"So my daughter was right? You are the man behind her depression," said Brad as his face turned red with anger. He spat, "What does it mean 'reconsider the wedding'? You cannot back out. The invites are sent and it is too late. Are you planning on insulting me in the community?" So there was another girl in his life but he would never acknowledge that. He had to find out about her and get her killed soon.

Daryn didn't answer.

​​

Brad bared his teeth and there was tightness in his eyes. He turned to look at Gayle. He said, "You do realize that if anything of the sort happens, the alliance is going to break and there will be severe repercussions. We have been friends for long, so let this thing flow." He knew Gayle would drill sense in Daryn. This was a huge thing that he couldn't let slip just like that.

What Gayle said caught everyone unaware. Gayle shrugged. "I will go with what my son says. I am no one to interfere in his decisions or his personal life."

Maya and Pia's mouth dropped to the floor. Gayle was the man who pushed Daryn and now how come he was supporting him? This was so unexpected that Brad was taken aback. He jerked his head back at Gayle's statement.

"Father, what are you even saying?" Pia said.

Maya was now aghast that soon Daryn might announce to break off their engagement. She had to quickly do something to salvage the situation or else he might break it today itself. Maya looked at Daryn and through a veil of tears asked, "Baby, what have I done to you that you are so apathetic towards me? I adore you so much. I have almost given up my career to be with you. I had so many film offers but I declined them all." She wanted to show how much she had lost just to become his wife. "And now I won't even get a job back in the industry." She looked at Pia and sniffled heavily. "You tell me Pia, my whole career is ruined. How can I go back?"

Pia was so moved that she shuffled her feet. A sad expression came on her face. She got up from her place and went to sit next to Maya. Rubbing her back, she said, "I am so sorry for you Maya. You need rest. Come, let me take you to your bedroom."

Maya looked up at her father and said between her tears, "I don't know why, but we have been sleeping in different rooms. I am so depressed over the last few days that I can't concentrate on anything. There are dark circles beneath my eyes. I have stopped attending the functions or dinner-dates with my friends."

Brad's face reddened. He pounded a fist on his thigh and addressed Daryn, "You better explain what is going on Daryn!"

Daryn's body tensed with irritability. Maya was a good actor, he had to give her that. He looked at Maya and smirked, "As far as I remember, you got an offer for only one film and the Director of the movie didn't like you in the auditions, so he didn't even consider you even though you sent him numerous requests to reassess his decision."

Maya stared at Daryn. She had told others that she didn't like the script of the movie and so she left the movie. So how did he know so much? Her hands curled on her lap and in a weakened voice asked, "This is wrong information! How do you—"

As if to answer her question, Daryn said, "You think I don't have my sources." He crossed his thighs and placed his hands on them. "The Director had called me. He asked me whether he should cast you in his movie because you had troubled him a lot with your constant phone calls."

Maya and Pia were completely shocked. Their eyes became wide. Pia had also helped Maya immensely to get the role because Maya had told her that she wanted to surprise Daryn. But despite her connections in the industry, Pia couldn't help May. Eventually the role went to another actress who was younger than Maya.

"Then what did you tell the Director? Didn't you recommend my name?" Maya asked shamelessly.

Daryn let out a small laughter. "What did you just say Maya - you had left pursuing your career goals after getting engaged to me?"

"Yes!" she blurted.

Maya was so inconsistent in her disposition. Pia's hand slid down Maya's back. She raised it to her neck feeling uncomfortable. "Then how come this entire incident occurred after the engagement?" Daryn asked.

Thrown off the track, Maya didn't know how to defend herself. She even stopped crying.

Brad didn't know where to look.

Gayle gulped down his whisky and got up to make another peg for himself. He couldn't stop smiling all the way to the bar.

Daryn looked at Pia and said, "You helped her to get the role after the engagement?"

Pia was speechless. She gulped and looked at Gayle who had turned slightly listening to this piece of information. "I— I—"

Daryn cut her in, "You knew that she had given up her career because of me, because of our family?" He stopped to rest his head on his index finger. "Then why did you help her?"

Pia opened her mouth and then closed it. She looked like a fish in water. She was too flustered.

The room was filled with dead air.

Gayle had filled his glass and returned back. "What answer did you give to the Director?" he asked Daryn.

"I told him that he should do what is best for the movie," Daryn replied nonchalantly.

Gayle nodded. "You took the right decision, Son."

Maya couldn't believe what she just heard. She was trapped in her own web of lies. In order to reclaim the situation, on a quick thought she sprang up from her place and wailed, "Daryn, that was just a surprise I had planned with Pia only to show you what is my value in the industry. It was to scare you that I can still get jobs and go away from you."

Her argument seemed so stupid that even Brad's mouth fell open.

She threw her hands in the air and stomped her foot. "This is getting too much! I am already so depressed and you are only adding to my despair. I am going from here," she said and ran to her room, wailing loudly with her face covered with her hands.

Gayle shifted his gaze to Brad who was still trying to come out of his daughter's idiotic behavior. He lowered his head and then with a deep sigh said, "Look Daryn, this is not the right time to back off. I understand that my daughter had done foolish things in the past, but she is only vying for your attention."

"Did I forget to say that I presented her with a custom-designed Rolls Royce?" Gayle said, as he raised the glass to his lips.

Brad gulped. That was a rare kind of car, too expensive even for him to afford. What Gayle meant was that Maya was more into this marriage for money because even though Daryn had hinted that he wanted to reconsider their relationship long back, she chose to stay back. "This is getting very foolish, Gayle. I think you should only concentrate on the alliance that we have been working on. If this news gets out, you will be at loss. All the pure bloods are looking forward to this union." Brad threatened him and got up to leave. "I expect that whatever decision you take, you think about its impact also." He walked out of the main hall.

Pia too left and went to Maya's room. She could still hear her crying softly.

Gayle smiled at Daryn and winked.

"I'll see you soon, Father." Daryn also walked out of the room, satisfied to the core. That would keep Maya in control for a few days.

When he reached the penthouse, it was pretty late. The lights were switched off. He walked to Dawn's room and noticed that she had curled in her bed like a baby. He had an urge to sleep beside her, but he unfolded the blanket and covered her. The fondness with which he looked at her made his heart warm. He stroked her hair and to his surprise, she leaned her face in his hand. "Why do you make things difficult for me Dawn?" he murmured. His wolf was clawing him inside to claim her, but he controlled it, "You have to wait."