“You abandoned me in the middle of the night! You left me alone for five years!” Maya hissed as he lifted his hand to touch where her slap had left its mark. “I left to protect you! I left because I love you!” Nathaniel protested in a futile attempt to defend himself. —————————————————— Five years ago, Nathaniel De La Rue found love and a new life in Arlington City, but his past soon caught up with him and forced him to leave behind everything he had built, including his beloved Maya Miller. Now, Nathaniel is done running. He must confront his past to protect those that matter the most to him. After fighting for his right to live and accepting his rightful place in the De La Rue family, he finally returns to Arlington City. However, upon his return, Nathaniel finds that his world is not the same as he left it. Maya, the woman he loves, is engaged to another man. His best friend now works for the man who stole Maya from him. Furthermore, the woman who had cared for Nathaniel like a mother is being abused by her husband. It’s as if he has to start from scratch. But things have changed. This time he has the De La Rue Family by his side.
"What?!" Maya said her voice rising as Cassandra flung the accusation in her face.
She cursed internally, wondering what her father and grandfather had done. She knew that their intentions were good, but it only caused more problems for her.
"You heard me right, the old man you're fucking probably called the Millers and got me demoted and my father scolded," Cassandra took a step closer to Maya and grabbed her by the collar of her blouse. "Do you think your sugar daddy saved you? He only made things worse for you, whore."
Maya lifted her hand and slapped Cassandra, catching the woman off guard, forcing her to let go of Maya.
To make sure that Cassandra didn't have a chance to attack her again, Maya moved away. It would take Cassandra more steps to get to her, giving Maya a better chance of escaping or countering her attack.
"Bitch!" Cassandra hissed as she glared at Maya, assessing her surroundings.