Chapter 31: Fallout(2)
Maya's parents were stunned by her outburst. They had never seen her so angry and determined.
"Maya, please understand—" her father began, but she cut him off.
"No, Dad. I won't understand. You've lied to me my whole life. You've ruined our family's reputation and possibly even committed crimes. And you did it all for me? That's not love, that's selfishness."
Her mother stood up, tears streaming down her face. "Maya, we did it to protect you. We wanted to give you a better life."
Maya shook her head. "You've given me a life of lies and secrets. I don't know what's real and what's not anymore."
The room fell silent, the tension palpable. Maya's parents looked at each other, unsure of what to say next.
Suddenly, Maya's phone buzzed. It was a text from Chase. "Hey, are you okay? I've been trying to reach you all day."
Maya hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Part of her wanted to confide in Chase, but another part was afraid of dragging him deeper into her family's mess.
What should Maya do?