eight of her father's legacy was heavy on her shoulders, and the reality of her control over Ale

desperation etched on his features. He hovered in t

talk?" She sa

lay games with

ss from her. The silence lay, thick and o

my favor, Alex." She leaned forward, her gaze coldly keen. "So, talk, why shou

hed. "Evelyn, I r

aking. "You shamed me! You betrayed our family, and ruined o

uilt. Do you want to see it go up in flames over this?" Alex sa

anger and something more-sorrow. "I

g. "I'm sorry, Evelyn. I am. I made mistake

One, I have absolute authority of our finances. Two, you apologize publicly, no

e blanched

ements. Accept them

wife, the woman he had thought he could keep a

voice strained thro

of tranquility, though she was a mael

phone rang. A text from May

part, and here he was, torn between the woman he was suppos

nated in his mind. He ne

o type: "Maya, I ca

n with no source. He needed to see her, to break up with her face to fac

aya's door. She opened it, her eyes red and pu

oke in a whisp

wrapping around her. She elbowed into his hug, and he c

te. "Everyone hates me now. My life i

away at his ribcage. "I did not want this

voice broke as she pleade

as over. He knew he should just leave. But looking at her face, streaming with tea

voice trembling with emotion. "

aya's tear-stained face turned in his direction.

ed. "Wha

work. I know this is insane

oor. "Alex, listen to you. Marry me? As what? The other wife wh

th," he urged, one foot taking a step forward

ll right? Something is going to be different? I'll be the second wife, in a house where I'm the enemy. Your children w

, ple

k a husband away from his wife? Be the stepmother

ped her. "We'll make it through. I'll

You couldn't even fight for me last ti

" His voice broke, the guilt clawin

certainty did not go away. "This. this is a mess, A

e like that

Maya's voice trembled. "I

with every word. "I understand. But plea

welling in her eyes once more

t. He didn't even think of knocking; he walked right in. Evelyn reclined on t

e demanded, her voice

Maya. If the price of keeping my job here is sacrifi

broke down. "You'd give up everyt

e means nothing to me if I have to

ursued Maya... then the board of directors would call for his resignation, and the sc

u'd destroy all that we've built, all th

rly. "That's exactly it, Evelyn. It was never ours.

she pushed him away, he would choose Maya, and then the whispers, the pi

what you're doing,

lly. I'm done

ld question things, ask questions... and the secret that she had held

n't let t

this my way. Publicly, you're still my husband. You retain the CEO chair. We ride out th

d. "This is not a

ou're not going to destroy my life becau

e said no more than this, "I don't want to keep Maya as a mistress, Eve

ell at the powe