CHAPTER 27

Maya’s hands trembled as she held the photograph, her breath catching in her throat. The image was grainy but unmistakable—a shot of her walking in the estate gardens, taken from a distance. Her heart pounded as she realized the implication.

They were closer than she thought.

Scrawled across the bottom of the photograph in thick, jagged handwriting were the words:

“You don’t belong here. Leave, or the baby dies.”

Her knees buckled, and she sank onto the edge of the bed, clutching the photograph like a lifeline. Fear coiled in her stomach, twisting and tightening until she felt like she might be sick.

The threats had always felt distant—ominous, but abstract. This one was visceral. Direct.

The baby.

Her hand instinctively went to her stomach, a protective gesture as she struggled to process the cruel words.

She didn’t have to wait long before Zane returned. When he walked into the suite and saw her pale, trembling figure clutching the photograph, his expression darkened.

“What happened?” he demanded, crossing the room in two long strides.

Maya handed him the photograph without a word. His silver eyes scanned the image, and she saw his entire demeanor shift. His jaw tightened, his fists clenched, and the air around him seemed to vibrate with barely contained rage.

“They’re escalating,” he muttered, his voice low and dangerous. “This is a declaration of war.”

Maya’s voice trembled as she spoke. “They’re threatening our baby, Zane.”

He turned to her, his gaze softening for a brief moment. “They won’t touch you. They won’t touch the baby. I’ll make sure of it.”

“But how?” Maya asked, her voice breaking. “They’re inside the estate, Zane. They’re watching us, listening to us. How do we fight back when we don’t even know who to trust?”

Zane crouched in front of her, taking her hands in his. “We will find them,” he said firmly. “And when we do, they’ll regret ever setting foot in this house.”

The next morning, Maya joined the family for breakfast in the grand dining room, though her appetite was nonexistent. Zane sat beside her, his presence protective and commanding, while Helena presided over the table like a queen.

“You look tired, Maya,” Helena observed, her tone cool and clinical. “I hope you’re not letting the pressures of this family get to you.”

Maya lifted her chin, determined not to show weakness. “I’m fine, thank you.”

Helena’s lips curved into a faint smile, but her eyes were sharp. “Good. Because life in this family requires resilience. Those who can’t handle the pressure… well, they don’t last long.”

Maya met her gaze head-on, refusing to flinch. “I’m stronger than you think, Helena.”

Helena’s smile widened, but it held no warmth. “We’ll see.”

The tension between them was palpable, and Maya couldn’t help but wonder if Helena was more involved in the threats than she let on.

After breakfast, Maya found herself wandering the estate again, her thoughts heavy. She paused by the fountain in the garden, the sound of trickling water offering a momentary reprieve from the chaos in her mind.

“Can’t stay away from the drama, can you?”

Maya turned to see Luca approaching, his easy smile in place. But this time, she didn’t feel the usual pang of unease. Instead, her anger flared.

“What do you want, Luca?” she asked sharply.

Luca’s brows lifted in mock surprise. “Hostile, aren’t we? I’m just here to check on my dear sister-in-law. You seem… tense.”

“You know exactly why I’m tense,” she shot back. “So why don’t you stop pretending and tell me what you’re really after?”

Luca chuckled, leaning casually against the fountain. “Alright, I’ll bite. Let’s say I know more than I’ve been letting on. What’s in it for me if I decide to share?”

Maya’s eyes narrowed. “What do you want?”

“Simple,” Luca said, his smile turning sharp. “When this all falls apart—and trust me, it will—I want you to remember who warned you. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll return the favor someday.”

Maya’s stomach twisted. Luca’s words were laced with a promise she didn’t fully understand, but she couldn’t afford to dismiss him.

“What do you know?” she asked, her voice low.

Luca’s gaze flicked around the garden, as if ensuring they weren’t being overheard. “Let’s just say, you’re not the only one being watched. Donovan has eyes everywhere, and he’s been very interested in your father.”

Maya’s breath hitched. “My father? What does he have to do with this?”

“That’s for you to figure out,” Luca said with a smirk. “But if I were you, I’d start digging into those business deals he’s so fond of.”

Before she could respond, Luca straightened and walked away, leaving her alone with a sinking feeling in her chest.

Maya didn’t waste time. As soon as she returned to the suite, she began combing through her phone, searching for any information about her father’s recent business dealings. She knew he had a reputation for walking a fine line between legality and scandal, but she hadn’t realized just how precarious his position had become.

Several articles mentioned potential fraud investigations, though none had led to formal charges. But it was one name that kept appearing in the reports that made her stomach drop.

Donovan Scott.

Her father had been working with Donovan.

Maya’s hands shook as she closed the browser. The implications were staggering. If Donovan was using her father’s vulnerabilities against her, it explained Helena’s cryptic threats and Luca’s hints.

It also meant her family’s safety was far more precarious than she’d realized.

That evening, Maya shared her discovery with Zane. He listened intently, his silver eyes narrowing as she laid out the connections between her father and Donovan.

“This is worse than I thought,” Zane said, his voice low and dangerous. “If Donovan’s using your father as leverage, he’s playing a much bigger game.”

“What do we do?” Maya asked, her voice trembling.

Zane reached out, taking her hand in his. “We fight. But first, we need to secure your father. If Donovan thinks he can use him to get to you, we need to take that option off the table.”

Maya nodded, her fear mingling with a growing sense of resolve. “I’ll talk to him. I’ll warn him.”

“No,” Zane said firmly. “I’ll handle it. Donovan’s men could be watching him, and if they suspect anything, they’ll move fast. I have people who can keep him safe without tipping them off.”

Maya hesitated but ultimately nodded. She trusted Zane’s judgment, even as the stakes grew higher.

That night, as Maya lay in bed, her mind refused to quiet. The threats, the surveillance, the tangled web of alliances—it all felt like too much.

But as she placed a protective hand over her stomach, she reminded herself of what was at stake.

She wasn’t just fighting for herself.

She was fighting for her child.

And she wasn’t going to back down.