Maya's POV
I was sitting in my car outside the coffee shop when my phone buzzed. David texted again. We need to talk about Marcus Webb immediately.
I stuffed my phone into my purse after turning it off. David was too much for me to handle at the moment. Not when I was going to confront Alex and warn him that everything he was attempting to do for me could be ruined by my past.
As I entered the tiny coffee shop, the bell above the door jingled. It had the aroma of hope and freshly baked bread. Alex was already seated at a table in the corner, typing quickly on his laptop. His face lit up with a smile that made my heart skip a beat when he saw me.
"Maya!" He got up and embraced me for a longer time than was necessary. "I'm very happy you came."
However, his smile vanished as soon as he saw my face. He asked, "What happened?" "You appear to have seen a ghost."
"Worse," I said as I took a seat across from him. "I've seen my past."
Leaning forward, Alex shut down his laptop. "Tell me."
I inhaled deeply before telling him everything, regarding Jessica discovering the picture. Concerning Marcus Webb. about how Alex's main business rival was Marcus. I could see Alex's jaw tightening with each sentence as he listened silently.
When I was done, he said, "So let me get this straight." "A picture of you kissing my worst enemy is being used as blackmail by your ex-husband's girlfriend."
"It wasn't like that," I blurted out. "The kiss had no significance. I hardly recall it."
"I'm not concerned about that." Alex combed his hair with his hands. "For three years, Marcus Webb has been attempting to ruin my company, Maya. If he learns about us—"
"There is no us," I muttered. "I came here to tell you that. I can no longer rely on you for assistance."
Alex looked at me as if I had just given him a slap. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm trying to shield you from my mess. Alex, Marcus is dangerous. He will use it against you if he believes we are together."
"Marcus Webb is not important to me."
"Well, you ought to. Because he's back in town based on that picture. He is also aware of my impending divorce."
Alex stared at his coffee and remained silent for a while. His eyes had changed when he looked up. More difficult.
"I need to tell you something about Marcus Webb, Maya."
"What?"
"It's not just business that makes him hate me so much." Alex's voice was hardly audible. "Marcus attempted to rob me of my business three years ago. However, that isn't the worst aspect."
My stomach dropped. "What's the worst part?"
"He dated the wife of my business partner to accomplish this. He persuaded her to provide him with confidential information about our transactions. Everything was already ruined when we found out. My partner lost his home, his children, and his marriage. Everything."
"Oh my God."
"My best friend from college was the partner. James Chen was his name. James's life was ruined by Marcus." Alex paused and averted his gaze.
"What happened to James, Alex?"
"Maya, he committed suicide. James crashed his car off a bridge three months after losing everything."
I had trouble breathing. "Alex, I really apologize."
"Now you understand why I can't allow Marcus Webb to harm another woman I care about."
He had feelings for another woman. Between us, the words lingered.
I said, "You care about me?"
Alex grabbed my hand from across the table. "Maya, ever since you entered my office ten years ago, I have been concerned about you. I've regretted not telling you how I felt for ten years."
"However, I was married—"
"I understand. And I appreciated that. However, you are no longer married."
I glanced down at the hand he was holding. It was cozy, secure, and ideal. I briefly allowed myself to imagine what it would be like to have someone who genuinely cared about me. Someone who thought of me as more than a mother and wife. Then I thought about Marcus Webb and his treatment of James.
Whispering, "I can't," I withdrew my hand. "I refuse to allow him to ruin you as well."
"Listen to me, Maya—"
"No, pay attention to me. I've already lost my marriage, my house, and my son. I won't let you go either."
Alex grabbed my wrist as I started to get up. "Wait, Maya. There's more."
I sat down again because of something in his voice. "What more?"
To make sure no one was listening, Alex glanced around the coffee shop. He then leaned on the other side of the table. "I engaged a private investigator to investigate David's business dealings two weeks ago."
My heart stopped beating. "Why?"
"Because I wanted to assist you in obtaining a more favorable divorce settlement. If we could prove that he was concealing funds—"
"You can't do that, Alex. The divorce has already been finalized."
"Maya, that's exactly it. It may not be."
I gazed at him. "What are you talking about?"
"The investigator discovered something. A shell corporation has been providing funding to David's construction business. Over the previous five years, David has received millions of dollars from a company that doesn't officially exist."
"That's not logical."
"If David is laundering money for someone else, that makes perfect sense."
All of a sudden, the coffee shop seemed too small. Too warm. I was having trouble breathing.
"Maya, the entire divorce process might be unlawful if David signed those divorce documents while he was engaging in fraud."
"However, how does that relate to—" I abruptly understood and stopped talking. "The shell company," I muttered. "Who owns it?"
Alex's expression was serious. "My investigator says Marcus Webb owns it."
The world began to spin. I didn't just make a mistake in college with Marcus Webb. He was more than just Alex's business adversary. He was David's covert associate. In other words, Marcus had been observing me for years. This implied that he was fully aware of my son, my marriage, and my divorce. which implied that everything had been planned out beforehand.
"Maya?" Alex's voice sounded distant. "Are you okay?"
I wasn't feeling well. Nothing was alright. For it had just dawned on me that Marcus Webb had not discovered that picture of us kissing by accident. All these years, he had held onto it, waiting for the ideal time to use it. Furthermore, David's affair with Jessica, the custody dispute, and even my choice to give up my son were all fake if Marcus and David were partners. All of this was a part of Marcus's scheme to ruin Alex. And the weapon he had been preparing to use was me.
On the table, my phone buzzed. a message from an unidentified number.
Hi, Maya. Let's catch up. Tonight at 8 PM, meet me at the old pier. Come alone. Alex will lose more than just his business if you fail to show up. Like James, he will lose everything.
With trembling hands, I showed Alex the text. His face turned pale.
"You can't go, Maya."
"I must."
"No, the police will be called—"
"And let them know what? that I'm getting texts from my college boyfriend?"
"This is a trap, Maya."
"I am aware that it is a trap." I got up and picked up my handbag. "But Marcus will ruin you if I don't leave. And I've already lost everything that matters to me. I won't let you go either."
Alex's voice interrupted me as I was about to leave. "Wait, Maya. One more thing."
I pivoted. "The investigator discovered another thing. Concerning Ethan."
My blood froze. "What about Ethan?"
Alex had a pale face. "Maya, Ethan's biological father isn't David."
The words struck me like a blow to the body. "That isn't possible."
"The investigator discovered medical records. When Ethan was born, David ordered a paternity test. You must see this, Maya."
His hands were shaking as he handed me a folder. There was a DNA report inside. The name of David. The name of Ethan. Additionally, in black and white at the bottom: Paternity probability: 0%
My thoughts were racing as I gazed at the paper. Who was Ethan's father if not David? Then I recalled that college night. I kissed Marcus Webb that night. That night occurred precisely nine months and two weeks prior to the birth of Ethan.
Alex called my name behind me as I dropped the folder and fled the coffee shop. Because it had just dawned on me that Marcus Webb's goal was more than simply to ruin Alex's company. He desired the return of his son.