Part 4: A New Reality
The anger inside me slowly deflated, replaced by a profound sadness. I walked over to him and took his hands. “Noah, we survived the foster system together. We survived poverty together. Did you really think a bank account would make me love you any differently?”
Tears finally spilled over his eyelashes. “I didn’t doubt you, Maya. I doubted the world. I just wanted one perfect day—our wedding day—where we were just two kids from the orphanage who made it against all odds. I was going to tell you tonight. I swear.”
I looked around our tiny apartment. For years, we had dreamed of a place where the roof didn’t leak, where Noah could have a specialized kitchen designed for his wheelchair, and where we never had to worry about medical bills. The money was a miracle, but the secrecy had left a sharp sting.
