Chapter 3 3.

"What do you mean you dont know where to start? Oh now you have lost your sense of reasoning." I cocked my brows. "Alright since you can't think clearly, let me help you. Why don't you start with telling me why you did what you did. Uhn? Go ahead, I am listening " I said acidly.

"Alright Ava, if i must go on, can we at least sit down so we don't attract too much attention?" he said calmly.

We went ahead and sat down on two rounded sofas facing each other at the corner of the terrace.

"I know you're angry," he started, his voice low. "You have every right to be."

"Angry?" I let out a bitter laugh. "Raymond, I'm furious. But go on, explain why you did it. I'm dying to hear this."

His jaw clenched slightly, but he stayed calm. "Ava, I didn't leak that tape."

I scoffed, leaning back in my seat. "Seriously? That's your excuse? You expect me to believe-"

"Ava c'mon, why would I want to do you like that? Remember my face was shown too." He said.

"Can you even hear yourself? Raymond! Why do you have a video of us having sex saved on your laptop in the first place? Why? That was meant to be deleted have it was made, not to be saved on your device for so long"

"Ava I know i should have deleted it. But this particualr was just so beautiful. You looked so perfect in it, and I decided to keep it for our pleasure. Unfortunately, my system was hacked, Ava," his voice firm but not harsh. "I know how it looks, but this is the truth Ava"

I narrowed my eyes. "Hacked?"

"Yes. I know it sounds convenient, but it's the truth." He leaned forward slightly, his eyes pleading with me to believe him. "I've made a lot of enemies in the business world-people who would love to see me fall, take over my company, take over my throne as the mafia lord and destroy everything I've built. They targeted me, hacked into my personal files, and leaked the video."

I stared at him, my mind racing. It didn't make sense. "And you expect me to just accept that? You're telling me that all of this happened because someone wanted to tarnish your image?"

"Not just my image, Ava," he said, his voice soft but urgent. "My entire life. My company. My Cabal. My reputation. They wanted to ruin everything."

I bit my lip, trying to keep the anger from bubbling over. "Raymond, that video... it wasn't just you. I was in it. You humiliated me. Everyone saw that, and you didn't even bother to explain. You let me take the fall."

"I didn't know what to do," he admitted, his voice cracking slightly. "I was trying to contain the damage, to figure out who did it, how to stop it. I wasn't thinking straight. But I swear, Ava, I never meant for you to get hurt. I would never do that to you."

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe that this whole nightmare wasn't his fault, that he wasn't the selfish monster I had painted him to be. But there was another wound, one that hurt just as much.

"And what about my brother's funeral?" I asked, my voice trembling. "You promised you'd be there, Raymond. I needed you, and you just... didn't show up."

His face fell, guilt flashing in his eyes. He ran a hand through his hair, looking down again. "Ava, I'm so sorry about that. I wanted to be there more than anything. I know I let you down."

"Yeah, you did," I snapped, the pain resurfacing like it was fresh. "You left me to face the worst day of my life alone. How do you explain that?"

Raymond swallowed hard, his voice lowering to a whisper. "I was dealing with the fallout from the hack. It was chaos. My company was in danger, and people were coming for me-my enemies, the press, everyone. I was fighting to hold everything together, and... I thought I could handle it. But I was wrong. I should've been there for you."

I crossed my arms tighter, my heart hammering in my chest. "You should have."

"I know," he whispered, looking at me with an intensity that made it hard to breathe. "And I can't change what I did, but I'm here now, Ava. I'm trying to make things right. I'll spend the rest of my life apologizing if that's what it takes, but please, believe me. I never meant to hurt you."

I sat there, staring at him. His words were sincere, his explanation plausible, but the pain was still there, sharp and raw. Part of me wanted to forgive him, to let go of all the anger and hurt. But another part of me-the part still bleeding from the betrayal-wasn't ready.

Raymond waited, his eyes searching mine, desperate for some kind of response. I sighed, leaning back in the booth, my expression softening just a little.

"I hear you, Raymond," I said slowly, my voice steady. "I understand what you're saying. And maybe... maybe it wasn't all your fault. But that doesn't mean I'm ready to just forget everything."

"I'm not asking you to forget," he said quickly. "I just want a chance to make it right."

I looked away for a moment, letting his words sink in. Slowly, I nodded. "I'll think about it. I'll think about everything you've said."

Raymond's face softened with relief, but I wasn't about to let him off the hook that easily.

"But don't think for a second that I'm letting you back in just because you apologized," I added, my tone sharp. "You hurt me, Raymond. And it's going to take a lot more than words to fix that."

He nodded, swallowing hard. "I understand."

I stood up, my heart still heavy, but at least now I had some clarity. "Good. Now if you'll excuse me, I need some air."

"Can I take you our for dinner tomorrow?"he asked sharply.

I stared at him and looked away, trying not to let him see me smile. "Well I won't be looking forward to it." I said.

"I will take that as a YES". He said, grinning from hear to hear.

"Whatever!!" I said, shabilly.

I walked away, not looking back, feeling the tension slowly ease off my shoulders. It wasn't closure, not yet, but it was a start.