Chapter 5

I sat in my office, waiting for Josh Sezin to arrive for our business deal. In the meantime, I met with the private investigator I’d hired to track down Maya.

She hadn't returned home since the engagement party. That night, I’d been forced to leave for an emergency meeting immediately after the announcement, and I hadn't even said goodbye.

She must be furious to have vanished like this.

My investigator still had no leads, but I didn't care. I would scour every inch of New York to find her. I needed to apologize for the pain and the lies.

I hadn't given her birth control because I wanted her to get pregnant I wanted a reason to marry her. Now, Nathalie was back, and our parents were pressuring me into a marriage I didn't want. I could handle the wedding, but I couldn't handle losing Maya.

"I love you, Maya," I whispered to the empty room.

It was the truth I had hidden even from myself.

I craved her—her touch, her care, her soul. Without her, my world was dark and hollow.

A knock at the door startled me. "Come in," I said, regaining my composure.

"Mr. Sezin is here, sir," my guard announced.

"Mr. Sezin, thank you for meeting me," I said professionally. But as he walked in, a woman followed behind him. I looked her up and down, and my heart nearly stopped.

"Maya?" I breathed.

She was transformed. Her hair, her clothes, her makeup—she looked like a different woman.

"Do you two know each other?" Josh asked, glancing between us.

"She’s my assistant."

Maya didn't skip a beat. "No, Mr. Sezin. I’ve never seen this man in my life."

The denial cut through me like a knife. How could she? After everything we had shared, she was acting like I was a stranger.

I had agreed to an arranged marriage just to keep her safe from Nathalie’s family, and now she was here, clinging to Josh?

Josh reached out and took her hand.

"Maya and I are childhood friends. We were separated for a long time, but I intend to keep her with me now, Mr. Volkov."

Childhood friends? What a sick joke. My jaw tightened as I watched his hand on her.

"Leave," I commanded, my voice booming.

"The investment is canceled. Get out!"

I couldn't stand to see her with another man. The moment the door closed behind them, I lost control. I roared in fury, slamming my fist into the wall and shattering the television.

"Damn you, Atlas!" I screamed at my own reflection. This was my fault. I had pushed her right into the arms of another man.

I will chase her down, no matter what. She belongs to me, and I don't give a damn if Josh Sezin stands in my way.

​

(MAYA'S POV)

​That was my first day working alongside Josh. I had fought against going to VV Company, but I had no choice. The moment I saw Atlas, a tidal wave of pain and love crashed over me.

Pain, because I knew he could never truly be mine love, because my heart betrayed me by still beating for him. I can’t force myself to stop loving Atlas in a single day, but I have to forget him. I have no other choice.

​I’ve already blocked his number, yet he never stops trying to reach me. His messages and missed calls are a constant haunt. I won’t go back to him. His world is a den of devils, and it is no place for my baby.

2 months ago

I was at the hospital for my OB checkup. As I stared at the monitor, tears of pure joy streamed down my face our baby was taking shape, and I could hear a steady heartbeat. At four months old, my little one would be here before I knew it. I found myself thinking of Atlas.

What if he knew I was pregnant?

Would he be by my side, just as excited as I am?

But it didn’t matter anymore. The farther I was from Atlas, the safer my baby would be. This was the right choice—to keep my child away from him. I planned to leave New York and head to California to give birth, ensuring we’d be as far as possible.

When I stepped out of the hospital, my heart dropped. Standing there were Atlas’s parents and Nathalie. Seriously what are they doing here? I quickly turned away and covered my face to avoid being seen.

“Maya!” Nathalie called out.

I kept walking, but Mrs. Volkov grabbed my arm.

“What are you doing here, you leech?” she snapped, her eyes blazing with anger.

“This is a hospital I have every right to be here,” I shot back. Her condescending tone was infuriating. Just then, my phone vibrated.

Leo: Ate I'm at restaurants na, come it's my 21st birthday today”. I typed back, “on my way baby”.

“sino ka-text mo” tanong ni Nathalie, pati ba naman

personal life ko panghihimasokan nila, sumosobra na talaga pero di ko sila papatulan, buntis Ako my baby safety is my top priority

“Don’t worry it’s not Atlas,” I said before walking away. But Nathalie suddenly yanked my hair.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Nathalie? Why are you hurting me?” I yelled.

I thought only she would lash out, but Mrs. Volkov pushed me hard enough that the folder in my hands flew open. My ultrasound photos scattered across the ground.

“You’re pregnant?” Mrs. Volkov gasped.

“Yes now give me my damn pictures back, or I swear I’ll make you regret it,” I said sharply,

though I had no real intention of harming her she was still Atlas’s mother. I gathered my things and hurried off to the restaurant.

Leo and I were at a restaurant, eating and catching up.

His favorite thing in the world is listening to my stories, no matter how cringe they are I suppose that’s just a sibling thing.

After a few hours, we headed outside to wait for a ride.

Josh couldn't pick us up because he was tied down with a business deal in France, which I completely understood. While we waited, I turned my back for a moment to give Josh a quick call. Suddenly, the screech of a speeding car tore through the air.

I spun around, my heart dropping into my stomach. My breath hitched as I saw Leo—right in the car's path.

“LEO!” I screamed.

“God, no please!” He was bleeding heavily.

“Leo, open your eyes!” I begged, my hands shaking as I held him. I wanted to find whoever hit him and make them pay.

“Someone call an ambulance!” I shouted to the onlookers. Everything moved so fast my vision blurred with tears, and then my world went black as I closed my eyes.

The next morning, I woke up in a place I knew all too well a hospital room.

“Good morning,” Josh said softly.

“My brother Leo how is he?” My voice cracked as I spoke.

Josh squeezed my hand tightly, his eyes glistening with tears.

“What happened, Josh?” I asked, my heart racing with dread.

“Leo… he’s gone,” he said, his voice slow and heavy.

“Gone? What the hell are you talking about?” I demanded through sobs, my anger flaring.

“He’s dead. He suffered a skull fracture, internal bleeding,” Josh explained.

“No! No! You’re lying to me! This has to be a prank, Josh!” I screamed, breaking down into uncontrollable wails. Josh pulled me into a tight embrace as I wept.

I filed a police report and gave them the license plate number I’d managed to remember. The officers promised they’d find who was responsible. I swore to Leo that his killers would pay blood for blood.

makalipas ang ilang araw the Police came in Josh house

“I got, updates about your brother death, the plate number you provided, was match by Mrs, Loisa Volkov” the police said damn, Atlas mother killed my brother, fuck them all I will get my revenge, sa sobrang galit ko agad akong umalis sa bahay at sinugod ko si Atlas sa opisina, ng makita ko si Atlas there's no love left in my heart, it's a pure hatred, and a thirst for revenge, I slapped him hard again and again

“What's wrong little slave who hurt you?” Atlas said

“You have no right to call me that anymore! Your mother Is a freaking monster—she hit my brother, Atlas!” I screamed at him.

Atlas froze, speechless. I looked into his eyes, my voice trembling with rage.

“You will pay for this, Atlas. Your mother, Nathalie... and even you.” My heart ached with a pain that felt exactly like the day my parents died. Losing someone you love is the worst feeling in the world, and I was going to make them bleed for it.

I spotted a pair of scissors on Atlas’s desk and lunged for them, intending to strike him, but he was faster. He caught my wrists, pinning me back.

“Please, calm down. Let’s settle this,” he pleaded.

“I don’t fucking care!” I shrieked, my voice going hoarse.

“This pain won’t heal until your mother and Nathalie are paid, I want them in jail There is no cure for this!”

“Those are serious accusations against my mother,” Atlas replied, his face twisted in confusion.

“So what are you going to do about it? I want justice!” I screamed, shaking with fury.

“I need you in my life,” he said, his voice dropping to a low, slow whisper.

“But I can’t let you accuse my mother like this.”

I jabbed my finger into his chest.

“You need me?

Where were you when I needed you?

Where were you when Nathalie dragged me out and threw me from the Villa?

Where the hell were you when the world was against me?” I wiped my tears away with a trembling hand.

“I remember when you promised me that no one would ever lay a hand on me. You said you’d burn the world for me. I guess promises are meant to be broken. From this point on, I’m done. Fuck you, Atlas. I curse the day I met you. Go to hell!”

I shoved him away with every ounce of strength I had left.

I’ve lost myself. My heart is a storm I can no longer control. I have this burning urge to kill, but they are tucked away in their ivory towers, out of reach. Even the law is useless I filed the cases, yet the police are silent, and the warrants never come. Everything is under their thumb.

But perhaps this is God’s plan—because a jail cell is too kind for them. They don't deserve a trial they deserve something more. I will rise again, and I swear by everything holy I will show no mercy to those who stole my brother’s life. Just you wait, Volkov. I am coming back to ruin your empire. I will burn it to the ground until nothing is left but ashes.”