Chapter 4 Loosing it

"I never told you to burn it, Clint!" I screamed at the top of my voice, a wave of cold panic washing over me.

"Is there something wrong with you, Maya?" Clint asked, stepping closer and placing his hands firmly on my shoulders.

"Did you even check the address where the package came from?!" My voice was fierce, trembling with desperate fury.

"I think... something like Big Ben? I think it was Clarison Supermarket..." Clint stammered.

I didn't even let him finish. I grabbed my keys and sprinted toward my car. Ria ran after me, scrambling into the passenger seat as I slammed the gas pedal and sped off into the street.

My breathing was heavy, echoing inside the tight cabin. Panic showed clearly on Ria's face as she watched the speedometer climb.

"Maya, I really think I should take over the driving," Ria urged, her fingers gripping the dashboard.

"Don't worry, Ria, I'm fine!"

"Calm down, Maya! You are letting all of this completely take over your head"

"Ria, you don't understand!" I yelled, my hands trembling violently on the steering wheel. "Brian is deadly dangerous! If he is somehow still alive, he will do anything to kill me! He would kill my family, and Clint isn't safe either!"

"How?!" Ria asked, staring at me in complete shock.

But my mind wasn't listening to her anymore. All my focus was glued to the open road leading toward Big Ben City.

Minutes later, the car screeched to a halt right in front of the exact address. Just as I stepped out onto the pavement, someone tapped heavily on my shoulder. I spun around in a panic, only to come face-to-face with Oliver Clint's best friend.

I exhaled sharply, clutching my chest. "Hey, What are you doing here?"

"Maya? Why are you in such a panic?" Oliver asked, eyeing my frantic expression. "What are you even doing all the way from Camden? Did you drive all the way here?"

I scoffed, my eyes darting around the lot. "I came to check who sent a delivery package to my house, and where it came from."

"What package?" Oliver asked, looking puzzled.

"I think it came from Clarison Supermarket..."

"Oh," Oliver said, resting a hand on his driver's door. He pointed over his shoulder. "That's the supermarket right there. I just finished picking up a few things and getting some medications for my son."

The moment he mentioned medication, my mind flashed back to the pills he had given Clint the ones that had nearly killed him.

"I hope it's not the same doctor who prescribed those pills for Clint who gave you that medication," I said bitterly. "Because if it is, trust me, it isn't funny at all."

"For Clint?" Oliver asked, looking utterly confused. "I don't think I've even seen your husband for weeks. By the way, how is he doing?"

I froze, turning my full attention back to him. "You mean... you haven't met with Clint recently?"

"Oh, hold on," Oliver said, breaking into a light smile. "Don't overthink it, Maya. I was just pulling your leg."

Gently, Ria tapped my hand, pulling me toward the store entrance. "Come on, let's keep going inside."

My eyes remained fixed on Oliver as he walked away, placing a phone to his ear.

"Did you hear what he just said?" I whispered to Ria as we walked.

"Didnt you notice he was at the exact same supermarket where that peanut butter came from?"

Ria said..

"What are you trying to say?" I asked, keeping my voice low.

"I don't know..."

"Come on, let's get inside first."

We walked through the sliding doors and headed straight to the customer service counter near the grocery section.

"What am I even going to tell them?" I muttered. "Won't I sound stupid asking about a delivery?"

"Just ask," Ria urged.

I stepped up to the counter. "Hello. Someone delivered a package to my house, but there was a mix-up. It was supposed to come from here through your delivery service, but it didn't get to my door properly. I wanted to check what happened with the order."

"Okay, thank you, ma'am," the woman behind the register said, pulling up her screen. "May I know what the package contained, and the address it was supposed to be delivered to?"

"Peanut butter, logwood one,Camden."

"Hold on a second," the woman said, her fingers tapping rapidly on the keyboard. "I think there's a mix-up somewhere, because the only package scheduled for delivery to Logwood One, Camden today... doesn't have any peanut butter on the receipt."

"Wait, what?" I asked.

"It was just beverages, prescription medicine... and I think some sausages," she clarified, looking up at me.

Why would Clint claim the peanut butter came from this exact store?

I turned to Ria, but she just shook her head subtly. We quietly walked out of the supermarket and spotted Oliver again. He was still lingering near his car, his phone pressed firmly against his ear. We ignored him, got back into my car, and slammed the doors.

"Am I overthinking things, Ria?" I asked, staring blankly through the windshield.

"Whatever it is, I really think you should just calm down, Maya..."

"Calm down?!" I snapped, turning to her. "Do you even hear what you're saying?! My head is spinning, I'm losing my mind, and you're telling me to calm down?!"

"Just start the damn car, Maya. Let's just get out of here," Ria said quietly.

I turned the key, step on the gas, and the car rolled out onto the main road.

As we approached the quiet, empty street near my home, I noticed something strange. The unoccupied house next door,the one that had been sitting vacant like forever was suddenly filled with heavy movers' trucks, furniture, and luggage bags.

"Oh... looks like we have a new neighbor," Ria noted, leaning forward to look out the window.

I slowed the car down. Through the open gates, a man was pulling heavy boxes inside. From behind, his broad shoulders looked terrifyingly familiar.

"Hold on... can we go see who the new neighbor is?" I asked, my heart pounding against my ribs.

"Maya, why? Is that really necessary?" Ria asked, staring at me in concern.

I didn't answer. I pulled up right in front of the gate, put the car in park, and stepped out. I marched toward the driveway, my eyes locked on the stranger's back.

As if sensing my presence, he turned around and smiled smoothly.

"Hey, my lady."

"Scott?!" I stammered, stumbling backward in absolute shock. "What... what are you doing here?!"

Scott moved a step closer to me. "What do you mean? I live here now."

"Scott, how... how did you find me?!" I backed away further, my hands trembling.

"Stop it, Maya!" Scott chuckled softly. "Everything isn't always about you. I just moved in, and I happened to see you."

"I never gave you my name!" I yelled, terror seizing my lungs. "What the fuck are you"

Before I could finish, my phone rang loudly in my purse. The caller ID popped up: Mother.

Panic surged through me. I turned my back on Scott, rushed back into the car, and slammed the door shut. Ria stared at me as I pressed the phone to my ear.

"Mom..."

"Maya!" my mother's harsh voice barked through the speaker. "You shouldn't be doing this! You need to learn how to take proper care of your husband! I didn't raise you to be this careless!"

"Hold on, Mother, what are you even talking about?!"

"What am I talking about? You mean you're not even at home right now?!"

"Home?" I asked, my head turning to Ria, who was watching me with wide, worried eyes.

"Clara just got a phone call that your husband is extremely sick!" my mother shouted. "He almost lost his life! He's been calling you over and over, but you were completely unreachable! He had to call Clara to come over and help him!"

"Clara is at my house?!" I gasped.

Without thinking, my foot slammed down on the accelerator. The tires screeched as I sped down the road, driving straight back to my estate.

Within minutes, I pulled up to the driveway, threw the door open, and rushed inside with my phone still clutched in my hand. Ria hurried in right behind me.

When I walked into the living room, I saw Clint lying limp on the couch, shivering violently. Clara was sitting by his side, pressing a cold, wet towel onto his forehead.

"What is going on here?!" I demanded, my voice ringing out. "Clara, what the fuck are you doing here?! And Clint, what is wrong with you?!"

Clint didn't answer. His eyes stayed shut, his body trembling uncontrollably under the blanket.

Clara stood up, grabbed my arm tightly, and dragged me out toward the front porch.

"Why did you leave your sick husband alone and disappear for hours?!" Clara yelled, glaring at me.

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. "I didn't leave a sick person when I left this morning! He was completely fine!"

"That's a lie!" Clara snapped back. "He called me in agony because you weren't answering your phone!"

"I don't know what kind of game this is, Clara!"

Clara stared at me coldly for a long moment, shaking her head before turning around and walking back inside toward the living room.

My head throbbing violently, I began pacing up and down the porch. Ria stepped outside, watching me with deep concern.

"I think you need to calm down, Maya," Ria whispered gently. "Maybe the side effects of those medications haven't fully left his body yet..."

I pressed my hands against my cheeks, hot tears pouring down my face. "I can't do this anymore, Ria... I really can't."

"What?" Ria asked, stepping closer. "You can't do what?"

"I am done with this marriage!" I sobbed, my voice breaking. "I can't keep doing this! This isn't the first time Clint has pulled a stunt like this just to get my family's sympathy, and I don't fucking know why he keeps doing it! He is driving me crazy, Ria! He can't perform, and because of his issues, I keep getting dragged into mess after mess that is literally killing me! And now Scott just moved in next door?!"

"Maya... just calm down," Ria reasoned softly. "If you want to walk out, I will always support you. But leaving right now could be dangerous."

"Why?!" I demanded, wiping my eyes.

"Because I think your family is already turning against you," Ria said quietly. "Did you even hear what your sister whispered when I passed her to come out here?"

My eyes locked onto Ria. "What did she say?"

"She said you're crazy... and that you need serious mental help."

"She said that?!" I screamed, turning around to rush back inside.

Before I could take a single step toward the door, a deep, charming voice whispered from behind us:

"Excuse me... could I borrow a broom or a brush from you ladies? My new place is a complete mess."

We both spun around.

Scott was standing right there at the edge of the porch, leaning against the railing with a relaxed smile on his face as if nothing in the world was wrong.