Chapter 9 - WHAT WE CHOOSE TO BECOME
Six months passed.
Ethan's trial became one of the largest corporate criminal cases in Illinois history.
Helix was dismantled.
The stolen money was recovered.
Several executives were arrested.
But Richard refused to return to his old life.
He sold the mansion.
He resigned from the board.
He established a medical foundation in his father's name.
Maya became its director of patient advocacy.
Their relationship changed slowly.
There was no dramatic proposal.
No instant romance.
Just small things.
Coffee together.
Late-night conversations.
Arguments.
Laughter.
Healing.
Richard continued physical therapy.
Some days he walked.
Some days he needed the wheelchair.
Maya never treated either version differently.
One evening, they sat beside Lake Michigan.
Richard looked at her.
“Do you regret taking that job?”
Maya smiled.
“Sometimes.”
He laughed.
“You're impossible.”
“I was supposed to clean your house.”
“You did.”
“And instead?”
“You dismantled my family.”
“Technically, your family did that themselves.”
Richard laughed again.
Then became serious.
“Maya.”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
She looked at him.
He continued.
“I don't need you to take care of me.”
“I know.”
“I don't want you because you're strong.”
“I know.”
“I don't want you because you saved my life.”
She smiled.
“Then why?”
“Because when everything around me was built on lies, you were the first person who told me the truth.”
Maya's eyes filled.
“I love you too.”
He reached for her hand.
But Maya hesitated.
Richard noticed.
“What?”
“I keep thinking about my marriage.”
“You don't love Miguel.”
“No.”
She looked at the lake.
“But I spent twelve years believing my life was supposed to look one way.”
“And now?”
“Now I think I get to choose.”
Richard squeezed her hand.
“You do.”
She leaned against his shoulder.
For the first time in years, Maya felt peaceful.
Then her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
“Hello?”
No response.
Then a woman's voice whispered:
“Don't trust Richard.”
Maya froze.
The call ended.
Richard saw her face.
“What happened?”
She didn't answer immediately.
Then she showed him the number.
His expression changed.
“That number belongs to a dead person.”
Maya stared.
“Who?”
Richard hesitated.
“My former fiancée.”
Silence.
They immediately contacted investigators.
The number had been activated six minutes earlier.
No location.
No subscriber information.
Then another message arrived.
A photograph.
Richard's former fiancée, Elena.
Alive.
Standing outside a train station.
On the back of the photograph was a message:
YOU STOPPED THE FIRST PROJECT. YOU DIDN'T FIND THE SECOND.
Richard stared at it.
Maya whispered:
“She's alive.”
Richard nodded.
“And someone wants us to find her.”
The next message appeared.
COME ALONE.
Richard looked at Maya.
“No.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“You thought I'd let you go alone?”
“I hoped.”
“Bad plan.”
He smiled.
“Then we're going together.”
But neither of them noticed the tiny symbol printed in the corner of the photograph.
A silver triangle.
The same symbol found inside Maya's father's old research files.
May you like
The Helix Project wasn't dead.
It had simply changed hands.
