Chapter 125: 125 Familiar Strangers 2

"You must be Lexi's husband. Sorry for your wife. I thought you would hate Maria the most for causing your wife to die but seeing that you are still together, I guess you must be a really kind person"

" I have spent more time than I intended. I will leave here.

Maria, if you ever want to catch up, your young husband here has my address. He will give it to you. You are welcome to pay mom a visit, though I doubt you will want to see me again'' Alecia Maria Lee said and chuckled before walking away.

Maria lost her footing and almost fell but Ad-Din caught her up quickly and spoke ''Maria, are you alright?''

''Don't touch me'' Maria spoke coldly and glared at Ad-Din before walking away. She used her hands to wipe away her tears as she ran out of the café.

''Maria, wait'' Ad-Din ran after Maria. Kobby sat on the chair and sighed. That woman had succeeded in bringing back the memories he had tried so hard to let go.

Maria ran across the street and hailed a taxi and left before Ad-Din could catch up with her. Ad-Din cussed internally as he went off to get his car and chase her.

Meanwhile, Alecia Maria Lee sat in her car and watched the whole scene. She let out a bitter smile and murmured ''you are really heartless and obnoxious Alecia'' she put on her spectacles and drove off.

...…

Calia picked up her phone, about to call Kobby when her office door opened and the latter walked in.

''Kobby, I was about to call you'' Calia said but Kobby didn't say anything and hugged her. Calia flushed and asked worriedly ''what is it? Are you alright?'' Kobby shook his head. 'What's wrong? Do you want us to talk about it?''

''After the show. Right now, I just want to hug you'' Kobby said and wrapped his arms tightly around her.

''I don't know what it is about, but it will be alright. Everything will be fine'' Calia said and patted his back. Kobby smiled and nodded his head.

...…...

The red traffic caught up with Ad-Din and he was forced to pull over and watch as the taxi Maria was in went farther away from his sight.

An hour later

Maria dialled Monroe's number as she sobbed inside the car. when the call connected she spoke right away ''Monroe, tell me. what kind of person is my mother?''

''Maria, where are you? Everyone is worried about you. Ad-Din said he lost you'' Monroe said over the phone as he pressed the loudspeaker in front of everyone. It had already been an hour since they searched and couldn't find her. Everyone was worried. today was supposed to be a wonderful day for everyone because Calia was launching her first self-produced Jewellery show and this unfortunately happened. They were worried and anxious.

''Tell me. what kind of person is that woman? What kind of business is she doing? How many people have she hurt so far?'' Maria screamed into the phone Ad-Din who was standing beside Monroe snatched the phone and spoke.

''Maria, please where are you? Let's meet up. I promise to tell you everything''

''Liar. You lied to me. How long were you planning to keep this away from me? Why did everyone know about this but me? You promised to always tell me the truth, but why did you hide this from me? Ad-Din, you lied to me''

''I didn't lie to you. I have never lied to you. I just didn't find the right time to tell you. I only found out the truth this morning. Please, tell me where you are. I will come for you''

''I want to be a lone. You and your family can go ahead and attend the show without me. I was never a part of any family to begin with. I was alone and will always be alone in this world'' Maria said and hung up the call.

'"Shit'' Gibson cussed 'I almost got her location but she suddenly cut the line off and I lost the connection. What do we do now?'' he asked worriedly.

''I have already asked some people to look for her'' Max said.

''Dad, will aunt Maria be alright? Why is she missing?'' Tiana asked.

''She is fine. You shouldn't be out here. Go and get ready and also keep aunt Calia company. She must be feeling nervous'' Kobby said and Tiana nodded her head and went back to the backstage.

''The show is about to start. Let's get settled. Maria is a sensible kid. She is just a bit sensitive because she was the last person to find out. Give her time, she will come back when she is ready'' Old Mr. Denarius said.

''Ad, your father already sent out some men from the base to look for her. Maria will be fine'' Mona Lisa said and patted Ad-Din's shoulder.

Ad-Din felt his heart squeezing and he was feeling frustrated not knowing how Maria was and where she was.

Cemetery.

Maria sat on the graveyard of Lexis weeping. She cried till her head ached and her throat went dry. She looked at the picture of Lexis smiling back at her and spoke.

''I'm sorry, Lex. If I had watched the road well before crossing, you wouldn't have tried to save me and took my place. I was just someone no one wanted until I met you and you showed me so much love. You were my family, my best friend and the only one who stayed with me. but, I must be cursed. I can't seem to hold unto the people the I care about before they slip out of my hands. I am the sorriest to you, Lex. Why did you have a safe a wretch like me? Even my own parents abandoned me, why did you have to give up your life for me? I don't deserve it at all''

''Did you know? I met that woman today. I always thought that I would be someone who was living a good life when I finally met her again. I wanted to live a better life to spite her but, I realise that, I am still stupid and have nothing to my name. She looked really good that I became jealous and hurt. Why did she have to leave a good life after leaving me? Why is the universe so unfair to me? I lost you and lost the zeal to live. Just when I was finally finding happiness, she had to come and pour cold water all over my efforts''

In the midst of the talking, Maria fell asleep on the tomb. She had a dream. In her dream, she was laying with her head on Lexis' laps and the latter was playing with her head and speaking to her.

''Silly Maria. I thought we were past the stage of being sorry to each other? Why are you still a kid at heart? What do I do with you, Maria? Why is your life so pitiful? Is getting late, you shouldn't be here'' Lexis said and looked at the cloudy skies. ''It might rain anytime soon. You are going to get sick at this rate'' Lexis said and started hitting Maria ''wake up Portia, is about to rain''

Maria subconsciously hit the hands of Lexis away and murmured 'no, let me sleep some more, Lex''

''Is going to rain, Portia. You will get sick, get up and call Ad-Din to come for you'' Maria heard the voice in her dream and sat up at once saying.

''I said you should let me sleep some more, Lex. Do you have a death wish'' Maria looked around her and came back to her senses. Tears formed in her eyes as she sighed and started sobbing uncontrollably. She really missed her best friend so much. She was now even dreaming of her.

Maria fell to the ground and touched her aching chest. Her heart was in so much pain that she didn't know what to do with herself. She touched the picture on the tomb and screamed and bit her lips hard till blood oozed out. She hit her chest trying to sooth the pain to no avail.

It soon started raining and her dress got wet in the process but that still didn't stop her. Maria felt like she was losing it all and couldn't stop her heart from aching as the tears that represented her pain flowed endlessly.

Her body became weak and she felt her sight going blur but in that moment she felt that she was suddenly in someone's embrace before she drifted slowly into unconsciousness. Ad-Din lifted Maria up as the ambulance team rushed forward with their stretched to place her on it. Ad-Din picked the phone that was on the ground and looked at the picture on the tomb once again before going away with the ambulance team.