Liam: Maya! Tell them to open these cuffs! Tell them it was a joke!
Maya: It wasn't a joke, Liam. You brought a weapon into our room.
Liam: You're making the biggest mistake of your life!
Maya: No, marrying you was the mistake. This is just me fixing it.
The officers pushed Liam out into the grand hallway, leaving me alone in the suite. My breathing was fast and shallow. I walked over to the nightstand, my lace train dragging behind me on the carpet. My hands trembled as I picked up my phone to call my sister, Sarah.
Sarah: Maya? Is everything okay? The reception is supposed to start in twenty minutes!
Maya: Sarah, call off the reception. Tell the caterers to stop.
Sarah: What? What are you talking about? Did you two have a fight?
Maya: Liam pulled a baseball bat on me, Sarah. He threatened me.
Sarah: Oh my God! Maya, are you hurt?! Where is he?!
Maya: Ship security and the onboard police just dragged him away in handcuffs.
Sarah: I'm coming to your suite right now! Don't move!
I hung up the phone and sank down onto the edge of the plush bed. Tears finally welled up in my eyes, blurring the bright sunlight coming through the window. I had known Liam for two years. He had always been protective, sometimes even strict, but I thought it was just because he cared so much. I never imagined he carried the dark, violent legacy of his father.
A knock sounded at the door. I flinched, my eyes darting toward the entryway.
Maya: Who is it?
Sarah: It's me, Maya! Open the door!
I rushed over and unlocked the heavy door. Sarah stepped in, her yellow bridesmaid dress swishing as she pulled me into a fierce, tight hug.
Sarah: I am so sorry, Maya. I am so, so sorry.
Maya: I was so scared, Sarah. He looked at me like he didn't even know who I was.
Sarah: He's a monster. Just like his old man.
Maya: What do you mean?
Sarah: His father, Arthur Vance. I overheard him in the lounge earlier talking to Liam's uncle.
Maya: What were they saying?
Sarah: They were talking about your family's trust fund. They were talking about how once you two signed the final marriage certificate onboard, Liam would control your estate.
I pulled back, staring at my sister in absolute shock.
Maya: My trust fund? My father left that to me for my business!
Sarah: They don't care about your business, Maya. They needed the money to save their family business from bankruptcy.
Maya: That's why he wanted a cruise wedding... we're in international waters.
Sarah: Exactly. They thought you'd be trapped out here on the ocean with nowhere to go.
I wiped the tears from my eyes, my fear instantly turning into hard, burning anger.
Maya: They really thought I was helpless, didn't they?
Sarah: What are you going to do?
Maya: I'm going down to the security holding cell. And then I'm calling my divorce lawyer.