The fallout from the headlines hadn't settled when the invitation arrived.
It wasn't addressed to her but to Adrian — an embossed card sealed with the Vale crest, announcing the annual charity gala. Maya hadn't wanted to go. Every instinct told her it was a trap. But Adrian insisted, his jaw set. If we don't show up, they win.
So here she was, stepping into the Vale ballroom on his arm.
The chandeliers bathed the room in golden light, casting a glow over silk gowns, glittering jewels, and men in sharp tuxedos. The elite of the city swirled around them, voices lilting with laughter and speculation. But as soon as Maya entered, the air shifted. Conversations hushed, then resumed in pointed whispers.
She held tighter to Adrian's arm. He leaned down, his breath brushing her ear. "Ignore them."
She nodded, though her heart thundered.
"Adrian," came Richard Vale's booming voice. The patriarch cut through the crowd like a king addressing his court, Evelyn gliding by his side. His smile was a polished weapon, his gaze sharp as a blade. "How good of you to join us. And with your… guest."
Maya steadied her breathing. "Good evening, Mr. Vale."
Richard's smile widened, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Charming."
Evelyn's pearls gleamed as she looked Maya over, her tone sweet but dripping venom. "Darling, I do hope you're not overwhelmed. These gatherings can be… daunting for those unaccustomed to our world."
"I'll manage," Maya said softly, but with as much steel as she could muster.
Richard's laughter boomed. "We'll see."
For a time, the gala unfolded in elegance. Waiters floated by with champagne; violins filled the air with delicate notes. Yet Maya felt the weight of every gaze, the sting of every whisper. Snickers trailed her when she walked. Women eyed her gown with disdain, their diamonds glittering like cold stars.
Then came the questions.
A tall woman in emerald silk approached, smiling as though greeting an old friend. "So you're the scholarship girl," she said, her voice carrying. "Quite the leap — from campus cafeterias to champagne flutes."
Maya's cheeks warmed, but she kept her composure. "Yes. But love makes leaps worth taking."
The woman's smile faltered. Murmurs rippled around them.
Before Maya could move, another voice rose, belonging to a silver-haired man near the stage. "Tell us, Miss Thompson," he drawled, "how much did it cost to capture Adrian's attention?"
Laughter erupted, cruel and sharp.
Maya's throat closed. Her fingers trembled around her glass. But before she could speak, Adrian stepped forward, his glare sweeping the crowd into silence. "Enough." His voice thundered through the room.
But Richard lifted a hand, his expression calm, commanding. "Let her answer, son. We're all curious what makes her so… captivating."
As if rehearsed, a microphone appeared in a waiter's hand. It was offered to Maya, the weight of the room pressing down on her.
Her chest constricted. She could feel her pulse in her temples, her knees weak. They wanted her humiliated. They wanted her broken.
Adrian's hand found hers, steady and strong. His eyes locked on hers, silently pleading: Don't let them win.
Maya inhaled, shaky but determined. She took the microphone. Her voice quivered at first but steadied as she spoke.
"I didn't come here to prove myself to anyone. I don't want your money, your titles, or your empire. I fell in love with Adrian because of who he is, not what he owns. And if that's hard for any of you to believe, then maybe that says more about this family than it does about me."
Gasps swept the room. Whispers flared like sparks.
Richard's smile slipped, his eyes darkening. Evelyn's pearls trembled as she clutched them tighter.
Adrian's chest swelled with pride. He pulled Maya closer, his arm firm around her waist, and kissed her temple before the crowd. "That's the woman I love. And if any of you have a problem with that, then take it up with me."
The silence that followed was deafening.
Then Richard's voice cut through, cold and final. "You shame this family, Adrian. Both of you."
Adrian turned to face him fully, his blue eyes blazing with defiance. "No, Father. The shame is yours — for thinking love is something to be mocked."
And with Maya's hand firmly in his, he led her from the ballroom, leaving the glittering cruelty behind.
But as the doors closed behind them, Maya knew this was only the beginning. The Vales wouldn't forgive this humiliation. They would strike harder. And next time, the wounds might cut deeper.