Chapter 33
Maya's POV:
"Mommy?" Amy tugged at my hand. "We should help her."
I swallowed hard. "Yeah. Yeah, we should."
I glanced down at Amy. "Stay here, okay? Don't move."
"But—"
"I mean it." I squeezed her hand. "Just wait right here. I'll be quick."
She nodded, her eyes wide.
I made my way down the slope carefully, my sneakers sliding on loose dirt and dry leaves.
The woman looked up as I approached. Her face was pale, one hand gripping her ankle.
"Ma'am?" I crouched beside her. "Are you okay?"
She blinked at me. Then her expression shifted—recognition, followed by something that looked almost like delight.
"Oh! It's you." She smiled, despite the obvious pain. "The girl from my grandson's place."
Shit.
"Um—" I cleared my throat. "Do you need help? Can you stand?"
"I tried a few times already." She grimaced. "No luck. Damn rock came out of nowhere. I thought I'd take a nice little walk through the forest, get some fresh air. Didn't think I'd end up sitting on my ass like an invalid."
I managed a small smile. "Do you have a phone? We can call someone for you."
"Left it in the car." She sighed. "My security detail's probably losing their minds right about now. I told them I'd be gone for twenty minutes. It's been... what, thirty?"
I pulled out my phone. "Here. Use mine."
"Thank you, sweetheart."
She took it and dialed a number.
"Gerald, it's me. Yes, I'm fine. No, I haven't been kidnapped. I'm near the forest trail by the river. Just— Yes, I twisted my ankle. No, don't panic. There's a lovely young woman here helping me. Just get over here, would you?"
She hung up. Handed the phone back. "They'll be here in five minutes."
"Good." I shifted my weight. "Do you... need anything? Water?"
"I'm fine, dear." She waved a hand. "But thank you. You're very kind."
Footsteps crunched through the underbrush. Two men in dark suits appeared, both scanning the area before locking onto the woman.
"Mrs. Sterling." The taller one crouched beside her. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Gerald. Just help me up, would you?"
He did—carefully, one arm around her waist while the other man steadied her legs.
"We're taking you to the hospital," Gerald said.
"I don't need—"
"Mrs. Sterling."
She sighed. "Fine. But it's a waste of time."
Gerald glanced at me. "Thank you for staying with her."
"Of course."
Mrs. Sterling looked at me one more time. "You're a good girl. Thank you."
And then they were gone, disappearing through the trees.
I climbed back up the slope. Amy grabbed my hand immediately.
"Is she okay?"
"She'll be fine." I squeezed her fingers. "Actually, that's your great-grandma."
---
Adam's POV:
I got the call an hour later.
Grandmother. Hospital. Ankle.
I was there in fifteen minutes.
The private room was on the top floor—quiet, sterile, expensive. My father was already there, standing by the window with his arms crossed. Margaret sat in a chair near the door, scrolling through her phone. Gregory leaned against the wall, looking bored.
And in the center of it all, propped up on pillows with her ankle wrapped in ice, was my grandmother.
She looked delighted.
"Adam!" She waved me over. "There you are."
"What happened?" I crossed the room, stopping at the edge of her bed. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Just a little sprain. Nothing to fuss about."
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "You shouldn't have been walking alone."
"Oh, stop scolding me. I'm not a child." She grinned. "Besides, guess who found me?"
I frowned. "Who?"
"That lovely girl from your building."
I went still.
"What girl?" Margaret asked, not looking up from her phone.
"The one I saw at Adam's place." My grandmother's eyes sparkled. "Pretty thing. Dark hair. Sweet smile."
"Grandma—"
"Don't 'Grandma' me." She pointed a finger at me. "I know what I saw. And I know you've been hiding her."
"I haven't been hiding anyone."
"Then why didn't you tell me about her?"
"Because there's nothing to tell."
"Bullshit."
Margaret glanced up. "Wait. Who are we talking about?"
"Adam's girlfriend," my grandmother said smugly.
"She's not my girlfriend."
"Then what is she?"
I didn't answer.
My father turned from the window. "Adam. Who is this woman?"
"Her name's Maya Bennett," I said flatly. "She works for Garrison Industries. We've crossed paths a few times."
"Adam." Her voice sharpened. "Didn't you tell me before that you and some girl—what was it you said?—' everything that could happen has happened'?"
Margaret's head snapped up from her phone. "Wait, what?"
"So it is her." My grandmother leaned forward, ignoring the ice pack.
"Adam." My father's voice cut through the room. Sharp. Demanding. "Is what your grandmother saying true? You and this Maya woman...?"
"Dad, it's complicated. Can we talk about this later?"
"Complicated how?" His eyes bored into mine. "If you got that girl pregnant, you need to take responsibility—"
"Hold on." Margaret stood up, phone forgotten. "Let's not rush into anything. There are plenty of scheming women out there who get pregnant on purpose to trap rich men. Adam needs to be careful."
"Margaret!" My grandmother's face flushed. "Don't you dare talk about my future granddaughter-in-law like that! That girl is beautiful, kind-hearted, and nothing like what you're suggesting. Adam would be lucky to marry her."
My father nodded slowly. "Anyone who helps someone in need like that must have a good heart."
Margaret crossed her arms. "Mom, did she know who you were when she helped you?"
"We'd met once before. At Adam's building."
"See?" Margaret's voice turned cold. "She knew exactly who you were. Probably saw an opportunity to get on Adam's good side, make herself look good. If you were just some random old lady, she wouldn't have given you a second glance."
"That's enough." My grandmother's voice went deadly quiet. "Stop trying to poison my mind against her. I may be old, but I'm not blind. I can tell a good person from a bad one."
Margaret opened her mouth, but her husband Gregory grabbed her arm. "Let your mother rest. Come on."
She huffed but stayed quiet.
My grandmother turned back to me. "Adam, call her. Bring her here. I want to see her properly."
"Grandma—"
"Don't 'Grandma' me. Do it."
"She's not... we're not together."
"Then make it happen!"