Chapter 3 - The Marriage Arrangement
Maya felt as though the floor had vanished beneath her.
“Our marriage.”
Her throat tightened.
“Was it real?”
Adrian looked away.
That was the only answer she needed.
Victoria stepped forward.
“Do not be dramatic.”
Maya turned toward her.
“You chose me for him.”
Victoria’s face showed no guilt.
“We discovered the medal during a background investigation before the wedding.”
Maya could barely breathe.
Victoria continued as though discussing an ordinary business decision.
“Adrian had become emotionally involved with a woman whose past could threaten a transaction worth billions.”
“So you investigated me.”
“Of course.”
“And you recognized the medal.”
“We recognized the possibility.”
Vance’s hand curled into a fist.
“You concealed a missing child.”
Victoria faced him without flinching.
“She was no longer a child.”
“You knew federal authorities were still searching for her.”
“I knew there had been an old investigation filled with speculation.”
Maya looked at Adrian.
“Why did you marry me after learning this?”
His eyes were filled with shame.
“My mother said keeping you close was the safest option.”
“For whom?”
He said nothing.
“For the Sterling family?”
Still nothing.
Maya’s voice broke.
“Did you ever love me?”
“Yes.”
Adrian answered immediately.
“I did.”
“You loved me so much that you lied about my identity.”
“I was going to tell you.”
“When?”
“After the merger.”
Victoria cut in.
“He was never going to tell you.”
Adrian turned on her.
“Stop.”
“You were too weak to control the situation from the beginning.”
Victoria looked at Maya.
“My son was instructed to marry you, establish legal access to your assets if they existed, and prevent anyone from reopening the Vaughn case.”
Guests began whispering openly.
Phones appeared throughout the hall.
The night had become more valuable than any merger announcement.
Maya remembered every document Adrian had placed before her during their marriage.
Insurance forms.
Estate plans.
Family trusts.
Papers she had signed while exhausted after giving birth.
“What did I sign?”
Adrian’s face drained of color.
“Maya.”
“What did I sign?”
“Mostly standard documents.”
“Mostly?”
Vance moved closer.
“Answer her.”
Adrian rubbed both hands over his face.
“The documents allowed Sterling Capital to act as temporary administrator if dormant Vaughn assets were discovered in your name.”
Maya stared at him.
“You tried to steal my inheritance before I knew it existed.”
“It was temporary.”
Victoria’s patience snapped.
“It was necessary.”
Maya looked down at Noah.
Her baby had finally stopped crying.
His tiny hand rested against her collarbone.
That small touch steadied her.
She lifted her eyes.
“You made one mistake.”
Victoria gave a contemptuous smile.
“And what was that?”
“You spent years convincing me I had nothing.”
May you like
Maya stepped away from Adrian.
“So you never bothered to notice that I had learned how to survive without any of you.”
