Chapter 9: The Meeting Before Love
Everyone was looking at Maya.
And I hated that.
Because five minutes ago, I was angry at my mother.
I was angry at Adrian.
I was angry at everyone who had hidden things from me.
But now the person standing beside me was the one person I trusted most.
And suddenly, I didn’t know what I knew.
“Maya,” I said.
She looked at me.
“I need the truth.””
Her expression changed.
Not because she was offended.
Because she knew I deserved it.
“I’ll tell you.””
My father stepped closer.
“Everyone should hear it.””
Maya nodded.
Then she walked toward the quiet side of the ballroom.
The crowd watched.
But she didn’t care anymore.
“Six months ago, when my company was attacked, I started looking into who had access to the leaked information.””
She looked at me.
“That investigation led me to your family.””
My chest tightened.
“Why?””
“Because Adrian’s name appeared.””
I nodded slowly.
“And that’s when you came to the office?””
“Yes.””
My mother looked down.
“What did you find?””
Maya hesitated.
“I found records showing Adrian had been researching the Hawthorne trust.””
My father closed his eyes.
“But you still didn’t tell me.””
“No.””
“Why?””
Maya looked at him.
“Because I wasn’t sure who I could trust.””
The words hurt everyone.
Because they were true.
My father looked away.
Maya continued.
“I went to the office pretending to be interested in a partnership. I needed to confirm whether Adrian was acting alone.””
“And?””
She looked at me.
“That’s where I found something.””
“What?””
“A file.””
The room became silent.
“A file showing Adrian planned to manipulate the trust after your marriage.””
I swallowed.
“So you knew before we met?””
Maya nodded.
“Yes.””
The answer hurt.
Even though I knew there had to be more.
“Then why did you let me pursue you?””
Her eyes filled slightly.
“Because I didn’t expect to fall in love with you.””
Nobody spoke.
Maya looked at the floor.
“When I first met you, I thought you were just another Hawthorne.””
That stung.
“But then you treated the restaurant staff with respect when nobody was watching. You remembered small things people told you. You never talked about money like it made you better.””
She looked at me.
“And I realized I was wrong.””
My anger faded.
Not completely.
But enough.
“Why didn’t you tell me after?””
“Because every time I tried, something happened.””
“What?””
She gave a small, sad smile.
“Life.””
The answer was simple.
And somehow painful.
My father stepped forward.
“Maya, the file you found…”
She nodded.
“It disappeared.””
“Who took it?””
She looked toward the screen.
“Adrian.””
My phone buzzed again.
Everyone looked.
This time, it wasn’t a message.
It was a video.
I pressed play.
Adrian appeared on the screen.
He was sitting somewhere dark.
Smiling.
“Congratulations, Jalen.””
Nobody moved.
“You finally learned what everyone has been hiding from you.””
His eyes shifted.
Toward the camera.
“I know you’re angry.””
A pause.
“But before you decide who betrayed you…”
The video glitched.
Then another image appeared.
A security photo.
Maya.
Inside the Hawthorne office.
Holding a folder.
Adrian’s voice continued.
“Ask yourself one question.””
The video zoomed in.
On the folder in Maya’s hand.
“Why did your fiancée steal your grandfather’s trust documents before she ever told you she loved you?””
The screen went black.
And for the first time that night…
I looked at Maya.
Not as my fiancée.
Not as the woman who saved my family’s gala.
But as someone carrying a secret I had never imagined.
I whispered:
“Maya…”
She looked at me.
And quietly said:
“I can explain why I took them.””
May you like
A pause.
“But you’re not going to like the reason.””
