CHAPTER 4 — THE WOMAN WHO LOST CONTROL
For the first time in her life, Victoria Sterling took a step backward.
Not because she was weak.
But because the room was no longer hers.
Whispers grew louder.
Phones were no longer filming her humiliation.
They were filming Maya.
Maya, still holding her baby.
Still standing.
Still silent.
Victoria snapped.
“This is absurd! She’s nobody!”
Marcus turned sharply.
“Then explain this.”
He held up the pendant again.
“This belongs to Captain Elias Ward.”
A collective reaction rippled through the hall.
A name people knew.
Even civilians knew that name.
A hero.
A ghost.
A man declared dead in classified warfare records.
Marcus locked eyes with Maya.
“And he was your father.”
The words hit like a physical impact.
Maya staggered slightly.
“No…” she whispered. “That’s not possible…”
But Marcus didn’t stop.
“He was never confirmed dead.”
A pause.
“He was erased.”
May you like
Victoria’s face went pale.
For the first time… she looked afraid of Maya.
