Maya stood in the middle of her small, empty apartment. The white walls were bare. There was no furniture, no warmth—just silence. It felt nothing like a home yet, but it was hers. For the first time in years, Maya was on her own. No Daniel. No Lena. No fake family.
She had officially signed the divorce papers. It was over.
After everything she had been through, Maya knew she had to start fresh. She couldn't sit around and cry. She had to build her life again, one step at a time. The first thing she needed was to buy daily items—groceries, dishes, towels, things to decorate her apartment and make it feel like home.
Grabbing her coat and bag, she stepped outside. The sun was shining, and for the first time in weeks, she didn't feel cold.
⸻
The supermarket was large and busy. Families shopped together, parents pushed carts filled with food, and kids laughed in the toy aisle. Maya walked slowly, her list in hand. She picked up some plates, cups, dish soap, and a few snacks. As she turned into another aisle, something caught her eye.
A little girl stood near the shelves, looking lost. Her eyes were wide, and she looked like she was about to cry. People walked past her without noticing, but Maya stopped.
"Sweetheart, are you okay?" Maya asked softly, kneeling in front of her.
The girl sniffled. "I can't find my uncle."
Maya's heart melted. She reached out gently. "It's alright. I'll help you find him, okay? What does he look like?"
"He's tall," the girl said, holding her hands above her head to show how tall. "And he has shiny hair. And he wears black all the time!"
Maya smiled. "Alright. Let's go find your shiny-haired uncle."
They walked through the supermarket together. Maya held the girl's hand tightly, looking around for someone who looked like he was searching for a child. A few minutes later, they reached the end of the frozen foods section when the girl suddenly stopped.
"There he is!" she shouted. "Uncle!"
Before Maya could even react, the little girl let go of her hand and ran.
A tall man turned at the sound of her voice, just in time to catch the girl as she ran into his arms. He lifted her with ease and hugged her tight.
"I was so worried!" the man said, his voice full of relief.
Maya walked over, watching them. The man looked up at her and gave her a warm smile.
"Thank you," he said. "I was looking all over for her."
"It's no problem," Maya replied. "She was scared. I'm glad she found you."
Now that she could see him clearly, Maya realized how striking he was. He had sharp, elegant features, a clean jawline, and dark eyes that held a quiet strength. His black shirt and tailored pants fit him perfectly, and his neatly styled hair gleamed under the lights.
He looked every bit like a man of power—but not cold. Instead, he seemed calm, gentle even.
"This is my niece," he said, still holding the girl. "My sister asked me to watch her for the day, and I lost her for two minutes. I nearly had a heart attack."
"She was brave," Maya said, glancing at the little girl, who now smiled shyly. "She knew you'd come."
The man set his niece down, then turned to Maya again.
"I'm Elias," he said. "Thank you again." He said and gave Maya his business card
Maya's smile froze.
Elias.
Her heart skipped, and not in a good way.
"You're… Elias Carter?" she asked slowly.
He raised an eyebrow and nodded. "That's right."
Maya's expression changed. The warmth in her eyes disappeared. Her hand pulled back before it could meet his. She took a step away.
"I've heard of you," she said, her voice flat now.
Elias tilted his head slightly, noticing the sudden shift. "I see. Not good things, I assume."
Maya didn't respond right away. Her chest felt tight. She had heard a lot from Daniel—too much. He had called Elias heartless, a man who crushed small businesses and cared about money more than people.
Daniel had painted him as cold and dangerous, the kind of man who smiled in your face and stabbed you in the back.
And now here he was.
Maya's stomach twisted. Her kind expression was gone, replaced with cold politeness.
"I should go," she said quickly, avoiding his eyes. "Take care of your niece."
Without another word, she turned and walked away.
Elias stood still for a moment, confused by her sudden change. His niece tugged on his sleeve.
"Is she mad at you?" she asked softly.
"I don't know," he murmured. "I don't even know her."
⸻
Back in her apartment, Maya dropped her shopping bags on the floor and sat at the edge of the bed. Her hands reached into her coat pocket and pulled out the small card Elias had handed her before she walked off.
Elias Carter.
She stared at the name, frowning.
What if Daniel was right?
What if this man was exactly as dangerous as she'd been told?
But… part of her heart was still unsure. The way he held his niece, the way he thanked her—it didn't feel fake.
Maya shook her head. No. She couldn't let herself get fooled again. Not after everything with Daniel.
Still, her fingers didn't throw the card away.
She just left it there, sitting on her nightstand, waiting.