ONE WILD NIGHT

executive bathroom, splashing cold water on my face. I w

,perfect hair, sharp suit, looki

Not the man Maya had

the small room with his presence. Richard Stone didn't need to s

, adjusting his tie i

m f

nto mine. "You're thinking about being noble. About telling the truth. Abo

her well

t one night with a desperate woman who saw an opportunity

ntil my knuckles went white

riage have no claim to the Stone legacy. David's children

n heir. If I stumbled today, if I chose Maya over the family empire

d, his voice deadly calm, "and you're going to deny everything. You'

f I re

ody, Alexander. No money, no connections, no future. Just

eady exhausted from caring for her dying mother

team compile files on Miss Collins' family. Medical bills, scholarship requi

ystal clear. My b

er red dress a slash of color agai

e came out rough

epped closer, her perfume sharp after weeks of remembering

s family like a sword. Reality was standing in fro

said, fixing her lipstick. "At

waited in the lobby with final talking points, his face pale with st

. "Quite the mess. Don't worry,if you c

with false sympath

thered outside Stone Tower. Cameras, reporters, c

inal reminder, Alexander. Deny everythi

t beside me, scrolling through her phone as if nothing mattered. Across from us, m

s spotted at a prenatal clinic," Victoria wh

d into fists.

it matters," she said

. Not just your future, but thousands of employees, shareholders, partner

y chest like a stone. This w

ery seat, cameras pointed for the perfect shot, microphones gathered lik

oom. David lingered beside him, watching wit

erson announced, "Alexander Stone a

ss shone under the lights, and the diamond ring on her finger sparkled for everyone to

t the carefully crafted lie stopped being just words

at my side, her presence a statem

e earthquake in my chest. "I'm here to address the false al

orter, "can you categorically deny

ing like I was cutting out pieces of my soul. "I don't know this woman. I've

her voice smooth as silk. "Alexander and I are engaged. Our wedding is in six

, following the script that would save my inheritanc

attention through lies. My legal team is fully prepared to take every legal s

ise: "What about the hotel photos, Mr

of facts. I was at the Grandview Hotel for a business dinn

are perfect couples, her hand f

rt I'd been trained for since birth. The cameras captured ev

ather's expression showed appro

ving nod, "Miss Collins needs professional help. I truly hope she gets

t once spoken, they locked Maya's fate,as if

nounced firmly, but the room still erupte

erformance complete. I'd done exactly what was expected. I'd chosen my f

ind us, sealing me into the p

said, releasing my a

rare smile more terrifying than his us

n a week," my father continued. "Mi

that had just painted her as delusional. She'd see me hold Victoria's hand, hear me d

d my carefully constructed life,

ct her family from my father's threats,ha

g I would spend the res