"And he gave me an offer."
She stared.
"He told me..."
Ryan stopped.
His voice shook.
"...Marry her."
The room suddenly felt colder.
"What?"
"He said marry her... earn her trust... and later we'd make her sign certain papers."
Tears instantly filled her eyes.
She stepped backward.
"No..."
Ryan looked away.
"In the beginning..." he said softly, "...I agreed."
A tear rolled down her cheek.
Then another.
Then another.
"So I was a game?" she whispered.
"No!"
He quickly stood up.
"No, Maya... listen to me!"
"But later everything changed."
"I swear it changed."
He moved toward her.
"I fell in love with you."
She laughed through tears.
A broken laugh.
A painful laugh.
"Liar."
"Maya—"
"Don't touch me!"
She moved away.
Suddenly every memory flashed through her mind.
Their first meeting.
Their first date.
Their wedding.
The first flowers he gave her.
The first "I love you."
Was it all fake?
Or had he really changed?
Before she could speak—
DING DONG.
Both froze.
The doorbell.
At 2:13 a.m.
Ryan slowly turned toward the clock.
Then his face lost all color.
Maya frowned.
"Who is that?"
