wasn't asleep. She had been awake for hours, lying still, her thoughts spinning uncontroll

40 missed calls. And then came messages – screenshots, news,

Hotel With Beaumont Tycoon" "So

Dressed in last night's cocktail dress, hair dishev

er", she muttered

um, walked in holding a tablet, a gr

Sophie bra

er the tablet. "

er voice dry. her mum studi

s snapped up

A move against Etan? Becaus

ilence fell between the. Finally her mum sighed. "Well, w

rnett entered, stern as ever.Come dow

*

ing windows. Sophie sat at the head of the polished mahogany table, flanked by Burnett Gr

d behind her with crossed arms, h

gesturing at the monitor, "the footage has already been picked

dn't look a

dn't n

ed in her mind-her stepping into the hotel beside Alexander Bea

rofile, "Richard said, calm

just the footage. People are questioning your ability to

ad a breakdown after being publicly

see, "Xander said cold

e'll control the narrative

her chin. "I

mage. You'll stay outy of the spotligh

eclaim your voice. You'll need to make it

, slowly she spoke. I'll h

ked. " Are

long. If I'm going to fix

ty skyline glittering outside her window, mocking her. She picked up her phon

ed on the second

ootage?" she asked,

aled.

ed into her ch

ice shaking. "Why? What the hell was

hat. I knew the press would sniff it out eventually. Better to control t

hat makes me look powerful? You handed the p

uietly. "Becaus

idn't respond. Sh

care about your feelings. But they do care about your name. Use t

She stared at her reflection

Not Ethan. Not Alexander. Not

ked on her lapt

h

Burnett..." She del

now me as Etha

ksp

time before her fingers began to mov

out of her like blood

was nearly 3 a.m., and her hands were

ext M

epping the estate's media hall. A makeup artist waited in the foyer, and

didn't need

lk blouse, her hair pinned back in a sleek low bun.

to speak. N

he sound of cameras and murmuring reporters e

d toward

ove. Alexander, she noticed, stood at the far

idn't

mic. The room

roat was dry, and for one long second,

re her. Lights. Cameras. Mic

ts-her family, regal and silent. Xander stood with his arms f

s near the exit-A

a breath, lo

be

d mo

is Sophie

nt off. Th

. Some of you know me as the woman in last night

ere to cha

ted. Every ey

ing a brave choice-one rooted in love. I gave up my wealth, my career, my

n was Ethan

ut her fingers curled ti

as w

pled across

meant sacrifice. So I

ence when I sh

in I should've

me small, thinking tha

porters leaned forward, fi

my husband in bed with another woma

, he handed me

hat-three ye

Charged with a crime I didn't commit. Accused of embezzling

sp

idn't just cheat.

he tried

ice grew fi

uined. I'm her

aking my l

sed. Sophie inhaled,

sk to becom

can help even one person feel less alone-

s been gaslighted, d

e who's bee

see

u will