Chapter 47
Maya sat in front of her vanity, brushing her hair absentmindedly. Her mind was elsewhere, racing with thoughts of Bennett and what had happened at the ball. She had hoped that this day would never come, that the secrets she had buried so deep would stay hidden. But seeing Bennett again-his cold, knowing smile-had sent a shiver of dread through her entire being. The guilt and fear that had lingered on the edge of her conscience for years now threatened to consume her.
The knock on her door startled her out of her thoughts. She jumped, the brush slipping from her fingers and clattering to the floor. Her heart raced as she called out, “Come in.”
The door creaked open, and her mother, Margaret, stepped inside. Dressed in an elegant silk robe, her face held a look of concern, her sharp eyes scanning Maya’s face.
“Maya,” she began, her voice soft but probing, “you seemed… unsettled tonight. I couldn’t help but notice how pale you looked when that man-Bennett-was speaking.”
Maya quickly averted her gaze, her heart hammering in her chest. “I’m fine, Mother. Just tired, that’s all.”
Margaret raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. She stepped further into the room, her presence imposing even in her maternal gentleness. “Don’t lie to me, Maya. You’re not the type to get rattled so easily. You know him, don’t you?”
Maya’s blood ran cold. She swallowed hard, trying to suppress the rising panic. “I… I’ve met him once, a long time ago. Nothing important,” she lied, her voice unsteady.
Margaret studied her closely, her lips pressing into a thin line. Maya could feel the weight of her mother’s scrutiny, and it took every ounce of strength not to crack under the pressure.
“Don’t try to fool me,” Margaret said, her voice hardening. “This is more than just a passing acquaintance. There’s something you’re not telling me, Maya. And I want to know what it is.”
Maya’s fingers tightened around the edge of the vanity, her knuckles turning white. Her mother’s probing had always made her feel exposed, and vulnerable. But she couldn’t let the truth come out. Not now. Not ever.
“I swear, Mother,” Maya said, her voice firmer this time. “It was a brief meeting, nothing more. I don’t know him well. I was just… surprised to see him there.”
Margaret’s gaze remained locked on her, searching for any cracks in her story. For a long, tense moment, the room was filled with nothing but the sound of their breathing.
Finally, she sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly, though the suspicion didn’t fully leave her eyes. “Very well. But if you’re lying to me, Maya, you’ll regret it. You know I don’t tolerate dishonesty.”
Maya nodded, forcing a small smile. “I understand.”
Margaret gave her a final, lingering look before turning and gliding out of the room. The door clicked shut behind her, and Maya let out a shaky breath, her body sagging with relief. But the dread still gnawed at her, a constant reminder that Bennett’s return could destroy everything she had worked so hard to protect.
Her hands trembled as she picked up the brush from the floor. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, the fear and uncertainty etched in her eyes. She had managed to lie her way through tonight, but how much longer could she keep it up? Bennett wasn’t the type to let things go easily. He would be back, and when he came, he would expect answers. Answers Maya wasn’t ready to give.
She set the brush down and rose from the vanity, her mind whirling with the dark possibilities of what Bennett could do next.
—
Across the grand estate, Federico paced in his chamber, his mind racing in a completely different direction. His kiss with Azalea replayed over and over in his head, and with every memory, a fresh wave of guilt and desire washed over him.
He couldn’t believe he had let it happen. He had sworn to himself that he would keep his distance, that he wouldn’t let his emotions get in the way of his duty. But the moment their lips met, all of his resolve had crumbled. The softness of her lips, the way her body had responded to his touch-it had ignited something in him he hadn’t felt in years.
He groaned, raking a hand through his hair. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He was supposed to protect her, to uphold the contract they had agreed upon, not fall for her. But there was something about Azalea that made him lose control, something that stirred the deepest parts of him. He had felt it from the moment they first met, but he had pushed it down, buried it beneath layers of duty and responsibility.
Now, it was all coming to the surface, and he hated himself for it.
Federico stopped in front of the large window overlooking the moonlit grounds, his jaw clenched tight. He couldn’t afford to let his emotions get the better of him. There was too much at stake-his position, the safety of his pack, and more importantly, the secrets he had worked so hard to keep buried. If he let himself get too close to Azalea, he risked everything.
But even as he tried to convince himself of that, a part of him couldn’t forget the way her body had felt against his, the warmth of her skin beneath his fingertips. It had taken every ounce of willpower to pull away from her, to stop things from going further. And now, he couldn’t stop thinking about what might have happened if he hadn’t.
He cursed under his breath, his fists clenching at his sides. He needed to get control of himself, to stop thinking about Azalea. But it was easier said than done.
—
Azalea lay curled up in the centre of her massive bed, her body trembling as silent tears rolled down her cheeks. She had tried to hold it together after Federico had walked out, but now, alone in the darkness of their chamber, the weight of everything came crashing down on her.
Why had he kissed her if he was just going to leave her like that? Why had he ignited something in her, only to walk away as if it meant nothing?
The kiss had awakened emotions she hadn’t even realised she was capable of feeling. After everything she had been through, after all the betrayal and heartbreak, she had built walls around herself, determined not to let anyone in. But Federico had torn through those walls with just one kiss, and now she felt exposed, vulnerable.
She pulled the covers tighter around herself, her body shaking with sobs. She hated feeling this way-weak, dependent. She had sworn to herself that she would never let a man have this kind of power over her again. But here she was, crying herself to sleep over a man who had walked away from her without a second thought.
—
Maya tossed and turned in her bed, unable to find peace. Her mother’s probing questions still echoed in her mind, and her thoughts kept circling back to Bennett. She had thought she could outrun her past, that she could leave it all behind and start fresh. But Bennett’s reappearance had shattered that illusion.
She sat up in bed, her heart heavy with the weight of the secrets she was keeping. There was so much that no one knew, so much that she had kept hidden from everyone, including her mother. And now, with Bennett back in her life, those secrets were threatening to come spilling out.
A knock on her door startled her, and she quickly wiped at her eyes, forcing herself to appear composed. “Come in,” she called, her voice strained.
The door opened slowly, and Margaret stepped into the room once again, her expression unreadable. “I’ve been thinking, Maya,” she began, her tone careful. “That man… Bennett. I don’t believe for a second that you only met him once.”
Maya’s stomach clenched. “Mother, I-”
“No,” Margaret interrupted, holding up a hand. “Don’t lie to me again. I want the truth, Maya. I can see the fear in your eyes, and I know when you’re hiding something.”
Maya bit her lip, her heart pounding. She had to think quickly. She couldn’t tell her mother the whole truth, but maybe she could give her just enough to keep her from digging any deeper.
“I… I met him when I was younger,” Maya admitted, her voice hesitant. “But it was nothing serious, just a brief encounter. I didn’t know him well, and I certainly didn’t expect to see him again tonight.”
Margaret’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t press further. “Very well. But if you’re hiding anything from me, Maya, you’d better hope it doesn’t come back to haunt you. I’ve worked too hard to protect this family, and I won’t let anyone-including you-jeopardize that.”
With that, she turned and left the room, leaving Maya to sit in the darkness, the weight of her lies pressing down on her chest.