Brian wasn't in the mood to see anyone. Especially Denise. For some reason, she was the last person he wanted to see even though she was his fiancé. It was funny how he'd ended up proposing to her and funnier how he detested seeing her after that. They'd dated for three years so it was either pop the question or leave her.

The latter was out of the question. He couldn't leave her because she was the only woman he could stand to look at after Maggie had left him. For two years he'd tried dating other women and ended up leaving them in the middle of the first date. He felt guilty every time he looked at them. As if he was cheating on her even though she was the one that had left him.

Those first two weeks had been hell. He'd walked around like a zombie wondering how she could change so fast. Just the thought of her having an abortion nearly drove him insane. He couldn't understand why she would do something like that even if she was angry and hurt. He almost succeeded in hating her for being so cruel and himself for making her that way. But thanks to his uncle Jamal, he found out that she'd lost the baby after being attacked. That thought restored his faith in her together with the love he felt for her. For a moment there, he'd been ready to pack his bags and follow her to the end of the world.

In fact he'd followed her to South Africa against his parents wishes. Brian had been so determined to beg Maggie for her forgiveness but then he'd met someone who had changed his mind. Someone who had opened his eyes and told him to consider what his actions meant. If he followed her, she was most likely to give up her career and go back home with him. That of course, was what he wanted the most but then did he stop to think that she might end up hating him someday? It was his fault she'd lost the baby. If she also lost that chance to have a successful career, who's to say she wouldn't blame him later?

Listening to that man had been his biggest regret to date. Brian realized that he should have done everything he could to at least get her forgiveness. But instead he'd listened to a total stranger and went back home without even talking to her. Now he couldn't look her straight in the eyes when she was on TV or magazine. Which meant he couldn't face her if she happened to show up in front of him. Lucky for him, he didn't have to. Thomas had told him how reluctant she was to come back home. If they were lucky, they'd get to see her in the neighboring countries.

That aside, Denise was coming back today. He was still pissed at her for telling the press about their engagement and forcing him to go on vacation with her so she could take photos but since that was done, he needed to act the part. Look like a good fiancé by picking her up at the airport. That was the easy part. Forcing a genuine smile for the camera was something he hated doing. But knowing Denise, she was definitely going to make everyone in the country know that she was back.

Being a socialite, her job was to flaunt her beauty and whereabouts to society. Sometimes he wondered how he'd thought she could replace Maggie. They were so different. While Denise was pretty, his Maggie was beautiful. Even in a foreign country, people still loved her. No matter where she went, people would still love her because that was who she was. Kind, innocent, lovely. Would he ever forget about her? So far he was doing a poor job of trying to put her behind him. His room was full of magazines and dvds of shows that featured her. He kept each and every one of them as if they were a treasure. As far as fans went, he would always be her number one fan.

The phone ringing on his desk interrupted his thoughts "Hello"

"Sir, she's here"

Brian knew who his secretary was talking about but still asked "Who?"

"Your fiancé. Shall I let her in?"

"Do I also need permission?" Denise asked from the background. Sighing he said,

"Let her in" then slammed the receiver down. It looks like she was so eager to see him that she had booked an earlier flight. The good thing was that he didn't have to pick her up from the airport now. The bad thing was that she was going to nag him all day. She threw the door open saying,

"Hey baby. Miss me?"

"You're early Denise. Why didn't you tell me? I would have picked you up from the airport?"

"That's so sweet of you honey. But I wanted to surprise you. Surprise!"

"I'm truly surprised. Although I think you should have gone home to rest. Aren't tired or jet lagged?"

"Why don't you just say you don't want to see me?" she snapped ending their charade.

"Really Denise, not now"

"Do you think I'm stupid? You changed Brian. After proposing to me you completely changed. I don't understand why"

"You should go home and rest. We'll talk when I get there"

"I'm not done talk...... "

"I have to see Abby so drop it Denise"

"Since when are you on good terms with your sister? Do I  really look that stupid?"

"I'll explain later. For now just go home" he told her getting up. In all honesty he had no intention of seeing Abby but now he had to. Knowing Denise, she would follow him just to make sure he wasn't lying. As a socialite, she posted everything online. Brian dreaded to know what she would do if she found out he ever lied to her "Come on. I'll have my driver drop you off"

"No thanks. I'll take a taxi" meaning she was definitely going to follow him.

"As you wish" he told her wondering what was wrong with him. Who in their right mind proposed to someone they didn't love? Instead of being happy to see her, all he did was wonder when she'd leave him alone. Was he really ready to spend the rest of his life with that woman?

------------------

When Maggie left her hotel room, she didn't think her day was going to end up worse than it already was. Every time she thought about the Millers it put her in a bad mood. Therefore she decided there was only one person who would at least make her smile. Her niece Claire. Although they've never met, Thomas had sent her pictures and she was a really adorable baby. She was looking forward to seeing that little chubby face until she realized who the mother was. It wasn't someone she'd thought of even in her wildest dreams. The second she stepped foot in Thomas's house, Maggie was ready to board a plane back and pretend this was all a nightmare.

"Where is my brother? I want to talk to him" she asked trying to suppress her anger.

"He's not here"

"Call him and tell him to come back before I lose it"

"Maggie...."

"Don't. Just don't, you fucking bitch. The only reason I haven't dragged you out of this house by your hair is because of that little girl" she said pointing at the baby. They both stood in the middle of the living room glaring at each other, well, Maggie was the only one glaring, waiting for Thomas. He didn't take long.

"Let me explain Maggie" he said as soon as he arrived and saw her. Apparently he knew he was wrong.

"Explain what? That you went behind my back and had a baby with my worst enemy? Are you really my brother?"

"It's been five years. I thought you would have let go of your anger"

Maggie sucked in air, trying to calm down. Suddenly finding out who her real father was seemed trivial compared to who her brother wanted to marry.  "Let go of my anger? You think this is about me being angry?"

"Please don't fight because of....."

"Shut up!" she yelled while her hand moved out of instinct to slap her "I don't want to see your ugly face. As a matter of fact, get out before I kick you out myself"

"Don't be like that Maggie" Thomas tried to plead with her. And she would have left if it was someone else. But this was the woman who made her life so miserable that she'd decided to distance herself from people. She was also the same woman her brother wanted to marry. Abigael Qarimi. The she-devil incarnate. Over her fucking dead body.

"Choose Thomas. It's either her or me"

"You don't mean that"

"Make your choice wisely. If you pick her, then we're done. You will be abandoning me like everyone else so think carefully brother. Is it your sister or your whore?"

"I'm not going to choose between the two of you. You're always going to be my sister. As for Abby, I love her. She's not the same person you used to know. People change Maggie"

"You're right. People do indeed change" she said picking up the bag she'd dropped "You've already made your choice Thomas and I hope you suffer because that witch is never going to change. Even if she does, she won't make you happy. Not when her hands are covered in my baby's blood" before either of them could say anything, she left in a hurry.

She couldn't believe the only person she'd thought she could rely on was abandoning her too. And choosing her number one enemy at that. How dare he? How could Thomas think she would ever be okay with him marrying Abby? That woman had taken everything away from her. Her boyfriend, her baby, her friends. Everything. It was her fault Maggie had been forced to be who she was today. Cold, hard, bitch on the outside while she was all sorts of broken on the inside. As if that wasn't enough, she was taking the one person Maggie truly loved and trusted away. How did she sleep at night?

On her way out she bumped into someone but since her head was bowed because she didn't want anyone to see her tears, she didn't bother looking up. Maggie stopped by the stairs and tried to compose herself. She wasn't the same girl who cried over everything. As a matter of fact she didn't need anyone. Hadn't she been alone for the past five years? And wasn't she still okay? If Thomas thought she needed him then he had another thing coming. She wasn't going to waste her tears on someone who didn't want her. Convincing herself that she was okay, she wiped her tears just as a voice from behind her asked,

"Are you okay?"

Her heart skipped a beat. She didn't have to turn around to see who it was. His voice was still the same. Even his cologne hadn't changed. Maggie snorted. Of course he had to see her again when she was a mess.

"None of your business" she replied with her back still to him.

"It's really you. I wasn't sure that it was.....Maggie" he grabbed her arm when she attempted to leave. Having had enough of one Qarimi, Maggie snatched her hand away and left. She couldn't let him see her like that. Actually, she wasn't ready to see him. Not yet.

Lucky for her, a woman was exiting a cab. She rushed forward,  jumped in and closed the door just before Brian could reach her.

"Let's go" she told the cab driver.

On her way to the hotel, she realized coming back had been a big mistake. If she hadn't, she would still be on good terms with Thomas. She could still ask him what to do now that she'd found her father. Was she supposed to forgive him? Or refuse to have any contact with him? Would he feel jealous now that she had another sibling? And would he like to meet Amy? Despite lying about who she was, Maggie still thought they could be okay as half sisters. She needed someone she could trust and talk to.

But ever since she was born, she'd been fated to be unlucky. Right from the second she'd breathed her first breath of air, her fate had already been sealed. It didn't matter how hard she tried, she was always going to be alone. And that thought tore her apart because no one else deserved love more than she did. After everything she had gone through, it was only fair for life to give her back what it had taken from her. One genuine person who would love her no matter what. If not her mother then at least her brother or father. But they were all selfish. Starting with her birth mother.

When she jumped in that river, she only thought of herself. Not about the baby she was leaving behind. And her father couldn't handle rejection from her so he'd decided to keep his mouth shut. Instead of telling her that she wasn't alone, he chose to protect his feelings, not caring how she'd feel when she found out. Now Thomas was protecting the woman he loved forgetting that same woman had hurt her. To him, she should be over it because it was five years ago. As if five years was enough to dull the pain she felt. Who did they think she was? Did any of them stop to consider her feelings?

"We're here ma'am" the driver told her. Maggie paid him and walked straight to the elevator inside. Not caring who saw her. Some people stopped to stare while others gasped. Sooner or later, reporters were going to show up there. Too bad for them because they wouldn't find her. She was going to board a plane back to LA immediately. Once she was in her house, she would decide what her next step would be.

One thing was for sure though. From then onwards, she would look out for no one but herself. Since no one  cared about her, she wasn't going to give a flying fuck about them either.

*****************************************

Let the circus begin. Maggie's going to show you a side you haven't seen yet, so buckle up.

I'm so happy to be back. I hope the feeling is mutual 😜