Forever in the making

Chapter 8: Hidden Truth

Piper decides to sneak a peek at the letter when Catherine isn't looking. She carefully makes her way over to the desk, trying not to draw attention to herself.

As she glances at the letter, her eyes widen in shock. It's a letter from a law firm, informing Max that he's the beneficiary of a large trust fund. But there's a catch: the trust fund comes with a condition that Max must marry a woman of his family's approval.

Piper feels a surge of anger and betrayal. Why didn't Max tell her about this?

Just then, Catherine walks back into the room, a suspicious look on her face. "Piper, what are you doing?" she asks, her voice cold.

Piper tries to come up with an excuse, but Catherine's not having it. "You're meddling in things you don't understand," she says. "I suggest you leave. Now."

Piper storms out of the estate, feeling hurt and confused. She doesn't know what to make of the letter or Catherine's behavior.

As she walks back to the hotel, Piper runs into Sophia. "Hey, girl, what's wrong?" Sophia asks, noticing Piper's distress.

Piper fills Sophia in on what happened at the estate. Sophia listens, her expression growing more and more concerned.

When Piper finishes, Sophia takes a deep breath. "I have something to tell you," she says. "Something that might change everything.

Piper's curiosity is piqued. "What is it, Sophia?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sophia glances around nervously, making sure they're alone. "I've been doing some digging," she says. "And I think I've uncovered a secret about Max's family."

Piper's eyes widen. "What kind of secret?" she asks.

Sophia hesitates, as if unsure whether to reveal what she's learned. "I think Max's family is in financial trouble," she says finally. "Despite their wealth and prestige, they're struggling to stay afloat."

Piper's mind reels. This could explain why Catherine was so desperate for Max to marry a woman with a wealthy background.

But why didn't Max tell her about this? Doesn't he trust her?

As Piper processes this new information, Sophia drops another bombshell. "There's more," she says. "I think Max's family is hiding something else. Something big."

Piper's curiosity is piqued. "What do you mean?" she asks Sophia, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sophia glances around nervously, making sure they're alone. "I've been digging through some old records," she says. "And I think I've found a connection between Max's family and a rival hotel chain."

Piper's eyes widen. "A rival hotel chain?" she repeats.

Sophia nods. "Yes, it looks like Max's family has been secretly working with a rival hotel chain to sabotage the Grand Hotel's business."

Piper feels a surge of anger and betrayal. How could Max's family do this?

But then Sophia drops another bombshell. "And I think Max is in on it," she says.

Piper's heart sinks. Could it be true? Is Max involved in his family's scheme to sabotage the Grand Hotel?

Piper decides to confront Max about Sophia's accusations. She finds him in his office, working on some papers.

"Max, we need to talk," Piper says, her voice firm.

Max looks up, a hint of concern on his face. "What's wrong?" he asks.

Piper takes a deep breath. "I know about your family's deal with the rival hotel chain," she says. "And I know you're involved."

Max's expression changes, and for a moment, Piper sees a flash of guilt. But then his face smooths out, and he looks at her with a calm, collected expression.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Max says.

Piper feels a surge of anger. "Don't lie to me, Max," she says. "I know the truth. And I want to know why you're involved in this scheme."

Max sighs, and for a moment, Piper sees a glimmer of the man she thought she knew.

"I'll tell you everything," Max says. "But you have to promise to listen with an open mind."

Piper agrees to listen to Max's explanation. She's curious about why he's involved in the scheme, and she wants to hear his side of the story.

Max takes a deep breath and begins to explain. "My family's hotel chain has been struggling for years," he says. "We've been trying to stay afloat, but it's been a losing battle."

Piper listens intently, trying to understand where Max is coming from.

"My family made a deal with the rival hotel chain to merge our businesses," Max continues. "It was the only way we could think of to save our hotel."

Piper's eyes narrow. "But why did you have to sabotage the Grand Hotel?" she asks.

Max hesitates, looking uncomfortable. "I didn't want to hurt the Grand Hotel or its employees," he says. "But my family was desperate. We thought it was the only way to ensure our survival."

Piper feels a pang of disappointment. She had thought Max was better than this.

But then Max says something that surprises her. "I've been trying to find a way out of this deal for months," he says. "I don't want to hurt anyone or sabotage the Grand Hotel. I want to make things right."

Piper looks at Max, searching for the truth. Is he sincere, or is he just trying to manipulate her?

Piper decides to believe Max and help him find a way out of the deal. She's willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and work together to make things right.

"Okay, Max," Piper says. "I'll help you. But we need to come up with a plan to get you out of this deal without hurting anyone."

Max nods, looking relieved. "I've been thinking about that," he says. "I think we can find a way to merge our hotels without sabotaging the Grand Hotel."

Piper's eyes light up. "That's a great idea," she says. "Let's get to work on it."

Together, Piper and Max start brainstorming ideas and making calls to their respective teams. They work tirelessly, determined to find a solution that works for everyone.

As the night wears on, Piper starts to feel a sense of excitement and hope. Maybe, just maybe, they can pull this off and create something amazing.

Just as they're about to call it a night, Max turns to Piper and says, "You know, I really appreciate your help. You're an amazing person, Piper."

Piper's heart skips a beat. She feels a flutter in her chest, and suddenly, she's aware of the chemistry between them.

Here's what happens next:

Piper's heart is racing as she looks into Max's eyes. She can feel the chemistry between them, and she knows that she wants to kiss him.

Without thinking, Piper leans in and presses her lips to Max's. The kiss is soft and gentle, but it sends shivers down Piper's spine.

Max responds to the kiss, deepening it and pulling Piper closer. They stand there for a moment, lost in the kiss.

As they pull back, Piper smiles up at Max. "I've wanted to do that for a long time," she says.

Max smiles back, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I've wanted you to do that for a long time," he says.

Piper's heart skips a beat. She can't believe that she's finally kissed Max.

As they stand there, wrapped in each other's arms, Piper knows that she's found something special. She's found a love that she never thought she'd find.

But as they pull back and look into each other's eyes, Piper knows that their love isn't without its challenges. They still have to navigate the complexities of their families' business deal.