The Devil's Good Girl
Chapter 96: Because of you

Chapter 96: Because of you

The sound of the tennis ball hitting the wall reverberated through the private court, filling the space with rhythmic echoes. Each impact carried the force of Marcus’s precise strokes, his racket slicing through the air with controlled power.

With each heavy breath, he pushed himself to the limit. Sweat poured from his body, drenching his clothes. Despite the physical exertion, Marcus was undeterred. He couldn’t stop, determined to forget even for a little while.

[This is wrong, Marcus.]

His movements were faster and his aggressiveness created a louder noise with each swing of his racket.

[You pity me and want to prove that I can still find love or be loved.]

He hissed, grunting as he hit the ball once more.

[You have a good heart, but you don’t love me.]

"Damn it!" Marcus hit the ball with precision again, but when it returned at the same speed, he let it fly past him. Standing motionless in the same spot, he panted for air.

He had been playing solo tennis right after work, thinking it would help him forget his last encounter with Fil. However, the more he pushed himself to forget, the more it crossed his mind. Playing worked in the first thirty minutes, but now everything she said was coming back to him.

’She’s right,’he thought, pulling his collar to wipe the sweat over his lips. ’I don’t love her. It’s ridiculous if I do.’

Marcus bit his collar, resting his hands on his hips, catching his breath.

’But why do I feel... stressed that she knows that?’ he wondered, unable to understand himself.

He cocked his head back, eyes shut. This was stressing him out. He should feel relieved that Fil understood his intention; it made his attempt to kiss her less embarrassing. Instead, he felt a knot of guilt and anxiety in his stomach.

Why does this bother him so much?

Wouldn’t the awareness of his feelings and Fil’s awareness of the truth be a good thing? They could continue being friends. No hard feelings, no awkwardness.

’I’m losing my mind,’ he told himself, shaking his head to get rid of any traces of Fil. ’She’s a mistake and I shouldn’t commit this mistake.’

Marcus had been agonizing about this discovery the night he hooked up with a stranger. At that time, all he could think of was Fil while being with another. He already lost control when he kept his communication with her and came to her place when he heard they had broken up. He couldn’t allow for this to go on.

This was something he should avoid, not fight.

Continuing it meant the chances of stopping himself were close to none. He should appreciate Fil’s honesty and choose the right thing.

’This is wrong, is basically saying, you should stop while it’s early,’he concluded, huffing as his heart rate returned to its normal pace. When Marcus turned to freshen up, he saw Marianne standing outside the transparent walls that confined the private court.

Deep lines appeared between his brows, wondering why Marianne was there. Curious, Marcus picked up his duffel bag from the side of the court and stepped out.

"It seems you have a lot of things in your mind," was the first thing Marianne pointed out the moment he stepped out. "I wonder what it was."

"What are you doing here?" he asked before he resumed his steps, throwing the duffel bag on the bench outside the private court. He plopped his butt down on it, stretching his arm over the backrest, eyes on her.

"How did you know I was here?"

Marianne sat on the other corner of the bench. "Your assistant told me."

"Tss. I should fire him."

"It’s not his fault," she said with a wry smile. "We’re friends and I told him I have something important to tell you."

"What’s this important thing you want to tell me?"

"It’s just an excuse."

Marcus shook his head and rolled his eyes. "If you have nothing to tell me, then I’m going to shower. I’m tired."

"Do you know that Vincent and Fil broke up?" she asked, just when he was about to stand up.

"Uh." Marcus looked back at her, a strange look on his face. "You don’t know?"

"I just knew now. Fil came by to the station."

"Ah..." he nodded in understanding. "Well, I guess it’s only natural she would confide in her best friend."

His brow arched, assessing the look on her face. "Then why are you here? If you know they broke up, shouldn’t you be with Vincent? He’s single. You might as well... ah." He trailed off, letting out a short and weak laugh.

"He didn’t want your company?" he guessed, watching Marianne lean back with her arms crossed. "Haha. Did he dump you? Saying he realized your affair can’t go on? And that he wants to be a better man for her?"

"No," Marianne clicked her tongue. "He said none of those."

"He didn’t end things with you? I guess that’s normal since he probably wants to keep you."

"He left," she added right after his snide comment. She snapped her eyes back to Marcus, her expression cold and irritated. "He left because he wants to persuade Fil."

"They’d been in a relationship for a long time." Marcus shrugged. "So, I’m not surprised there."

"Is it?"

Marcus squinted his eyes, assessing Marianne’s bitterness. "Anne, do you see Vincent as more than just a fuck buddy?"

"What?"

"You..." he trailed off, pondering on the right term to use. "Anne, I’m going to say this because you’re also my friend. But don’t."

Marianne pursed her lips, eyes on him.

"What you and Vincent have, take it as it is. If you truly see Fil as your friend, then you have to keep in mind that sleeping with her fiance will hurt her. Don’t push it," he continued. "Because in the end, you’ll be the one who will get hurt. It’s futile."

For some reason, what Marcus said was something he needed to hear all along. At the end of the day, he knew Fil loved Vincent with all of her heart. A breakup was the easiest part, but Fil’s heart wouldn’t heal immediately.

"Do you know why they broke up?" Marianne inquired with a deep frown.

"Couples break up and get back together," he said, pushing himself up to leave. "Just take my advice. Have fun with him as long as you can, and let him go if it’s time. As long as she doesn’t know, you’ll keep the friendship —"

"It’s because of you."

Marcus stopped and slowly looked back at her, brows furrowed. "What did you say?"

"They broke up because of you," she repeated, smirking. "You don’t know?"

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