CHAPTER 57

The next morning, Helena Moretti’s carefully constructed empire was crumbling around her. Headlines filled the media, detailing her smear campaigns, bribery, and questionable dealings. Allies she had once considered unshakable were pulling away, eager to distance themselves from the fallout.

But Maya knew better than to celebrate too soon. A cornered animal was the most dangerous, and Helena—proud, cunning, and ruthless—wouldn’t go down without a final fight.

The Estate Tension

Maya felt the tension in the air as she descended the grand staircase. The staff moved quietly, their expressions wary, as though they too could sense the looming conflict.

She found Zane in the sunroom, speaking in low tones to Alex. The two men looked up as she entered, and she could see the tightness in Zane’s shoulders.

“What’s happening?” Maya asked, her voice steady despite the growing knot in her stomach.

“Helena’s quiet,” Zane said, his silver eyes narrowing. “Too quiet. She hasn’t responded to the press, hasn’t called her allies—nothing. It’s not like her.”

“She’s plotting something,” Alex added. “We just haven’t figured out what it is yet.”

Maya exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of Helena’s silence. “What do we do?”

Zane crossed the room, his presence grounding as he stood before her. “We stay one step ahead of her. I’ve put my people on high alert. Whatever she’s planning, we’ll be ready.”

Maya nodded, her resolve hardening. “And what about Luca? He’s been suspiciously quiet, too.”

Zane’s jaw tightened at the mention of his brother. “Luca’s silence worries me as much as Helena’s. They’re likely still in contact.”

Alex nodded. “I’ll keep eyes on both of them. If they move, we’ll know.”

A Surprise Visitor

Maya was in the library later that afternoon when the butler appeared in the doorway, looking uneasy.

“Mrs. Moretti,” he said, his voice low. “There’s someone here to see you.”

Maya frowned. “Who?”

“Luca,” the butler said reluctantly.

Maya’s heart skipped a beat. “Zane knows?”

“I informed Mr. Moretti,” the butler replied. “But Mr. Luca insisted on seeing you directly.”

A flicker of irritation ran through Maya, but she squared her shoulders. “Fine. I’ll see him.”

She stepped into the sitting room, where Luca was lounging casually on one of the ornate sofas, his smirk firmly in place. He looked up as she entered, his dark eyes gleaming with something she couldn’t quite place—mockery, perhaps, or maybe something more sinister.

“Maya,” Luca drawled, rising to his feet. “I hope I’m not interrupting your peaceful day.”

“You are,” she said bluntly, her tone cool. “What do you want, Luca?”

Luca chuckled, unfazed by her sharpness. “Always so direct. It’s one of the things I admire about you.”

“Spare me the charm,” Maya snapped. “Why are you here?”

Luca tilted his head, his smirk widening. “I wanted to congratulate you. You and Zane have done an impressive job tearing Helena down. But you do know she’s not finished, right?”

“What do you mean?” Maya asked, her voice steady, though her heart quickened.

Luca stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Helena’s planning her final move, and trust me when I say it’s going to be big. She doesn’t care how much she loses, as long as she drags you and Zane down with her.”

“What kind of move?” Maya pressed, unwilling to play his games.

“Ah,” Luca said, feigning regret. “That’s something you’ll have to find out for yourselves. Consider this a warning, Maya. Don’t underestimate her desperation.”

Before she could respond, Zane stormed into the room, his presence commanding and his gaze ice-cold as it locked on his brother.

“What the hell are you doing here, Luca?” Zane demanded, his voice low and deadly.

Luca turned, his smirk firmly in place. “Relax, brother. I was just having a friendly chat with your wife.”

“Your chats are anything but friendly,” Zane shot back, stepping between Maya and Luca. “You’ve overstayed your welcome. Get out.”

Luca raised his hands in mock surrender. “Always so protective. It’s endearing, really.” He turned to leave but paused at the door, his voice dropping to a chilling calm. “Enjoy your victory while it lasts, Zane. The game isn’t over.”

Zane waited until Luca was gone before turning back to Maya, his hands on her shoulders. “Are you okay?”

Maya nodded, though her mind was racing. “Zane, he said Helena’s planning something. Something big.”

Zane’s expression darkened, his silver eyes hard. “Then we won’t wait for her to make the first move.”

Helena’s Desperation

Meanwhile, Helena sat in her private study, the shadows of the room matching the storm brewing inside her. The headlines had turned on her, but her pride refused to let her accept defeat.

Her phone rang, and she answered with a clipped tone.

“It’s ready,” the voice on the other end said.

Helena’s lips curved into a cold smile. “Good. Leak it tonight. Let’s see how Maya and Zane handle this.”

The Leak

Later that evening, Zane and Maya were in the suite when Zane’s phone buzzed. He answered, his expression darkening as he listened.

“What is it?” Maya asked, anxiety creeping into her voice.

Zane ended the call, his voice tight. “Helena leaked a fake financial document—one that ties your father to illegal business dealings with the Moretti company.”

Maya froze. “What?”

“She’s making it look like you and your family manipulated your way into this marriage,” Zane said. “It’s everywhere—headlines, news reports. She’s trying to frame you as part of a larger conspiracy.”

Maya’s chest tightened, her breaths shallow. “But that’s a lie.”

“I know,” Zane said, taking her hands. “But she doesn’t care about the truth. She’s trying to force our hand.”

“What do we do?” Maya whispered.

Zane’s silver eyes blazed with determination. “We fight back. Hard. Helena’s forgotten who she’s dealing with.”

The Counterattack

The next morning, Zane convened a meeting with his legal and PR teams. Maya sat by his side, her chin lifted high despite the chaos swirling around them.

“We release the real financial records,” Zane said firmly. “Every transaction, every audit—we make it public. Helena won’t be able to twist the truth once we expose it ourselves.”

“And what about her?” Maya asked.

Zane’s voice dropped to a lethal calm. “Helena wanted a war, and now she has one. She’s gone too far this time. We’re going to bury her.”

A Quiet Moment

That evening, Zane and Maya stood on the balcony, the city sprawled out before them like a blanket of lights.

“She won’t stop until we stop her,” Maya said quietly.

“And we will,” Zane replied, his arm tightening around her. “Helena’s losing control, Maya. The more desperate she becomes, the more mistakes she’ll make.”

Maya looked up at him, her heart steadying. “And when she does, we’ll be ready.”

Zane leaned down, brushing a kiss against her temple. “We’re stronger than she realizes, Maya. She’s fighting to hold on to her empire, but we’re fighting for something far more important.”

“What’s that?” Maya asked softly.

Zane’s silver eyes met hers, fierce and unwavering. “Us.”

As the night deepened, Maya felt a quiet strength settle over her. Helena might still have cards to play, but this time, Maya wasn’t afraid.

Let her come.

Because together, she and Zane would win.