CHAPTER 24

The Moretti estate was alive with quiet activity the next morning, as Zane’s security team began their meticulous sweep of the household staff. Maya sat at the breakfast table, her appetite nonexistent as she watched Alex speak to a cluster of staff members with a clipboard in hand. Each person was questioned, their credentials scrutinized under the watchful eyes of two armed guards. 

It should have brought her a sense of relief, but it didn’t. 

The walls of the estate felt as though they were closing in, the weight of suspicion pressing on everyone. Even the household staff, people she had come to recognize and trust, now felt like strangers. 

Zane entered the room, his presence a mixture of calm authority and seething determination. He poured himself a coffee, his movements deliberate as his silver eyes swept over her. 

“They’ll find something,” he said, as if reading her mind. 

“And if they don’t?” Maya asked softly, her fingers toying with the edge of her napkin. 

Zane set the coffee cup down and leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. “Then we keep digging. Someone in this house knows more than they’re letting on.” 

Maya nodded, her thoughts drifting to the message she’d received the night before. *“You think you’re safe, but the walls have ears.”* The phrase replayed in her mind like a sinister mantra. 

Late that afternoon, as Maya attempted to distract herself with a book in the library, a knock at the door startled her. A maid entered, her demeanor hesitant as she handed Maya a cream-colored envelope. 

“This just arrived for you, ma’am,” the maid said, bowing her head slightly before retreating. 

Maya turned the envelope over in her hands, her heart sinking as she saw the ornate emblem pressed into the wax seal—a symbol she recognized immediately. 

Isabella’s personal crest. 

Her hands trembled slightly as she broke the seal and unfolded the crisp stationery inside. The handwriting was elegant and refined, but the message sent chills down her spine. 

“Darling Maya, 

Let’s not allow tension to sour our budding friendship. Join me for tea in the garden at three o’clock. I’m certain we have much to discuss. 

Fondly, 

Isabella”

Maya stared at the note, her mind racing. It wasn’t a request—it was a power play, a move meant to unsettle her. 

She folded the letter carefully and slipped it into her pocket. 

If Isabella wanted to talk, Maya was going to let her. 

The garden was awash with sunlight when Maya arrived at precisely three o’clock. A small table had been set up near the fountain, complete with fine china and an array of delicate pastries. Isabella was already seated, a serene smile gracing her perfectly painted lips. 

“Maya, darling,” Isabella said warmly, rising to greet her. “I’m so glad you could make it.” 

Maya returned the smile, though it felt like a mask. “Thank you for the invitation.” 

“Of course,” Isabella said, gesturing for her to sit. “We’re practically family now, after all.” 

Maya bit back a retort, lowering herself into the chair opposite Isabella. The tension between them was palpable, though Isabella carried herself with an air of effortless grace, as if oblivious to the growing storm around her. 

“I hope you’re settling in well,” Isabella continued, pouring tea into Maya’s cup. “The Moretti estate can be… overwhelming for newcomers.” 

Maya accepted the tea but didn’t drink. “I’m managing,” she said simply. 

Isabella’s smile widened. “Good. Because this life—it’s not for the faint-hearted. You’ll need every ounce of strength you have to survive it.” 

Maya’s grip on the teacup tightened. “Is that advice or a warning?” 

“Both,” Isabella said, her tone light but laced with meaning. “I learned the hard way what it means to be part of Zane’s world. The sacrifices, the betrayals… the heartbreak.” 

Maya’s chest tightened, but she forced herself to remain composed. “And yet, here you are. Still so invested in his life.” 

“Because I care about him,” Isabella said smoothly. “And because I know him better than anyone. Better than you ever will.” 

Maya’s gaze hardened. “If you think this is going to work—trying to sow doubt between Zane and me—you’re wasting your time.” 

Isabella chuckled softly, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “Oh, darling. I don’t need to do anything. The truth has a way of revealing itself, whether you’re ready for it or not.” 

Maya’s stomach churned, but she refused to let Isabella see her fear. She set the teacup down carefully, her posture stiff. “Is there a reason you invited me here? Or was this just a performance?” 

Isabella tilted her head, her smile never wavering. “I simply wanted to remind you, Maya, that in this game, the stakes are higher than you can imagine. And sometimes, even love isn’t enough to save you.” 

Later that evening, Maya couldn’t shake the feeling of unease from her encounter with Isabella. The woman’s words were carefully chosen, designed to plant seeds of doubt that Maya desperately wanted to ignore. 

She decided to distract herself by exploring the estate once more, hoping to uncover something—anything—that could give her clarity. 

As she wandered through the western wing, a faint sound caught her attention. It was coming from a small room at the end of the hallway, the door slightly ajar. 

Maya approached cautiously, her heart pounding as she pushed the door open. 

Inside, she found a makeshift office, cluttered with papers, maps, and photographs pinned to a corkboard. The photos were of Zane, Luca, Helena—and her. 

Her breath caught as she stepped closer, her eyes scanning the board. Several of the photos were recent, taken without her knowledge. One showed her walking in the garden; another captured her speaking to Alex near the fountain. 

But what sent a chill down her spine was a note scrawled across the center of the board in bold red ink: 

*“She’s the key. Break her, and he falls.”* 

Maya’s hands trembled as she tore the note from the board, her mind racing. This wasn’t just a game of manipulation anymore—it was a targeted attack.   

Maya stormed into Zane’s study, the note clutched tightly in her hand. He looked up from his desk, his silver eyes narrowing as he took in her expression. 

“Maya, what—” 

She slapped the note onto the desk, cutting him off. “What is this, Zane?” 

He picked up the note, his jaw tightening as he read the words. His expression darkened, a storm brewing behind his eyes. 

“Where did you find this?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous. 

“In the western wing,” she said, her voice trembling with anger. “There’s a whole room full of surveillance photos and notes. Someone is planning to use me to get to you.” 

Zane stood abruptly, his fists clenching at his sides. “This isn’t just Luca or Isabella. This is bigger.” 

Maya’s chest tightened. “What do you mean?” 

“There’s someone else,” he said, his voice cold. “Someone pulling the strings from behind the scenes.” 

Maya’s blood ran cold. “Who?” 

Zane shook his head. “I don’t know yet. But I will.” 

That night, Zane called Alex and his most trusted men to the study. Maya listened as they devised a plan to uncover the mastermind behind the threats. 

“We start with the western wing,” Alex said, his tone grim. “Whoever set up that room left a trail. We’ll find it.” 

“And the staff?” Zane asked. 

“Still vetting,” Alex replied. “But so far, no leads.” 

Zane’s gaze flicked to Maya, his expression softening slightly. “You’ll stay in the suite with me from now on. No more wandering the estate alone.” 

Maya nodded, though the idea of being confined to the suite made her feel suffocated. 

As the meeting concluded, Zane pulled her aside. 

“I’ll keep you safe,” he said quietly, his silver eyes burning with determination. “No matter what it takes.” 

Maya wanted to believe him. 

But the storm around them was growing darker, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that the worst was yet to come.