In the arms of two sins

Chapter 21

Mara's POV

I didn’t see Elias at breakfast.

I didn’t see him when I came downstairs.

And when I arrived at the company, walked through the lobby, and passed his office… his lights were off. His blinds were drawn.

He wasn’t there.

I tried to swallow the ache rising in my throat as I stepped into the PR department. For hours, I pretended to focus on work, but every time I passed the glass wall that overlooked the hallway, I found myself hoping I would see him walk by.

He never did.

When I glanced out again and noticed Richard hurrying past, I stepped out quickly.

“Richard,” I called.

He stopped. “Mrs. Lawson?”

“Will he …be at work today?” I asked, trying to sound casual. “Elias.”

Richard blinked rapidly. “Oh—he didn’t tell you he was traveling?”

For a moment, I felt the floor tilt under my feet.

“…Traveling?”

“Yes, ma’am. Mr. Lawson left earlier today for a business trip.” He adjusted the files in his arms. “He won’t be back soon, I believe.”

My chest tightened, but I forced a nod. “Of course. I just thought—never mind.”

“Is there a problem Mrs. Lawson? Do you need to get to him?” he asked gently.

“No, it's fine.”

A lie.

A stupid, obvious lie.

But he nodded anyway and hurried away.

I stood alone in the hallway, fingers curling against my palm.

He traveled.

He didn’t care to tell me.

And why would he?

He had been cold for days—no, distant.

A distance that felt intentional. Almost punishing.

Did I do something?

Did the anniversary scare him?

Was he avoiding me because of the kiss?

Because he regretted it?

My eyes stung, but I forced myself to breathe.

It didn’t matter.

It wasn’t supposed to matter.

Back in my office, I shut the door and leaned my back against it.

He sent me an envelope

but he couldn’t tell me he was leaving?

I walked to my desk and looked at the envelope again, lying where I left it.

I had already read it.

The pregnancy test result I had taken before the anniversary.

Clara’s voice echoed in my memory, her saying I was experiencing the last effects of the abortion, that my body was recovering, that I’d be fine.

Maybe that was why he pulled away.

Maybe he was relieved I wasn’t pregnant.

Maybe he didn’t want anything to do with me anymore.

I shook the thoughts off and forced myself to work until late into the night. When the office finally grew quiet and the lights dimmed, I gathered my files and walked back to my office.

But instead of going inside, I stopped.

My eyes drifted through the glass wall, straight to Elias’s dark, empty office.

Was he eating?

Did he take his medications?

Was his wound okay?

Did he even sleep last night?

I remembered the chandelier.

The way he fell.

The blood.

The fear that clenched my chest that night.

And then—

the autopsy report.

My stomach dropped.

It was still at the private resort.

In my room.

I had forgotten it completely.

I had to find a way to get it back, but before I could plan anything, I stepped out into the hallway and froze.

David was heading towards my office.

“David?” I blinked. “What are you doing here?”

He smiled like he was pleased to see me.

“I came to pick you up.”

“It’s late,” he added gently. “Let me take you home.”

“That’s not necessary,” I said immediately. “I’m fine. I can—”

“Mara.”

He stepped closer. “I insist.”

We dragged the argument back and forth for a minute, but he wasn’t budging, and I was too tired to keep fighting.

“Fine,” I murmured. “Let’s just go.”

He smile, too quickly, then led the way out of the building.

But when we stepped outside, he kept walking down the street.

I frowned. “Where… is the car?”

“Oh. It had a small problem,” he said casually. “I took it to get fixed earlier. We can walk.”

“Oh.” I forced a small nod and walked beside him.

The night was cool, the street quiet except for distant traffic. David walked close to me, too close. His arm kept brushing mine, and each time, I moved slightly away.

But he didn’t seem to notice.

Instead, he started talking about old moments, old memories, old jokes we shared.

Things from years ago.

Things that should have stayed buried.

When we passed a small café, he stopped.

“Give me one second,” he said. “Wait for me outside.”

Before I could protest, he disappeared inside.

I let out a slow breath and looked up at the sky.

My mind drifted again—

to Elias.

When David came back out, he held a cup toward me.

“Your favorite drink,” he said proudly.

I blinked. “David”

“You don’t like it?” he asked, the smile dimming.

“No, it’s not that, I just— I.”

He stared at me for a long moment, then suddenly pulled me into a tight hug.

Too tight.

“David”

I tried to pull back, but he held on.

“People are watching,” I hissed, embarrassed, trying to push at his chest.

“I want them to see,” he said softly, dangerously soft.

My heart skipped.

“What?”

“I want them to see,” he repeated, hugging me even tighter, “that I’m done pretending.”

I froze.

“Mara… I want my wedding with Andrea cancelled.”

My breath left my lungs.

His voice dropped, heavy and trembling with something dark.

“The date is set. But I don’t want it anymore.”

He pulled back just enough to look at me.

“I don’t want her.”

His eyes burned.

“I want you.”