Chapter 172
Author's POV:
Ryan and Patricia’s faces changed instantly. The air in the doorway grew heavy with tension.
"Maya, what do you mean?" Ryan asked.
Maya looked past her brother, fixing her cold gaze directly on Patricia. "I remember what Mom said. She said, 'If I get married, she won't come. If anything happens to me, I shouldn't call her.' I am simply following her instructions, aren't I?"
Patricia looked as though she had swallowed a lemon. She stood frozen, unable to find a rebuttal.
She remembered those words clearly. Years ago, when Maya was pregnant with Amy, scared and alone in Cleveland, she had called home. She had asked if her mother could come to the hospital, just for a few days, to help when the baby arrived.
Patricia had been furious. She viewed Maya’s pregnancy as a disgrace, a stain on her reputation.
Ryan glanced at his mother, sensing the situation spiraling. "Maya, let those old things go. That was years ago. We should get along now."
"Get along?" Maya let out a dry, humorless laugh.
The memory was vivid in her mind. She could still hear Patricia’s voice through the phone receiver, dripping with disdain.
“Maya, you aren’t even married and you’re knocked up. Because of you, I can’t even lift my head in front of the relatives.”
“You want me to babysit? Are you dreaming? I’m telling you now, whether you live or die has nothing to do with me. Treat it as if I never raised you.”
“Don't bother inviting me to your wedding. I probably thought too much anyway—who would want to marry you with that baggage?”
“Just don't call me. Ever.”
Those words had cut deep. Every time Maya recalled them, the old wound reopened.
And now Ryan wanted them to "get along"? How? They didn't see her as family. They were here because Patricia was getting older. She wanted insurance. She wanted someone to share the burden of her care so Ryan wouldn't have to do it alone.
And, of course, there was Adam. Patricia likely thought that being close to the Sterling family would boost Ryan’s career. Ryan was always the center of her world.
Patricia straightened her back, her pride flaring up to cover her embarrassment. "Ryan, let's go. It’s not like we are begging to attend. If she has no family there, she is the one losing face, not us."
Ryan grabbed her arm, desperate. "Mom, stop. Don't fight with Maya. We need to go to this wedding."
He turned to his sister, his expression pleading. "Maya, just apologize to Mom. Say something nice."
Maya rolled her eyes.
"Maya..." Ryan started.
Patricia pulled her arm free violently. "Look at her! Look at that attitude. I’m not going."
She turned and stomped toward the car. Ryan shot Maya a resentful look, shook his head, and ran after his mother.
In the car, Ryan sighed heavily. "Mom, are you really not going to Maya's wedding?"
"That ungrateful girl doesn't want us there," she snapped. "What can I do?"
She stared out the window, wondering if Arthur Hayes had been invited.
"Are you going tomorrow?" Patricia called Arthur.
Arthur was silent for a moment on the other end of the line. "They didn't invite me. I went to see Maya a few days ago. I offered to walk her down the aisle. I thought... I thought she would want her father."
"She refused?"
Patricia felt a twisted sense of relief. At least she wasn't the only one being rejected.
"You weren't invited either?" Arthur asked.
Patricia scoffed. "I didn't want to go anyway. Goodbye."
She hung up before he could ask more details.
The next day, despite their pride, Arthur and Patricia both showed up.
They met at the heavy iron security gates outside the massive estate where the ceremony was held. They tried to give their names. They tried to explain they were the bride’s parents.
The security guards were like stone walls. "Name not on the list. You cannot enter."
Arthur and Patricia stood off to the side, their faces flushed with anger and humiliation as luxury cars rolled past them.
"She is dead set on cutting ties with us," Patricia hissed.
Arthur sighed heavily. "If I had known she would end up with a Sterling, I would have raised her myself."
Patricia rolled her eyes. "Hindsight is useless."
She turned around sharply to leave and nearly collided with a woman stepping out of a black sedan that had just pulled up.
It was Katherine.
Katherine looked annoyed as she brushed off her sleeve. "Watch where you are going."
"You came up behind me," Patricia snapped back. She was already in a foul mood.
"You were standing in the way," Katherine retorted, adjusting her sunglasses.
Patricia opened her mouth to argue, but Arthur grabbed her arm. He recognized the woman.
"Katherine?" Arthur put on his best social smile, desperate for an entry ticket. "You are here for the wedding? Can you get us in?"
Patricia looked at the elegant woman. If this woman could get them inside, she would swallow the insult.
Katherine glanced at Patricia with disdain. "Who is she?"
"This is Patricia," Arthur explained quickly. "Maya's mother."
Katherine raised an eyebrow, surprised.
"Maya is my daughter," Arthur continued, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "Mine and Patricia's."
Katherine froze. "What? Maya is your daughter? Both of yours?"
Arthur nodded.
Katherine’s face darkened instantly. "So Maya is illegitimate. She is a bastard child." She let out a sharp, cruel laugh. "A mistress's daughter wants to marry my son? Has Robert lost his mind? How could he agree to this?"
She straightened her jacket, her eyes flashing with fury. "No. I have to stop this. Maya cannot marry Adam."
Her son was perfect. He could marry royalty, a senator's daughter, or old money. Why would he choose an illegitimate child with no background?
Even if Maya had birthed a child for the Sterlings, so what? Plenty of women could have children.
Katherine marched toward the gate. "Out of my way," she commanded the guards.
The head of security stepped forward, blocking her path. "Ma'am, I need to see your invitation."
Katherine’s jaw dropped. "Do you know who I am? I am the groom's mother."
The guard didn't flinch. "I know who you are, Mrs. Sterling. But Mr. Adam gave specific orders. You are not on the list."
"What?" Katherine shrieked. "I don't believe you. My son wouldn't do that. Move! I am going in!"
"Please leave, Ma'am," the guard said, his hand resting on his earpiece.
Patricia watched from the side, a sneer forming on her lips. "Well. Looks like she can't get in either."
Arthur was stunned. Adam Sterling was ruthless. He had locked out his own mother.
Katherine lost her composure completely. She swung her expensive handbag at the guard, screaming about her rights. "Let me in! This wedding is a farce!"
Two large men appeared from the guardhouse. They grabbed Katherine by the arms and dragged her away from the entrance as she kicked and screamed, ruining her expensive heels.
Arthur and Patricia exchanged a look. If the groom’s own mother was being tossed out like trash, they had zero chance.
Silently, they turned and walked back to their cars.
Inside the estate, the atmosphere was entirely different. The soft strains of a string quartet filled the air.
Maya walked down the aisle, her arm linked through Adam’s. He looked devastatingly handsome in his tuxedo, but his eyes were locked only on her.
Behind them, Amy walked with careful, deliberate steps. She wore a miniature version of Maya’s dress, a basket of white rose petals in her hand. She tossed them into the air with serious concentration, her golden curls bouncing with every step.
The guests whispered as the trio passed.
"That child is adorable."
"You don't know? That’s Adam’s daughter."
"Really? I thought it was a rumor."
"Look at her face. She has the Sterling eyes. The bride is the ex-girlfriend from six years ago. They say she raised the child alone all this time."
"My god. That’s a real Cinderella story. No wonder the kid looks just like him."
At the family table, Jenna cupped her face in her hands. "Wow! Maya is gorgeous. I think I want to marry her."
Margaret swatted Jenna’s arm lightly. "Don't be ridiculous."
Justin nodded, watching the couple. "She really is stunning. I need to find a wife just like her."
Margaret sighed, but she looked at Maya with genuine approval. "Finally, one of you makes sense."