An Unwelcome Visitor
1215 Words
By the time Maya was discharged from the hospital, the afternoon sun had already begun to set.The ride home was quiet.
Maya sat in the back seat beside Layrus, gently holding his small hand while he played with the corner of her sleeve. Even though her memories were still foggy, being close to him brought her a strange sense of comfort.
When they arrived at the house, Maya looked around slowly.
Everything felt unfamiliar.
But at the same time... not entirely strange.
"This is my home?" she asked softly.
"Yes," Damein answered calmly. "You've lived here for a long time."
Lucas helped carry some of the hospital bags inside before checking his phone.
His expression suddenly changed.
"I have to go," he said.
Damein frowned slightly. "What happened?"
"Emergency at work," Lucas replied. "They need me immediately."
Lucas turned toward Maya.
"I'll come check on you later," he said gently.
Maya nodded politely, though she still looked uncertain whenever she spoke to him.
"Okay."
Lucas hesitated for a moment before leaving.
Something about the situation didn't feel right to him, but work was calling and he had no choice.
Soon after, Maya's parents began moving around the house.
"We'll prepare something light for you to eat," her mother said.
"You need proper food after everything you've been through."
Her father carried Layrus from the living room.
"Come, little man," he said cheerfully. "Let's give your mother some rest."
Layrus waved his tiny hand toward Maya before disappearing with his grandparents.
Within moments the house became quieter.
Only Maya and Damien remained in the living room.
Maya sat on the sofa, observing the room slowly.
"So... we really live here together?" she asked.
Damein nodded.
"Yes."
Before he could say anything else
DING DONG.
The doorbell rang.
Damein frowned.
"Who could that be?" he muttered.
He walked toward the door and opened it.
The moment he saw who was standing outside, his entire expression darkened.
"Sophie."
She stood there smiling confidently, dressed elegantly as if she were arriving for a casual visit.
"What are you doing here?" Damein shouted angrily.
Sophie immediately placed a finger over her lips.
"Shhhh," she whispered.
She leaned slightly closer.
"So your amnesia wife won't think we're not friends," she said with a mocking laugh.
Damein's eyes filled with anger.
"We are not friends. Obviously."
Sophie shrugged casually.
"Relax," she said. "Isn't this what you wanted? For Maya to leave Lucas?"
She tilted her head with amusement.
"You won. I won. What's the fuss about?"
Damein suddenly laughed.
But it wasn't a happy laugh.
"You think I won?" he said coldly.
Sophie raised an eyebrow.
Damein stepped closer to her.
"She's going to regain her memory next week."
Sophie's smile slowly faded.
"The doctor already said it," Damein continued. "So this 'brief moment of happiness' you're enjoying..."
He shook his head.
"...is about to end."
Sophie's eyes narrowed.
"And let me make one thing very clear," Damein added sharply.
"I never asked you to kill my wife."
His voice dropped dangerously low.
"And once Maya remembers what happened on that cliff... You are going to prison."
For the first time since arriving, Sophie looked genuinely shocked.
"You're serious?" she whispered.
But anger quickly replaced the shock.
"You ungrateful man," she hissed.
Without waiting for permission, Sophie pushed past him and forced her way inside the house.
"Sophie!" Damein shouted.
But she ignored him completely.
Her heels clicked loudly against the floor as she walked further into the house.
Her voice suddenly rose loudly.
"Maya!"
Damein's eyes widened.
"Sophie stop"
But it was too late.
"Maya! Maya!" Sophie shouted again.
Maya appeared from the hallway moments later, looking confused by the noise.
She stared at the unfamiliar woman standing in her living room.
"Yes?" Maya asked cautiously.
Sophie slowly turned toward her.
For a brief moment, the two women simply stared at each other.
Then Sophie smiled.
"Well... look who we have here" Maya Bennett "
Maya stared at the woman standing in her living room, her brows slowly knitting together in confusion.
"You are... who?" Maya asked cautiously.
Sophie walked closer, her heels clicking softly against the floor.
Her smile widened.
"I'm Sophie Thompson," she said smoothly. "Your friend."
The moment Maya heard the name Thompson, something inside her mind shifted violently.
Her breathing suddenly became uneven.
Her vision blurred.
Without warning, Maya bent forward and grabbed her head with both hands.
"Ah...!" she gasped in pain.
Damein immediately rushed forward.
"Maya!" he shouted, trying to pull her hands away from her head. "What's wrong? Maya, look at me!"
But Maya seemed trapped inside her own mind.
Fragments of memories flashed through her thoughts like lightning.
Voices.
Arguments.
Fear.
And then suddenly
Maya lifted her head slowly and looked directly at Sophie.
The question she asked made Sophie freeze instantly.
"Where is Nadia?" Maya whispered.
Sophie's face turned pale.
For a brief second, the confident expression she always wore disappeared completely.
"What...?" Sophie stammered.
But before anyone could react further, Maya's body suddenly went limp.
Her eyes rolled back slightly as she collapsed.
"Maya!" Damein shouted.
He caught her just before she hit the floor and quickly carried her to the sofa, laying her down carefully.
Her breathing was shallow but steady.
She had fainted.
Sophie stood there in complete disbelief.
"That... that's impossible," she muttered under her breath.
Damein slowly turned toward her.
The anger in his eyes was unmistakable.
In two quick steps he reached her, grabbing her arm roughly and dragging her toward the door.
"Get out of my house," he growled.
Sophie pulled her arm free.
"Relax," she said calmly, straightening her dress.
Damein's fists clenched.
"You almost killed her."
But Sophie simply smirked.
"Your wife is remembering everything already," she said casually.
Damein froze.
Sophie stepped closer, lowering her voice.
"If you know what's best for you... you need to act fast."
Her eyes glinted dangerously.
"Or you will lose her forever."
Damein glared at her.
"What are you talking about?"
Sophie leaned closer and dropped the bomb.
"I found out something very interesting."
She paused, watching his reaction carefully.
"Maya discovered you were working with me before she went into that coma."
Damein's heart skipped.
Sophie smiled slowly.
"So when she remembers everything..."
She tilted her head.
"...what do you think she'll do?"
Damein said nothing.
But the answer was obvious.
"She'll file for divorce," Sophie continued. "And take Layrus with her."
The words felt like a punch to his chest.
Sophie stepped back toward the door.
"But don't worry," she said lightly. "I'm generous."
Damein narrowed his eyes.
"What do you mean?"
Sophie's smile grew darker.
"I'll have the drugs delivered to your doorstep tomorrow."
Damein stiffened.
"Mix it with her medication," Sophie said calmly.
"Then she will never remember anything."
Silence filled the room.
Damein stared at her in shock.
Sophie simply laughed softly.
"Problem solved."
Then she leaned forward and planted a quick kiss on Damein's cheek.
A mocking gesture.
"Think about it," she whispered.
And with that, she walked out of the house.
The door closed behind her.
Leaving Damein standing in the living room... staring at Maya's unconscious body on the sofa.
And for the first time since the accident
He realized the next decision he made could destroy everything.
- Writer
