Chapter 6 Surprise

To Maia, Vince's words sounded like a bad joke. Go back to the way things were? The fact that he could even suggest such a thing was laughable.

Everything had changed the moment he chose to stand by Rosanna's side four years ago.

Maia angled her head slightly, her expression unreadable as she fixed her gaze on him. "You must be confused, Mr. Ward. We're nothing to each other now. Kindly take your hand off me."

Though her voice remained steady, a quiet coldness crept through every word.

Vince looked stunned, like he hadn't expected her detachment.

The girl who once followed him with a warmth that lit up every room no longer stood before him.

He felt an emptiness inside.

He couldn't understand how all that love she'd poured into him had disappeared without a trace.

His fingers tightened around her wrist. His temper flared, clouding his reason. "Maia, if you're still willing to be mine, I'm ready to leave the past behind us."

The way he said it made it seem like he was offering a favor, as if being with him was still a privilege.

After a long look at Vince's sharp, polished face, Maia suddenly let out a laugh. "Vince, you're not the man I used to know. Whatever you've turned into now - it's disgusting."

Her voice turned icy as she finished.

Something in Vince snapped. His face went stiff, the veins along his temple standing out.

Losing control, he yanked Maia forward, the softness in his face twisting into something harsh and unfamiliar.

"Look at you, Maia - an ex-convict acting like she still has the right to talk back. You think you're better than you are. I'm offering you a chance because of what we once had. Who else would even consider you now?"

He was nothing like the calm, polite man from just moments before.

For the first time, Maia truly saw him - Vince's real nature out in the open.

For so long, she had let her feelings cloud the truth. Now, she saw him clearly for what he was.

A slow, mocking grin tugged at Maia's lips. "Vince, even if every man except you in the world were gone, I would never be with you! Let go of me, or don't blame me for what happens next!"

His eyes, reddened with rage and humiliation, narrowed into a grin. "Is that right? Then by all means - show me."

Without hesitation, he wrapped an arm around her waist and leaned forward, trying to steal a kiss.

Maia didn't hesitate either. Her knee shot up fast and brutal, catching him right where it hurt the most.

A low groan slipped from Vince as he loosened his hold.

Bent over in agony, he couldn't find the words. The shock stole even his breath.

All he could do was stare at Maia, disbelief written all over his face.

Rubbing her sore wrist where his grip had left its mark, Maia spoke with a voice stripped of warmth. "Consider that your first and only warning. Come near me again, and I won't hold back."

With that, she turned around and walked off, not even sparing him a backward glance.

Unbeknownst to them, a figure stood upstairs behind the velvet curtains of the Morgan family villa, watching it all unfold.

Rosanna bit her lip hard as she watched Maia leave.

"You think you can steal Vince from me, Maia? Over my dead body!" Rosanna muttered.

Turning away, she stepped inside and unlocked the drawer beneath the vanity, pulling out a small iron box.

Lifting the lid, she revealed what lay within - an antique emerald bracelet, glinting softly in the light.

She held it up between her fingers. A sly grin stretched across her face.

In her mind, she snapped, "Seventeen years, Maia. You stole what should've been mine, the bracelet... and Vince. That ends now. I won't let you keep them."

...

Meanwhile, at Elysium Apartments, Maia pushed open the door, peeled off her shirt, and dropped onto the couch in nothing but a camisole.

Zoey had made the arrangements for this place.

Even though Maia could've stayed elsewhere, Zoey had made it clear - this was where she was meant to be after stepping out of prison.

And going against Zoey's wishes? That wasn't an option.

The space was small, but spotless - like someone cleaned it every single day.

Even so, the air felt empty. It was too clean, like no one really lived there.

While she sat there in silence, her phone lit up with a soft ping.

A WhatsApp notification appeared, making her sit up straighter in an instant.

"Maia, I heard you and Chris got your marriage license, so that makes you my niece-in-law now! I don't have much to give, but here's a little wedding gift. I hope it's enough - it's from the heart."

Another notification dropped down right after - this time, it was a transfer message lighting up her screen.

Zoey had transferred a million to her.

Maia counted the zeros carefully. It was six in total!

A disbelieving smile tugged at her lips as she replied, "Zoey, you really didn't have to send this much!"

In no time, Zoey responded, "Did you just say too much? You think it's hard for me to make this money?"

Maia didn't even know how to respond.

For someone like Zoey, money flowed like tap water.

So she settled on a cheerful response. "You're the best, Zoey! Thank you!"

Zoey replied right away, "Remember what you promised. And whatever you do, keep my identity under wraps. Especially from anyone at Cooper Group. That includes Chris."

Maia responded with a grin, "Relax. I won't spill a word, not even under torture."

"Cut the jokes. Are you settled in the apartment yet?" Zoey asked.

"Just walked through the door," replied Maia.

A second later, Zoey sent another message. This one came with a smirking emoji. "I left you a little something. Don't let me down."

Surprise? Maia was confused.

Before she could think more on it, the apartment door creaked open from the outside.

Maia was startled.

As her eyes darted up, she locked onto a familiar face.

Chris was standing in the doorway.

Scattered across the floor near his feet were the clothes she had tossed off earlier.

He scanned the apartment slowly, and his gaze came to a halt on Maia - who sat on the couch in just her camisole.

The sight of her, graceful and utterly unbothered, lit a spark in him he hadn't expected.