en

. A yacht, adrift, ravaged by the st

gry. "Alden, what in God's name is happening? The news

ng images of the wrecked yacht, the search and

out, my voice raw. "She was just...

She's been nothing but devoted to you for five yea

eyes wide with horror. "Sir, they found... they found debris. An

o do with the storm outside. A distress beacon. She h

in this weather?" I roared at Marcus, my

And Ms. Walls specifically asked to be alone. She was insistent

ng her after her "scare." I had put my phone on silent, then

he have done something? She was always so jealous of Katelynn's intellig

la?" I demanded,

hounded by the media, sir. About her appoin

onnection was back. Hundreds of messages flooded in, news alerts, social

r face, pale but resolute. H

"then Katelynn Walls is no longer. For five years, I loved Alden Stone

t hammered against my ribs

deception to shield his lifelong obsession with Gabriella Butler. He gave me 'Gabriella' ro

e, then a quick cut to an image of a garden magazine

theft and gave it to Gabriella, allowing her to claim it as her own, to secure her po

just days before Gabriella announced her "discovery." Then, emails between myself and a patent la

ho had just walked into the room, her phone pressed to her

ok her work! You stole her formula! And you le

are you talking about? It's a lie! She's jealous! She's always b

nt to her stomach. "She's

is there, Gabriella? It's another one of your lies! Just like everything else!" T

, her face p

h fury. "The media has just released the full report! Gabriella's 'pregnancy' is a fabrication! A calculated deception

ace to this family, and your appointment is revoked. Immediately. And that bracelet," he pointed a shakin

elet. It fell to the floor, scattering diamonds like shattered hopes. She stared at

ce cracking. "Alden, don't le

gaze, her quiet dignity, even in her last, desperate act. I felt a cold, crushing wave of regret.

id, my voice hollow, devoi

sobs echoing d

g, Alden. The corporation's reputation, our alliance, everything. And Kate

ry. To tell her I finally saw. But it was too la

And I had killed her. Not with my hands, but with my blind obsession, my cruel indifference, my unforgivable betrayal. The world believed Katelynn Walls was