Chapter 4 - The Card That Suddenly Stopped Working
At the airport, Ethan discovered the first crack.
The credit card failed.
Then the second.
Then the third.
He blamed the terminal.
Then the bank.
Then the airline.
He never blamed himself.
Evelyn grew increasingly furious.
“This is humiliating.”
Chloe kept checking her phone.
“What if the reservation gets canceled?”
“It won't,” Ethan said.
But he didn't sound convinced.
Maya stood several feet away.
She watched them unravel.
Ethan finally approached her.
“Give me your card.”
“No.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Maya.”
“No.”
“We need to fix this.”
“You do.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you should talk to your bank.”
“I already did.”
“Then talk to your lawyer.”
Ethan stared.
“What lawyer?”
Maya smiled.
“The one you gave me a reason to hire.”
His face changed.
Just slightly.
But Maya noticed.
He looked toward Evelyn.
Then back at her.
“You've been investigating me?”
“I've been protecting myself.”
“You're making this into something it isn't.”
“Am I?”
Ethan lowered his voice.
“Let's not do this here.”
Maya looked around the crowded terminal.
“Why not?”
“Because people are watching.”
“They should.”
His jaw tightened.
Then he reached for her arm.
Maya pulled away.
“Don't touch me.”
Ethan looked stunned.
He had never heard that tone from her.
Maya reached into her clutch.
She pulled out another document.
A legal notice.
“You were planning to have me sign over my property before we left the country.”
Ethan's face drained.
“That isn't what it was.”
“It says exactly what it was.”
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain it.”
He couldn't.
Evelyn rushed over.
“What is going on?”
Maya handed her the document.
Evelyn read it.
Her face changed.
“You went through our private papers?”
“Our?”
Maya's eyes hardened.
“My name is on the property.”
Evelyn folded the paper.
“You've always been selfish.”
Maya looked at her.
“No.”
She took the document back.
“I've just finally stopped being useful.”
Ethan's phone vibrated.
He checked it.
Another bank alert.
This time, his eyes widened.
Maya watched.
“What did you do?” he whispered.
She didn't answer.
Because she knew something he didn't.
The bank wasn't the first institution she had contacted.
May you like
The first call had gone to the court.
And the court had already signed the order.
