CHAPTER 56

The calm before the next storm felt deceptive. Maya could feel it lingering like static in the air, charging every interaction, every silent glance in the Moretti estate. Zane had secured Daniel’s cooperation, but it wasn’t over. Maya knew Helena wasn’t someone who let betrayal slide without consequences.

Maya’s instincts told her Helena’s next move would be swift and brutal.

Zane’s Warning

Zane paced the length of the study, his jaw clenched as he spoke to Alex over the phone. Maya watched him, leaning against the desk, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

“I don’t care how you do it, Alex. Double the security around the estate. I want eyes on everyone Helena contacts. She’s up to something, and this time I don’t want her catching us off guard.”

He ended the call and turned to Maya, his silver eyes flashing with restrained anger. “She won’t stop. You know that, right?”

“I know,” Maya replied quietly. “Helena doesn’t accept defeat.”

Zane stepped closer, placing his hands on her shoulders. “We’re ready for her, Maya. I promise you. Whatever she tries, she won’t get past me.”

Maya nodded, appreciating his determination, but deep down, she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling twisting in her gut. Helena was too smart to move without a plan. And something told her Helena’s next strike wouldn’t just be against Zane—it would be personal.

Helena’s Game of Manipulation

Helena sat in her dimly lit study, a fresh glass of wine in her hand as she watched the flickering screen of her laptop.

On the screen were images of Maya leaving the meeting with Daniel Cooper, Zane at her side. Helena’s contact, a slick and shadowy figure, sat across from her, reporting the latest developments.

“They have Daniel. He’s turned against you,” the man said.

Helena’s lips curled into a faint, calculating smile. “And yet, I’m not worried. I told you, perception is everything. If I can’t control him, I’ll control the narrative around him.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Leak the information about Daniel’s fabricated article,” Helena said smoothly. “If he’s going to work with Zane and Maya, I’ll destroy his credibility first. And while we’re at it, feed the media whispers about Maya’s connection to him being more than ‘professional.’”

The man hesitated. “You’re doubling down on that?”

“Of course,” Helena said, swirling her wine glass. “People don’t need proof. They need gossip. By the time they’re done, no one will trust Daniel or Maya, and Zane will be left cleaning up the mess.”

She leaned back, her gaze cold and triumphant. “Let them think they’re winning. I’ll remind them who they’re up against.”

The News Breaks

The following morning, Maya’s phone buzzed relentlessly with notifications. She sat on the edge of the bed, dread curling in her stomach as she scrolled through the headlines.

“Exposed: Daniel Cooper’s Journalism Fraud—The Man Behind Maya Davis’ Scandal.”

“More Than Business? New Details Emerge About Maya Davis’ Relationship with Daniel Cooper.”

Her pulse quickened as the rumors spun out of control. Images of her and Daniel—innocent photos from their meeting—were plastered across media outlets, twisted into insinuations of an affair.

“Zane!” Maya called, her voice trembling.

Zane stormed into the room, his silver eyes narrowing when he saw the headlines. He snatched the phone from her hands, scanning the articles with a growl of frustration.

“She’s trying to discredit us both,” Maya said, her voice shaky. “Helena’s making it look like I’m involved with Daniel—and that we’re fabricating everything to cover up something bigger.”

Zane’s expression was thunderous. “She’s desperate. She knows we have enough to take her down, so she’s trying to drown us in the court of public opinion.”

“What do we do?” Maya whispered.

Zane sat beside her, taking her hands in his. “We stay ahead of her. We expose her first. She wants to ruin Daniel’s credibility because he’s our witness. We can’t let that happen.”

Maya swallowed hard, nodding. “Then we need to move fast.”

The Turning Point

By noon, Zane, Maya, and Alex were gathered in Zane’s office, their strategy laid bare before them. Alex had been working around the clock, tracing Helena’s movements and gathering the evidence they needed.

“She’s been careful,” Alex said, scrolling through surveillance images and data, “but we’ve got her. These financial records prove she’s been bribing contacts in the media to fuel this smear campaign.”

“And Daniel?” Zane asked.

Alex nodded. “I’ve already spoken to him. He’s willing to go on the record and refute the rumors. He’s scared, but he’s ready to fight back.”

Maya exhaled, her shoulders easing just slightly. “So we have everything we need?”

“More than enough,” Alex confirmed.

Zane’s gaze hardened as he turned to Maya. “We go public. Helena’s been hiding in the shadows for too long—it’s time to drag her into the light.”

Maya met his eyes, determination flaring in her chest. “Let’s end this.”

Helena’s Cornered

By evening, the plan was already in motion. Zane’s media contacts began to release a carefully crafted narrative: one that not only exposed Helena’s smear campaign but also brought the focus back to her illegal dealings and manipulation.

Daniel, with Zane’s backing, made a statement, admitting to his mistakes in the past but exposing Helena’s pressure and bribery. He named names, backed his claims with evidence, and pulled the curtain back on Helena’s network of influence.

The news spread like wildfire. Helena’s carefully curated image of control and authority began to crumble. Allies started to distance themselves, unwilling to be caught in the fallout.

Helena sat in her study, the flickering headlines on her laptop painting a picture of her defeat. Her phone rang incessantly—calls from allies demanding answers, reporters pressing for comment—but she ignored them all.

For the first time in years, Helena Moretti was losing control.

Zane and Maya’s Quiet Victory

The weight on Maya’s shoulders lifted slightly as the day came to a close. She and Zane sat together in the suite, the city lights twinkling beyond the window.

“She won’t recover from this,” Zane said quietly, his voice steady. “Not this time.”

Maya leaned against him, exhaustion mingling with relief. “It’s not over, though. Helena doesn’t know how to stop.”

Zane pressed a kiss to her temple, his arm wrapping around her protectively. “Let her come. We’ll face whatever she throws at us.”

Maya closed her eyes, allowing herself to believe, just for a moment, that they had won a small battle in the ongoing war.

But deep down, she knew Helena wouldn’t fade quietly into the background.

This was just the beginning of her downfall. And Maya would be ready for whatever came next.