Chapter 149
I stood up, my chair scraping loudly against the floor. "Grandmother? Why are you here?"
"I heard someone was trying to bully my granddaughter-in-law," she announced. Her voice was crisp, cutting through the tension in the room. "I came to back her up."
My throat tightened. A sudden heat rushed to my eyes.
I wasn't the same Maya who used to beg for Patricia’s attention. Her insults, her neglect—they didn't hurt me like they used to. But seeing the Sterling women standing there, forming a wall between me and the people who hated me, broke something open inside my chest.
Grandmother Sterling looked directly at Patricia. "So. You must be Patricia. The cold-blooded woman who gave birth to my grandson's fiancée."
Patricia’s face flushed. She glared at me before putting on a polite mask for the matriarch. "Mrs. Sterling, you must be joking. If I were cold-blooded, would she have grown up this beautiful? This capable?"
Grandmother scoffed. "Maya is who she is today because she raised herself. If she had relied on you, who knows where she would be. Don't try to take credit for her success, you selfish woman."
Patricia’s expression cracked. "Mrs. Sterling, that is unfair. How I raise my daughter is my business."
"I am speaking up for her injustice," Grandmother shot back. "What are you going to do about it?"
Patricia opened her mouth, then closed it. She looked at Ryan, then back at Grandmother Sterling, trying a different angle. "Your grandson wants to marry Maya. That makes us in-laws. It looks bad to fight like this. After all, I am still her mother."
"Mother?" Grandmother let out a dry laugh. "Do you deserve that word? I am a mother. Margaret is a mother. People like you are an insult to the title."
Patricia started to retort, but Ryan grabbed her arm, silencing her.
Grandmother Sterling didn't stop there. She turned her formidable gaze toward Diane and Tiffany Hayes. "And you two. Why are you here?"
Jenna stepped forward, her voice sharp and ringing through the room. "Grandmother, They are forcing Maya to call Adam right now and make him return the projects immediately."
Grandmother nodded slowly. "I told them to take those projects. I wanted to avenge Maya."
Tiffany couldn't hold back. "Grandma Sterling, are you crazy? Maya is illegitimate! She’s a mistake! The Hayes family didn't do anything to her. Why are you punishing us?"
"Watch your mouth!" Aunt Margaret snapped. "You have no class. If anyone is a mistake here, it’s you."
Tiffany looked ready to scream, but Diane stopped her.
"Mrs. Sterling, technically, my children and I are victims. Maya and her mother destroyed my family. I haven't sued them. I haven't ruined them. That is already generous. And now you are destroying my husband’s business for her? Where is the justice? You are usually a reasonable woman."
"Your misfortune was caused by Arthur Hayes and Patricia," Grandmother said coldly. "Every debt has a debtor. Blame the man who cheated and the woman who helped him. It has nothing to do with Maya."
She pointed at me. "She is a victim, too. Two irresponsible people brought her into the world and failed her. And now? Now Arthur Hayes wants to use her connection to save his wallet? That is moral bankruptcy. If he tries to use her, he has to deal with the Sterling family."
Diane slumped back. She realized she couldn't win against the Sterlings. Her eyes turned to Patricia, filled with venom. "Well? Are you going to fix this? Or are you going to let your daughter ruin us?"
Patricia looked at Ryan. He looked terrified.
Patricia gritted her teeth. She stood up, walked around the table, and dropped to her knees in front of me.
The room went dead silent.
"Maya," Patricia said, her voice shaking. "I’m begging you. Please. Tell Adam to give the projects back to the Hayes company."
"Mom!" Ryan jumped up, horrified. He grabbed her arm. "Mom, what are you doing? Get up!"
Patricia shoved him away. "Let me kneel."
I stared down at her. For a second, I was shocked. But then the realization hit me. She was kneeling because Diane threatened Ryan’s future.
For her son, she would throw away all her dignity.
Ryan turned to me, his face twisted with hate. "Are you happy? You’re too much! I thought you were just stubborn, but you’re actually evil. Look at her! Your own mother is kneeling to you! Your heart is black, Maya. You don't deserve happiness."
I let out a cold laugh. Classic Ryan. Always the victim. Always gaslighting me.
"I hate to disappoint you, brother," I said calmly. "But I am going to be very happy. And you? A divorced man living off his mother’s schemes? I don't think you’ll be happy at all."
"Maya! Stop talking nonsense! Make her get up! Aren't you afraid of bad karma?"
"I didn't ask her to kneel," I said. "She chose to. And I’m not worried about karma. Since we’re all here, let’s just say she’s kneeling to Grandmother Sterling."
"Maya! Just promise her!" Ryan shouted.
"Promise her what?"
A deep, icy voice cut through the noise.
"Adam." My eyes lit up.
He walked straight to me, ignoring everyone else. He took my hand. His palm was warm, grounding me.
Ryan tried to puff out his chest. "Adam, give the projects back."
Adam looked around the room, his gaze landing on Diane and Patricia. "This was just a warning. If you harass Maya again, losing three projects will seem like a mercy. I will take everything."
He squeezed my hand tight. "Don't talk to me about family relations. I don't recognize any of you."
"Let’s go," he said to me.
He led me out of the room without looking back. The Sterling family followed us out, leaving the Hayes faction in stunned silence.
Adam walked me to his car.
"Wait! Adam! Maya!" Justin came running up, carrying several shopping bags. "You forgot these."
I blinked. My shopping from earlier. "Oh. Right. Thanks, Justin."
"I'll put them in the back." Justin popped the trunk of Adam's car, grinning. "Bye guys!"
"Bye."
Across the lot, Grandmother Sterling and Aunt Margaret were getting into Jenna’s car. I waved at them. Grandmother gave me a sharp nod before the window rolled up.
Adam pulled the car onto the street.
I watched his sharp profile. "Jenna text you?"
"Group chat."
"You didn't have to come," I murmured. "They couldn't actually hurt me."
Adam shot me a glance. "Maya, listen. You aren't alone anymore. You have me. You have the family."
I managed a faint smile. "I know. Thank you."
Adam reached over, interlacing his fingers with mine.
"Maya, let’s get married."
"What?"
Adam smirked. "Why the shock? Have you honestly never thought about marrying me?"
I bit my lip.
Of course I had. But marriage wasn't simple. My identity was a mess, and Arthur Hayes was a vulture waiting to feed on the Sterling name. Would I just be a liability?
My silence stretched too long.
Adam’s brow furrowed. "You really haven't?"
"Adam, I..."
"It doesn't matter." He squeezed my hand tight. "If you didn't think about it before, start thinking about it now."