Chapter 9
1010 Words
Maya drove home in complete silence.
Her hands trembled so badly on the steering wheel that she almost missed two red lights.
Edward’s words kept echoing in her head.
“He offered you to me.”
No.
William would never do that.
Would he?
Was he the reason I was drugged? If not why was he with that man?
The moment she reached the apartment, she shoved the door open hard enough for it to slam against the wall.
William looked up from the couch immediately.
Relief crossed his face. “Maya, you’re home—”
“Did you meet Edward Carter last night?”
The color drained from his face instantly.
Maya’s stomach twisted painfully.
He knew.
“Oh my God,” she whispered.
William stood up quickly. “Maya, listen to me first—”
“You actually met him?” Her voice cracked. “Behind my back?”
“It wasn’t like that.”
“Then what was it like?!”
William ran a frustrated hand through his hair.
“I didn’t have a choice!”
Maya laughed bitterly.
“There’s always a choice.”
“You don’t understand how bad things are right now.” His voice rose desperately. “The company is collapsing. We’re drowning in debt. If I don’t get funding this week, everything is over.”
Maya stared at him in disbelief.
“So your solution was to go to my ex-boyfriend?”
“He’s not just your ex-boyfriend anymore, Maya. He’s one of the most powerful men in the country.”
That somehow made it worse.
William stepped closer carefully.
“I only asked for a business deal.”
Maya’s eyes narrowed. “Did you offer me to him?”
William froze.
“Did you make that man drug me, at the beach party that night?”
Silence.
That silence was answer enough.
Something inside her cracked.
“You did.”
“Maya—”
“You did.” Tears filled her eyes now. “How could you even do that?”
William grabbed her shoulders desperately.
“Because I was scared!”
She shoved him away immediately.
“I am your wife, not some bargaining chip!”
“I didn’t mean it that way!”
“Then how did you mean it?”
William opened his mouth—
Then, I closed it again.
Because there was no good explanation.
Maya felt sick.
Not just angry.
Humiliated.
Edward knew.
Edward had looked at her today knowing her own husband was willing to trade her away to save himself.
The shame burned through her chest.
“What exactly did you tell him?” she asked quietly.
William avoided her eyes.
That terrified her more than shouting would have.
“He said…” William swallowed hard. “He said he could solve all our problems.”
Maya’s pulse quickened.
“And?”
William hesitated.
Then finally—
“He asked what I was willing to give him in return.”
Maya already knew the answer.
Still, hearing it hurt.
“I thought he was joking at first,” William admitted softly. “But then he kept talking about you.”
Maya wrapped her arms around herself tightly.
Like she suddenly felt exposed.
“He’s obsessed with you,” William said bitterly. “Do you know that? Four years later and he still looks at you like you belong to him.”
“Stop.”
“I’m serious.” William laughed humorlessly. “I’ve never seen someone look at another person like that.”
“Stop talking.”
“But maybe that’s a good thing.”
Maya stared at him slowly.
“What?”
William stepped toward her again.
Hope flickered desperately in his eyes.
“If Edward wants you… Maybe we can use that.”
The room went silent.
Maya looked at him like she’d never seen him before.
“You can’t be serious.”
“It doesn’t have to mean anything!” William said quickly. “Just keep him interested long enough for him to sign the investment deal.”
Maya’s face filled with disbelief.
“You want me to manipulate him?”
“I want us to survive!”
Maya shook her head slowly.
“No…”
William grabbed her hands desperately.
“Please.” His voice cracked. “I’m begging you.”
That broke her heart more than anything.
Because this wasn’t just greed anymore.
This was desperation.
Fear.
A man falling apart.
But still—
He was asking her to walk back into Edward’s life.
And both of them knew Edward was dangerous.
Maya pulled her hands away.
“I can’t do this.”
William’s expression darkened instantly.
“So that’s it?” he snapped. “You’d rather watch everything burn?”
Maya recoiled slightly.
“You’re blaming me?”
“I’m trying to save our future!”
“Our future?” she repeated painfully. “You practically handed me over to another man!”
William’s face hardened with frustration.
“At least he can afford to take care of you.”
The words hit like a slap.
Silence filled the apartment.
William realized what he’d said a second too late.
“Maya…”
But she was already backing away.
Her eyes filled with tears.
Not loud tears.
The worst kind.
Quiet heartbreak.
“You know what hurts the most?” she whispered shakily.
William stepped toward her.
But she continued before he could speak.
“I defended you today.”
His face froze.
“I stood in front of Edward and defended you.” A tear slid down her cheek. “And all this time… you were willing to sell me to him.”
“Maya, please—”
Her phone suddenly rang.
Both of them looked down.
Unknown number.
But somehow…
She already knew who it was.
Slowly, Maya answered.
“Hello?”
Edward’s deep voice filled the silence.
“Have you spoken to your husband yet?”
Maya closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
A pause.
Then Edward said calmly
“Good. Now come see me.”
- Writer
