CHAPTER 46

The morning was unusually quiet at the Moretti estate, the kind of quiet that felt heavy with anticipation. Maya couldn’t shake the feeling that the storm brewing within the family was about to break. She had spent the night piecing together the events of the past few days—Luca’s cryptic threats, Zane’s confrontation, Helena’s manipulative advice.

Her instincts told her that something big was coming.

Helena’s Moves in the Shadows

Maya hadn’t seen Helena all morning, and that alone was cause for suspicion. She knew by now that when Helena was out of sight, she was likely orchestrating something behind the scenes.

She found Alex in the security wing, his focus on a bank of monitors.

“Alex,” she said, stepping inside.

He glanced up, his expression neutral but alert. “Maya. What’s going on?”

“Have you seen Helena today?” she asked, her tone carefully casual.

Alex frowned. “She left the estate early this morning. Said she had errands to run, but I wasn’t given any specifics.”

Maya’s chest tightened. “Do you know where she went?”

“Not exactly,” Alex admitted. “But I can look into it if you want.”

Maya nodded. “Please do. I have a feeling she’s up to something.”

Zane’s Growing Tension

Maya found Zane in his office, the room thick with the tension of his work. He was on the phone, his silver eyes flashing with frustration as he barked orders to someone on the other end.

When he hung up, he turned to her, his expression softening. “Maya. What’s wrong?”

“Helena,” she said, stepping closer. “She left the estate this morning, and Alex doesn’t know where she went. I think she’s planning something.”

Zane’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing. “It wouldn’t surprise me. She’s been too quiet lately, and that’s never a good sign.”

“What do you think she’s doing?” Maya asked.

“Probably trying to undermine us in some way,” Zane said, his voice cold. “But whatever it is, I’ll shut it down.”

Maya reached for his hand, her voice firm. “We’ll shut it down. Together.”

Zane’s expression softened, and he nodded. “Together.”

Reese’s Uncovering

Later that afternoon, Maya met with Reese in the sitting room. Reese had been keeping an eye on Luca, and her findings were as unsettling as Maya had feared.

“I saw him meeting with someone yesterday,” Reese said, her voice low. “They were in the garden, talking like they didn’t want anyone to overhear.”

“Who was it?” Maya asked, her pulse quickening.

“I don’t know,” Reese admitted. “But they looked serious. Like they were planning something big.”

Maya’s hands clenched into fists. “Luca’s not just a threat to Zane anymore. He’s trying to bring this whole family down.”

Reese leaned forward, her expression fierce. “Then let’s stop him before he can do any damage.”

An Ominous Revelation

That evening, Alex approached Maya with an update on Helena’s movements.

“She went to meet with a lawyer,” Alex said, handing Maya a folder. “Apparently, she’s been looking into contingency plans for the family’s assets.”

Maya frowned as she flipped through the documents. “What kind of contingency plans?”

“Ones that would give her control if something happened to Zane,” Alex said grimly.

Maya’s stomach dropped. “She’s trying to position herself as the head of the family.”

Alex nodded. “And if she succeeds, it won’t just be bad for Zane—it’ll be bad for you too.”

Maya’s mind raced. Helena wasn’t just playing games anymore—she was making power moves, and Maya needed to act fast to stop her.

A Plan in Motion

As night fell, Maya and Zane sat together in the suite, discussing their next steps.

“Helena’s trying to take control,” Maya said, showing Zane the documents Alex had given her. “She’s meeting with lawyers and making plans to undermine you.”

Zane’s silver eyes darkened as he scanned the papers. “She’s gone too far. It’s time to put an end to this.”

“What do you want to do?” Maya asked.

Zane’s voice was steady, but there was a dangerous edge to it. “We’re going to expose her. Whatever leverage she thinks she has, we’ll take it away.”

Maya nodded, her resolve hardening. “And Luca?”

“He’s next,” Zane said, his tone cold. “He’s been trying to destabilize this family for too long. It’s time he faced the consequences.”

Luca’s Recklessness

Unbeknownst to Zane and Maya, Luca was already making his next move. He met with Donovan in a secluded warehouse on the outskirts of the city, the air between them thick with tension.

“You’re running out of time,” Donovan said, his voice low and dangerous. “If you want to take Zane down, you need to act now.”

Luca smirked, his confidence unshaken. “Don’t worry. Everything’s in place. Zane won’t know what hit him.”

“You’d better be right,” Donovan said. “Because if this fails, I’m not the one who’s going to pay for it—you are.”

Luca’s grin faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered. “It won’t fail. Trust me.”

Maya’s Resolve

As Maya lay awake that night, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the next few days would be critical. Helena and Luca were both making bold moves, and the stakes had never been higher.

But Maya wasn’t afraid.

She turned to see Zane beside her, his expression peaceful in sleep. He had always been her strength, but now it was her turn to be his.

No matter what Helena and Luca threw at them, they would face it together.

And they would win.