Chapter 137
Diane's POV:
The moment I returned from the hospital, I grabbed the phone, my fingers trembling slightly as I dialed.
"It’s Diane," I said, keeping my voice low and sharp. "I need a background check immediately. Find out the exact relationship between Maya Bennett and a woman named Patricia Bennett."
I hung up, leaning heavily against the desk. I hadn’t expected to see her again—Patricia. That woman was a ghost from a past I had desperately tried to bury.
The door handle clicked. I straightened up instantly, smoothing the panic from my expression just as Tiffany walked in. She tossed her designer purse onto the velvet armchair and paused, looking at me with a frown.
"Mom? What’s wrong? You look pale."
"Nothing," I said, forcing a calm I didn’t feel. Some things were better kept from my daughter. "Sit down, Tiffany. Your father and I were discussing the O'Connell boy. He is about your age, quite handsome, and the family has strong political connections in the state senate. I’m arranging a dinner for you two."
Tiffany’s face twisted in immediate distaste. "No! I don’t want to."
"Tiffany, stop being childish," I scolded, my patience fraying. "You are a Hayes. Your marriage isn’t just about you; it's about the future of this family. I have done my best to find you a good match. The O'Connell boy is a catch. You won't lose out."
"I don't want him," she snapped, stomping her foot like a petulant teenager. "I only want Adam Sterling. I’m not marrying anyone else!"
I sighed, rubbing my temples. Tiffany had spent her early twenties partying, ignoring all talk of marriage. She had been happy to date useless trust-fund boys who worshipped her. But recently, with the family business facing headwinds, we had pressured her to settle down. Suddenly, she had fixated on Adam Sterling again. She heard about a potential union with the Sterlings and immediately dumped her current boyfriend.
"It’s impossible with the Sterlings," I said wearily. "Your father spoke to Robert Sterling directly. Neither Adam nor his father is interested in a merger with us. We are pushing a closed door, Tiffany."
"I don't care! I only want Adam," she insisted, her voice rising. "I won't marry anyone else."
Just then, Marcus walked into the room, looking exhausted. He loosened his tie, his expression grim.
Tiffany lunged at him before he could even speak. "Marcus! You have to help me. Find some dirt on Maya Bennett. I want to destroy that woman!"
Marcus frowned, looking between me and his sister. "Maya? What did she do to you?"
"She stole my man!"
Marcus let out a dry, humorless laugh. "Tiffany, get a grip. Maya and Adam are together. She didn’t 'steal' anything. You need a valid reason to go after someone."
Tiffany crossed her arms, her chin jutting out. "I don't care! Maya doesn't deserve him."
"Stop it," Marcus said, his voice hardening. "Adam doesn't like you. Even if Maya wasn't in the picture, he wouldn't look at you. Mom and Dad tried to pitch a merger, and I told them it was a bad idea."
"Whose side are you on?" Tiffany screamed, her face turning red. "I’m your sister! She’s nobody!"
"I’m on your side. That’s why I’m telling you to stop," Marcus said plainly, walking over to pour himself a drink. "Give up on Adam Sterling. He isn't for you."
"He is perfect for me," Tiffany argued, her obsession blinding her. "Every girl in Boston wants him. He’s handsome, capable, and the heir to Sterling Global. If I marry him, the Hayes family is set for generations. It’s pure profit."
"That assumes he would ever marry you," Marcus countered.
"If I get rid of Maya, I have a chance."
"I advise you not to dig your own grave. You’ll drag the whole family down with you. Have you heard about Victoria Garrison? She insulted Adam, and now she’s in exile. She’s terrified to even show her face in Boston."
He took a step closer to her. "And Claire Ashford? She tried to hurt Maya. Do you know where she is?"
Tiffany blinked, her confidence wavering. "Where?"
"A psychiatric facility," Marcus said. "Locked up. Adam Sterling put her there."
"Is... is that true?" Tiffany felt a cold sweat prickle on her neck. She looked at me for confirmation, but I looked away.
"It’s true," Marcus said, downing his drink. "So stay away from them."
Maya's POV:
I had just gotten home when my phone rang. Seeing Adam's name on the screen made the tension in my shoulders disappear.
"Babe, did you eat yet?"
I smiled, leaning against the kitchen counter. "Just got in. I was about to make something."
"What were you doing all morning?"
"I took my mom to the hospital for a checkup."
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah, nothing serious. Just minor issues."
"Don't cook," Adam said decisively. "Let's go to the estate for dinner. My grandmother wants to see us."
"Okay," I agreed. "I'll come pick you up from the office. We can go together."
"Good. I'll be waiting."
Thirty minutes later, I pulled up to the curb outside the towering glass building of Sterling Global. Adam was already standing there.
He opened the passenger door and slid in, grinning like a teenager on prom night. The usual cold, corporate mask was completely gone.
I looked at him suspiciously as I merged back into traffic. "Why are you so happy?"
Adam turned to look at me, his grey-green eyes warm. "Because I'm seeing you."
From the back seat, Amy piped up. "Daddy, did you win the lottery?"
Adam chuckled, turning in his seat. "The lottery is pocket change."
Amy blinked, confused. "Daddy, do you have a lot of money?"
"Yes."
"How much?"
"Enough to scare you."
"Oh." Amy nodded solemnly. "Don't spend it all. Save it for me."
"Amy Bennett!" Adam feigned shock. "Where is your ambition? You want to be a moocher? You just want to live off your old man?"
"Great-Grandma said mooching isn't shameful," Amy retorted confidently. "She said Grandpa and you worked hard to build the empire just so I could nibble on it. She said other people want to mooch but they can't. I asked her what if people make fun of me, and she said anyone who says that is just jealous."
I burst out laughing.
Adam groaned, rubbing his face. "We cannot listen to Great-Grandma. As a modern girl, you need to be independent. You should strive to be useful to society and your family."
Amy lifted her little chin, looking exactly like a miniature version of him. "I know. But that doesn't stop me from nibbling on the inheritance, does it?"
I laughed harder. Adam sighed, defeated. "I'm raising a little tyrant."