Chapter 147
Patricia’s POV:
The doorbell rang with an impatient rhythm. I frowned, tightening my robe as I shuffled to the door.
I opened the door and froze.
Diane Hayes stood on the welcome mat. She wore a coat that cost more than my entire wardrobe. Behind her stood a younger woman, shaking with rage.
"What are you—" I started.
Diane didn't speak. She shoved past me into the living room. The girl followed and kicked the door shut. Before I could react, she swung her arm.
Smack.
The slap was sharp and violent. I stumbled back, clutching my stinging cheek.
"You home-wrecking bitch!" the girl screamed.
"Hey!"
The bathroom door flew open.
"Who the hell are you?" Ryan roared, stepping between me and them. He shoved the girl back. "You break into my house and hit my mom? Get out before I call the cops!"
The girl regained her balance. "Call them. I’m Tiffany Hayes. And that woman is the whore who seduced my father."
Ryan’s face turned gray. He looked from the hysterical girl to Diane.
"You’re from the Hayes family," Ryan muttered.
"That's right," Tiffany spat. "Your mother is a mistress. I’m just here to teach her a lesson."
Ryan clenched his fists. He glanced at me, seeing the guilt in my eyes. But he stood his ground. "That was decades ago. My mom has nothing to do with your father anymore. You don't get to walk in here and assault people."
"She’s trash," Tiffany shrieked, lunging again. "Just like her daughter! Just like Maya! Parasites!"
Ryan caught Tiffany’s wrists and pushed her back firmly. "Enough! Leave now."
"Do it!" Tiffany screamed. "Let the police come! Let everyone know Patricia Bennett is a homewrecker!"
I found my voice. I glared at Diane. "Get out of my house."
Diane finally moved. She pulled Tiffany back. "We aren't here to fight."
She looked at me with cold, dead eyes. "I didn't come here to argue about the past, Patricia."
I scoffed, rubbing my cheek. "Could have fooled me."
"Maya is your daughter," Diane said flatly. "She has bewitched Adam Sterling. Because of her, Sterling Global is destroying my husband’s business. We’ve lost three major contracts. You need to control her."
I blinked. Maya?
"Is that so?" I laughed. "Good for her. Serves you right."
Tiffany tried to lunge, but Diane held her back.
"You raised a daughter just like yourself," Diane said. "Manipulative. But listen, Patricia. You are going to call Maya. You are going to tell her to make Adam Sterling back off."
I laughed harder. "Diane, look at this dump. Do you think I care about your empire? I hate you. I hope you lose everything. I wouldn't help you if you were on fire."
Diane didn't flinch. She looked at Ryan.
"You can refuse," Diane said softly. "But consider your son."
Ryan frowned. "Leave me out of this."
"You work in accounting for a logistics firm in the Financial District," Diane stated. "If you don't help me, you will be unemployed by tomorrow. I will ensure you are blacklisted in Boston."
My laughter died. I stared at Diane. I saw the absolute threat in her eyes.
"You wouldn't," Ryan whispered, pale.
"Try me," Diane countered. "I am fighting for my family’s survival. I will burn yours to the ground."
"You poison witch!" I screeched. "Leave my son alone!"
Diane smiled, sharp and humorless. "Then pick up the phone. You can't win against me."
I looked at Ryan. I saw the terror in his eyes. I couldn't let him be ruined for Maya’s sake.
I gritted my teeth. I hated Maya for this mess.
"Ryan, we could move back to Cleveland," I muttered.
"And do what?" Diane cut in. "I have connections there too. Do you want to run forever?"
"Shut up!" I snapped. I took a breath. "Fine. I'll call her."
Diane handed me a slip of paper. "Get her to meet us at this address."
Maya’s POV:
The library of the Sterling estate was warm, but the mood was furious.
Jenna paced the rug. I sat on the sofa, staring at my tea.
"I can't believe it," Jenna fumed. "Arthur Hayes? That slimeball? He knew about you for twenty-six years and did nothing?"
Robert Sterling sat in his chair, looking grim. "It’s confirmed. Arthur had an affair with Patricia while Diane was pregnant. He paid her off."
Grandmother Sterling slammed her fork onto her plate of pie. "That degenerate! To ignore your own flesh and blood? To let a child grow up in poverty while he lives in a mansion?"
She turned to me, eyes soft. "And your mother... how could she be so cruel? She took the money and spent it on herself and her son. She let you suffer. Some people do not deserve to be parents."
"It explains a lot," I said quietly. "I was just a reminder of the man who left her."
"I hope there’s a special place in hell for her," Jenna spat. "Spending the child support on your brother? I swear..."
"Jenna," Justin warned. "Calm down. But yeah, Maya had it rough. Thank god Adam found her."
"Adam isn't a saint either," Grandmother Sterling huffed. "He let her suffer alone for five years. My poor great-granddaughter..."
Richard Sterling patted her hand. "Mom, what matters is now. Maya is under our protection."
"Exactly," Grandmother Sterling nodded. "Double the wedding budget. And Robert, deal with the Hayes family. Take their projects."
Jenna pumped a fist. "Grandma’s a boss!"
Grandmother Sterling waved a hand. "And Robert, call the lawyers. Give my granddaughter-in-law shares."
Robert stood up. "I’ll make the call." He paused, his voice rising sharply. "Wait. Someone already moved on them? Who authorized that?"
The doors opened. Adam strode in. "I did."
Robert nodded, accepting the efficiency. "Then I’ll tell legal to transfer two percent of the group's shares to Maya."
"I already instructed them," Adam said. "I hold forty-two percent. I’m giving her two."
"Don't touch your shares," Robert countered immediately. "Take the two percent from my personal portfolio."
Adam frowned. "Dad—"
"No," Robert interrupted. "You’re taking over the chairmanship. Your voting block must remain absolute for board stability. I’m retiring; my stake doesn't matter. Yours does."
Adam considered this. It made business sense. He looked down at me. "The agreement will be ready in forty-eight hours. You just need to sign."
"Wait," I said. "Two percent? Adam, that’s hundreds of millions of dollars. I can't take that."
"It’s not just money, Maya," Adam said softly. "It’s armor. With those shares, no one—not the Hayes, not the Garrisons—can ever look down on you again."
"But it’s too much," I protested. "I didn't earn it."
"It’s a dowry," Grandmother Sterling insisted. "Or a guarantee. You are the mother of the future Sterling heir. You need power."
"Maya," Adam said, crouching down. "You will be my wife. What is mine is yours. Do not refuse me."
"We aren't even married yet," I whispered to Adam. "Aren't you afraid I'll run away with the money?"
Adam laughed, a low sound vibrating against my skin as he hugged me. "You won't."
I rested my head against his chest. "Don't trust human nature too much, Adam."
"I don't trust human nature," he murmured into my hair. "I trust you."