Chapter 2

Medora's POV

I had almost pushed him away when I remembered that I was supposed to be Maven, my carefree and fragile sister.

I didn't know if they were connected. So, despite how much I couldn't stand his presence, I couldn't afford to act rashly.

The crowd was still murmuring amongst themselves, but I paid them no attention.

I was still trying to process the best way to react to Reid when Adrian's voice came sharply from behind.

“What took you so long?”

I turned around slowly and he was standing behind me, his hands still intertwined with Bianca.

My gaze moved from their intertwined hands to his face, my fingers tightening around my clutch. They had really become shameless.

“Don't look at me like that,” he snarled, placing his hand over Bianca's. “We're here as a couple representing the company.”

I snorted, keeping my eyes fixed on him. As a couple? What happened to me being his legal wife?

“Adrian, the award ceremony.” Bianca said with a smooth voice.

“Maven, you have to go up to the stage and sign the actress award to Bianca.” He instructed, avoiding my eyes.

My breath caught sharply. The actress award? My sister had wished for nothing more than to hold that award ever since she joined the entertainment industry.

But when I had asked her about it three days ago, she'd sounded strangely distant. At one point, she had even told me not to come back anymore.

I bit the inside of my cheek, suppressing the urge to slam Adrian's head against the table behind me. Maven had been pregnant, how many shocking things did this despicable man do to her?

“I won't do that.” I said, swallowing back my tears.

“What did you just say?” He snapped, his eyes widening like he wasn't sure he heard me well.

“Adrian, the actress award belongs to me alone. It bears the name Maven Sanders and not Bianca Morgan.” I hissed, my voice rising.

“If she wanted one so badly, she should work on her skills in the industry.”

Bianca lowered her head, grabbing tighter onto Adrian's arm. “I'm sorry, Adrian. I think I'm being greedy and I apologize to your wife.”

Adrian's expression darkened. “Don't push your luck, Maven. You'll go to that stage and do exactly as I say.”

I studied him for a moment. Then, without a word, I turned my back on him. Reid still stood behind me, one of his hands clasped around a glass of whiskey and the other, tucked neatly into his pocket.

Before I could think better of it, I reached for the glass of whiskey and emptied it in one gulp. The hot liquid burning down my throat just enough to keep my emotions in check.

Reid's eyes widened. “Miss Maven, you're pregnant.”

I froze. He was a tech billionaire. Despite his influence, he had no reason to be involved with the entertainment industry or my pregnancy.

I was definitely missing something.

Adrian's hand grabbed my arm. “If you would excuse us, Mr. Vaughn.”

Reid stood stiffly and even though he said nothing, his eyes surely had a lot to say.

I slapped Adrian's hand away and linked my hand with Reid's arm. Reid's body went rigid the instant our skin made contact, but I refused to pay attention to his reaction.

“Reid is accompanying me tonight. As my partner, keep your distance.” I sized him up. “For the company's reputation.”

Adrian took a step back. Of course, his company stood no chance against Vaughn's corporation so he knew better than to get on Reid's bad side.

“Maven Sanders, please come to the stage to receive the Best Actress Award.” A female voice came from the stage before Adrian could say anything.

Reid grabbed my arm slightly tighter. “Mind if I walk you?”

“Of course not,” I replied with a smile that didn't reach my eyes.

“Maven, you—”

“Excuse me, I have an award to receive.” I cut him off sharply, striding towards the stage.

The murmurs grew louder as I approached the stage.

“I didn't expect her to show her face here.”

“She's just so despicable, I can't even stand her.”

“Why is she even walking to the stage when we already know who the award belongs to.”

I walked onto the stage and the woman flashed me a warm smile before extending the award towards me.

I swallowed hard, staring at the award as my fingers trembled.

Over the past five years, I had taken my father's tech company from the brink of bankruptcy to becoming the second-largest tech company in the world. I had received countless awards along the way, so many that I had lost count.

“Miss Maven?” The woman called, waving her hand before my face.

I stretched out my hand and took the award, my fingers trembling slightly.

“Can you see this?” I whispered. “We're finally holding the award you wanted so badly.”

The woman adjusted the microphone towards me. “What do you have to say to the crowd?”

My gaze swept across the crowd, and for a moment, I saw Maven standing in the center of the room.

“We did it.” I said, my voice hoarse.

Maven smiled at me and I didn't even realize when the tears I had been holding back trickled down my face.

“That was quite emotional, Miss Maven.” The woman said, giving me a gentle pat.

I placed the microphone on the podium and walked off the stage, straight into Reid's waiting arms.

I had promised myself I wouldn't cry. Maven was the only person I would allow myself to mourn. Yet here I was, crying in Reid Vaughn's arms.

Reid covered my face with his coat, shielding me from the curious eyes as he led me out of the hall and into the quiet balcony. I stepped away from him and wiped my tears with the back of my hand.

I had never expected Reid would one day see me in my weakest point.

“Thank you,” I muttered, inhaling the fresh night air. Home really smells different but not as special as I imagined.

“You are not Maven, right?” His voice suddenly cut through the night.

Reid's POV

Her body went completely still.

“Who are you really? Are you her twin sister?” I asked, studying her reaction.

“I don't know what you're talking about,” she snapped, avoiding my eyes.

My grip on the balcony railing tightened. I doubted she would admit she was Maven's sister even if I confronted her directly.

It wasn't like I knew her twin sister personally. I only knew she had a twin sister but after searching for more than four years, I couldn't find even the slightest clue about the sister.

“Mr. Vaughn, I'm grateful for your help. You don't get to make baseless accusations against me.” She spat, turning to face me fully.

“Baseless accusations?” I snickered, meeting her eyes. There was something familiar about her, but the first thing that gave her away was her eyes.

The Maven I knew always had warm, soft eyes no matter the situation. But the woman standing before me had the same stern, sharp eyes as Novacore’s hidden president, my biggest rival.

I shook my head, running my fingers through my hair. I had to be completely insane to even consider it.

But I was certain the woman standing before me wasn't Maven, even though they shared the same face. There were too many contradictions for me to ignore.

Maven always dressed elegantly and drew attention wherever she went, but this woman's style was on another level. She dressed with little or no care about what anyone would think.

She also carried herself with an air of confidence, as though the world belonged to her.

Even her voice was slightly different. She didn't stutter and her tone was sharper.

Maven wouldn't gulp down whiskey. In fact, she hated it and always preferred champagne.

She wouldn't also talk to Adrian the way this woman did. I hated how much she loved him. But even when he treated her badly, she remained patient with him and always did as he wanted.

Besides, Maven was four months pregnant. I knew she'd had an accident and lost the baby last night, but the woman in front of me neither looked pregnant nor behaved like someone who had just lost a baby.

I had only gone on a business trip three months ago and the change in her character was too drastic. There was no way I could believe such a drastic change was possible.

“Mr. Vaughn, I'll take my leave then.” She said, already walking out of the balcony.

I turned towards her receding figure. “Congratulations, Maven.”

Even though she might not be the Maven I had loved and admired for more than four years, she still had everything about her that I remembered except her personality and voice.

She halted in her tracks but didn't turn. “Thank you, Mr. Vaughn.”

I waited till I couldn't hear her receding footsteps before bringing out my phone. I dialed a number and the person on the other end answered immediately.

“I want to know everything Maven Sanders has done in the last three months.” I instructed, taking in a sharp breath. “Also monitor her every move carefully from now on.”

I didn't wait for his response before hanging up the call.

I tucked my phone back into my pocket and headed back to the hall. “Whoever you are, I just hope my Maven is safe.”

***

“Even in your wildest imaginations, I'm not going to hand this award over.” Maven's sharp voice stopped me in my tracks.

I turned towards her voice without thinking twice and found her a few seconds later.

She had her back on me while facing Adrian and Bianca.

My fingers slowly curled into fists. The only thing saving Adrian was the fact that she loved him. He should pray it stayed that way, because if her love for him ever faded, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

Adrian slapped her across the face. “How dare you raise your voice on me?”

I clenched my fist tight, resisting the urge to go over there and return the slap to Adrian. The last time I had done that, she had sternly warned me to stay out of her business.

Bianca's voice followed suit as she cuddled up to Adrian. “Please don't be angry, Adrian. She just lost a baby and her emotions are a mess.”

“Even if she—”

Maven slapped him twice, cutting him off sharply.

My mind went blank for a second. That was a badass move, something I had desperately wanted to see her do for years.”

For a moment, I forgot all my suspicions and for once, she had finally fought back.

“And who told you you can lay your filthy hands on me?” She snapped, iciness dripping from her voice.

“Maven, are you insane?” Bianca shrieked, her voice shaking.

“Insane?” Maven repeated, nodding her head. “I'll show you just how insane I can be.”

Before Bianca could react, she slapped her twice before grabbing her hair and yanking her head back.

“Adrian, help me.” Bianca cried out in pain.

Adrian tried to push Maven's hand away, but she dodged him and grabbed his head, slamming it against the wall.

Adrian screamed out in pain as blood trickled down his head.

“This is just the beginning.” Maven spat, striding out of the hallway.

She pulled a towel from her bag and began wiping the blood from her hands. “Holy hell! I thought I could hold back a little longer.”

I slipped into the nearest room before she could reach me. It wasn't until she disappeared into the hall that I began wondering why I had done that.

***

I found her later on the same balcony after searching the hall twice.

She had her hands stretched sideways, letting the night air brush her face as she stared at the sky.

She looked nothing like a woman who had just beaten someone up.

“Mind if I join you?” I asked, stopping next to her.

She turned sharply, her face twisting into disgust at first before it turned neutral.

“I'm afraid I really mind.” She said, turning to face the sky again.

Her reaction stung for reasons I couldn't explain.

“Then accept my little congratulatory gift.” I said, extending a lily bouquet towards her.

She shifted her gaze toward me again, something hollow flashing in her eyes the moment she saw the flowers.

“Get that out of here!” she yelled, sneezing heavily.