in the dark."
He Can't Forget Me 35. Old enemy
Maxwell looks once at the cell phone screen, frowns, rubs his eyes, and stares again at the incoming text message. No, he was not blind; the text remained the same after he doubted what his eyes showed.So, by elimination, Maxwell was going crazy. Or...Everyone around him had loosened the screws and he was the only one mentally sane.His mother had made it very clear that she was going to go after Michele to redo the deal, make more money at the expense of the front secretary, and thus ensure that she would become richer than she already was. What Max didn't expect was that she would not only threaten him with a gun, but also rat him out to Maxmilian.And at that moment, that was where they were headed, to the perfect captivity hidden in an equally perfect place. Mariana would be freed and would probably return to the arms of Maxwell's older brother.As if she could smell her own rescue coming, Mariana, leaning back in a rocking chair in the living room, looked up at the glassed and
