Page 133 of Mark

Betrayal slams into me as I lean against the lift wall, gasping for breath. My legs threaten to give out as I rub at my chest.

Was everything between us a lie?

Was any of it real?

Or had this been the plan all along? Reel me in and make me care for him, only to rip what we share away so cruelly.

Yet even with seeing it with my own two eyes, I still don’t believe he could be so cruel or callous. You can’t fake that level of kindness and understanding he gave me. You can’t fake the connection between us. It wasn’t just us who felt it. Everyone has commented on it.

Still… I saw what I saw.

And Esther… She betrayed me once out of love and misguided hurt. This she did purposely, and it’s a harsh reminder that even those who are closest to us can inflict the deepest of wounds. Because it’s a wound to the heart, and not all broken hearts can be mended.

Just like this time.

And that’s another testament to how much Mark had come to mean to me. Because there is nothing else she could have done that would have hurt this much. It wouldn’t have made me feel like clawing my heart out, or screaming up at the sky.

He was mine.

And she’s taken him from me. Just like she did Danny, my parents, my family and my friends.

Somehow, I manage to make it to the dining hall, and the piercing numbness grows with each step as I walk through the tables and chairs. Everyone is laughing and joking, unaware that I’m broken inside. I want to yell at them to stop, to make everyone here feel the pain that I feel.

A warm hand on my arm stops me. “Hey, Freya, are you joining us?” Still in a daze, I turn to Lily and shake my head. “What’s happened? Has someone hurt you? Do you want me to find Mark?”

I bite on my lip to keep the sob threatening to break free, in. His sister… His kind-hearted, loving sister. “Thank you for being my friend during this cruise,” I rasp, leaning in to kiss her cheek.

“What’s happened? Let me go and get my mum,” she stresses.

“I have to go,” I whisper, walking away without a backward glance.

My nanna is just taking a seat when I walk up to their table.

“Are you joining us for dinner?” Mum questions with surprise.

“What’s up, Little Dove?” Nanna asks as she gets to her feet.

“Please can I have your key card?”

She pulls it out of her bag. “Is everything okay?”

I nod, unable to say the words. Mum lowers her fork to the table. “Freya, are you not going to join us? Mark is more than welcome to as well.”

“I’m going to lie down. Please don’t tell anyone where I am,” I order.

“I’ll come with you,” Nanna replies, picking up her cardigan.

“I need to sleep,” I tell her quietly.

She pulls me in for a hug. “Whatever you need,” she whispers against my ear. “Has Esther done something?”

I nod against her neck, struggling to keep my composure. “Please don’t tell anyone where I am. Not even Mark or his family.”

She pulls back. “I’ll make sure no one knows where to look. Pass me your key card and I’ll pack you some fresh clothing.”

“Thank you,” I rasp, handing her a key. “Can you pack it all up for me? Everything?”

“Everything?” she asks, her eyes widening.

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