Chapter 2: Lying To My Face

Last night, Carmela couldn't sleep in her husband's bed.

Instead, she stayed in the visitor's room, tossing and turning, unable to find rest. It wasn't because of what Max said, but because of the kiss that kept haunting her thoughts.

The memory of it kept replaying in her mind, making it impossible for her to find peace.

After witnessing the disturbing scene at Nichole's apartment last night, Carmela couldn't bear to face Max or even look him in the eyes.

She felt disgusted and betrayed, and she decided to pretend to be asleep when Max approached her.

"Are you awake, Carmela?" Max's gentle voice called out.

As Max sat beside her, gently caressing her face, Carmela resisted the urge to open her eyes.

His touch made her uneasy, and she didn't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing her vulnerable.

"Your home," Carmela pretended to show concern.

"Yes, I came in late last night. You didn't sleep in bed. What happened?" Max asked in a dry tone.

Feeling a mix of emotions, Carmela lied to him directly, saying she was scared and couldn't sleep in their bed alone, so she opted to stay in the visitor's room. Max sensed something was amiss but didn't push further.

"I'm sorry for staying out late. I went on a business trip," Max continued, offering a lie of his own.

Carmela couldn't help but smirk, knowing they were both keeping secrets from each other. Max then brought up the anniversary of his grandmother's marriage.

"It's Grandma's Marriage Anniversary," he snapped, disappointed that Carmela had forgotten.

"Oh... I forgot about that," Carmela replied, her memory failing her. She struggled to keep her emotions in check.

"It's alright, I understand you've been stressed lately. I got you something nice," Max said as he stood up from the bed and reached for a bag he had placed on the bedside table.

Carmela's eyes widened with curiosity. "What is it?" she exclaimed, anticipation in her voice. Max smiled at her as he slowly pulled out a stunning red dress from the bag.

"Ta-da!"

Carmela couldn't help but be amazed by the beauty of the gown. It was a queenly red dress, adorned with sparkling diamonds and elegant embroidery.

As she stood up from the bed, she approached Max to collect the dress. She held it against her body, and to her delight, it fit perfectly.

With a satisfied smile, she looked at Max and said, "It's perfect." Max smiled back, relieved by her reaction.

He walked closer to her and kissed her forehead. "Get ready," he said before leaving the room.

Carmela took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions. She placed her hands on her hips, clutching the dress in her other hand.

However, a surge of rage and regret engulfed her, and in a moment of overwhelming emotion, she flung the dress onto the bed and let out a grunt of frustration. Slowly, she sank to the floor, her pain evident.

"I hate him... I hate him!" she screamed, tears welling up in her eyes. How could he pretend in front of her, pretending to go on a business trip while deceiving her?

How long had he been fooling her?

Taking a deep breath, Carmela gathered her strength and made a decision.

She knew she had to break free from him before she said or did something she would regret.

She was done with his lies and determined to move on without him. With her heart pounding in her chest, she walked away.

***

Carmela stood in front of the glassy mirror, looking elegant in the red gown Max had bought for her. Her gaze slowly met her reflection as memories of when she first met Max flooded her mind. A warm smile crossed her lips as she recalled the moment she knew she had fallen for him. It felt as though she wasn't just looking at her reflection, but also glimpsing into her future.

With the baby in her stomach, she wondered how she would take care of it alone, without Max by her side.

How would she explain the absence of a father to her child? The uncertainties of the future scared her, yet she felt a sense of excitement for the new life growing inside her.

With determination and strength, she knew she would provide for her baby, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and her heart skipped a beat as she saw Max standing there, looking handsome in his black suit and blazer.

A mysterious glint sparkled in his eyes, and Carmela felt a mix of emotions, as something unexpected was about to happen.

"Max," she whispered, standing up to greet him.

"You look beautiful in that dress, like the morning sun. I don't know what I'll do if you leave me," Max uttered, his words filled with lies. Despite everything, Carmela could only manage a soft smile.

He extended his hand, and Carmela placed hers gently into his. "Shall we?" he asked, his face adorned with a humble smile.

Carmela nodded, and they made their way to the waiting Limo outside the mansion. Max opened the door for her, and she got in. He followed suit, and as they drove off into the night.

Arriving at the Atom Family Mansion, Carmela couldn't shake her fear of visiting the family again.

The pain and trauma she had endured from Max's family haunted her every day she spent with him. Despite the suffering, she stayed by his side, fueled by her love for him, for five long years.

But now, it all felt like a lie.

"Carmela!" Grandma Atom stood at the entry of the building, eager to see her favorite daughter-in-law.

Surprisingly, Carmela felt loved in Grandma Atom's presence, but she couldn't bring herself to reveal Max's affairs to her.

"Grandma..." Carmela embraced Grandma Atom tightly. "I've missed you."

"Not more than I did," Grandma Atom playfully replied, teasing Carmela's nose with her hands, and they shared a laugh.

As Max appeared beside Carmela, Grandma Atom ignored him and pulled Carmela into the building.

"I love your gown, but red doesn't suit you," Grandma Atom remarked to Carmela, making her frown. She wondered why only Grandma remembered her favorites while Max seemed oblivious.

"How did you know?" Carmela exclaimed, and Grandma Atom chuckled.

"You're my daughter, why wouldn't I remember..." They continued chatting when a slender figure approached them.

The woman was wearing the same dress as Carmela, holding a glass of wine with a smile on her face.

"Carmela, you made it!" The woman attempted to hug Carmela, but she raised her hand, stopping Nichole from touching her.

"Nichole, what are you doing here? This is a family anniversary. Who invited you?" Carmela's emotions were getting the best of her.

As they stood, glaring at each other, Max walked towards them, his hands deep in his pockets, and said…

"I invited her," Max admitted, his voice filled with audacity. Carmela's eyes widened in disbelief and anger.

How dare he!