The Billionaire's Intern (Maya Thompson) novel Chapter 199

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Chapter 96: Between Fear and Faith-2

Clar

Maya’s voice trembled. “I… I was so mad. The way he insulted me-it ignited something inside me. I felt offended, hurt. He made me out to be some cheap… gold digger, like my pride didn’t matter. Like everything I’ve worked for… who I am… didn’t mean a thing. I couldn’t just let it slide.”

Harper nodded. “Exactly, Maya. Same with that doctor. You chose to be polite even when he crossed the line. Look what happened? He took advantage of it and hurt you. Kindness isn’t wrong-it’s never wrong-but you have to know how to set boundaries. Draw a line, put your foot down-make it clear there are consequences for crossing it. Not everyone in this world will be kind. If you let them push you around, they will. People only treat you the way you allow them to.”

Her gaze sharpened, voice low and unwavering. “So if Damien really did something to that doctor, like Miller implied… so what? He did it because he hurt you. Are you going to hate him for protecting you? Push him away because he decided to make that bastard pay? Why? Do you feel sorry for him?”

Maya blinked, chest tightening, pulse racing. Harper wasn’t asking-she was challenging her. Making her confront the reality that her anger, her hurt, didn’t have to make her doubt

Damien.

Her knees went weak. She sank into the sand, the cold grit grounding her. Her chest heaved, breaths shallow as adrenaline slowly drained, leaving a heavy ache behind.

Her mind spun-fear, relief, anger, confusion-all tangled together. Harper’s words echoed, sharp and unwavering: He did it because he hurt me… not because he’s cruel… not because he enjoys it…

“I… I…” she whispered. “I don’t even know what to feel right now. Relief? Fear? Gratitude? I… I’m too overwhelmed.”

Harper crouched beside her, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay to feel that way. You’ve been through a storm in minutes that would take most people days to process. Let it out. Breathe. You don’t have to have it all figured out.”

Maya’s eyes glistened with unspilled tears. “I… I just keep thinking about what Ethan said… about Damien. Blood on his hands, shadows at his back… I don’t know what that means. I don’t know what he’s done… or what he’s capable of.”

Harper glanced around, then leaned closer, whispering like a secret. “You’ve heard the stories about Nicholas Ashcroft, right? Sole heir to the Ashcroft fortune? Certified playboy, owns it

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all. But here’s the thing-not once has he officially taken over the corporate side. Not like Damien. That’s still run by his dad… or uncles, or some cousins.”

Maya blinked. “So… what does he do then?”

Harper arched a brow. “Another role. Behind the scenes.”

“What kind of role?”

She smirked, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “Let’s just say… they call him the Prince of the Underworld.”

Maya froze.

Harper nodded slowly. “Yeah. He gets things done clean-but not by the book. Big-shot mafia vibes. Rumors are loud, nothing confirmed.”

“Prince?” Maya repeated, barely audible.

Harper’s eyes glinted. “Mhm. And if there’s a prince… there’s got to be a king, right?”

Maya’s heart thudded. “His father?”

Harper shook her head. “Nope. People agree it might be… Mr. Blackwood.”

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