Chapter 49

Maya’s POV

I leaned over the sink and gently splashed cool water across my face, careful not to ruin my makeup. Fortunately, most of it was waterproof. When I was satisfied, I shook away the droplets from my mask and smoothed the fabric of my gown.

“Calm down, Maya,” I whispered to myself, inhaling and exhaling to chase away the tremor in my chest. “It’s all in the past. Everything’s different now.”

Each breath out felt like exhaling the lingering hurt, but I knew I needed to let it go completely. Elias was my husband, and the Brooks clan no longer mattered to me. They were dead to me, and I was dead to them—whatever they did should hold no power over my peace of mind. “I’m Maya Hart now,” I reminded myself firmly. It was time to be with my husband.

Once I was confident I looked as composed as I had before my emoti