(At the store)
After a long day of searching, Maria came out of one of the shops, screaming with joy...
Maria: I found what I was looking for!
Everyone (with a sigh of relief): Finaaaaally!
Everyone rushed to the store to see her. With confident and graceful steps, Maria walked out wearing the dress, like a princess on the runway, stunning everyone with her beauty and elegance.
Max (in awe): My princess!
He ran to her, picked her up, and spun her in the air as her soft laughter filled the air, while Nina's eyes filled with jealousy.
Leo (smiling): You look like an angel!
Max (pretending to be angry): I'm the only one allowed to call her an angel.
Matthew (teasing): My brother's beautiful wife, can I say that too?
Max (mocking): Of course! And should I call her "my brother's wife," you idiot?
Maria (laughing hard): Hahahahaha!
Matthew (embarrassed): You're not even my brother, just a friend who always makes me look dumb!
Max (joking): You're the best friend I've ever had.
Leo (interrupting): What about me?
Max: You both are my best friends.
Julie (excitedly): Come on! Let's buy the dress before Maria changes her mind.
Maria (laughing): Haha!
(After buying the dress)
Maria walked up to Max and gently hugged him. She shyly said:
Maria: I'm going to miss you.
Max (surprised): Miss me? I'm taking you back to France tomorrow.
Maria (excited): Really?! Julie?!
Max (confused): What does she have to do with this?
Julie: Of course, we're going back to France. I miss it so much!
Maria: And I miss the university.
Max (joking): Someone's about to graduate soon.
Maria (teasing): Idiot!
Max: Who's the idiot?
Maria: You.
Max (pretending to be hurt): Hmmph.
Maria (playfully): My loveee, why are you acting like that?
Max (smiling): I might be graduating, but I'll be coming back to pick you up from university.
Maria (sadly): Okay...
Max (noticing): Are you sad?
Maria (denying): No.
Max (smiling): Liar.
Maria (honestly): I'll miss having someone I know around. After you all graduate, I'll be left alone.
Max (reassuring): Nina will be with you. Right, Nina?
Nina: Yes, of course. I'll always be by her side.
Maria: Alright, love. Julie and I are heading off now. See you later.
She leaned closer and whispered in Max's ear:
Maria (whispering): Don't get close to Nina. I get jealous... and I love you.
Then she ran off quickly. He tried to catch her, but she disappeared into her laughter.
Max (laughing): Crazy girl!
Matthew (smiling): I told you today would be amazing.
Max (deep smile): And you were right when you said I might see Maria again.
⸻
(At the apartment)
Maria and Julie returned to the apartment. When they entered, they found Julia sitting in the living room, tears silently streaming down her face.
Julia (broken): Maria, please... forgive me. I can't bear you not talking to me.
Maria walked up to her and hugged her tightly, tears welling in her eyes.
Maria (gently): How could I ever fight with my sister? I forgive you, Julia. No need to cry.
Julia (sobbing): I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to hurt you. I don't even know why I acted that way.
Maria (smiling): You talk too much, Julia! Come sit, I want to show you my wedding dress.
Julia (wiping tears, laughing): Haha! Okay, let me see it.
Maria (proudly takes out the dress): Here it is! What do you think?
Julia (in awe): It's stunning! But it's your beauty that makes it shine.
Maria (laughs): Oh sweetheart, thank you... Wait! Where's Julie?
Julie (coming out of the kitchen): I'm here! I was making our favorite pancakes.
Maria (excited): Wowww! I couldn't wait to smell them!
Julia (taking a bite): Mmm... they're delicious!
⸻
(The next morning)
Maria (yelling from her room): Girls! We're going to be late, and Max won't forgive us if we are!
Julia (lazy): Alright, I'm almost ready.
Maria: I'll go ahead to see Max. You come once you're done.
Julie (from the living room): Don't worry, Maria. We'll be right behind you.
⸻
(At the hotel)
Maria (on the phone): Babe, I've arrived at your hotel.
Max: I'm in room number 2.
Maria: But how will I get in? Hotels usually need ID.
Max: I already told them about you. Don't worry.
Maria: Okay, I'm heading up.
(At the reception)
Receptionist: Miss Maria?
Maria: Yes, that's me.
Receptionist: Mr. Max informed us you'd be arriving. His room is number 2.
Maria (smiling): Thank you so much.
(At the same time)
Nina, who overheard the conversation, slyly rushed to Max's room with a spare key she had already gotten.
Inside, Max was in the shower, unaware Nina had entered.
When he stepped out wearing only shorts, Nina hugged him from behind.
Max (smiling, thinking it's Maria): Babe, you're here?
(Just then, Maria opens the door and sees the shocking scene)
Maria (shocked, teary-eyed): M... Max?
Max quickly turned around, realizing the truth.
Max (stunned): Maria, wait! It's not what you think!
Maria (angry and crying): Traitor!
Max: Please, let me explain...
Maria (cutting him off): I don't want to hear anything from you.
Maria ran out in tears, while Max chased after her, trying to stop her.
Nina (with a wicked smile): Finally... I got what I wanted.
(Moments later, Leo enters the room after hearing Max shouting)
Leo (seeing Nina): Nina? What are you doing here?
Nina (calmly): Just helping Max arrange his things.
Leo (suspicious): Really?
(Max reenters, exhausted, clearly upset and angry)
Max (broken voice): She left me... Maria left me, Leo.
Leo (worried): Why? What happened?
Max (struggling): Maria saw Nina hugging me... but I thought it was Maria!
Leo (angrily facing Nina): Nina!
Nina (nervously): W-what?
Leo (shouting): You lied to me!
Nina (defensive): No! I didn't do anything wrong!
Leo (furious): Shut up! Get out before I lose it!
Nina walked out anxiously. Max sat on the floor, completely shattered.
Max (quiet, filled with regret): I lost her... Maria will never forgive me.
Leo (sitting beside him): Don't worry, Max. I'll help you win back her trust no matter what.
⸻
Maria returned to the apartment she shared with the girls, crying heavily, her hair drenched from the pouring rain.
Julie (worried): Maria! Why are you back? We were just about to come to you! But... why do you look like this?
Maria (shouting in breakdown): Traitor! I haaaaate him!
Julie (grabbing her shoulders): Maria! What happened? Where's Max?
Maria (sobbing): I don't want to hear that traitor's name ever again!
Julie (shocked): What happened?
Maria (crying hard): He's a cheater... a cheater!
Suddenly, Maria lost consciousness and collapsed.
Julie (screaming): Mariaaaaaa!
Julia came rushing after hearing the scream.
Julia (panicked): What happened to her?!
Julie (terrified): I don't know! She just collapsed!
Julia (trying to stay calm): We need to get her to the hospital now!
As they rushed her out of the apartment, they were met by Max, who looked extremely worried.
Max (yelling): What's wrong with Maria?!
Julia (furious): Stay away from us!
Max (insisting): I asked you, what's wrong?!
Julia (angrily): It's none of your business! Julie, let's take her to the hospital!
They ignored him, but he insisted on following them.
(At the hospital...)
Doctor (seriously): Her condition is stable now, but she experienced severe emotional shock. She needs complete rest.
Julia (shocked): Shock?!
Doctor: Yes, it seems she went through intense emotional stress.
The doctor left, leaving everyone in disbelief.
Julia (to Julie): What shock is the doctor talking about?
Julie (thinking): She came home saying "traitor" over and over... but I didn't understand!
Max (nervously): She saw Nina hugging me.
Julia (yelling): Then she wasn't wrong to call you a traitor! Get out!
Max (defending): Who are you to kick me out? Do you remember what you did in the past?
Julia (firmly): I made peace with Maria. That's none of your business! And you'll never be her husband!
Max (angrily): That's not your decision!
Julie (cutting in): Nor yours! We don't want you here! GET OUT!
Max had to leave, furious, but he stayed outside in the parking lot, asking a nurse to inform him as soon as Maria woke up.
While waiting, he received a call from Nina.
Max (angrily): What do you want now?! Are you happy you ruined everything?!
Nina (pleading): Max, I told you I love you...
Max (cutting her off): And I don't love you! Get that into your head!
He immediately hung up on her.
Just then, Leo called.
Leo (worried): Where are you?
Max (tense): At the hospital.
Leo: The hospital?! Why?!
Max: Maria... she lost consciousness.
Leo: We're coming right now.
Soon, Leo and Matthew arrived at the hospital, where they found Julie and Julia waiting.
Julie (crying, hugging Leo): She passed out.
Leo (shocked): What?! But why?!
Julie (angrily): Because of your traitor friend!
Leo (looking around): Wait, where's Max?
Julie: We kicked him out!
Leo (calmly): It wasn't all Max's fault. It was Nina's!
Julia (angrily): And where is she now?
Leo: She left after I kicked her out of Max's room. I'll go get Max.
Julia (warning): No!
At that moment, the doctor came out to tell them they could visit Maria—but stressed that she needed complete rest.
Julia (with a voice full of worry): Sweetheart... please, wake up.
Maria (in weak whispers): ...
Julia (barely able to speak): Maria... I can't bear to see you like this.
Maria (choking voice): M...Max...
Julia (with restrained anger): You utter his name after he betrayed you?
Maria (with teary eyes): Where is he?
Max enters after being told Maria woke up, visibly tense.
Max (in a broken voice): I'm here... my love.
Maria (furious): You're a traitor!
Max (cutting in firmly): I didn't betray you! She came into my room without my knowledge!
Maria (raising her voice): How would she know your room key? Did you give it to her?!
Max (confused): I didn't know she had it...
Leo (clearly): He's telling the truth, Maria.
Matthew (suddenly): Wait... there's something else.
Leo (curious): What is it?
Matthew (hesitating): Yesterday, I saw her go to the reception. When I asked why she was there, she got nervous and said she lost her room key.
Leo (angrily): Then why didn't she ask the staff when she was done at the reception?
Matthew (with internal anger): There was no one there.
Max (with pleading eyes): Do you believe me now?
Maria (with frozen tears in her eyes): I believe you.
They hugged in an emotional moment—but suddenly, Nina walked in with a challenging expression.
Nina (mocking): I heard you were here. Are you alright?
Maria (angrily, full of pain): Get out of here!
Nina (in a questioning tone): Your husband? Why do I say "husband" when he's not yet? The biggest traitor! You saw him with your own eyes hugging me.
Maria (deeply sad): But he explained everything to me. Now get out.
Nina (with malice): You want to hear the truth? Go ahead, look for yourself.
She pulls out her phone and shows a video call—Max's father is tied up while Nina's father stands beside him, pointing a gun to his head, threatening him.
Max (horrified): Dad!
John (in deep sorrow): Son...
Max (furious): Leave my father alone! How dare you do this to your friend, Mr. Victor!
Victor (coldly smiling): I did all this because your father loved your mother... and I loved her too. They married before my very eyes. So what else could I do... except kill your mother myself so neither he nor I could have her. I knew they got married... but I couldn't let them live in peace.
Max (shocked): W-what...?
Victor (with deadly calm): Yes... that's the truth.
Max (in rage and sorrow): How could you do this?!
Victor (cruelly): I did what I had to do. And now... say goodbye to your father, too.
Max (screaming): Noooooooo!
Victor fires the gun at Max's father. Max collapses to the ground, overwhelmed with tears, screaming in unimaginable agony.
-
To be continued...
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