The man who had stood in front of everyone that morning and declared that he'd never betray me.

The man who controlled research parks, medical districts, and entire networks of private clinics with a single phone call.

The man who had promised to always choose me.

...

I stood frozen at the door. Earlier that day, she had been crying in front of everyone. She had said she wouldn't accept anything like that proposal from the family.

She had looked at me and even held my hand.

“I won't betray you, Sandra,” she had said softly. “Not even if they force me. I won't become someone I hate.”

And I believed her… I actually believed her.

...

“Maverick, I told them no,” Maxine said upstairs, her voice shaking like she was confessing something painful. “I really did. I said I wouldn't do anything like this, like making out with you for the sake of your twin Anthony.”

She reached out and lightly touched his sleeve, hesitant, innocent.

“But they keep pushing me,” she continued softly. “And I don't know how long I can keep resisting when everyone keeps saying I'm selfish.”

Maverick's jaw tightened. “You shouldn't be blaming yourself for this,” he said quietly. “This isn't something you should carry alone.”

His voice softened a little after that.

“But you also know what this means if Sandra finds out.” Maxine lowered her eyes immediately, “I don't want to hurt her,” she said quickly. “Sandra is my younger sister. I love her. I would never want to take anything from her.”

Then she looked up again, eyes glossy, voice trembling just right.

“But I also don't know what I'm supposed to do anymore.”

...

I stepped back without realizing it.

My shoulder hit the wall behind me.

A soft sound came from the room again, followed by Maverick's voice, lower now.

“Maxine, stop shaking,” he said. “You don't have to act like you're trapped. You're not.”

“I’m not acting,” she whispered immediately “I swear I'm not. I just… I don't know how to stop feeling guilty about everything.”

Then all I heard were kisses, moans, and Maxine panting softly. I didn’t need to peek— I could already picture exactly what they were doing.

“Rick! Ahh!”

“Maxine, ohh!”

I turned away immediately and walked down the stairs slowly, like my legs didn't belong to me.

Maxine had always been like that. Even when she smiled, it looked soft, harmless. Even when she got what she wanted, she acted like she didn't ask for it. Even when she hurt someone, she somehow made it sound like she was the one bleeding.

…

The next morning, I didn't sleep at all. I just sat there until the sky turned pale. Then I called the lawyer. By noon, the papers were ready.

I walked into Maverick's office.

The room was clean, too clean.

Glass walls. Cold light. Everything sharp and expensive, like it was designed to erase emotion.

He looked up as I entered.

“What's wrong?” he asked calmly. “You didn't sleep, baby.”

I flipped the papers to the last page and placed them in front of him.

“Sign this,” I said quietly.

He glanced at the papers, but didn't open them.

“Sandra,” he said softly, almost tired. “You know I don't question anything you bring me.”

I forced myself to meet his eyes. “Don't you want to read it first? What if it's something you shouldn't agree to?”

He leaned back slightly, watching me. “If it's from you, baby, I don't need to read it twice,” he said. “Just tell me where.”

I pointed at the last page.

“Here. Signed here.”

He signed immediately.

“Are you ever scared I'll use you?” I asked suddenly.

Maverick paused for a second, then let out a small breath that almost sounded like a laugh. “Sandra,” he said, reaching for my hand. “If you ever tried to destroy me, I'd probably help you organize the plan.”

Once upon a time, those words would've made me cry from happiness. Now? They only made me sick.

How many times had he said things like that? How many promises had turned out to be lies?

…

That evening, my father-in-law once again ordered Maverick to kneel in the family mausoleum at the back of the mansion.

His expression was cold. “Maverick, stop being stubborn.”

“I've already made my position clear.” Maverick's voice was firm. “I'm not going to do what you're asking, Dad ”

His father looked furious. “Then kneel.”

Maverick met her gaze. “If that's what you want, fine.” Then he turned toward me. His eyes softened immediately. “Baby, don't worry.” He squeezed my hand. “I'd rather kneel there forever than betray you.”

The words were perfect… So perfect that anyone would've believed them, but I already knew the truth.

Because later that night, after the mansion fell silent once again, I heard movement upstairs.

The same room, the same secret hidden behind closed doors. I sat alone in the darkness.

This time, I didn't go upstairs.

There was no point.

I'd already seen enough.

The sounds drifted faintly through the quiet house.

And with every passing minute, another piece of my heart broke.

…

For the next few days, the same thing happened over and over again. Every night, I lay awake in bed staring into the darkness.

After all, no one could guarantee a pregnancy on the first try.

That was the excuse everyone seemed to be using.

I stopped sleeping properly.

The moment I closed my eyes, unwanted thoughts would creep in.

No matter how hard I tried to push them away, they always came back.

...

As the days passed, I started looking worse and worse. The woman staring back at me in the mirror barely looked familiar.

My face was pale. Dark circles sat beneath my eyes. My clothes hung more loosely on my body with each passing day.

Meanwhile, Maxine looked healthier than ever.

The grief that had nearly destroyed her seemed to disappear little by little.

Color returned to her face. She smiled more. She laughed more and the mansion was filled with life again.

Everyone seemed happy, everyone except me.

And somehow, nobody noticed.

Or maybe they noticed and simply didn't care.

That thought hurt even more.

When Anthony died, the entire family had practically stopped breathing.

Mrs. Farrington personally cooked meals every day because she worried Maxine wasn't eating enough. Mr. Farrington canceled meetings and spent hours with her.

The staff treated her like fragile glass.

Even Maverick seemed to devote all his attention to making sure she was comfortable.

I remembered how desperately everyone had worried whenever Maxine looked sad. Now I was the one wasting away.

I was the one losing sleep. I was the one barely eating.

Yet all I received were cold looks and accusations.

One afternoon, Mrs. Farrington finally snapped at me.

"Sandra, can you stop looking so miserable all the time?"

I froze.

She continued before I could answer. "Every day you walk around with that expression on your face. What exactly are you unhappy about?"

I lowered my eyes.

Mr. Farrington scoffed. "You should be grateful."

His voice was sharp.

"If Anthony hadn't sacrificed himself protecting Maverick years ago, your husband would've been the one in that grave."

The room fell silent.

Then Mrs. Farrington added bitterly, "Your sister is suffering and all you can think about is yourself."

I stood there quietly. What was I supposed to say? That I was hurting too? That my marriage was falling apart right in front of me? Nobody would've cared.

...

After that, I stopped trying. I quietly gathered my documents. I finalized the divorce paperwork. And I submitted an application for an overseas assignment through one of Synergy Bio-Pharma's international branches.

If nobody wanted me here, then why was I still staying? I didn't tell anyone, not even Maverick.

A few weeks later, the news everyone had been waiting for finally arrived.

Maxine was pregnant.

The entire mansion erupted in celebration, and the family held a banquet.

Champagne flowed.

Firecrackers exploded outside the estate gates.

Even some of Maverick's top executives from Synergy Bio-Pharma and several high-ranking members of the Iron Crown Cartel came to offer congratulations.

It felt like the whole world was celebrating.

I sat quietly at the breakfast table the next morning, eating porridge while everyone discussed baby names.

Then I looked up and my eyes landed on Maverick.

"Maverick."

He immediately turned toward me. "What is it, sweetheart?"

I stared at him for several seconds. "That baby, is that yours?"

The room instantly fell silent.

Maverick froze. For a split second, something flashed across his face.

"Sandra!" His brows furrowed. "What kind of question is that?"

I held his gaze.

He pushed his chair back. "Are you seriously questioning me right now?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried enough weight to make everyone tense.

"I've done everything I can for this family and for you. I never betrayed you. Why would I be the father of Maxine's baby?" His jaw tightened. "And after all these years together, that's what you think of me?"

Mrs. Farrington immediately jumped in. "How could you ask something like that? Now that Maxine is pregnant, you're looking miserable again. Whether the baby is Maverick's or not, you should be happy for your sister!"

Mr. Farrington looked furious. "Sandra is just jealous because she couldn't get pregnant. She's a barren cursed, that's all."

"Mother, Father, please don't be hard on my sister," Maxine said softly. "She's just used to being the center of attention, but now I've taken all the love and attention because I'm pregnant. Sister, trust me, the father of my baby is not my brother-in-law. We would never do such a thing and betray you. I love you more than anything else."

Mrs. Farrington scoffed. "See? Your sister is so understanding and kind. If only Maverick had been Maxine's husband in the first place. And you should've been Anthony's wife."

"My appetite is ruined now. Tss." Mr. Farrington shook his head.

"Enough!" Maverick cut them off. He reached for my hand. "Sandra… Look at me."

I didn't move.

"I love you." The words came easily to him. "I would never betray you."

I almost laughed and not because it was funny, but because it hurt.

During those weeks, Maverick had intentionally spent several nights in our bedroom. Anyone watching would've thought we were a perfectly normal married couple. But every time he touched me, I found myself pulling away.

…

One night, I drank too much at a family gathering.

Everyone assumed I was drunk enough to forget everything.

Maybe Maverick assumed that too.

But even through the haze of alcohol, I remembered one thing very clearly.

I remembered that nothing happened between us.

And I remembered him and Maxine making out on the same bed we used to share.

The next morning, Maverick acted as if nothing had happened.

At breakfast, he sat beside me, casually poured me a glass of juice, and placed it in front of me as though we were still the same couple we'd always been.

Then he suddenly wrapped an arm around my waist. “Still upset with me? You've barely spoken to me these past few days. I know things haven't been easy lately, but you're making me feel like I've committed some terrible crime.”

I looked at him without saying anything.

“Sandra, I know I haven't been spending enough time with you lately. I've been dealing with family problems from every direction. But you can't start doubting me because of that.”

He pulled me closer.

“You know exactly why I've been away every night. You know what kind of pressure my parents have been putting on me. I've been trying to protect us the entire time.”

I almost laughed.

Did I?

Maverick lowered his voice.

“My father kept punishing me. Every night he made me stay in the family mausoleum and reflect. He said I was being selfish and dishonoring Anthony's memory.”

He sighed dramatically.

“I was practically being tortured because I refused to agree to their ridiculous plan. They wanted me to put the family's wishes above my marriage, and I wouldn't do it.”

His expression became wounded.

“I stood against my own family for you. I fought with them for you. And now you're looking at me like I'm the bad guy?”

The grievance in his eyes looked almost real.

Almost.

“Anyone else can doubt me, Sandra. My parents can misunderstand me. The entire world can question me if they want.”

His fingers tightened around mine.

“But not you. You're the one person who knows me better than anyone else. You're supposed to be on my side. I love you. I'm only ever going to love you. Nothing about that has changed.”

I stared at my porridge.

Suddenly, I felt exhausted.

Seeing that I wasn't responding, Maverick hesitated.

“Fine. I wasn't going to tell you this because it's family business. But if I don't explain things, you're going to keep worrying and imagining things that aren't true.”

I finally looked up.

Maverick lowered his voice even further.

“Dad found someone for Maxine. One of Anthony's closest friends. The family wants an heir, so they've allowed him to spend a lot of time with her every night.”

He paused before continuing.

“I even caught them making out once. Honestly, I was relieved. It meant Maxine was finally moving on instead of living in the past.”

Maverick reached across the table and squeezed my hand.

“This stays between us. You can't tell anyone I told you. If my parents find out, they'll be furious.”

Then he smiled.

“Now do you understand? You don't need to worry anymore. Someone else is helping Maxine. Nobody's asking anything from us now.”

His eyes softened.

“Sandra, all I care about is us. All I care about is fixing whatever distance has grown between us. That's what matters to me.”

His voice became almost pleading.

“Promise me something.”

“What?”

“Stop assuming the worst every time something happens. Just trust me the way you used to.”

I nearly choked on the bitterness rising in my throat. How could he say that with a straight face?

The lies came so naturally to him.

Did he really think I was that stupid?

Or had everyone simply spent so many years treating me like I didn't matter that they'd started believing it themselves?

...

A few days later, Maxine's pregnancy became the center of the entire household. Since she was expecting, Mr. Farrington stopped punishing Maverick.

At least publicly.

Maverick also stopped disappearing upstairs every night. Instead, he started returning to our room.

Anyone looking from the outside would've thought our marriage was improving.

But the cracks were already there.

Nothing could fix them.

That evening, Maverick had only been in our room for about twenty minutes when someone knocked on the door.

Mrs. Farrington sounded frantic.

“Maverick! Come quickly. Maxine isn't feeling well. She's been uncomfortable all evening and keeps saying something doesn't feel right!”

She pushed the door open.

“You need to go check on her. She's carrying the family's future now, and I don't want to take any chances.”

Maverick immediately stood. For a brief moment, conflict flashed across his face then it disappeared.

“Mom, what happened? Did she call a doctor? Is she in pain?”

“She says her stomach hurts and she looks pale,” Mrs. Farrington replied anxiously. “I don't know if it's serious, but she's frightened. You should go see her immediately.”

Maverick glanced at me. “Sandra... I just want to make sure she's okay. She's pregnant and everyone is worried about her.” He walked closer.

“I won't be long. The moment I know she's fine, I'll come straight back. I promise.”

I didn't stop him. What was the point?

I was tired of begging for a place in my own marriage. Tired of competing with ghosts and lies.

So I simply nodded.

“Go. She's the one everyone wants you with anyway. It wouldn't make much difference whether I asked you to stay or not.”

For a moment, something flickered across his face but still he left.

That night, I lay awake again.

The mansion was quiet.

Then sometime after midnight, I heard movement upstairs. Faint sounds. Barely audible.

I closed my eyes. Even though I couldn't hear much, I knew exactly where Maverick was.

A sharp pain settled in my chest.

I thought I'd already cried enough, I thought there were no tears left.

Yet when morning came, my pillow was damp.

Maverick didn't return until dawn.

The bedroom door opened softly. He slipped into bed behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

His voice sounded tired. “I'm exhausted. She was uncomfortable all night and refused to sleep. Everyone was worried, so I stayed there to make sure nothing happened.”

I didn't answer.

He buried his face against my shoulder.

“Don't overthink things, Sandra. Maxine wasn't feeling well and she got scared. That's all this was.” His voice remained calm. “She had stomach pains all night. I stayed because she needed reassurance. Nothing happened. Absolutely nothing.”

I closed my eyes.

The expensive cologne on his clothes wasn't his usual scent... it belonged to another room.

Another life.

Another choice.

Suddenly, I felt sick.

I pulled away from him.

Maverick frowned. “Sandra?”

“If you're that worried about Maxine,” I said quietly, “then maybe you should just stay with her from now on. It would save everyone the trouble of pretending.”

The room instantly became silent.

“What?”

I finally turned toward him. “She's a widow. She's carrying a child. She's clearly the person who matters most to everyone in this house.” My voice remained calm.

“She needs someone. I don't.”

Maverick stared at me as if I'd slapped him.

Then his face darkened. “Sandra, what exactly are you trying to say? Stop speaking in riddles and tell me directly. What is it that you think is happening?”

“Nothing.”

“No.” He stood abruptly. “Say it. If you're accusing me of something, then say it to my face.” His eyes hardened. "Do you think there's something inappropriate going on? Do you honestly believe I'd do something like that?”

I laughed softly.

Not because anything was funny.

Because I couldn't believe we were still pretending.

Maverick clenched his jaw.

“Anthony died protecting me. Maxine lost her husband because of that tragedy. She's carrying a child and trying to survive the worst period of her life.”

His voice grew sharper.

“She has nobody. If she's struggling and I help her, what's wrong with that? Since when did basic decency become something suspicious?”

He looked genuinely disappointed.

Or maybe he was just a very good actor.

“Tell me honestly. After everything we've been through together, do you really think I'd betray you?”

His gaze locked onto mine.

I remained silent.

That seemed to anger him even more.

Finally, he stepped back.

“Fine. If that's how you see me, then maybe I should keep my distance. Maybe that's the only way to stop these ridiculous accusations.”

His expression turned distant.

“At least then nobody can accuse me of crossing boundaries.”

The irony almost made me laugh.

He was talking about boundaries after destroying every one of them.

Without another word, Maverick grabbed his coat.

Then he slammed the bedroom door behind him.

The sound echoed through the room long after he'd gone.

And once again, I was left alone.

…

For the next few days, Maverick really did keep his distance from Maxine.

At least in front of everyone.

Whenever Maxine needed something, he acted restrained and careful. Even when she complained about feeling unwell, he refused to be alone with her.

One morning, Maxine mentioned that she wasn't feeling well and needed to go to the hospital.

Before anyone could say anything, Maverick immediately stepped back.

“Dad, Mom, you should take her yourselves. I'm not going. No matter what I do lately, it gets misunderstood, and I'd rather avoid creating any more problems.”

Mrs. Farrington frowned.

“Maverick, what are you talking about? Maxine is pregnant and not feeling well. Why would you suddenly refuse to help her now?”

Maverick sighed heavily and glanced in my direction.

“What choice do I have? Sandra already thinks I'm crossing boundaries. If I take Maxine to the hospital, she'll overthink it even more, and then we'll be right back where we started.”

His voice sounded helpless.

“I don't want any more misunderstandings. No matter how worried I am, I have to keep my distance. Apparently, even trying to help is wrong now.”

The moment those words left his mouth, every pair of eyes turned toward me.

As if I were the problem.

As if I were the unreasonable one.

Mrs. Farrington's expression darkened instantly.

“Sandra, are you happy now? Is this what you wanted? You've turned this family upside down with your jealousy and made everyone walk on eggshells around you.”

She slammed her teacup onto the table.

“Maxine is carrying Anthony's only child. She's family. What's wrong with Maverick helping take care of her when she's vulnerable and needs support?”

Mr. Farrington nodded coldly.

“Since you're so uncomfortable with it, then you can take responsibility. If you think everyone else is handling things incorrectly, then you can do it yourself.”

He pointed directly at me.

“From now on, you'll handle Maxine's daily needs. If she's sick, you take her to the hospital. Maybe then you'll understand how ridiculous you've been acting all this time.”

I lowered my head.

What was there to explain?

Nobody would've listened anyway.

“Okay,” I said quietly.

That only seemed to make them angrier.

As if my silence was proof of guilt.

A few minutes later, Mrs. Farrington tossed the car keys toward me.

“Go get the car. Stop standing there looking pitiful and do something useful for once. Everyone is waiting on you.”

I caught the keys and walked outside without arguing.

The estate's garage was massive, filled with armored luxury vehicles used by the Iron Crown Cartel. I climbed into one of the SUVs and started the engine.

The gates slowly opened.

I had barely driven a few feet out of the garage when everything happened.

A figure suddenly stumbled in front of the vehicle.

I slammed on the brakes.

The tires screeched.

Then I heard a scream.

“Ah! My leg! My leg hurts!”