LOGINMAYA“We are here now. Are you okay? You have been quiet since we got to the restaurant and the drive back to your house.”“I am fine, Ray, just a slight headache.”My voice came out softer than I intended, but nothing about me felt normal. My heart has been unsettled since Ray mentioned Jay and Sia getting married. The words have been replaying in my head like a broken record.Jay is getting married.They are about to build a family.I don’t even know why it hurts this much. I have no right to feel this way. Jay doesn’t owe me anything, not even loyalty. What we had was clearly defined from the beginning: a contract.Why does it feel like I just lost something I didn’t even realize I was holding onto?Ray stepped out first and came over to my side, opening the door like he always does. His hand stretched out to help me, and I took it, even though my fingers felt cold against his.“Thank you for the dinner. I am sorry if I didn’t say much tonight.”“It is fine, sugar,” he said gently.
JAYThe meeting progressed deep into the night. From analyzing the strategy needed to promote our newly launched beauty line to weighing the possible pros and cons, everything felt exhausting, yet necessary. Everyone was talking, contributing ideas, but my mind kept drifting.My phone was on silent, but I could feel the vibration against the table. This was the fourth time it buzzed, same caller; my old woman.I wonder what is so urgent that made her keep calling.A message popped up on the screen.‘Come over to the house tonight. I made dinner, lots of love from Granny.’I read the message twice, just to be sure I didn’t misread it.“Lots of love?”Since when?I scoffed lightly.This woman definitely has something up her sleeve.“I have already contacted two of the city’s top models, Ms. Isabella Arande and Cardi Peters. We will likely use either of them for the brand shoot or both.” The head of marketing said, pulling my attention back to the room.“That won’t be necessary,” I cut i
MAYAShe started laughing, pointing directly at my face. “You need to see your face right now. Like a ghost just walked in. I was just teasing you, Maya.”I forced a small smile, but something about her laugh didn’t sit right with me.Was she tipsy already?Why was she laughing like that this early in the day?Before I could say anything else, my phone rang; it was Ray.I picked it up immediately.“Hi.”“Good morning, sugar,” his voice came through, warm and familiar. “Are you out? I’m at your house, and you’re not here.”My heart skipped.I forgot to tell him.“Oh… I’m sorry about that,” I said quickly. “I slept at Jane’s place. Dr Jane. I will be staying there for a while, just to feel safe.”The lie came out smoothly.I hated that I was getting used to lying.“Okay, my love,” he replied. “Just send me the address. I will come pick you up for dinner tonight. I have a surprise for you.”My chest tightened immediately.A surprise?The last time he said that, he proposed.I wasn’t rea
MAYAI woke up to a soft knock on my door the next morning.“Come in.”I was still stretching when Jay walked in, carrying a tray, and placed it gently on my bed.“Good morning, sunshine. Breakfast in bed for the most beautiful woman to grace New York. Did you sleep well?”I nodded shyly.I wasn’t expecting this. I thought everything between us ended the moment the truth came out.“Thank you, Jay. You know you don’t have to do this.”He handed me a cup of tea, calmly spreading peanut butter on the bread before taking a bite and passing the slice to me.“Officially, I am still your boyfriend. It hasn’t been up to a year, remember?”I paused.“Are we still on that?”He gave me that look. The one that says, "Are you being serious right now?" and just watched me quietly as I ate.Jay has a way of making me smile without even trying.The way his eyes dimmed slightly, the way he just sat there watching me like I was something worth looking at, made me grin more than I wanted to.“Today is g
MAYA“Maya, you are here.”Sia sluggishly got up from the couch. Her bump wasn’t showing, but the way she moved, carefully holding her waist, already gave her away. If Jay hadn’t told me, I might have missed it, but now, every single movement of hers felt intentional.“Maya.”I looked up the stairs just in time to see Jane running down towards me. She wrapped her arms around me in a warm hug.“You look good in that dress. Hospital gowns really hide too much of your beauty.”I smiled at her words, my sweet girl.“You know what,” Sia cut in, already dragging her feet towards us, “I think the three of us should make cupcakes. I have been craving that. Come with me.”“No,” Jay said immediately, stepping forward. “She needs to rest, Sia.”“It’s fine, Jay,” I said quickly. “I can manage. Besides, it’s part of the exercise. Don’t worry, we will be fine.”He stared at me for a moment like he wanted to argue, then gave in.“Alright. I will be in my room.”I avoided looking at Sia. Avoided her
MAYAI moved my gaze from Ray to Lilly.“I was angry when I thought you left me for my cousin,” Ray continued, his voice heavy but controlled. “You shut me out, Maya. I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to hurt you, and that was the worst thing I have ever thought about.”I shifted slightly on the bed, my fingers pressing into the sheets. I didn’t like where this conversation was heading.“The accident and the whole amnesia were just a lie. I did all of that to get back at you. See, I don’t love Lilly. You are the only one I love. She knows. I know you overheard us at the hotel; everything was just a lie to get to you. Right, Lilly.”My eyes slowly moved to Lilly.She didn’t look like herself.Her expression dropped for a second before she quickly masked it.“Yes,” she said. “He is right. Remember, you made me promise you something about Ray? I played along. I don’t love Ray; how would you even think that I was in love with him? Let me go get coffee and allow you two love birds.”She d
JAYI turned to go inside but paused when I saw Jane standing there.She looked like a statue, hands tucked neatly into the pockets of her lab coat. Calm on the outside, but I could tell there was something unsettled beneath it.I still haven’t been able to call her my sister.The product of an ugl
JAY’s POV“Listen, I think Lilly poisoned her. Think about it, she is the only one who has close access to Maya.I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out at first. He was about to continue, his voice already rising, when I stepped forward and pressed my palm firmly over his mouth.His eye
RAY's POVMy body felt like a bucket of ice had just been poured over me. The cold outside sank deep into my bones. The breeze made me stagger when I took a step forward without direction, like my legs had forgotten where to go.“I think you should go inside, Ray. It is cold out here.”Lilly’s hand
JAY“Maya… open your eyes. You can’t do this to me.”My hands were shaking.Her body lay limp against me, too still. Her lashes rested on her cheeks like she was only sleeping—but she wasn’t. Goosebumps covered my skin.“Maya, please.”My throat tightened.“Don’t do this to me. You can’t leave me







