Third Person Pov
Reid stepped back instinctively, sensing the shift in the air—subtle at first, then undeniable. He moved toward the window, his silhouette cut sharply against the faded curtains, scanning the street for any sign of Julian's men. But even as his eyes worked the outside world, his attention remained tethered to Maya, locked onto every breath, every syllable she spoke.
"The night I left the diner," Maya began, her voice steadier now, as though the truth had finally stopped fighting her and started flowing through her instead, "I signed a contract. A marriage contract. Reid Sterling bought my debt—all five million dollars of it. He bought my life, Ma. He needed a woman who could stand beside him, someone the world would love, someone who could act as a shield for his company—and also help with your health too."
Her breath hitched slightly, but she pushed through it, as if once opened, the truth couldn't be contained again.
