Maia's POV

I glanced at the woman's badge again noticing she was a detective. "Alright, let's get out of here," She spoke up, briefly scoping the neighborhood. "We don't need to make this a bigger scene than it already is."

One of the officers placed a firm hand on my shoulder, turning me around as he guided me back towards their patrol cars. I took a moment to look up from the ground, furrowing my eyebrows as I immediately recognized one of the two people I saw lingering on the sidewalk.

I scoffed, rolling my eyes at the sight of her.

You've got to be fucking kidding me. I never thought I'd ever see Nadia again.

So, she was the reason I was being arrested right now. I got her assaulter killed and this is the thanks I get? What an ungrateful ass bitch.

My eyes veered to the left observing the man she was standing awfully close to. I let out a laugh in disbelief taking in the familiarity of his face. She just can't seem to let Danny go, can she? God, Nadia was so fucking pathetic.

Then again, Danny 2.0 was probably just as messed up as her to think it was remotely okay to be with your dead brother's ex.

We made eye contact and I could see the burning hatred and despair towards me in his eyes. Unfortunately for him, I didn't feel a single ounce of guilt for killing Danny.

I maliciously smirked at him, deciding to mess with his emotions and plant a seed of doubt in his mind.

"You know she's only with you because you look like him right?" I venomously called out, slowing down to catch his reaction. "Did you ever think about that?"

"C'mon, keep it moving." The officer who had a hold on me quickly shoved me to walk faster. I glanced at Nadia as she looked back at me with subtle shock and teary eyes.

Well, there wasn't much of a reaction from him but I surely got a reaction out of her...

The officer opened the back door to his patrol car, guiding me inside the car and I slumped down onto the seat as he rudely shut the door behind me. I lifted myself up in a seated position, staring at the barrier that separated arrestees from the cops in the car. I focused on the sound of my breathing, carefully calculating my strategy to get out of this situation.

Just play your cards right Maia and you'll leave here scot-free.

The back door opened again and I turned my head to see that detective looking back at me. "Can I put your seatbelt on for you?" She kindly asked.

It's not like I can do it myself with these handcuffs on can I? I shot her a fake smile. "Sure, go ahead."

...

Nadia's POV

I let out shuddered breaths as I thought about what Maia said to Christian.

"You know she's only with you because you look like him right?"

Of course. Of fucking course she would say that to him. I clenched my jaw multiple times, holding back my tears and the pang of anger I felt in my chest. She just loves ruining things for me.

"Nadia...are you okay?" Christian cautiously asked, stepping in front of me. I sharply inhaled as I looked up at him, undeniably seeing Danny's face in his own now as Maia's words continued to echo in my mind. Stop it Nadia, you're just letting Maia get to you.

I shook my head at him. "What Maia said to you isn't true." I cried. "I like you because you're you. Not Danny."

Christian sighed. "Nadia, I know. She just said that to provoke me."

"No, but Christian you don't understand," my voice broke as I hyperventilated, overthinking the worst possible outcome. I didn't want Christian to leave me. "I don't want you to have second thoughts or-or doubts about me. I need you to believe me, I promise I'd never hurt you like that-,"

"Nadia, it's okay." Christian quickly grabbed my shoulders, holding me steadily. "I believe you." He reassured, looking me in the eyes. "I trust you. Why would I believe someone who killed my brother?" He held my face in his hands, wiping my tears away with his thumbs. "You've got nothing to worry about. I said I'm here for you and I meant it. Okay?"

I slowly nodded, feeling a wave of relief as I calmed down. "Okay." I whispered.

"Christian! Nadia!" Detective Myers called out, hastily sprinting over to us. Detective Myers shot me a quick glance in concern. "Are you okay Nadia?"

I quickly nodded, brushing off the fact that I had been crying. "Yeah, it's all good. I'm fine." I forcibly smiled at her. "Did you need something?" I hurriedly asked before she could ask me anything else about this whole situation.

"Right, so I'm gonna need you two to come with me." She spoke sternly.

"Why? What's going on?" Christian asked.

"We're gonna need to interrogate both of you, as well as Maia to get as much information as possible within 72 hours."

Christian nervously chuckled. "What-what happens after 72 hours?"

"If there's not enough evidence for a prosecutor to make a criminal case against Maia, then her charges are dropped and she's let go."

I let out a quiet exhale, meeting Christian's gaze as we anxiously looked at each other.

...

Leo's POV

I entered Nadia's apartment complex, walking through the lobby towards the elevators with a box of a couple of her belongings she left at my house.

As I stood in the elevator ascending to her floor, I thought about what I would say to her and if she even wanted to see me here. I also thought about Seth and Tony's remarks as they echoed in my head. Especially Tony's. "Shouldn't she be the one apologizing to you? She fucked you up."

I honestly wondered if Nadia would actually apologize to me. And if it would mean anything to me. After all the lies, I was scared an "I'm sorry" from her mouth would just feel like another painful lie.

The elevator stopped as it chimed, opening its doors and I stepped out into the hallway nervously walking over to Nadia's front door. I could feel my heartbeat start to quicken and I took a moment to calm myself down as I stood at her doorstep, hesitant to knock on the door.

I took a deep breath, quickly exhaling as I let my shoulders relax. Ok Leo, c'mon just get it over with. I knocked on the front door four times, leaning my forearm against the door as I waited for a response.

My anxiety started to creep back in my mind as I received silence on her end.

"Nadia c'mon, please. I know you're in there." I tried to hide the desperation in my voice.

"Leo?"

I quickly turned my head to the left, seeing Amelia standing a couple feet away from me. I slowly backed away from Nadia's front door, feeling slightly embarrassed Amelia had to be the one to see me here.

"What-what are you doing here?" She asked softly.

"I, um, I just wanted to return some of Nadia's stuff." I gestured to the box held tightly between my arm.

I looked at Amelia for a moment, picking up the uncomfortable energy she gave off as she loosely crossed her arms over her chest looking back at me with a hint of fear in her eyes.

I lightly chuckled, realizing the last thing she remembered about me was hurting Nadia. "You're looking at me like I'm the bad guy."

Amelia furrowed her eyebrows. "You didn't have to hurt her." She timidly stated.

And there it is.

I scoffed, glancing down at the ground to collect myself before I could say anything I didn't mean. I looked back at Amelia, narrowing my eyes at her. "Do you ever stop to think that I was hurt way before she was?"

I stepped closer to her. "And we wouldn't even be where we are right now if she didn't hurt me? You do realize that right?"

"I-,"

"And I'm not defending what I did to her," I quickly cut Amelia off. "Because I am truly sorry for that night and all the past shit I did." I took a quick breath in, clenching my jaw for a second to deter the wave of sadness I felt. "So, before you come to me saying I shouldn't have hurt her, maybe you should tell yourself that your best friend shouldn't have been a liar and a cheater."

Amelia shot me a sympathetic look, while defeat was still in her eyes. She knew I was right. There was really nothing to argue about here. There's no point in defending a cheater.

I sighed, relaxing my shoulders. "You of all people knew I loved Nadia. I know you remember our recorded conversation back then. I just wanna end things on good terms before I move on."

Amelia sniffled, blinking away the tears in her eyes as she quickly wiped her face. "Um, Leo, she's not...she's not home right now."

"Okay," I paused. "When is she coming back?"

"No, I mean like she's out of state. I don't really know exactly when Nadia is coming back..." She trailed off.

"Oh." I slowly nodded my head. "Um, what is she doing out of state?" I curiously asked.

"Uh, she's um..." Amelia hesitated to answer, rubbing the back of her neck. "She's dealing with um, legal stuff regarding Danny's death." She nervously looked back at me.

I lightly scoffed. "Right." Of course she was. He didn't even exist anymore and yet he was still so very present. Sometimes I wish he didn't die. Maybe Nadia and I never really were okay after I got her back but it was after his death that changed everything for the worst.

It felt like we were making progress and then it all came crashing down when she found out Danny was dead. Her sadness made me realize she had planned on seeing him again.

Nadia wasn't over him. Not even after all that happened. And I don't think she ever will be.

I glanced at the box I was still clinging onto. "Amelia could you give this to Nadia whenever she comes back?" I held out the box for her to take. "And, um, just please let her know I'd like to talk to her."

Amelia nodded, quickly taking the box of Nadia's belongings out of my hands. "Yeah of course, I'll let her know." She spoke softly.

"Thanks." I kindly smiled at her.

"And Leo?"

"Yeah?"

She sighed, apologetically looking at me. "I'm really sorry about everything that happened and being a part of the whole messy situation with Nadia and Danny. I know we probably might not see each other after this but I hope you find someone who reciprocates the same amount of love you give."

Amelia genuinely smiled at me. "You deserve it, truly."