Chapter 008: Dirty secrets

(Maya’s pov)

phone vibrated in my hand, an unknown number flashing across the screen.

For a split second, my heart skipped—could it be Ryder? Did he finally care that I wasn’t home?

A hopeful smile tugged at my lips as I swiped to answer.

“Hello?”

Silence stretched for a beat, then a chilling voice came through.

“Hello… daughter.”

My blood ran cold.

Daughter?

I hung up immediately before he could say anything else, my hands trembling against the phone.

My father?

Why was he calling me now? After leaving me all alone for years to fend for myself. After believing every lie his so-called wife—my stepmother—Selena, fed him. Meanwhile, she was one of the very people who orchestrated my downfall.

He never even gave me a chance to explain.

And now he was calling me, after four long years?

Hell nah. I’m not doing this with him.

I blocked the number immediately.

My eyes burned dry, yet no tears came. My chest rose and fell sharply as the wave of nostalgia crashed over me.

My own dad left me. He said he disowned me. The only thing he ever gave me was a roof over my head. Everything else… it was never in his hands.

But the more I thought about it, the more my chest ached. Selena didn’t even show him the so-called clips. She just told him what was in them. And he fucking believed her.

No,he wasn’t tricked. He just found a golden opportunity to finally let me go.

“Oh, fuck this shit. Selena must pay,” I cried, anger spilling into my voice.

Suddenly, the door flew open. My heart skipped a beat.

Maddox walked in, looking worried.

“Maya,” he said quickly. “Are you okay? Why are you like this?”

“No, Maddox, I’m not okay!” My voice cracked. “Ryder fucking believed an AI-generated video. It wasn’t even realistic! Just thinking about it makes me furious. And now my damn father is calling me, after all these years. To tell me what? That he’s sorry? Or, what the fuck else?”

I spat the words out, my chest heaving with rage.

“Maya, calm down. You let little things take over you. Chill out.”

I snapped. “The fuck—you call this little? Huh, Maddox? How would you know? You didn’t go through the pain I did. If you had, you wouldn’t dare tell me this kind of shit!”

His face softened immediately. “I’m sorry, Maya. I didn’t mean it that way. I’m sorry.”

I exhaled sharply. “I’m sorry too, Maddox.”

“It’s fine,” he murmured gently.

Then, a small teasing smile tugged at his lips. “Here’s your tampon. I fucked you real good—your period had to come.”

I groaned, half-laughing. “Oh, stop…”

“And,” he continued, pulling something from the bag, “I also got you chocolates.”

My heart softened. “Awwn… thank you, Maddox.”

“Anything for you, kitten,” he said with a wink.

“Get dressed by five,” Maddox said, his voice low, almost commanding. “You have a date to attend.”

I blinked at him, stunned. “A date? With me?”

A teasing smirk curved his lips. “Yes, you. My queen.”

My heart fluttered. “Oh my God… Maddox, why are you treating me so good?”

His eyes softened, and for once, I saw the truth behind his words. “Because you deserve everything good. I don’t know why, but I can’t help it… I’m drawn to you, Maya.”

I swallowed, heat spreading through my chest. “You’re the best.”

“Why don’t you let me help you pick a dress for tonight?” he murmured.

“That’s… actually a perfect idea,” I whispered.

He slid an arm around my waist, holding me firmly, like he owned every piece of me. Together, we walked into his massive wardrobe.

He pulled out a fiery red dress, holding it up against me.

“It’s gorgeous,” he said, eyes lingering a second too long on my body.

I laughed nervously, shaking my head. “It’s… a little too much.”

And then, bam. My flipflop caught on something, and I stumbled, crashing against the closet wall.

A hidden door creaked open.

“What the—?” My eyes widened as the space revealed itself.

It wasn’t just a closet. It was a secret lair.

“Maddox…” My voice trembled.

His jaw tightened, fear flickering in his eyes. “You weren’t supposed to see this.”

I stepped inside before he could stop me. The air was heavy, sterile, wrong. Shelves lined with packets, bottles, pills. My stomach dropped. “Drugs?” I whispered.

I spun to him, my voice sharper now. “Is this why the investigators came looking for you?”

“Maya, I can explain,” he said quickly, his voice strained. “It’s not what it looks like, there’s a lot to this.”

“What the hell are you doing with hard drugs, Maddox?” My pulse raced, my chest tight.

Just when I thought I had seen enough, my gaze landed on another shelf—boxes. One had been left unsealed. Inside, tangled between sleek wrappers and plastic… were sex toys. Dozens of them. Some looked harmless, others intimidating, like metal drills.

I turned, my voice breaking. “Maddox? What is this? Do you… do you have women you use these on? Am I just… next in line?”

His head snapped up. “No. No, Maya, don’t think that. This,it’s for a store. A business I’ve been planning. A sex toy store.”

I stared at him, stunned. “A store? You? Maddox Hart, with all your pride and reputation, you’re telling me you want to sell sex toys?”

“And the drugs?” My laugh was bitter. “What’s next? A cocaine store? That’s quite the business empire. Oh, wow. I should be rooting for you, shouldn’t I?”

“Maya.” His hand flew up, covering my mouth, his eyes burning into mine. “Stop. Don’t say another word. This—” his voice dropped into a desperate whisper “—this stays between us. No one can know about the drugs. Please.”

I stared at him, his breath hot against my lips, his palm trembling where it pressed to my skin.

“Yes,” he admitted, his voice cracking. “This is why they came. They’ve been watching me. Suspecting. But I swear, it’s not what you think.”

He removed his hand slowly, searching my eyes with a raw, pleading intensity.

“Maya,” he said softly, almost broken. “Please. Just give me a chance to explain.”

I swallowed, my chest heaving with too many emotions. “Fine then,” I whispered. “Explain.”