Chapter 37 Already in Too Deep
Maya looked at her dad dumbfounded. "Dad, what are you talking about?"
"Honey, what's going on?" Claire asked, equally confused.
Richard slowly walked to a chair and collapsed into it heavily. "The accident... it was far worse than we realized. The only reason we walked away without a scratch was... the truck driver."
Maya frowned, unsure she understood. "The... driver?"
Richard's lips pressed into a thin line. "He swerved at the last second to avoid hitting us head-on. If he hadn't, none of us would be here right now." His voice cracked, betraying the strain he'd been holding back.
Claire's voice trembled. "But... he's okay, right?"
Richard shook his head slowly. "No. He's in critical condition. The doctors said he may never walk properly again. Even if he survives, his life is completely ruined."
Maya's eyes widened. "That's... that's terrible! But we didn't get hurt, so at least we're okay, right?"
Richard's good hand clenched into a fist on his knee. "Yes, we're physically okay. But it's not just that. The trucking company has already warned us they'll be pursuing claims for the destroyed cargo once the reports come in. And if the driver's family decides to press for compensation... it could cost millions. I don't even want to think about it."
Claire's face went white. "Richard... what do we do?"
Richard shook his head in despair. "I don't know. Insurance might cover some of it, but with the truck driver in critical condition and the cargo claims... they'll try to squeeze every penny out of us. And if the courts side with his family... we could lose everything. Our reputation, our stability... gone."
Maya's voice was barely audible. "But it was an accident. Can't they...?"
"They won't care," Richard interrupted bitterly. "This is business, Maya. Accidents don't excuse liability. The moment they see we're financially strained, they'll go all in. I've never felt so powerless in my life."
Heavy silence filled the room, intensifying the tension.
Richard buried his face in his good hand. "It's all over. We need to do something... I can't afford any more damage..." His voice trailed off into a strangled whisper.
Maya collapsed back onto the bed, struggling to breathe. ‘How did everything go so wrong?’
She turned desperately to Nathan, who had been standing there like he was invisible. She quickly walked to him, grabbing his hands desperately.
"Nathan, you... you have to help us. You're still a Sinclair. You can talk to your grandfather or uncle about this, right? You can still help us, right?"
Claire and Richard looked at him expectantly.
Nathan looked at her with slight irritation, taking her hands. "Maya, you know my situation with my family is strained right now. I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do."
Claire's voice cracked as she retorted desperately, "Why can't you help us? She's carrying your child! She's carrying a Sinclair in her womb, and you're also a Sinclair! Act like it!" she screamed.
Nathan shifted uncomfortably at her accusing words. "I'm also in a tight spot right now." He turned to look at Maya, seeing her disheveled appearance, crying and looking at him with hope. He felt a tug in his heart and swallowed hard. "I'll... I'll try my best to ask my father for help regarding this situation."
Maya cried even louder. "Thank you! I thought you'd also abandoned us in our desperate moment," she said, shaking as she sobbed.
Nathan smiled slightly. "You know I love you, and I'll never do that. Besi—" His phone rang at that moment. He frowned when he saw the caller ID. "Excuse me, I'll be right back. Let me take this," he said, pulling away and walking out of the hospital ward.
\---
At Rosewood Manor
Evelyn sat on the bed with a smile, having a conversation with Lena on the phone.
"Okay, fine. You can do anything you want with that video. Go break the bank, girl," Evelyn said.
"Oh, now you're talking sense! You've been spouting nonsense this whole time," Lena replied.
Evelyn rolled her eyes. "Just be careful. Make sure he doesn't get back at you."
"He can't get back at me. I'm going to do it anyway, regardless of whether he pays me or not. By the way, how come you haven't commented or reacted to the storm currently going on online?"
"I haven't checked much about it."
"What? You're missing out big time! Maya has become a meme disaster—she can't show her face anywhere now. And you... you've got quite the fan base. You should check it out. They're even asking for more photos of Roman. Some shameless fans want to get a taste of this uncle!"
Evelyn frowned slightly. "Get a taste? I'll be right back," she said, ending the call.
She quickly logged into her social media account.
What she saw stunned her completely.
She was being tagged online as the "ladies' queen" for her bold move in going after her fiancé's uncle. The hashtag #UpgradeToTheUncle was trending. Some had even dug up photos of Roman because they were curious about the savage man who willingly married his nephew's fiancée.
There were quotes saying that even if they got sued by the Sinclair family for posting about the uncle-nephew duo, it was worth it. Their mission was to turn this real-life drama into a movie.
Roman had gained countless fans due to his good looks and savage personality. They’d dug up old photos of him—a younger, slightly less severe Roman, but just as devastatingly handsome.
But as she scrolled through the information they gathered of Roman, she froze at one detail.
Course of study: Neuroscience and Experimental Medicine.
Evelyn's fingers stilled on the screen.
"Huh? Neuroscience? I thought he studied business management. Why would a CEO study neuroscience?"
At that moment, Roman walked out of the bathroom with a towel tied around his waist and another towel in his hand, drying his damp hair. Some wet strands fell over his forehead, water sliding down his neck and shoulders.
"Hey... I thought you studi—" she trailed off, her mouth falling open. She completely forgot what she wanted to say.
Her eyes moved on their own, slowly tracing his broad shoulders and firm chest, still glistening from the shower. Water droplets ran down his skin, disappearing beneath the towel at his waist.
He looked calm and relaxed, as if he had no idea what he was doing to her. Or maybe he knew and simply didn't care.
She swallowed hard as her gaze drifted lower, catching the firm lines of his abdomen. He smelled clean and warm, the scent filling the room until it felt hard to breathe.
"Hmm? You were saying something?" he asked quietly, his voice low and intimate.
She blinked, heat rushing to her face as she realized she'd been staring shamelessly. ‘How was it legal for one man to look this good fresh from a shower?’
The words she'd meant to say had completely left her mind, replaced by the overwhelming awareness of her half-naked husband standing just feet away.
Roman stepped closer, close enough that she could feel the warmth of his skin.
“You were saying something,” he murmured.