Chapter 5

The charity gala was three days away, and the Blackwood mansion had transformed into a hive of controlled chaos. Maya moved through it all, coordinating caterers, florists, and event staff while fielding increasingly demanding calls from Eleanor Blackwood.

In the two weeks since that night by the fire, since Maya had finally shared Alexander's bed, something fundamental had shifted between them. He came home for dinner now. They talked about more than just household logistics.

It was everything Maya had dreamed of, and it was breaking her heart.

Because she could feel her time running out. The fatigue was constant now, a heavy weight she carried with her everywhere. She'd started having trouble catching her breath, especially after climbing stairs. The makeup she used to hide her pallor grew thicker each day.

And then there was the other secret, the one she'd discovered just yesterday. The one that changed everything.

Maya stood in the master bathroom, hands trembling as she stared at the pregnancy test. Pregnant. She was pregnant with Alexander's child.

The doctor's words from this morning's clandestine visit echoed in her mind: "The pregnancy is high-risk given your condition. Carrying to term could accelerate your decline significantly. You might have weeks instead of months."

Weeks. She had weeks to decide whether to tell Alexander, whether to keep the baby, whether to risk what little time she had left for the chance to give him a child.

A child conceived during their month of pretend marriage. A child that would never know its mother.

The bathroom door opened, and Maya quickly shoved the test into her pocket. Alexander appeared, already dressed in his tuxedo for tonight's family dinner.

"You're not ready yet?" he asked, then frowned. "Maya, you look pale. Are you feeling alright?"

"I'm fine." The lie came easily now. 

The Blackwood family dinner was held at Eleanor's penthouse overlooking Central Park. Maya had been dreading it all day, knowing that the change between her and Alexander wouldn't go unnoticed by his predatory family.

She was right.

The moment they walked in together, Alexander's hand resting possessively on Maya's waist, Eleanor's eyes narrowed. His sister, Victoria, smirked knowingly. And his younger brother Damien, the one who'd dumped hot coffee on Maya's head, looked positively disgusted.

"How domestic," Victoria drawled as they took their seats. "Don't tell me you guys are now fucking?"

"Victoria," Alexander's voice held a warning.

"What? I'm just making an observation." Victoria took a sip of her wine. "You can see how they're behaving."

Maya felt her face heat. She reached for her water glass, but her hand was shaking. The glass slipped, water splashing across the pristine white tablecloth.

"I'm so sorry—"

"For God's sake, Maya." Eleanor's voice was ice. "Can you try to maintain some composure?"

"It was an accident, Mother," Alexander said.

Eleanor's perfectly sculpted eyebrows rose. "Well. This is new." She turned her gaze on Maya. "Tell me, dear, what exactly has brought about this sudden change in my son's attitude toward you?"

"Mum back off from you, you too Damien." Alexander's voice was dangerous now. "That's enough."

The room fell silent. In all the years Maya had known the Blackwoods, she'd never seen Alexander defend her.

Eleanor recovered first, her voice sharp. "Alexander, sit down. Don't make a scene over something so trivial."

"Maya is not trivial. She's my wife."

"In name only," Eleanor said coldly. "Or has that changed in the past few weeks? Because we all know you couldn't care less if she died.”

Maya felt the familiar sting of tears, but she blinked them back. She would not cry. Not in front of them.

Alexander's chair scraped back as he stood. "We're leaving."

"Alexander, don't be ridiculous—" Eleanor began.

"I said we're leaving." He held out his hand to Maya. "Come on."

Maya took his hand and let him lead her out of the penthouse, ignoring the shocked faces of his family. They didn't talk about it on the way back and even when they went home.

At three o'clock the next day, she slipped away to her Doctor's appointment. Dr. Richardson beamed as he saw her which startled her.

"I have some good news," he said. "I shared your case with a colleague of mine and we think there's a fair chance of you and the baby surviving if we operate soon. There's been some new discovery in the field."

"Are you serious, how safe is it?" Maya whispered, unable to hope.

“Very safe, we'll need a loved one to sign the papers though,” He replied, looking like he wanted to pick her up and twirl her. His optimism was infectious.

She left the hospital in a daze, eager to reach home and come clean to Alecander.

She found her worst nightmare waiting in the living room.

Isabelle Chen stood by the fireplace, as beautiful as ever. Her long dark hair fell in perfect waves over her shoulders as she smiled at Maya.

"Hello, Maya," Isabelle said. "I hope you don't mind my coming here."

"What are you doing here?" Maya asked, proud that her voice didn't shake.

"I've come to stay. I don't want to wait till the divorce." Isabelle gestured to the luggages she hadn't noticed. Three large suitcases.

Maya felt as if the ground had opened beneath her feet. "Alexander agreed to this?"

"Well, not in so many words. But he will." Isabelle's smile was sharp. "You know it's over, don't you? This little game you've been playing. One month to prove yourself, or whatever you called it. But you can't compete with real love, Maya. You never could."

Maya's hand moved unconsciously to her purse, to the test hidden inside and brought it out. The proof of her pregnancy. The one thing that might make Alexander stay, might make him choose her over Isabelle.

“What's that?”

“Read it,” she said, suddenly feeling peevish as she handed it over to Isabelle.

“You are pregnant?” Isabelle said, her expression changing to a scowl as she looked at the paper.

Before Maya could answer, she heard the front door open. Alexander's voice called out, "Maya? I'm home. I thought we could—"

He stopped in the doorway of the living room, taking in the scene. Isabelle. The luggage. Maya's pale, stricken face.

"Isabelle? What are you doing here?"

"Darling!" Isabelle rushed to him, throwing her arms around his neck. "I couldn't wait any longer. I know we agreed to wait until the month was up, but I had to see you. I had to tell you—"

She pulled back, tears streaming down her face. Real tears, or a convincing imitation.

"Tell me what?" Alexander's arms hung at his sides, not returning her embrace.

"I'm pregnant," Isabelle said. "We're going to have a baby."

The words hit Maya like a physical blow. She swayed, gripping the back of a chair to stay upright.

Alexander's face had gone white. "Are you sure—"

"Six weeks ago," Isabelle interrupted. "Remember? That night at my apartment? I know it was only once, but..."

Alexander eyes found Maya's across the room, and she saw guilt and confusion and something that looked almost like regret.

The room was spinning. Maya could feel the blood rushing in her ears, could feel her heart pounding too fast, too hard.

She took a step toward the door, then another. Her vision started to blur at the edges.

"Maya, are you alright?" Alexander's voice seemed to come from underwater. "Let me explain—"

But Maya couldn't wait. Couldn't stand there one more second watching Isabelle cling to Alexander while announcing she was carrying his child. She had ruined what should have been Maya's moment.

She took another step, and that's when she felt it. A warm trickle from her nose. She touched her face, and her fingers came away red.

Blood.

"Maya, your nose—" Alexander's voice was sharp with alarm.

The trickle became a stream. Maya tried to speak, to tell him she was fine, but the words wouldn't come.

Then she was falling, and the darkness rushed up to meet her.

The last thing Maya heard, as consciousness slipped away, was Alexander's voice screaming her name for the very first time with genuine terror.

"MAYA!"

And then there was nothing but darkness.