"And what? You call her an angel? Well, Maximus, she's an evil in disguise, and she played you well. You're being her puppet now." I sneered.

Lalaina shook her head, her eyes wide and innocent. "Carrie, don't slander me. I'm not like you, a clown. I've done nothing wrong to you. I want to be close to you, but you keep pushing me away."

I'd tried to warn Max about Lalaina, to tell him she was a manipulator, but he wouldn't listen. I wasn't going to repeat myself a hundred times if he wasn't going to open his eyes.

Now, she had him wrapped around her finger, and there was no point in trying to convince him otherwise.

"I'm out of this. I don't want to play your dirty games, Lalaina. You've won, so get your prize." I said sarcastically, my eyes fixed on Max.

"And Max, believe what you want to believe, but I'm not going to waste any more time trying to prove myself to you."

Max frowned. "What about Stacey? Did she die? I need an explanation!"

I reached into my luggage and pulled out Stacey's death certificate. I needed him to see the proof, to finally understand that our daughter was gone.

I handed it to him, and his face went pale as he read Stacey's name and the cause of death.

"Why didn't you call me?" he demanded, his voice laced with anger.

I opened my phone and showed him the call history. "I called you countless times, Max, but you never answered."

Max was speechless, his lips sealed as if by a zipper, while Lalaina hung her head, avoiding my gaze.

"That's it, Maximus. While you were frolicking on the beach with Lalaina, our daughter was fighting for her life in the hospital. If you only knew how hard she fought, how she waited for you at the festival, but you never came. She grew weaker and weaker because you weren't there." Tears streamed down my face.

My voice choked with emotion every time I thought of Stacey's face. "She even wished to be with the stars so you could see her shining. You were so focused on your sunshine, Lalaina, who was right beside you when everything was fine. You forgot about your daughter, who became the light during your darkest times."

I saw tears forming in his eyes. "I-I'm sorry..."

"It's too late now, Max. She's gone."

"Carrie..." He reached for me, but I pulled away.

"Don't make excuses, Max. I'm done listening."

I turned and walked towards the gate, my luggage in hand. Max followed me.

"Carrie, don't leave, please."