"While we were there, you have the right to remain silent, Finola. Just let us speak on your behalf. Asking for their approval won't be easy this time. Sneaky people. I'm sure they won't even bother to let us in if we don't promise to come with you this time."
Maya smiled with a calm face as she listened intently to Kevin's advice. Her eyes were silently staring at the bustling street they were currently passing. Her gaze cooled slightly, as she thought back to the possibilities of what would happen if she returned to the house this time.
Because of her family's deception, Maya is now considered an illegitimate child who does not know her place because she dared to leave the family that raised her all this time just because she was engaged to a more powerful man. Unable to suppress Evan, they began to turn to suppress him this time. They say that since they getting engaged, Maya has been trying to unilaterally cut ties with her own family. Maya even refuses to see her family again, despite her family begging for an explanation from the girl.
It's not completely wrong. But they purposely missed the fact, that Maya wanted to leave because the family continued to torture Finola both physically and mentally.
However, because Maya has never revealed the matter to anybody else, public opinion is currently still in favor of the Finola family. Maybe many people think Maya and Evan's love is not sincere, because of this news too. The current Maya was only known as an arrogant person who only cared about money. No matter about what she was going to do, she would definitely only be branded badly by the society.
However, who are they to be able to suppress Maya? Apart from the slurs she receives online, Maya has not received other threats. Even in these few days, some bad news suddenly disappeared without a trace. As long as they couldn't physically harm Maya, the girl actually didn't really care even if the whole world hated her right now.
Because compared to positive feelings... Maya was more familiar with negative feelings in her previous life. Maya would never be afraid, if she was only under pressure from the public like she is currently experiencing.
"I'll entrust everything to you guys. But only if my family is too stubborn... I want you to let me do something too."
Maya didn't continue that sentence when her smile suddenly looked a little wicked. "It's better if I don't reveal the plan for now. That plan will only be a backup plan, if my father can cooperate easily later."
Kevin didn't understand what Maya meant and started to think for a moment. "Don't do anything dangerous, Evan will scold me later if you do," he warned. Seeing Maya's smile, Kevin finally realized that Maya could indeed be dangerous if the girl wanted to. Her gaze was always very calm. Compared to Evan alone, Kevin guessed that Maya could actually be better at hiding her true feelings from other people.
Maya nodded obediently when she heard Kevin's warning. She wouldn't do anything dangerous. But because of Finola's request, this contingency plan will be Maya's last resort to negotiate with Finola's family. The memories she got from the girl, proved that Finola would never let anyone find the item until her very last breath.
Maya herself knew it would be difficult if she were to expose everything in front of everyone. It wasn't anyone else she was worried about, but Evan's response if he found out what had happened to his future wife before they got married. Maya always wants to be the best in front of Evan. If she doesn't really have to... Maya doesn't want to use her important card in this way either.
"Yes, I will not harm myself Kevin," Maya promised earnestly. At that moment, Maya could only continue to hope that Evan wouldn't be too angry if he had to unravel everything today.
***
The atmosphere at Finola's original family home was very tense when Maya finally arrived with a lawyer and Kevin as her companion. In the living room, everyone had taken their respective seats by now. Max and Sarah sat across from each other with fake disappointed faces plastered on their faces. And Grace, Finola's cunning sister was sitting on the far end of the sofa with a sad face when Maya finally came. They seemed to have rehearsed for the drama show before they came. Because they knew that Evan's lawyer was in charge of documenting everything once they got to the house.
As usual, they wanted to look like a good family when there were other people among them. Ordinary people would probably swallow the charade raw. But their current opponent was Maya, who had seen too much of the pretense from her previous life.
If they could act, then Maya could also do the same thing t them.
Kevin realized that Maya's face turned pale as soon as the girl stepped into her old house again. The calm look that was previously plastered on that pretty face was completely shattered. Maya really looks like she's nervous about going into her own house, when the fear in her eyes can no longer lie to Kevin.
Kevin started to think, a girl like Maya might just be pretending to be strong all this time. No matter how well Maya has hidden it all this time, Kevin realizes that the girl is still a teenager who still needs guidance and attention from the people around her. And of course, Maya can still be afraid, when she has to come face to face with people who may have made her uncomfortable.
Kevin tries to calm Maya by immediately taking over all the conversation between them and the Finola family. The man couldn't let the girl stay in this place for too long, after Maya blatantly showed such a restless expression. Kevin promised they would leave as soon as they got the signatures they needed, to proceed with the divorce papers the girl wanted.
Kevin looked at the family in front of him without any significant emotion as the man began to speak with a small smile. "As we discussed earlier, Mr. Max. Finola... She wants to cut off the family ties she has with you. Once this document is signed, your relationship will be legally terminated, Sir."
Max pretended to be disappointed as he ignored Kevin and looked directly at his own daughter with a sad look. The man was trying to portray an embittered father figure, as Max spoke to his daughter in a choked tone.
"Did you have to go this far just because you're going to marry Evan? We've been together since you were little. When your mother left... I brought you to this house so you can experience life with a complete family. I love you like I love Grace. Tell me Nola, where did we go wrong that you had the heart to do all of this?"
Maya who was sitting opposite to her father completely ignored the cheap drama as she asked the lawyer who had come with her to issue the necessary papers in a tone that made her voice looked nervous. Love what. Maya never knew that loving could be showed by torture both physically and mentally on a little girl who knew nothing.
When Maya blatantly ignored her own father's presence, Max's expression immediately turned sour. The man tried to contain his anger, as he tried to persuade his daughter with another cheesy act.
"I won't sign the letter. Nola, even if you are angry with me now, you can still come back whenever you want in the future. There's no need to cut ties. I don't want you to regret it in the future, Nola..."
Silently, Maya let out a long sigh as she grew even more disgusted by the fake attention Max was trying to show her. Her hands were tightly clenched. A person like Max, is one of a kind of person she hates the most in the world.
Finola always said that she would rather die than have someone find out her secret while she was alive. But in order to punish a insolent human like Max, Maya thought maybe she should still reveal everything today.
The girl took a deep breath, before looking at Max with fear clearly reflected in her beautiful eyes.
"I," Maya shook lightly as she tried to keep up with the conversation. "I can't... Dad. I... I don't want Daddy to come back into my room when Daddy is drunk..."