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You can't do this Maya

Wale shifted uneasily, his mind spinning with a mix of confusion and fear. His eyes, intense and unblinking, locked onto Maya as he spoke, his tone sharp with fury.

"You're blackmailing me? How much do you want?" His voice trembled with anger, and the contempt in his words was unmistakable. It shocked him that Maya would sink to this level, but if it meant keeping the audio from going public or protecting his brothers, he was ready to pay. His parents wouldn’t hesitate to demote him, no matter how hard he’d worked for the company, while his lazy half-brothers would bask in the rewards without lifting a finger.

"What I want, you've already given me, but since the accident took it away, there's nothing more you can offer," Maya replied, keeping her suspicions to herself. Wale suddenly let out a mocking laugh.

"Your father's company isn't as powerful as you think. Why go back to the place you left?" He thought this must be why Maya was pushing for the divorce. The bitterness inside her rose, but she held it back. It hurt to think that he believed so little of her, but she maintained her composure.

"No. You're the one who wanted the divorce. Were you planning to leave me with nothing?" Her question struck him, and she reminded him of the prenuptial agreement.

"Did you forget that I signed a prenup before we got married? Just a little reminder, so you can sign without worry." Wale's memory flashed back to the day Maya had insisted on the prenup, a gesture she made willingly to show she wasn't after his wealth. Now, uneasiness gnawed at him. This was not the scenario he had expected when he walked into this room. Besides, he was hungry and not thinking straight. What if Maya was being helped by one—or both—of his half-brothers?

"You may have dismissed the idea, but it won't be long before you admit you've left with nothing." Maya fought to maintain her calm, realizing that Wale's delay in finalizing their divorce wasn't due to any lingering feelings of guilt—it was about protecting his reputation in front of the media and his family. She forced a bitter smile.

"Don't worry, nothing about our divorce will reach the press or your brothers," Maya said confidently.

"I don't believe you," Wale said coolly. She had worked closely with him for years, and even though she hadn't been in the office for many months, she was still privy to sensitive information. Wale had never seen her as a threat because of her obsession with him, but now he feared she might ruin him.

"As soon as the papers are signed, you'll never hear from me again or even see me again. You'll be free to live happily with the woman you love," Maya said, her voice steady. Wale was already thinking of the benefits of her disappearance. It seemed she wanted to start fresh somewhere far from him.

"Alright then. I'm not heartless. I'll still give you 200 million dollars," he said as he was about to sign the document. Then he noticed that Maya had already signed and stamped her side of the documents. Just as he finished, his phone rang. It was Kate. He answered quickly and started going to his room to avoid Maya hearing what they were about to say. Although Kate had broken the rules again—she wasn't supposed to call him while at home.

Maya overheard his conversation.

"Were you the one who recorded our conversation at my private mansion?" she asked, but Kate's response was too faint to hear.

"He even has a private mansion for themselves. Something I came to know on my last moment at his house," she sneered. Maya, however, was certain it was the handiwork of Kate. As her final night at Wale's house, she decided to spend the night in the sitting room, rather than on their marital bed. She couldn't bear the thought of sharing a room with Wale after what had just transpired. Sleep eluded her, and she woke before dawn, restless and drained.

She had packed her things days before. Dressed and ready, she walked over to Wale, who was still asleep. "Wale, it's time to finalize our divorce in court," she said softly. He stirred, glancing at her with a heavy heart. Her eyes were red despite the makeup, and her mood was somber.

"Just a few more minutes," he muttered with a sigh.

Three hours later, they arrived at the divorce court. Maya had already arranged everything, and the process was swift. In no time, they both held their divorce certificates in hand. Without a second thought, they signed where they needed to.

"Keep your promise and leave the city for good, or you won't like what I'll do," Wale warned her with a cold finality. Maya merely smiled, a faint and distant expression on her face.

"I've left something so beautiful at your bed at home," she said casually.

Wale frowned. What kind of gift would Maya leave him after their divorce? She had always been generous, buying him things she knew he liked, though he never accepted or used them. They left the court together, but Maya insisted on taking a cab parked in front of the court, refusing his offer to drive her to the airport. She repeated that he would never see her again. Wale felt torn but reminded himself of his promise to Kate.

He had planned to go straight to the office for an important meeting, but his curiosity got the better of him. Rescheduling his plans, he drove home to see what Maya had left behind.

As he entered his room at his house, his eyes fell on a letter lying on his bed as Maya had said, and it was addressed to him. He hadn't noticed it earlier that morning. A sense of dread began to rise inside him as he picked up the envelope and opened it. Maya's familiar handwriting greeted him, and his heart pounded harder with each word he read.

Fear, panic, and regret surged through his veins, causing the letter to slip from his trembling fingers. His vision blurred, and in the empty house, his voice rang out in a desperate, anguished cry,

"What has she done to herself? Suicide? No… you can't do this, Maya!" he shouted, clenching his fists. The silence that followed only amplified his terror, leaving a hollow ache in his chest. Just then, his phone buzzed, breaking the stillness—it was his personal assistant.

"Good morning, Sir. Have you heard that...?"

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