Alex was standing outside Marissa’s door, trying to build the courage to ring the doorbell. After a deep breath, when he was about to touch the bell, someone called from behind causing him a mini heart attack.

“Alex,”

“Fuck! Marissa, you scared the shit out of me.” He exclaimed loudly, one hand on his heart and breathing deeply.

“I am sorry, but why are you standing outside my door?” she asked him curiously.

Today, Marissa got late coming home as she had to run to the grocery store, so it was unusual for her to see her student’s uncle standing in front of her doorstep in all his glory.

She was not only startled to see Alex in front of her door but at the same time, she amused as it seemed that Alex was deep in thought contemplating whether he should ring the bell. More or less, she was intrigued about the fact; what made Alex Mosby come at her doorstep at this time of night?

“Well, you see, I kind of got locked out of my house and I don’t know anyone here and the locksmith told me that he would take at least an hour to reach here. So, if you don’t mind, can I crash at your place for a while?” He asked while scratching his neck.

“Yes, sure thing. Let me just opened the door.” She told him while coming forward to unlock her door.

Once they entered, “Do you mind if I take a quick shower? I really feel gross because of all the sweat.” Marissa asked him. She might not be his big fan, but she would never want to be rude to anyone, let alone him.

“No, not at all. And thank you for letting me stay here.” He told her.

“It’s not a problem.”

“Where is Aaron?” He asked, looking around. Aaron had shifted here three days ago.

“He is with his college friends. Group study or something. By the way, if you want anything to eat or drink, grab it from the kitchen. It is towards your left.”
Marissa smiled and went to take a quick shower.

Alex was sitting on the sofa awkwardly waiting for Marissa to come from her room. She is really something else. After how he had treated her in the past, she was still being amiable to him.

“No one is going to kill you here,” Marissa spoke clearly amused when she came towards Alex after fifteen minutes which caused him to stand and face towards her.

Alex was amazed by the sight in front of her. She was wearing shorts, not too short but short enough to see her toned legs. And loose sponge bob t-shirt. Something wet her hair from the shower. If it weren’t for her ex-girlfriend, he would have noticed that Marissa was gorgeous. She was more attractive than his ex, Daphne.

“If I didn’t know you better, I would have thought that you were checking me out but looking at our past relationship it’s not possible so I will just think that I look in a bad state which is the reason for your mouth to be open." Her statement caused Alex to come out of his trance.

"It's nothing like that." He defended himself. "And you don't look bad. Not at all bad." To which Marissa gave him a hearty chuckle.

"I was kidding, Alex. I was tired of the tense atmosphere whenever we are in the same room. And I think it is better if we get used to the fact that we are going to be around each other as you stay in the same building as me, and Ronny and Jenny are going to get married soon." She sighed.

"You are right." Alex agreed with her.

"Want a cup of coffee?" She asked him with a small smile.

"That would be really nice." He smiled back.

They both went into the kitchen. Alex sat on the chair, which was nearby the small dining table. Marissa made him and herself a much-needed coffee and sat in front of him, after handing him his cup.

After taking a sip, "You still remembered how I like my caffeine?" Alex asked her in a surprised tone.

"Well, it's hard to forget when I made your cup for a few months." She told him with a sad smile.

"Marissa... I?" He had no words to express himself.

He could see that Marissa had struggled hard to reach where she is now. Worry lines on her forehead. Bit of dark circle under eyes and she even looked a bit tired. Even in the institute, she was working harder than anyone.

"Alex, I know that you listened to every word I said when I was talking to Aaron in my cabin." She told him.

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I was passing by..." But Marissa interrupted him.

“I am not accusing you of anything.” She clarified.

“There are so many things unsaid between us.” He stated. “Why you never tried to talk to me? Why you never defended yourself?” He asked her.

“What good it would have done? We were two people who were forced to be with each other. I had no marriage plan in my future and you wanted to marry Daphne.” She told him.

It was true that Alex wanted to propose to Daphne. He always liked her and thought that she was perfect for him. He even made his parents meet with her, but they disapproved.

“But I am glad that I didn’t. My parents saw the true colors of Daphne way before me, and that’s the reason they didn’t spare any time to bind us together. But you didn’t deserve the way I had treated you. I had accused you of things you have never done. I am no different from your parents.” He told her honestly.

“Alex,” she gave a long sigh and touched his palm, which was on the table. “You are nowhere like my parents. Their home was no less than a prison for me. You might be rude and made me felt unwanted. But that was something I was used to because of my mother and father. But what you gave me is something which even my parents could not give me. Freedom. You never forced me to stay at home. Because of you, I was able to take a job at the dance studio. I could do what I love and for that, I am forever going to be grateful to you.”

“Still, I feel bad for the way I treated you. And it doesn’t help the fact that you never took the blank cheque with you. Moreover, you returned every penny you have ever used of mine.”

This caused both of them to go in the past. Three years ago, the day when they last saw each other.

Marissa

“Marissa! Come out of the room now.” Alex yelled, which caused her to run out of the room.

When she saw him, he was looking red, and behind him, Daphne was smirking.

“Where are my property papers?” He asked her furiously.

“What are you talking about?” She asked him with a frown. She didn’t know what papers he was talking about.

“Papers which were in the brown folder. It was in my room in the morning and now it’s not there.”

“I have never stepped in your room, Alex. Don’t accuse me of things I didn’t commit.” She told him furiously.

“Marissa, both of us, including Alex, know that you are a gold digger and a thief. You should be grateful to Alex that he didn’t call police on you for stealing his credit card three months back.” Daphne spoke in the middle, provoking both of them to argue more.

“I never stole anything from him. I hardly ever use the card that he gave me initially, let alone the new one which you are accusing me of.” Marissa tried to defend herself with tears in her eyes.

“Stop with your crocodile tears, Marissa. None of us believe you. I am giving you the last chance. I want to break our arrangement sooner than later. I want these documents to sign and you to leave this place as soon as possible. I am giving you seven days to find a new place for yourself. And this a blank cheque. Fill any amount you want and get the hell out of my life for good.” Alex grabbed her hand and placed the papers and Cheque in her hand and left into his room.

“You should be happy that Alex is being generous and gave you at least seven days to find a suitable place and not to forget blank cheque. You are one lucky bitch even after what you did.” With that, even Daphne followed Alex to his room.

Marissa was hysterical. She has never been humiliated this much in her life. She knew that whatever Alex spoke was Daphne’s words because she was the one who was filling him with things from the start.

Marissa rushed towards her room, filled her clothes and other belongings in the bags. She quickly signed the papers, wrote a letter in name of Alex, took her wedding ring out from her finger, and placed it on top of the divorce papers, blank cheque, and the letter.

It was past midnight, and she heard the main door closing an hour ago, so she assumed that both Alex and Daphne must have gone out. She took that as a sign and left the apartment without looking back and went to her parent’s home; hoping they would take her back.

Alex

Alex was furious and was pacing in his room when he was not able to find the property papers on the table of his room, which was present in the morning. Marissa’s name didn’t even blink in his mind until his girlfriend pointed it out to him.

For some reason, he didn’t want to believe it and his gut feeling was also telling him not to believe what Daphne was saying but he trusted her too much to ignore her words so he stormed out of his room and called Marissa and accused her of things she didn’t commit.

After handing her the divorce papers, he stormed back into his room. He was burning with rage. Marissa's face was telling altogether a different story, but he didn't want to believe her face over his girlfriend. To calm himself down, he decided to take a shower. While taking out his clothes, he found the property papers he was looking for underneath his pile of clothing, which he remembered keeping for safety.

He had never felt this guilty. He was thankful that Daphne left an hour ago or else he would have definitely lost his mind.

At that moment Alex knew that he needs to apologize to Marissa. He might not like her, but to accuse someone of stealing is not right. He even had the feeling that Marissa didn't steal his credit card. Heck! She hardly even used the one he gave her. Yes, there were few transactions, but nothing major. And it was strange that the other transaction from other cards was of purchasing expensive alcohol and jewelry, which he had never seen Marissa wearing.

He decided to talk to his wife in the morning and went to sleep. He woke earlier than usual as he hardly got any sleep and went to her room.

He knew that what he was doing was something a coward would do, but he was not thinking straight. He decided to write an apology to her.

When he stepped inside, he didn't find her. Often at night, he would check up on her if she was alright or not as they hardly interact. It was his own way of showing that he cared for her, even though he didn't like her.

But to his astonishment, her belongings were also gone. Near the dressing table, he saw the divorce papers signed and even the blank cheque was there, which she didn't take. Her wedding ring was also kept on the papers. There was an envelope which he opened to find money along with the list which showed the amount and name of the items on which she spends his money on. He didn't need to count to know that it would have been the exact amount.

He took the letter which she wrote and read, 'Alex, I know that you hate me but I am telling you the truth that I stole nothing. I don't have your property papers and your credit card. We were never fond of each other, but I thought you respected me as I never once saw you and Daphne spending the night in my presence. You might have talked to me rudely but at the same time I felt some kind of respect emitting from you towards me but today I saw that I have lost every ounce of respect that you had for me so I can't stay here. Not even for seven days. I have signed the divorce papers which you gave me. I don't want your money as I never married you for it to begin with. All the belongings which you and your parents gave me are in the cupboard. I am even returning you the ring. I don't want it. I know that I have got no right to interfere in your business and you probably won't even believe me, but I have to tell you that Daphne is not what she seems. You might love her, but she doesn't. Just please be careful. I hope you have a good life ahead and find someone who can love you.

Goodbye,

Marissa Rosemary.