Chapter 134

• The next day, Garrett arrived at Maria's house, his heart filled with nervous excitement as he hoped to spend some quality time with her. As he approached the front door, Maria's parents greeted him warmly and invited him inside. Maria's mother smiled kindly at him, while her father gave him a firm handshake.
• "Welcome, Garrett! It's so nice to see you again," the mother said, leading him into the living room where Maria was seated, her eyes looking distant and uninterested.
• Garrett's smile faltered as he noticed Maria's aloof attitude. Ignoring the tension in the air, he tried to strike up a conversation with her. "Hey, Maria. How are you doing today?"