Chapter 8
Chapter 8:
“Let me remind you of your place, Maia. You’re not one of us. You were only raised by us — nothing more. That keepsake from Vicki? It was always meant for a true p>
“Even if it were still around, Rosanna would have every right to it. Who do you think you are to lay claim to it? If she wanted to burn it, that would still be her right p>
A stabbing pain twisted in Maia’s chest. She could sever ties with every Morgan in that house — but not with Vicki. That woman had loved her, protected her, and made her feel like she belonged.
And now Maia had failed to guard the one thing that still connected them. The ache in her heart deepened, sharp and unrelenting.
From the sidelines, Jarrod let out a cruel laugh. “So that’s why you flipped out over some garbage. Let me guess — you’re broke, and you came crawling back here to pawn whatever you could find p>
Though he had once seen the bracelet, it looked cheap to him. He never imagined that it held any real value.
With a sneer, he pulled a few bills from his wallet and tossed them at her feet. “Is this enough for your little trinket? Take the rest — it’s on me. Consider it charity p>
Maia’s eyes burned with anger, rimmed red as she stared down the people she once called family.
There had been a time she believed she owed them gratitude. After all, they’d raised her for seventeen years. That belief had led her to help them through their darkest years, without hesitation.
But now? That illusion had shattered.
What was taken from her — she would get back. And the Morgans? They had chosen cruelty. It was time they learned that she didn’t forgive and forget.
Maia let her anger subside. She took the cash Jarrod threw and smiled. Without hesitation, she shredded the money into pieces and threw them straight at his face.
“Keep your filthy money. I’d rather have nothing than take anything from you p>
With that, she turned and walked straight out of the villa, not sparing anyone a second glance.
Fury twisted Jarrod’s face as he clenched his jaw, burning with humiliation.
His finger jabbed toward Maia’s back as she disappeared through the doorway. “You’ll regret this, you ungrateful bitch! Without us, you’re nothing! You’ll come crawling back — I’ll make sure of it p>
Sandra’s face flushed red with anger, her voice rising. “We picked you up from prison this morning, Maia! That was out of the goodness of our hearts! No one forced you to walk away — you did that yourself. Don’t bother returning once you leave. You made your choice. It ends here p>
A cold, humorless laugh escaped Maia’s lips.
Even now, Sandra clung to the story that made her look like the victim. Her audacity was almost laughable.
Turning slowly on her heel, Maia leveled the family with a chilling stare. “Drop the act. You’re not fooling anyone. You called the press yourselves. Was that supposed to be a warm welcome? Or just a performance to make yourselves look like saints in front of the cameras? You know exactly what you were doing p>
And with that, she walked away, never once turning back.
Behind her, the illusion shattered, leaving the Morgans standing stiff and speechless. Their masks had cracked wide open.
Rosanna buried her face in Sandra’s shoulder, her voice trembling with tears. “This is all my fault. We could’ve been a real family p>
Instead of reflecting, Jarrod and Sandra focused on comforting Rosanna, acting like Maia didn’t exist.
Not a minute after stepping out of the Morgan estate, Maia pulled out her phone and made a single call.