Mag-log inMaya’s POVI slipped into my apartment and locked the door behind me with shaking hands. The masked event felt like a bad dream now. My black dress still clung to my skin. The silver mask lay on the table. I did not care about any of that. I pulled out the USB and plugged it into my laptop. My heart beat so fast I could hear it in my ears. The room was dark except for the screen light. I sat on the edge of my bed and pressed play.The video started. Sarah appeared on the screen. My sister looked so real. Her dark curly hair spread across the pillow. Her warm brown skin looked pale and tired. She tried to sit up but Mr. Havisham pushed her back down. “You should have stayed quiet,” he said in that cold voice I knew too well. “The baby was a mistake. You became too greedy.”Sarah’s eyes filled with tears. “Please,” she begged. Her voice sounded weak and broken. “Let me go. Maya needs me. The baby… I changed my mind. I will disappear. No one will know.” Mr. Havisham laughed softly. It wa
Maya’s POVThe grand hall felt hotter now. Music played low around us while masked guests laughed and whispered. Julian pressed me harder against the wall in the dark corner. His fingers moved boldly under my dress. They touched me in ways that made my body react even as shame burned my cheeks. I moaned softly against his shoulder. People walked past and glanced at us. Some smiled behind their masks. The humiliation made my skin crawl.“Julian, please,” I whispered. My voice trembled. “Not here where everyone can see. This is too much.” He kissed my neck harder. His breath felt hot on my skin. “This is the game, Maya,” he replied. “Let them watch. It makes you look like mine. The man in the gold mask is still watching you. Get more from him after this.” His fingers pushed deeper. Pleasure mixed with embarrassment. I gripped his shoulders tight. “You are using me like Mr. Havisham does,” I said between gasps. “I hate this feeling.”Julian pulled back slightly. His eyes looked dark behi
Maya’s POVI stood there in my small apartment with my arms crossed tight over my chest. Liam’s words about reporting on Sarah still hung in the air like heavy smoke. My heart felt torn between the man in front of me and the memory of my sister. He looked at me with those sharp eyes full of regret. I wanted to believe him but doubt kept whispering in my head.“Liam, you reported on her,” I said slowly. “You watched my sister and told them where she was. How can I forgive that so easily?” Liam took one step closer but stopped when I did not move. “I know it sounds bad, Maya,” he replied gently. “It was early in my mission. I thought I was doing the right thing by gathering information. I did not understand how dangerous Mr. Havisham was back then. After I saw what happened, I tried to help her. I swear I did.”I wiped fresh tears from my warm brown skin. The pain from Chloe cutting contact still burned inside me. Now this. “I want to trust you,” I whispered. “You held me through my bre
Maya’s POVI stood there in my small apartment with my arms crossed tight over my chest. Liam’s words about reporting on Sarah still hung in the air like heavy smoke. My heart felt torn between the man in front of me and the memory of my sister. He looked at me with those sharp eyes full of regret. I wanted to believe him but doubt kept whispering in my head.“Liam, you reported on her,” I said slowly. “You watched my sister and told them where she was. How can I forgive that so easily?” Liam took one step closer but stopped when I did not move. “I know it sounds bad, Maya,” he replied gently. “It was early in my mission. I thought I was doing the right thing by gathering information. I did not understand how dangerous Mr. Havisham was back then. After I saw what happened, I tried to help her. I swear I did.”I wiped fresh tears from my warm brown skin. The pain from Chloe cutting contact still burned inside me. Now this. “I want to trust you,” I whispered. “You held me through my bre
Maya’s POVChloe stood frozen at the office door. Her eyes moved from me to Mr. Havisham’s hand still resting on my thigh under the desk. I quickly pulled my dress down and stood up straight. My face burned with shame. Mr. Havisham leaned back in his chair with that calm, amused look on his face.“Chloe, sweetheart,” he said smoothly. “This is not a good time. Maya and I were discussing work matters.”Chloe’s hands shook at her sides. Tears filled her eyes fast. “Work matters?” she repeated. Her voice cracked with pain. “I saw your hand on her again, Dad. Under the desk. After everything I told you yesterday. Maya, how could you let this continue? I thought you were fighting. I thought you were sorry.”I stepped toward her with my hands open. “Chloe, please listen,” I begged. “It is complicated. Mr. Havisham promised protection for the children if I obey. The council wants to take them away. I am doing this for them. For Sarah’s kids. I hate it but I have no choice right now.”She sho
Maya’s POVThe news from Elena hit me like a heavy stone in my chest. I sat on my small bed early the next morning with my phone pressed to my ear. Tears already filled my eyes as I listened to her explain the situation again. The children. Sarah’s children. They were the only real family I had left and now the Cross family council wanted to take them away.“Elena, please tell me there is something we can do,” I said with a shaking voice. “I cannot lose them. They are all I have from Sarah. I promised to protect them.”Elena’s voice came through steady but worried. “I am working on an emergency filing, Maya,” she replied. “We have a hearing in two days. You need to show you are stable. The scandals are hurting your case. Victoria is pushing hard with evidence of your connection to Mr. Havisham. You must be careful at the office today.”I wiped my tears and stood up. “I will try,” I answered. “But I have to go back to work. He will get suspicious if I stay away. Thank you for fighting
Maya’s POVThe apartment felt too quiet and too dark. I sat on my bed with my heart still racing from the video of Julian. Liam had gone back to his place to prepare for tomorrow night. I was alone with my fear and my body that would not calm down. The marks from Mr Havisham still burned on my skin
Maya’s POVThe message about Julian Cross would not leave my mind. I stood on my balcony late at night. Cool wind touched my skin and made my thin nightdress move. Stars shone above but I felt no peace. Everything was closing in. Mr Havisham. The blackmailers. Now Liam’s own cousin wanted me dead.
Maya’s POVThe police lights still flashed outside the warehouse as they took Mr Havisham away in handcuffs. My legs felt weak. Liam held my hand tight. Damien Gray stood nearby and gave me a small nod. For one moment I thought the nightmare was finally over. But the last message on my phone burned
Maya’s POVI could not stop shaking after seeing the video of Chloe tied to a chair. Even though Mr Havisham is her father, the blackmailers were using her to scare me. Liam held me tight on the bed but my mind would not calm down. Inside my head I thought, Chloe is innocent. She loves her dad. She







