Mirabel's diary lay open on the floor, her tears staining the pages. She had written:
"Why does life treat me like this? Why can't I find true happiness? Why can't I be happy? Why do I always get the harshest treatment in life? When it seems like everything is working out, when it seems like everything is going well, when it seems like all is working the way I had always wanted it to work, something always happens and ruins everything. Why? Why can't I be happy? Why does life keep taking everything away from me? Why can't I have peace? Why can't I find true love?"
She felt like she'd finally found it with Vicky, but now he was slipping away. Mirabel's voice cracked as she screamed, "Vicky!!!" Nanny quickly rushed inside the room and immediately went to her side.
"Mirabel dear, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" Nanny asked, sitting her up.
Mirabel buried her face in Nanny's shoulder, sobbing. "Nanny..."
"Dear, what's wrong? Did anything bad happen at work today? Why are you like this? Speak to me, what happened?" Nanny asked, stroking Mirabel's hair.
Mirabel's tears continued to flow. "Nanny, what bad deed did I commit? What wrong thing did I do to deserve the treatment that life's giving me?"
Nanny's expression was puzzled. "What are you saying, dear? You haven't done anything wrong. Why are you saying all these things? What happened at work?"
Mirabel's voice trembled. "It's love, Nanny. It's love... Am I destined not to find love? Is it my destiny to remain single for the rest of my life? I decided to stop loving, yet my eagerness for love didn't seize. I just couldn't resist love, and yet again it's doing this to me. Nanny, I'm sick and tired of it."
Nanny lifted Mirabel up and sat her in bed. "Dear, tell me clearly what happened."
Mirabel's voice was barely above a whisper. "It's Vicky. He's changing. That loving look he once had whenever he sees me is no longer there. I miss his gaze, I miss his calmness, his care, and his warm embrace. But all that's gone, and it's all my fault. I allowed Rose to work in my office. I brought this upon myself, Nanny, and now I'm the one regretting..."
Nanny's eyes were filled with concern. "What happened, Mirabel?"
Mirabel's voice cracked. "Vicky defended Rose today after she committed an offense that could have made us lose the proposal. And when I confronted him, he said I had trust issues. Nanny, Vicky said that to my face... If I had trust issues, would I allow Rose to work in my office in my space? Yet he just said that and didn't feel any remorse..."
She paused, tears dropping down her cheek, her voice shaking. "I feel he doesn't love me anymore, Nanny. Vicky doesn't love me anymore."
Nanny moved closer to Mirabel and rested her head on her shoulder. "Dear, listen to me. I understand how you feel. I know it must be painful and unbearable, but you have to be strong, Mirabel. Do you really want to lose Vicky?"
Mirabel shook her head. "No, Nanny."
"Then you have to fight, my dear. You have to fight for your love. I'm sure Vicky still loves you. Do you remember how he persisted although you rejected him? He still waited for you, and all those feelings couldn't have vanished just like that. Mirabel, you must be strong."
Mirabel's voice was hesitant. "But Nanny, I'm tired. Must I always be the one that has to struggle and fight?"
Nanny's expression was firm. "Dear, you just have to fight again. You have to fight for your love. You can't be weak at this point in time."
Mirabel nodded, determination etched on her face. "Fight? That's right. I can't let Rose win. I can't let her win.
Vicky sat in his room, face down in his lap, tears dropping onto his cheeks. "Did I really say all that to Mirabel? What was I thinking?" He stood up and started hitting his fist against the wall with force, saying "Why?" as he continued.
Caroline shouted from her room, "Vicky, what's all that noise about? Are you alright?"
Vicky's voice shook as he replied, "Yes, Mum, I'm alright. Just doing some workout."
Caroline's voice came through the wall again, "Okay, keep it down. I'm trying to sleep, dear."
Vicky returned to his bed, picked up his phone, and thought about calling Mirabel. "What would I say to her? How would she react?" Just as he was about to drop the phone, it rang. He picked it up, placing it on his ear.
"Hello?" he said.
"Hey, Vicky, it's me, Rose. Please don't hang up," she said.
"What do you want?" Vicky asked.
"Vicky, I want to apologize for a what happened today. It was all my fault, and I..."
Vicky cut her off. "If that's all you want to say, then please hang up."
"No, no, Vicky. Please hear me out. I'm really sorry. I was just overwhelmed with thoughts of the threats I've been receiving..."
Vicky's curiosity was piqued. "Threats?"
Rose hesitated. "No, it's nothing, Vicky. I didn't mean to say all that. I'll hang up now."
Vicky's interest was sparked. "Rose, hold on. What threats are you talking about?"
Rose paused before responding, "Well, it's something I can't tell you over the phone..."
Vicky suggested, "Let's meet tomorrow."
Rose was hesitant. "I don't know, Vicky. I don't want to bother you with all these things..."
"No, Rose, it's fine," Vicky reassured her.
"Okay, let's meet at The Place restaurant beside my hotel, if it's fine with you," Rose said.
"The Place?" Vicky repeated.
"Yes, tomorrow afternoon, if you have no problem with it," Rose clarified.
"No, it's fine. Let's meet then. And please take good care of yourself," Vicky said.
"Sure, Vicky. I will. Goodbye," Rose said before hanging up.
Vicky dropped the phone down, his mind wandering to Mirabel. "I hope Mirabel's doing alright," he said to himself as he headed to the bathroom.