Chapter 7: The Truth Maya Never Told Me
I stared at the photograph until the screen blurred.
Maya standing outside my family’s office.
Three days before I introduced her.
Three days before I told my parents I had fallen in love.
The easiest thing in the world would have been to believe the message.
Because after everything that happened that night, suspicion had become natural.
Secrets.
Hidden motives.
People smiling while holding something dangerous behind their backs.
I looked at Maya.
She knew exactly what I was thinking.
“Jalen,” she said softly.
I didn’t answer.
Not because I was angry.
Because I was afraid of the answer.
My father stepped closer.
“What did the message say?””
I handed him my phone.
He read it.
His expression darkened.
Then he looked at Maya.
“Is there something we need to know?””
The question hurt.
Not because he asked.
Because everyone was asking.
Everyone except me.
Maya looked down for a moment.
Then she took a breath.
“Yes.””
My chest tightened.
“What?””
She looked at me.
“I was going to tell you.””
I almost laughed.
That sentence had followed me all night.
Everyone was always going to tell me.
Eventually.
“When?”” I asked.
“When I knew it wouldn’t affect what we had.””
I stared at her.
“Maya, what happened?””
She looked around the room.
“My company wasn’t the only thing someone tried to damage six months ago.””
My father frowned.
“What else?””
Maya slowly opened the folder.
“There was another investment.””
She pulled out a document.
“My company was preparing to acquire a small technology firm that created educational tools for children.””
I listened quietly.
“Someone leaked information about the acquisition,” she continued.
“The deal collapsed.””
“And you lost money?”” I asked.
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
She looked at me.
“Because I didn’t want you to see me as someone who needed saving.””
Those words hit harder than I expected.
Because I knew Maya.
She would rather struggle alone than let someone think she was weak.
But there was still one question.
“Why were you at my family’s office?””
Maya closed her eyes briefly.
“Because I was investigating.””
Everyone became still.
“Investigating what?”” my mother asked.
Maya looked at her.
“The same person who destroyed my deal.””
My father’s voice lowered.
“You thought someone connected to us was involved?””
“Yes.””
“And you never told Jalen?””
Maya looked at me.
“I was trying to protect him.””
I shook my head.
“Protect me by keeping secrets?””
Her eyes softened.
“No.””
A pause.
“Protect you by making sure I had proof before putting you in the middle.””
I wanted to argue.
I wanted to say she should have trusted me.
But part of me understood.
Because if she had accused someone in my family without evidence, would I have believed her?
I hated that I didn’t know the answer.
My phone vibrated again.
Another message.
This time from the same unknown number.
*Ask her about the night she met you.*
I looked at Maya.
She saw the message.
And her face changed.
Not fear.
Recognition.
“You know who’s sending these?”” I asked.
She didn’t answer.
“Maya.””
She looked away.
That was the first time all night she looked uncertain.
“I have an idea.””
“Who?””
Before she could answer, the ballroom lights suddenly flickered.
Everyone inside turned toward the stage.
The music stopped.
A staff member rushed toward my father.
“Mr. Hawthorne?””
My father stepped forward.
“What happened?””
The employee looked nervous.
“The presentation system has been accessed.””
My father frowned.
“By who?””
The employee swallowed.
“We don’t know.””
Then the large screen behind the stage turned on.
A document appeared.
The room went silent.
Because it wasn’t a charity presentation.
It was a private family file.
My name was at the top.
Under it were details about the trust.
My marriage condition.
My inheritance.
Everything.
A whisper moved through the ballroom.
My mother looked horrified.
Corinne covered her mouth.
Maya stared at the screen.
Then she whispered:
“He wants everyone to see this.””
The next page appeared.
A photo.
Not of me.
Not of Maya.
Of Adrian.
Standing with someone else.
Someone I recognized.
Someone who made my father’s face turn completely white.
Because the person beside Adrian was the one person nobody expected.
My father whispered:
“No…”
I looked at him.
“Who is that?””
He didn’t answer.
May you like
Because the screen revealed the name.
*Rochelle Hawthorne.*
