Chapter 71: Denying the Evidence

Maya’s POV

I stared at Kelvin across the room while the documents sat between us on the table.

He was observing me in a different way now.

This was different from the man who entered a few minutes ago and listened to me talk about jewellery. It was also not like the man who usually smiles when I mention our wedding plans.

There was suspicion in his eyes.

I swallowed a gulp and forced myself to remain calm. "What exactly are you accusing me of?"

His expression hardened. "I didn’t accuse you of anything."

"You just told me the Hugo lawyers think I know more than I’m saying."

"Because that’s what their evidence suggests."

I picked up one of the documents and glanced at it. I knew immediately that this was serious.

The names meant nothing to me at first, but the financial records were a different matter.

My heart skipped when I saw Kelvin’s account details. I quickly placed the document back on the table.

"I don’t understand what any of this has to do with me."

Kelvin leaned forward. "Then explain why your name is connected to these people."

"I don’t know them."

"You’re sure?"

"Yes."

He just stared at me.

I hated the way he was looking at me. It made me feel as though I were already guilty and simply waiting for him to prove it.

"After everything I’ve been through with Emerald, this is what you’re doing?" I asked, keeping my voice controlled. "You’re sitting here questioning me because some lawyers came into your office and showed you a few documents?"

His jaw tightened. "This isn’t about Emerald."

"Then what is it about?" I queried.

"It is about the fact that someone used my account to make payments to people connected to her case."

I shook my head. "And you think I did it?"

"I asked you whether you know them."

"I already told you that I don’t."

"Then why are you getting defensive?"

I stared at him. "Because you’re treating me like a criminal."

"That isn’t what I’m doing."

"It certainly feels like it," I retorted, then stood from the sofa and walked towards the window. I needed a moment to think.

Kelvin had never been this suspicious of me before.

I had always known that the situation with Emerald could eventually become a problem, but I hadn’t expected the Hugo family to trace things this far.

I turned around. "Kelvin, after everything we’ve been dealing with, do you honestly think I would do something like that and leave evidence behind?"

He didn’t answer, so I continued before he could.

"Ever since that incident, people have had something to say about us. There have already been rumours, gossip, and enough attention surrounding our relationship. Now you’re sitting here looking at me as though I’m the person responsible for everything that has happened to Emerald."

His expression remained hard. "I need the truth."

"And you think I’m lying?"

"I don’t know what to think."

That answer hurt more than I expected. I walked back toward him. "After everything I’ve done for you?"

He looked away. I could see that my words had affected him, but not enough to make him drop the matter. Then his eyes returned to me. "Have you ever accessed my phone?"

My heart stopped for half a second, but I kept my expression neutral. "What?" I frowned, pretending to be confused.

"My phone. Have you ever used it when I wasn’t around?" he repeated.

"Of course I’ve used your phone before. You’re my fiancé."

"I’m not asking whether you’ve used it while I was there." He continued. "I’m asking whether you’ve ever accessed it without my knowledge."

I folded my arms. "Why would I do that?"

"That’s not an answer," he said to me.

I looked at him. "You’re beginning to sound like those lawyers."

"I asked you a simple question," he insisted.

"And I gave you a simple response."

He rose to his feet. The calmness in his face was gone now. "I have transactions on my account that I never authorised, Maya."

"I heard you the first time."

"Then you should understand why I’m asking."

I clenched my fingers against my arms. "I don’t know anything about your transactions."

He held my gaze as he asked, "Did you ever have access to my banking information?"

"No."

My reply came out too quickly. His eyes narrowed. I realised my mistake immediately. But I refused to let it show.

He picked up one of the documents. "The Hugo lawyers gave me three days to respond to Emerald’s proposal."

My stomach tightened immediately. "What proposal?"

"Three per cent of Mercer Technologies," he answered.

"What?" I exclaimed.

"She wants three per cent of the company in exchange for dropping the lawsuits against both of us."

My anger immediately shifted. "She’s unbelievable."

Kelvin looked at me. "She has evidence."

"She wants part of your company because of those lawsuits?" I almost couldn’t believe my ears.

"She has offered to withdraw them if I agree."

I shook my head. "She is trying to take advantage of you."

His expression changed slightly. "Why are you so certain she has no right to demand it?"

I looked at him. "Because she has been trying to destroy everything we’ve built from the beginning."

Kelvin didn’t respond this time. I could feel his eyes on me. I hated this conversation. I hated Emerald. And most of all, I hated that she had somehow managed to turn the tables.

Instead of defending herself, she was now demanding a portion of Mercer Technologies.

"She has always wanted this," I said. "She wants to come back and take what she thinks belongs to her."

Kelvin’s voice was quiet. "Perhaps."

I frowned. "What does that mean?"

He didn’t answer immediately. Then he looked directly at me and asked, "Did you frame Emerald?"

The question hit me so suddenly that for a moment I could only stare at him. "What?"

"You heard me."

I laughed nervously. "You can’t be serious."

"I am."

I shook my head. "After everything we’ve been through together, you’re actually asking me whether I framed Emerald?"

"I need you to answer me."

"I already did."

"No. You haven’t."

His voice was louder now. I took a step back. "I told you I don’t know those people."

"That isn’t what I asked."

"You think I framed her?" I asked.

"I think there are too many things I don’t understand."

I felt my temper rising. "So instead of asking yourself why those lawyers are trying to destroy me, you decided to believe them?"

"I haven’t believed anyone. Yet."

"You clearly don’t believe me either."

He slammed his hand against the table. "Because I’m looking at evidence connected to my account!"

The sound made me flinch. Kelvin rarely lost his temper with me like this.

"You have no idea what I’ve had to deal with because of this entire mess," he continued. "My company is now being dragged into lawsuits, the Hugo family is threatening me, and I’m being told I have three days to decide whether to give Emerald three per cent of Mercer Technologies."

I looked at him steadily. "Kelvin—"

"And you’re here claiming you know nothing."

"I don’t!" My voice was louder than I planned. He just kept staring at me. I took a deep breath to calm myself and then looked directly at him.

"I didn’t set Emerald up. I swear, Kelvin, I didn’t frame her."