Chapter 128: 128 Can I?

''Oliver Twist'' the old man said.

''Sister in law, here is my gift'' Gibson said and handled the box to her.

''Ad-Din, what gift did you prepare for Maria?'' Calia asked and they turned to look at him.

''I am her birthday gift'' Ad-Din said and they all psst and shook their heads.

''Maria, hurry, make a wish and blow on the candles'' Calia said.

Maria closed her eyes and clasped her hands together. she made her wish quickly and blew air on the candles.

''What did you wish for?'' Ad-Din asked her.

''I asked that we will always be together no matter what happens'' Maria said and Ad-Din pulled her closer and kissed her and everyone squirmed at them.

''We are done here. Let's give these two privacy, who knows my grandson might come from them today'' Mona Lisa said and Maria flushed and hid her face in Ad-Din's chest.

''Maria, I kept Tiana and Kobby's gifts on the table. We will leave you two to continue your celebration'' Calia said and everyone left the quarters.

Maria looked at the gifts in the hall and turned to Ad-Din ''where do I put all of these gifts?''

''Before that, there is something more pressing that needs your attention'' Ad-Din said and pointed at his lower part and Maria flushed. Ad-Din pulled her closer and kissed her passionately. He lifted her into the bedroom and they continued from there.

Max's quarters.

Max Denarius entered the hall and saw Marvel in a towel pouring coffee in the kitchen and he froze on the step looking at her. Marvel didn't hear the door open and lifted the mug towards her lips and saw Max watching her. she got startled and almost poured the coffee on herself.

''Max, Max. what are you doing here?'' she asked flustered.

''This is my house?'' Max said questionably and walked towards her. Marvel tightened the towel around her body.

''No, I mean. Didn't you go to celebrate Maria's birthday. You are back so early'' Marvel said.

''Ad-Din asked us to leave because he wanted to be with Maria alone. You just showered?'' he asked.

''Oh, yes. I wanted to just go to bed straight when I arrived home later. There was nothing much to do so I decided to take my bath while I waited for you. I didn't know you would come back so quickly'' Marvel said and flushed.

''I see'' Max said incoherently as his eyes roamed her body. Marvel felt her heartbeat racing.

''I should go and change since you are back'' Marvel said and took a step to go but Max held her hand and she stopped and they looked at each other.

''Are you still afraid of my touch?'' Max asked her and she shook her head.

''No'' Marvel answered and Max turned to face her.

''Can I?'' he asked as he looked at the towel wrapped around her body. Marvel nodded and Max cupped her face with his palms and wasted no time in kissing her. he lifted her and sat her on the table as their kissing got intensive and passionate. Marvel moan in between the kisses and Max felt his self-control leaving him. He lifted her down again and they kissed while walking towards the bedroom. They acted clumsily as they stumbled on things while going into the bedroom.

Max pulled the towel away from her body and Marvel felt exposed. She quickly covered her body with the quilt and watched as Max removed his clothes. His body was well defined. He threw the last piece of cloth on him and pulled the quilt away from her body and looked at her whispering ''beautiful, you are so beautiful Marvel''

Max kissed her neck as his arms roamed her body. He looked at her face as she flushed and closed her eyes and he spoke ''open your eyes and look at me. I want this to be a memorable one for you and me''

Marvel opened her eyes and felt his hand getting down to her core and she froze. Max knew her fear and smiled at her. He started kissing her to keep her mind away from the fear and before she realised he had entered her. Marvel wrapped her arms intimately and tightly around his body as they became one.

Two days later.

Cosmos Prisons.

Maria sat nervously as she waited her mother's arrival. Alecia Maria Lee had requested to meet with her a day ago and Ad-Din told her about it. at first she didn't want to go but after thinking about it, she realised she had to meet with her in order to get her closure.

Maria was nervous because this could be considered their second meeting.

Alecia Maria Lee entered inside the waiting room and sat down. They looked at each other through the glass plate that separated them.

''Why are you even more nervous than I am? Someone would think you were the one in prison, Maria Portia Lee'' Alecia Maria Lee said and chuckled.

''You asked to see me for?'' Maria asked.

''How was life without me?'' Alecia asked and Maria smiled halfheartedly.

''Are you asking because you are just curious or you regret leaving me?'' Maria asked back.

''I'm curious. You grew up into such a nice young lady'' Alecia said and smiled.

''I learnt how to survive without you. I did a pretty good job at taking care of myself that I forgot I even had a mother who existed'' Maria said.

''You must hate me so much? I understand. You can hate me, Maria. I owe you so much, but, I don't regret leaving you. You know already. The women in our family don't regret the decisions that we make. Your grandmother, your aunt, me and even you''

''What are you insinuating?'' Maria asked.

''I am saying that I am proud you grew up so well without proper guidance. Your father was just another useless being''

''Is that why you left us? If you hadn't left, my father wouldn't have become the kind of person he turned out to be. You were the one who abandoned us first and that how our lives got messed up. Do you know how long I had to leave with the image you painted and left? People labelled me with different names. How could you do that without a second thought? Did I not mean anything to you? Did you even love me as a daughter at all?'' Maria asked as her voice choked.

''I loved you Portia. I loved you so much that's why I had to leave you. I didn't want you to grow up with someone like me'' Alecia said.

''You loved me so much. So much that you felt the best thing was for you to leave me? Do you know that is the lamest excuse ever? Leaving someone because you love them so much? You loved me, yes, but compared to that younger man and your career, I came third. The young man was first, your career second and I came last. That's why you didn't hesitate before throwing me away''

"'Portia, I know you won't believe me but all these years, I haven't forgotten about you. I still kept tabs on you and watched you from afar''

''Oh, is that how you found out about my accident? Do you know the worst thing you have done to me? It wasn't abandoning me. It was when you mocked my late friend's husband at the café that day and took everything she did for granted. Is Lexis hadn't tried to save me, she wouldn't be death. You knew all that and you still had the guts to act as if my life wasn't worth it''

''Portia, forgive me. I know my words were overboard''

''Forgive you? Right, your guilt must be eating you up. that's why you asked me to come here so that you can tell me how sorry you are but, I know you are not sincere at all. You don't deserve my forgiveness until you beg those girls to forgive you first. How could you not feel remorse for committing such a cruel crime?''

''That was business and it has nothing to do with you'' Alecia said.

''You are wrong. It has everything to do with me because in the end, something I can't erase is the fact that you are my mother and people will always point their fingers at me because of you''

''Portia, I don't have much time left anymore. I have leukaemia and the doctor said I have just a few weeks to live''

''What? Is that why you want my forgiveness? Because you don't want to die with the guilt? You are the worse, mother'' Maria said and stood up.

''No, wait, Portia'' Alecia called out before falling to the floor. Maria froze as she looked at her mother's body on the cold floor. the prison guard rushed forward and pressed the emergency button on the left.