Chapter 10 - THE LIE THAT COULD DESTROY EVERYTHING
The photograph sat on Julian Croft's desk.
A single piece of paper.
A single face.
And suddenly, the entire room felt different.
Maya stared at the picture like she had seen a ghost.
Because she had.
"No..."
Her voice was barely a whisper.
Julian noticed immediately.
"You know him."
Maya didn't answer.
"Maya."
She stepped back.
Her breathing became uneven.
"I thought he was gone."
Julian's eyes narrowed.
"Gone where?"
She looked at him.
And for the first time since he met her...
Julian saw real fear in her eyes.
Not fear of Vincent.
Not fear of danger.
Fear of a memory.
"His name is Adrian Torres."
Derek looked at the file.
"Same last name."
Maya nodded slowly.
"My older brother."
Silence.
Julian studied her.
"You told me you had no family."
Her eyes filled with guilt.
"I said I had no one."
"That's not the same thing."
Maya looked away.
Because he was right.
Again.
Adrian Torres had been the person who taught her how to survive.
He was also the person who almost destroyed her life.
"My brother disappeared eight years ago."
Julian leaned against the desk.
"Why?"
Maya hesitated.
Because the truth was ugly.
And once it was spoken, there was no taking it back.
"Because of money."
Derek looked at Julian.
Maya continued.
"When my mother got sick, Adrian borrowed money from dangerous people."
Her fingers shook.
"He promised he could fix everything."
A bitter laugh escaped.
"He always promised that."
"And?"
"And he couldn't."
The room went quiet.
"He ran."
Julian watched her carefully.
"Leaving you and your mother behind?"
Maya nodded.
"He left us with the debt."
The anger in Julian's eyes appeared instantly.
Not toward Maya.
Toward the man who had abandoned her.
"And now he's working with Vincent."
Maya swallowed.
"I don't know."
Julian looked at the photograph again.
But something bothered him.
The timing.
The message.
The fact that someone wanted Maya to believe she was the reason for all of this.
"Why would Vincent show us this?"
Derek answered.
"Because he wants us divided."
Julian nodded.
"Exactly."
His eyes moved to Maya.
"He wants me to doubt you."
Maya froze.
"And do you?"
The question came quietly.
But it carried everything.
Julian didn't answer immediately.
That hurt more than if he had said yes.
Maya looked down.
"I understand."
She turned away.
But Julian grabbed her hand.
"Wait."
She stopped.
His voice softened.
"I don't know what happened."
A pause.
"But I know what I see."
He looked at her.
"I see the woman who risked herself to protect me."
Maya looked at him.
"I see the woman who works until her body gives out because she refuses to give up."
His grip tightened gently.
"So no, Maya."
"I don't believe a picture."
For a moment, she almost cried.
Then Julian's phone rang.
Derek checked the number.
Unknown.
Julian answered.
"Croft."
A familiar voice laughed.
"Still protecting her?"
Julian's face changed.
Vincent.
"Where are you?"
"Somewhere your little maid knows very well."
Maya froze.
"What?"
Vincent continued.
"Ask her about the old apartment on West Monroe."
The blood drained from Maya's face.
Julian noticed.
"You know that place?"
She whispered:
"That's where my mother died."
Silence.
Then Vincent laughed.
"Now you understand."
The call ended.
And Julian realized something terrifying.
This was not just about Maya.
May you like
This was about her past.
And someone had been waiting years to bring it back.
