"What do you mean Anna is getting married to Manuel?" Maya stood up, waiting for the woman to call everything she had just revealed a bluff. It wasn't enough that Dora told her that her family abandoned her and never spoke about how to get her out. It wasn't even enough that Anna told the reporters that she had run off with a man, now... Dora repeated, "They got engaged recently and plan to marry soon. I was angry at the betrayal, so I quit." She couldn't take it anymore. Maya shook her head, tears falling from her eyes. "Not Manuel, too, not him. How could he do this to me? Why Dora? What did I do wrong?" Maya couldn't hold back the tears as she collapsed on the floor. "He couldn't even wait for me to get out. What did I do? Is Anna better for him than me? He said he didn't like how I dressed, but that's minor. You told me if you loved someone, all those are minor right?" She now understood why Sir Derinem kept his lips sealed on how Manuel was. He didn't want to shatter her. D

Damon strode into the guest room—not bothering to knock. He had to make this meeting before leaving, and as he arranged his cuff, he felt the gun hidden in his suit pants. Most times, protection was needed when it came to Derinem. He knew if it weren't for their father, one of them would have already been dead; they were like two negative currents that shouldn't get close. He found Derinem cleaning a pistol with a small white cloth. Derinem looked at him, then back to cleaning the gun in his hand while facing the window. "Your pleasures didn't change, brother. Father should be happy in his grave; thought you might have gotten bored after finding another hobby in stalking Maya." "Neither did yours," Derinem replied without turning. "What are you doing here?" "I should ask you that question, but then because Father made us promise to accommodate each other whenever the want arose, that's the reason I'm not kicking you out." Indeed, that was the last wish of their father before he d

Author's POV "Don't you even dare raise a finger on her, Allysia; drop your hand to your side!" He roared again, and even Maya jolted from where she stood. She turned to see him coming towards them; he wore a black polo and shorts and looked like he had been working, for there were beads of sweat on him. When did he even come back anyway? He pulled Maya beside him and glared at Allysia. "What are you doing here?" She withdrew into herself, looking a little calmer than hateful. "I came to see Don Damon, but our new fortunate favorite tells me he isn't home, so I stayed for a little chat with her; obviously, it's not going out as planned." "Leave Allysia! Damon is not in, and you're not even supposed to be here. You and Damon had that talk the last time you came." "He didn't mean what he said," she smiled slyly, "he was acting impulsively because she made him do it. She took him away from me, but then she can have him." Maya frowned, thinking she may not have heard right; Allys

She swallowed, thinking of how stupid she was to believe it was Sir Derinem. Trying not to tremble in front of the guard so he didn't report to Maestro, she lowered her moist eyes, waiting for his voice to return. "Maya," he chuckled, "I caught you off guard?" She nodded for a moment, forgetting he wasn't there with her, but still, she felt him all around her. His touch, his threats, his kisses... "Maya!" "M...Maes... Maestro very...sorry, I fell asleep... " "Stop speaking before you choke on air." He growled, then sighed. "It's challenging. You're not here. I got used to your presence, and it's hard reaching out and not touching you." Quite the opposite was the case for her. The large bed was made for her without him, and her bulging lower eyes faded to their beautiful almond shape. "Say something, Maya. I called to hear you speak." How he went from sounding like the devil to a lost little boy couldn't be learned. That sent her off guard. It pushed her into not knowing what to

"Wow," she heard him say, and she raised her head to see him still scrutinizing the note. She couldn't tell if it affected him, for his countenance was straight, making her wonder if she had made the right choice in giving him the note. "Your sister..." He shook the note, "Just wow." He left her and went to the window, his back toward her. "I'm sorry about all of this, but is there anything I can do for you?" "Yes," she went to him, "this is it." This was all she needed. She wanted, "I want you to let me go to the wedding." He stayed quiet for a while, his body still, his muscled back stiffening. The room was quiet; the only sounds were her unstable breaths. She knew what she was asking for. Damn the escape plan; this had to go on first. Then he broke her "No, Maya, you can't go." "But she's my sister," she clenched her fist, knowing she was going past her limit. "A family. I can't miss a family's wedding." "She states here that she understands you won't be able to grace the