Chapter 6 - The Slap Everyone Saw
Maya pulled her arm free.
Ethan stepped forward again.
“You're going to listen to me.”
“No.”
“You owe this family.”
Maya stared at him.
“I owe your family?”
“Yes.”
“For what?”
“For everything we've given you.”
A few people nearby had begun watching.
Evelyn crossed her arms.
Chloe stood frozen beside the luggage.
Maya's voice remained low.
“What exactly did you give me, Ethan?”
“A family.”
“No.”
“A home.”
“My home.”
“A life.”
Maya smiled sadly.
“You mean a life where I paid for everyone else?”
Ethan's face tightened.
“You're being cruel.”
“No.”
She took one step closer.
“You're just finally hearing me.”
He reached for her again.
This time Maya moved first.
Her palm struck his cheek.
The sound echoed across the polished terminal.
Ethan's head snapped sideways.
Silence.
He slowly touched his cheek.
His eyes widened.
“Maya…”
She stood perfectly still.
Not shaking.
Not crying.
Just looking at him.
“You don't touch me when you're angry.”
Ethan stared at her.
“How dare you.”
Maya didn't move.
“You lost the right to intimidate me.”
Evelyn exploded.
“You ungrateful girl!”
People turned.
Chloe covered her mouth.
Ethan looked around at the crowd.
His humiliation was complete.
But Maya's expression didn't change.
She turned toward the departure gate.
Behind her, Ethan's phone vibrated again.
He looked.
His entire face collapsed.
COURT ORDER CONFIRMED.
PROPERTY ACCESS RESTRICTED.
ASSET TRANSFER BLOCKED.
Ethan whispered:
“No.”
Maya kept walking.
Evelyn chased after her.
“You can't leave!”
Maya stopped.
She turned slightly.
“I already did.”
Then she continued toward the private-jet entrance.
Ethan stood behind her.
For the first time in their marriage, he was the one watching someone walk away.
May you like
And he finally understood that Maya wasn't bluffing.
She was finished.
