Chapter 3 - the signature beneath the lie
Maya and Jamie settled in a small coastal town under their mother’s surname.
The apartment had cracked windows, unreliable heating, and a kitchen barely large enough for one person.
To Maya, it was safer than any room in the Vale estate.
Jamie found work repairing fishing boats.
Maya accepted bookkeeping jobs she could complete from home.
Every night she checked the news for Adrian’s name.
Three months after she disappeared, Vale Industries announced that Adrian had become chief operating officer.
Six months after that, photographs showed him attending a charity gala with Celeste Laurent, the daughter of Conrad’s most important business partner.
Maya closed the article before reading the caption.
She told herself she no longer cared.
Her children kicked at the same time, proving she was lying.
The pregnancy became difficult during the seventh month.
Maya was admitted to the local hospital after experiencing early contractions.
A nurse asked whether the father should be contacted.
Maya stared at the blank space on the form.
“No.”
“Do you want to list his name?”
“No.”
The nurse gave her a sympathetic look.
Maya turned away.
Hours later, while Jamie slept in a chair beside the bed, Maya woke to find a woman standing in the doorway.
Celeste Laurent wore a cream coat and carried a designer handbag.
Maya’s heart began to race.
“How did you find me?”
Celeste closed the door.
“Conrad knows where you are.”
Maya reached for the call button.
“I’m not here to hurt you.”
“Then leave.”
Celeste placed a document on the bedside table.
It was a declaration stating that Adrian Vale denied paternity and surrendered any parental claim.
At the bottom was his signature.
Maya recognized the sharp A and the long stroke beneath his surname.
She had watched him sign hundreds of documents.
“No,” Maya whispered.
“He asked me to bring it.”
“Why would he send you?”
“Because he doesn’t want contact with you.”
Maya stared at the signature.
Celeste lowered her voice.
“Adrian is moving on. Our families are discussing an engagement. He believes the children may not be his.”
“They are his.”
“I’m not accusing you. I’m telling you what he believes.”
Maya felt one of the babies move.
Celeste watched her stomach with an expression Maya could not understand.
For a moment, guilt appeared in her eyes.
Then it was gone.
“There is something else,” Celeste said. “Conrad intends to challenge you for custody after the birth. He has doctors, attorneys, and investigators ready to describe you as unstable.”
“Why would he want children he ordered me to abandon?”
“Because they are Vale heirs.”
Maya gripped the blanket.
“What do you want?”
“I want you to keep them safe.”
Celeste placed a second envelope beside the first.
Inside were new identification documents and enough cash to relocate again.
Maya did not trust her.
She trusted Conrad even less.
“Why are you helping me?”
Celeste looked toward the sleeping Jamie.
“Because men like Conrad do not stop after one life is destroyed.”
She left before Maya could ask what that meant.
The following morning, Maya examined the paternity declaration more closely.
Near Adrian’s signature was a faint indentation in the paper.
Someone had signed another document on top of it.
Maya shaded the area with the side of a pencil.
Letters slowly appeared.
Authorize transfer of all communications from Maya Bennett.
Beneath the sentence was Conrad Vale’s signature.
Maya realized the truth was larger than a single forged document.
May you like
Someone had built an entire wall between her and Adrian.
But she still did not know whether Adrian had helped build it.
