chapter eight
709 Words
A Dangerous Lie
Maya stood frozen.
Her heart pounded so loudly she was sure Ethan could hear it.
His dark eyes never left hers.
"So..."
He said quietly.
"Who are you really?"
For a moment, Maya forgot how to breathe.
Should she tell him?
Should she confess everything?
No...
She had promised her parents.
She lowered her eyes.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Ethan studied her face carefully.
"You don't?"
She shook her head.
"I've just been under a lot of stress."
"My sister disappeared."
"My family is worried."
"I've barely slept."
"If I've been acting differently..."
"I'm sorry."
Ethan remained silent.
He wasn't convinced.
But he couldn't accuse her without proof.
Finally, he nodded once.
"Get some rest."
He turned and walked back inside.
Maya released the breath she had been holding.
Her legs felt weak.
She leaned against the balcony railing.
"I can't keep lying forever..."
---
The next morning...
Maya decided she couldn't spend another day hiding in the mansion.
She found Margaret arranging fresh flowers in the living room.
"Margaret?"
"Yes, Mrs. Carter?"
"I'd like to visit my parents."
Margaret smiled kindly.
"I'll have Thomas prepare the car."
---
Half an hour later...
The black luxury car pulled into the Bennett family driveway.
The moment Maya entered the house, her mother hugged her tightly.
"My baby..."
"How are you?"
Maya smiled faintly.
"I'm okay."
But she wasn't.
Not even close.
Mr. Bennett looked exhausted.
"There has still been no word from Sophia."
Maya lowered her head.
"I wish I knew where she was."
Her father sighed.
"We've hired private investigators."
"They've found nothing."
The guilt inside Maya grew heavier.
Every day she stayed in Ethan's house...
The lie became bigger.
---
Later that afternoon...
As Maya prepared to leave, her mother handed her a small jewelry box.
"What's this?"
"It belonged to your grandmother."
"She wanted Sophia to have it after the wedding."
Maya hesitated.
"I shouldn't..."
Mrs. Bennett gently closed Maya's fingers around the box.
"Keep it."
"For now."
Maya nodded silently.
---
Meanwhile...
At Carter Group Headquarters...
Ethan couldn't concentrate.
He kept replaying every conversation he'd had with Maya.
Every smile.
Every hesitation.
Every inconsistency.
Ryan walked into his office carrying a file.
"I asked someone to quietly look into Sophia Bennett."
Ethan looked up.
"And?"
Ryan placed the file on the desk.
"Nothing unusual."
"But..."
He hesitated.
"The hotel near the wedding venue has security footage."
"What kind of footage?"
Ryan took a deep breath.
"It shows someone climbing down the emergency staircase from the bridal suite."
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
"The bride?"
Ryan nodded.
"It happened just before the ceremony."
Ethan slowly stood.
"So Sophia really disappeared..."
Ryan looked confused.
"Then..."
"If Sophia left..."
He looked directly at Ethan.
"Who did you marry?"
---
That evening...
Rain poured heavily over the city.
Maya sat by the bedroom window, listening to the thunder.
She couldn't stop thinking about Ethan.
He wasn't cruel.
He wasn't arrogant.
He had treated her with respect from the very beginning.
That only made her guilt worse.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Ethan stepped inside.
He wasn't wearing his suit jacket.
His tie was loose, as though he'd had a long day.
He held out a small paper bag.
"I passed a bakery on the way home."
"You skipped breakfast and barely ate lunch."
"I thought you might be hungry."
Maya stared at him in surprise.
"You... bought this for me?"
"I don't like wasting food."
He replied casually.
But she could tell he was avoiding her eyes.
After he left, Maya opened the bag.
Inside were still-warm chocolate croissants.
She smiled despite herself.
"He noticed..."
For the first time since the wedding...
Someone had done something kind just for her.
---
Across town...
Sophia sat alone in a small rented room.
Her phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
She answered cautiously.
"Hello?"
A cold male voice spoke.
"You thought running away would save everyone."
"It won't."
Sophia's face turned white.
"What do you want?"
The man laughed softly.
"Come back."
"Or your sister will pay the price for your decision."
The call ended.
Sophia dropped the phone onto the bed.
Tears filled her eyes.
"No..."
"Maya..."
"I've put you in danger."
- Writer
