The man who had stood in front of everyone that morning and declared that he'd never betray me.
The man who controlled research parks, medical districts, and entire networks of private clinics with a single phone call.
The man who had promised to always choose me.
...
I stood frozen at the door. Earlier that day, she had been crying in front of everyone. She had said she wouldn't accept anything like that proposal from the family.
She had looked at me and even held my hand.
“I won't betray you, Sandra,” she had said softly. “Not even if they force me. I won't become someone I hate.”
And I believed her… I actually believed her.
...
“Maverick, I told them no,” Maxine said upstairs, her voice shaking like she was confessing something painful. “I really did. I said I wouldn't do anything like this, like making out with you for the sake of your twin Anthony.”
She reached out and lightly touched his sleeve, hesitant, innocent.
“But they keep pushing me,” she continued softly. “And I don't know how long I can keep resisting when everyone keeps saying I'm selfish.”
Maverick's jaw tightened. “You shouldn't be blaming yourself for this,” he said quietly. “This isn't something you should carry alone.”
His voice softened a little after that.
“But you also know what this means if Sandra finds out.” Maxine lowered her eyes immediately, “I don't want to hurt her,” she said quickly. “Sandra is my younger sister. I love her. I would never want to take anything from her.”
Then she looked up again, eyes glossy, voice trembling just right.
“But I also don't know what I'm supposed to do anymore.”
...
I stepped back without realizing it.
My shoulder hit the wall behind me.
A soft sound came from the room again, followed by Maverick's voice, lower now.
“Maxine, stop shaking,” he said. “You don't have to act like you're trapped. You're not.”
“I’m not acting,” she whispered immediately “I swear I'm not. I just… I don't know how to stop feeling guilty about everything.”
Then all I heard were kisses, moans, and Maxine panting softly. I didn’t need to peek— I could already picture exactly what they were doing.
“Rick! Ahh!”
“Maxine, ohh!”
I turned away immediately and walked down the stairs slowly, like my legs didn't belong to me.
Maxine had always been like that. Even when she smiled, it looked soft, harmless. Even when she got what she wanted, she acted like she didn't ask for it. Even when she hurt someone, she somehow made it sound like she was the one bleeding.
…
The next morning, I didn't sleep at all. I just sat there until the sky turned pale. Then I called the lawyer. By noon, the papers were ready.
I walked into Maverick's office.
The room was clean, too clean.
Glass walls. Cold light. Everything sharp and expensive, like it was designed to erase emotion.
He looked up as I entered.
“What's wrong?” he asked calmly. “You didn't sleep, baby.”
I flipped the papers to the last page and placed them in front of him.
“Sign this,” I said quietly.
He glanced at the papers, but didn't open them.
“Sandra,” he said softly, almost tired. “You know I don't question anything you bring me.”
I forced myself to meet his eyes. “Don't you want to read it first? What if it's something you shouldn't agree to?”
He leaned back slightly, watching me. “If it's from you, baby, I don't need to read it twice,” he said. “Just tell me where.”
I pointed at the last page.
“Here. Signed here.”
He signed immediately.
“Are you ever scared I'll use you?” I asked suddenly.
Maverick paused for a second, then let out a small breath that almost sounded like a laugh. “Sandra,” he said, reaching for my hand. “If you ever tried to destroy me, I'd probably help you organize the plan.”
Once upon a time, those words would've made me cry from happiness. Now? They only made me sick.
How many times had he said things like that? How many promises had turned out to be lies?
…
That evening, my father-in-law once again ordered Maverick to kneel in the family mausoleum at the back of the mansion.
His expression was cold. “Maverick, stop being stubborn.”
“I've already made my position clear.” Maverick's voice was firm. “I'm not going to do what you're asking, Dad ”
His father looked furious. “Then kneel.”
Maverick met her gaze. “If that's what you want, fine.” Then he turned toward me. His eyes softened immediately. “Baby, don't worry.” He squeezed my hand. “I'd rather kneel there forever than betray you.”
The words were perfect… So perfect that anyone would've believed them, but I already knew the truth.
Because later that night, after the mansion fell silent once again, I heard movement upstairs.
The same room, the same secret hidden behind closed doors. I sat alone in the darkness.
This time, I didn't go upstairs.
There was no point.
I'd already seen enough.
The sounds drifted faintly through the quiet house.
And with every passing minute, another piece of my heart broke.
…
For the next few days, the same thing happened over and over again. Every night, I lay awake in bed staring into the darkness.
After all, no one could guarantee a pregnancy on the first try.
That was the excuse everyone seemed to be using.
I stopped sleeping properly.
The moment I closed my eyes, unwanted thoughts would creep in.
No matter how hard I tried to push them away, they always came back.
...
As the days passed, I started looking worse and worse. The woman staring back at me in the mirror barely looked familiar.
My face was pale. Dark circles sat beneath my eyes. My clothes hung more loosely on my body with each passing day.
Meanwhile, Maxine looked healthier than ever.
The grief that had nearly destroyed her seemed to disappear little by little.
Color returned to her face. She smiled more. She laughed more and the mansion was filled with life again.
Everyone seemed happy, everyone except me.
And somehow, nobody noticed.
Or maybe they noticed and simply didn't care.
That thought hurt even more.
When Anthony died, the entire family had practically stopped breathing.
Mrs. Farrington personally cooked meals every day because she worried Maxine wasn't eating enough. Mr. Farrington canceled meetings and spent hours with her.
The staff treated her like fragile glass.
Even Maverick seemed to devote all his attention to making sure she was comfortable.
I remembered how desperately everyone had worried whenever Maxine looked sad. Now I was the one wasting away.
I was the one losing sleep. I was the one barely eating.
Yet all I received were cold looks and accusations.
One afternoon, Mrs. Farrington finally snapped at me.
"Sandra, can you stop looking so miserable all the time?"
I froze.
