Chapter 7: The Man Who Was Paid To Love Me
The phone slipped against my ear.
I couldn't speak.
I couldn't breathe.
Because the voice on the other end belonged to a ghost.
A man from my childhood.
A man who sat at my father's dinner table.
A man who taught me how to play chess.
A man who my father trusted with everything.
Victor Hale.
My uncle.
Not by blood.
But by choice.
And now he was telling me the man I married was part of a plan.
Richard stood across the room, watching my face.
He already knew.
Not the details.
But enough.
"Say something, Maya.""
Victor's voice was calm.
Almost gentle.
That made it worse.
"Why?""
My voice barely came out.
"Why would you do this?""
A quiet laugh.
"You always were your father's daughter.""
I closed my eyes.
"Don't talk about him.""
"Why?""
Victor sounded amused.
"Because he failed you?""
My grip tightened around the phone.
"You don't get to say his name.""
"You think I destroyed your family.""
It wasn't a question.
It was a statement.
"Didn't you?""
Silence.
Then Victor sighed.
"You still believe the story they gave you.""
"What story?""
"That Alexander Laurent was a victim.""
I looked at Daniel.
His expression was unreadable.
"You're lying.""
"Maybe.""
Victor paused.
"Or maybe the people protecting you have been lying for fifteen years.""
My heart pounded.
Every person around me had a version of the truth.
My father.
Daniel.
Richard.
Olivia.
Victor.
And somehow I was still standing in the middle of it, trying to figure out who I was supposed to believe.
"Where is my mother?""
The silence that followed was different.
Not hesitation.
Recognition.
Victor knew.
"I see she contacted you.""
My stomach dropped.
"You know where she is.""
"Yes.""
"Tell me.""
A pause.
Then:
"Come alone.""
I froze.
"No.""
"Then you will never see her.""
My hands shook.
"You expect me to trust you?""
"No.""
His voice softened.
"I expect you to understand that I am the only person who can give you the answers you want.""
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Nobody spoke.
Then Daniel stepped closer.
"You cannot go.""
I looked at him.
"My mother is alive.""
"I know.""
"You knew?""
His eyes filled with regret.
"I suspected.""
I felt anger rise.
"Everyone suspects something.""
My voice cracked.
"Everyone knows pieces of my life except me.""
Daniel lowered his head.
"Maya...""
"No.""
I shook my head.
"I spent fifteen years thinking I lost everyone.""
I pointed toward the people in the room.
"And all of you had pieces of them.""
Silence.
Then Lily appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Mommy?""
My heart dropped.
I immediately walked toward her.
"Why are you awake?""
She rubbed her eyes.
"I heard shouting.""
I knelt.
"I'm sorry, baby.""
She looked around.
At Richard.
At Daniel.
At the strangers who had suddenly filled our home.
"Are we still leaving?""
I forced myself to smile.
"Yes.""
She looked relieved.
"Good.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
She hugged her rabbit.
"Because this house doesn't feel happy anymore.""
The simplicity of her answer broke something inside me.
Children didn't need explanations.
They felt the truth before adults admitted it.
I carried her downstairs.
Richard watched us.
His expression was painful.
But I couldn't let that distract me.
Not now.
Daniel spoke quietly.
"We need to move immediately.""
I nodded.
"Where?""
"One of my safe locations.""
Richard stepped forward.
"I know where Victor will take her.""
Everyone looked at him.
I stared.
"You do?""
He nodded.
"My grandfather used to own a property outside the city.""
Daniel's face changed.
"Where?""
Richard hesitated.
Then gave him an address.
Daniel immediately pulled out his phone.
After several seconds, his expression darkened.
"What?""
Daniel looked at me.
"The property is still active.""
My stomach tightened.
"Meaning?""
"Someone has been there recently.""
Richard looked away.
I noticed.
And I hated that I noticed.
"What aren't you telling me?""
He didn't answer.
"Richard.""
Finally, he said:
"My grandfather didn't just disappear after the investigation.""
"Where did he go?""
Richard swallowed.
"He contacted me.""
The room went silent.
"When?""
"Before we met.""
My heart sank.
"What did he say?""
Richard looked ashamed.
"He told me to find you.""
I stared at him.
"So he did know.""
Richard nodded.
"He knew you were alive.""
"Before I did.""
"Yes.""
I stepped back.
"How long?""
He looked at the floor.
"Almost five years.""
Five years.
Five years of marriage.
Five years of him waking up beside me.
Five years of pretending.
"You had five years to tell me.""
"I was trying to figure out the truth.""
"No.""
I shook my head.
"You were trying to decide what I was worth.""
He flinched.
Because it was true.
Richard looked toward Lily.
"I never wanted her involved.""
I looked at him.
"But she is.""
The guilt on his face was unbearable.
For a moment, I saw the man I fell in love with.
Then I remembered the man who hurt me.
Both existed.
And that made everything harder.
A loud crash came from outside.
Everyone turned.
The window near the kitchen shattered.
Daniel immediately moved.
"Down!""
He pushed Lily and me behind the couch.
Glass fell across the floor.
My heart raced.
Someone had attacked the house.
Not threatened.
Not warned.
Attacked.
Richard moved toward the window.
"Stay back!""
Daniel grabbed him.
"Are you insane?""
Richard looked furious.
"Someone could be coming for them.""
Daniel stared at him.
"That is exactly why you stay here.""
The security team outside shouted.
Footsteps.
Movement.
Then silence.
A few seconds later, one of Daniel's men entered.
"Nobody outside.""
Daniel frowned.
"Then what broke the window?""
The man held something in his hand.
A small envelope.
He handed it to Daniel.
No name.
No address.
Just one word written on the front.
*MAYA.*
My heart sank.
Daniel opened it carefully.
Inside was a photograph.
He looked at it.
Then his face changed.
"What?""
He handed it to me.
I took it.
And immediately recognized the image.
It was taken recently.
Not fifteen years ago.
Not from my childhood.
Recently.
It showed Lily.
At preschool.
Walking with her backpack.
Someone had been watching her.
On the back of the photo was a message.
Three words.
*THE HEIR LIVES.*
I felt sick.
Richard looked at the picture.
For the first time, he wasn't scared for himself.
He was scared for Lily.
"I swear to you," he said quietly.
I looked at him.
"I never gave him this.""
"Who else knew?""
Nobody answered.
Then Vanessa suddenly spoke.
Everyone turned.
She was standing near the doorway.
Her face was pale.
"I did.""
My eyes narrowed.
"What?""
She looked terrified.
"I knew about Maya.""
Richard stepped toward her.
"What are you talking about?""
Vanessa looked at me.
"I found the documents.""
"When?""
"Months ago.""
My stomach turned.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
She looked at Richard.
Then away.
"Because I thought...""
She stopped.
"What?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I thought Richard was going to leave you for me.""
The silence was unbearable.
"You knew who I was.""
She nodded.
"I didn't understand at first.""
My voice became cold.
"But you knew.""
"Yes.""
"And you still recorded me.""
She looked ashamed.
"I was angry.""
I stared at her.
Angry.
That word again.
Everyone's cruelty had an excuse.
Richard.
Vanessa.
Olivia.
All of them.
Then Vanessa said something that changed everything.
"I didn't send the video to Victor.""
Daniel looked at her.
"Who did?""
She hesitated.
Then whispered:
"Olivia.""
Everyone turned.
Richard looked at his mother.
"No.""
Olivia's face went pale.
"Mom?""
For the first time all night...
She looked caught.
I stared at the woman who had spent years making me feel worthless.
"The video.""
My voice shook.
"You sent it.""
Olivia said nothing.
Richard stepped closer.
"Mom.""
She looked at her son.
And whispered:
"I was trying to protect you.""
The room went silent.
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Protect him from what?""
Olivia looked at me.
Then said:
"From the truth.""
I waited.
And finally she said the words that changed everything.
"Richard isn't Victor Hale's grandson.""
A cold silence filled the room.
"What?""
Olivia looked at Richard.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"He's Alexander Laurent's son.""
Nobody moved.
I stared at Richard.
My husband.
The man I thought was a stranger.
The man I thought betrayed my family.
Richard looked as shocked as I was.
"That's impossible.""
Olivia shook her head.
"No.""
Her voice broke.
"It's the only truth I have left.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Explain.""
Olivia looked at me.
And whispered:
"Fifteen years ago, your father didn't lose one child.""
A pause.
"He lost two.""
I couldn't breathe.
"Richard...""
Olivia nodded.
"Richard Vance is your half-brother.""
The room exploded into silence.
And before I could even process the words, Richard's phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
Then his face turned white.
Because the caller ID showed one name.
*Victor Hale.*
May you like
And the message beneath it said:
*Bring Maya to me. Or I tell her what you really did.*
