Security Guard: Ma'am, I really don't recommend going in there right now. He's extremely agitated.
Maya: I don't care how agitated he is. Open the door.
Security Guard: You have five minutes. I'll be standing right outside.
The heavy metallic door clicked open. I stepped into the small, sterile holding room near the ship's lower deck. Liam sat on a cold bench, his navy suit jacket removed, his hands still cuffed behind his back. His hair was messy, and his eyes were red with rage.
Liam: Look who finally decided to show up. Have you come to pull the charges?
Maya: Pull the charges? Are you out of your mind, Liam?
Liam: You humiliated me, Maya! You had ship security tackle me in our own suite!
Maya: You brought a bat into our room and threatened to beat me like your father beat your mother!
Liam: It was a lesson! You needed to understand who leads this family!
Maya: You don't lead anything, Liam. You're a coward who needs a weapon to feel strong.
Liam stood up abruptly, leaning over the small metal table separating us. The metal cuffs clattered against the wall behind him.
Liam: You signed the preliminary marriage license before we boarded, Maya! Legally, you are my wife!
Maya: The captain hasn't signed the final maritime registry yet. Which means we aren't legally married.
Liam: What?! Of course we are!
Maya: I stopped by the captain's bridge on my way down here. I told him what happened, and he tore up the document himself.
Liam's face went completely pale, his aggressive posture collapsing in an instant.
Liam: You... you can't do that!
Maya: I just did. You don't own me, Liam. And you certainly don't own my money.
Liam: Money? What are you talking about?
Maya: I know about your father's company, Liam. I know Vance Logistics is six million dollars in debt.
Liam: Who told you that?!
Maya: It doesn't matter who told me. You used a fake wedding to try and steal my inheritance!
Liam: Maya, listen to me... okay, fine! We needed money! But I do love you!
Maya: You don't love me, Liam. You loved the idea of controlling me. But you picked the wrong target.
The door behind me swung open, and the security officer stepped into the room.
Security Guard: Time's up, ma'am. The ship captain is waiting for you in his office.
Liam: Maya! Don't leave me here! My father is going to ruin you for this!
Maya: Let him try. My family's lawyers are already waiting for us at the port in Miami.
I turned my back on him and walked out into the corridor, ignoring his loud screams echoing off the steel walls.