MasukMaya’s POVI arrived at the old hotel on the edge of the city with my heart pounding heavily in my chest. The place looked quiet and hidden, exactly what I needed for this secret meeting. My hands shook slightly as I adjusted the small recorder hidden inside my bag. I had checked it three times before leaving the motel. This was risky, but Liam needed me. The children needed me. I could not let fear stop me now. I took a deep breath and knocked softly on the door of room 312.Julian opened the door right away. He wore a white shirt with the top buttons undone. His handsome face lit up with a confident smile when he saw me. “Maya, you actually came,” he said in his smooth voice. “I was starting to wonder if you would change your mind after the prison visit.” He stepped aside and let me enter. The room had soft lighting and a large bed in the center. I walked in slowly and turned to face him.“I came because I have no choice,” I replied quietly. “Liam is locked up because of false evide
Maya’s POVI stood outside the cold detention center with my hands trembling inside my coat pockets, the morning air felt sharp against my skin after another sleepless night filled with worry about Liam and the children. I had spent hours thinking about what to say to him through the glass, my heart ached because the man who held me so tenderly now sat behind bars accused of helping kill my sister. I showed my ID to the guard and followed him through the metal doors into the visiting area.The room was gray and depressing with thick glass separating the prisoners from their visitors, I sat down on the hard plastic chair and waited, my fingers twisted together nervously until Liam finally appeared on the other side, he looked tired with messy dark hair and shadows under his sharp eyes but he still managed a small smile when he saw me, he picked up the phone on his side and I did the same.“Maya, you came,” he said, his voice sounded rough through the speaker, “I told them not to let yo
Maya’s POVI knelt on the cold warehouse floor with Damien’s head resting in my lap, his blood soaked through my clothes and made my hands sticky, the sight of his swollen face and shallow breathing filled me with guilt and fear because he had risked everything to help me with those secret files. Elena arrived a few minutes later after my desperate call and we worked together to lift his heavy body carefully into the back of her car, the drive to the hidden clinic felt long and tense as I held his hand the whole way and kept whispering that everything would be okay.At the small private clinic the doctor worked quickly on his injuries while Elena and I waited in the narrow hallway, she stood beside me with her arms crossed and a serious look on her face, “He is stable for now, Maya,” she said quietly after the doctor gave us an update, “but he lost a lot of blood and he has broken ribs, this attack was meant to send a clear message. You need to slow down before you get hurt too.” I sh
Maya’s POVThe camera flashes still burned behind my eyes as I ran from the lobby of Mr. Havisham’s building, my legs moved fast through the night streets while my heart raced with panic, I pulled my coat tight around me but it did not hide the shame that now followed me everywhere. Annabelle’s smile and the reporters’ questions kept repeating in my head, by morning the damage was complete.I woke up to hundreds of notifications on my phone, the tabloids had my name everywhere, “Billionaire’s Secret Office Mistress Exposed,” one headline read, another said “Best Friend’s Father and Young Assistant Caught in Steamy Affair,” photos from the office, from the masked party, and from last night at the penthouse filled every site, my face looked clear in all of them. I sat on my bed with tears falling as I scrolled through the stories, people called me names, they said I was a gold digger, a whore who slept her way to money.“Chloe, I am so sorry,” I whispered to the empty room, I tried call
Maya’s POVThe elevator ride up to Mr. Havisham’s penthouse felt endless. My legs shook with every floor number that lit up. I held my bag tight against my chest. The small recorder inside stayed hidden and ready.I stepped out into the luxurious hallway. The door to his penthouse opened before I could knock. Mr. Havisham stood there in a dark robe. His eyes looked cold and hungry at the same time.“Come in, Maya,” he said in his low, smooth voice. “You took your time. I do not like waiting.”I walked inside. The big living room had soft lights and huge windows showing the city lights. My heart beat fast.“I came as soon as you called, sir,” I replied softly. “You said something about my sister. About saying goodbye properly.”Mr. Havisham closed the door and locked it. He walked closer. His hand touched my cheek.“Yes,” he answered. “Sarah was special. Just like you. But she made mistakes. She tried to leave me. Tonight I will show you what happens to girls who forget their place.”H
Maya’s POVI slipped into my apartment and locked the door behind me with shaking hands. The masked event felt like a bad dream now. My black dress still clung to my skin. The silver mask lay on the table. I did not care about any of that. I pulled out the USB and plugged it into my laptop. My heart beat so fast I could hear it in my ears. The room was dark except for the screen light. I sat on the edge of my bed and pressed play.The video started. Sarah appeared on the screen. My sister looked so real. Her dark curly hair spread across the pillow. Her warm brown skin looked pale and tired. She tried to sit up but Mr. Havisham pushed her back down. “You should have stayed quiet,” he said in that cold voice I knew too well. “The baby was a mistake. You became too greedy.”Sarah’s eyes filled with tears. “Please,” she begged. Her voice sounded weak and broken. “Let me go. Maya needs me. The baby… I changed my mind. I will disappear. No one will know.” Mr. Havisham laughed softly. It wa
Maya’s POVThe message about Julian Cross would not leave my mind. I stood on my balcony late at night. Cool wind touched my skin and made my thin nightdress move. Stars shone above but I felt no peace. Everything was closing in. Mr Havisham. The blackmailers. Now Liam’s own cousin wanted me dead.
Maya’s POVI could not stop shaking after seeing the video of Chloe tied to a chair. Even though Mr Havisham is her father, the blackmailers were using her to scare me. Liam held me tight on the bed but my mind would not calm down. Inside my head I thought, Chloe is innocent. She loves her dad. She
Maya’s POVLiam’s face looked dark and angry as we stood outside his apartment.“We cannot wait until tomorrow again,” Liam said. “This is getting too dangerous. Come inside my apartment. We need to think.”I followed him in with weak legs. My body still hurt from Mr Havisham’s punishment earlier.
Maya’s POVThe voice on the phone counted down in my head. Ten seconds. I stared at the video of me and Mr Havisham on his desk. My body bent over. His thrusts. Everything clear and loud. Liam stood right beside me with his hand reaching for the phone. My finger shook above the send button.“Do not







