Chapter 14 - THE CHOICE BETWEEN POWER AND LOVE
Julian returned to the penthouse before sunrise.
Maya was awake.
She knew immediately something was wrong.
"What happened?"
Julian didn't answer.
He walked toward her.
And for the first time, she saw something she never expected.
Regret.
"My father knew."
Maya stopped breathing.
"About my mother?"
Julian nodded.
"He knew everything."
The pain on her face was immediate.
Not anger.
Not rage.
Pain.
Because deep down, she had hoped the truth would be different.
"Why?"
Julian looked away.
"Because he was protecting the Croft name."
Maya laughed quietly.
A broken laugh.
"So my whole family suffered because someone wanted to protect a reputation?"
Julian had no answer.
And that was the worst part.
Later that day, Richard made his move.
News outlets across Chicago received documents.
Fake documents.
Ones claiming Maya was not just a maid.
They claimed she had entered Julian's life intentionally.
That she had been spying on him.
Using him.
Within hours, the story spread.
Maya saw the headlines.
Her heart dropped.
"Julian..."
He took the phone from her.
His expression became furious.
"This is a lie."
"But people will believe it."
Julian looked at her.
"Let them."
She shook her head.
"You don't understand."
"I do."
"No."
Her voice broke.
"You spent your whole life building this."
A pause.
"And now I'm destroying it."
Julian stepped closer.
"You are not destroying anything."
"But everyone thinksâ"
"I don't care what everyone thinks."
The intensity in his voice stopped her.
"I cared about power before I met you."
A pause.
"I cared about winning."
Another pause.
"But then you walked into my home carrying old sneakers and a broken heart..."
His voice softened.
"And somehow you became the only thing I wanted to protect."
Maya looked away.
Because those words were dangerous.
They made her want to believe she deserved love.
Then Derek rushed inside.
"Julian."
They turned.
"We found Vincent."
Everyone froze.
"Where?"
Derek looked serious.
"But there's a problem."
"What?"
"He has Adrian."
Maya's face changed.
"No."
Julian grabbed his coat.
"We go now."
Derek shook his head.
"It's a trap."
Julian looked at Maya.
"I know."
"Then why?"
Julian answered without hesitation.
"Because we don't leave family behind."
The abandoned factory was silent.
Too silent.
Julian entered with Maya and Derek behind him.
Then the lights turned on.
Vincent stood above them.
Adrian was tied to a chair.
And beside him...
Richard Croft.
Maya stared.
"You?"
Richard smiled.
"Family disappoints you eventually."
Julian's expression hardened.
"You used Vincent."
Richard shrugged.
"He was useful."
Vincent laughed.
"Your father and I have the same goal."
Julian looked at them both.
"And what's that?"
Richard answered.
"To remove your weakness."
His eyes moved to Maya.
Julian stepped in front of her.
"No."
Richard smiled.
"That's exactly why you have to lose."
Then the factory doors locked.
And the countdown timer on the wall started.
10:00.
May you like
9:59.
9:58.
