an's

was the one mistake

l out of me, sharp and reckless, but once th

a moment, I thought he might snap, might drag me closer an

was w

ight wasn't a ma

nto the night skyline. His voice was low, tight.

dvice and more like a

***

nightstand. Texts, missed calls, social media alerts. The headlin

GHT'S SEC

RE BETRAYS FIANC

LD DIGGER OR MA

im. They dug through old photos, even ones from college, twisting every detail into proof. Poo

ow the phone th

e kitchen. The penthouse was too quiet. Soren was gone, probably buried in meetin

I couldn't pretend

ain, I snatched it up w

ria

tighten

talking. Reporters came to the building. They asked me quest

t was dry. "I swear, Mom. Just... stay inside.

hing between words. "Do you even know w

d. "I didn't plan this, Mom. I

"You tied yourself to Soren Knight.

n this, Adrian. You were supposed to be car

ne wen

hone pressed to

e word kep

the mistake of l

she'd been rehearsing her whole life. She sat in some studio chai

ture planned. And then... then I found out. About Adrian. About the affair.

ips like she was about to break. Th

drian

or status. I only pray that one day, people like that

ce clapped

screen so hard th

stomach twisted until

t? She sounde

s of the penthouse were too sharp, too bright, too much li

ded near the entrance, cameras flas

re h

u really seduce

to file for divo

my mouth. I tried to move, tried t

houted, but it only m

round my arm, f

an C

is suit immaculate, his smile sharp. He leaned clo

thank me

noise. The sudden quiet was a relief, b

relaxed, as if he hadn't ju

ive," he said smoothly. "You need protection,

ly. "And that s

now every move his father makes, every trap he sets. And I k

I muttered. "T

glinted.

ran down

ht now, the press thinks you're a gold digger. That story will only grow. If you want to surv

"Why would

's just say I like people who see the truth. And t

n't think he's a man at

leave wreckage. When he's done with you, wh

Because the quest

window, and the driver stopped at a

ear. "Think about what I said. You'll

, my legs shaky. The car pulle

penthouse felt c

ce unreadable. He set down his briefcase like no

e, force him to feel what I was feeling. But when I looked

pered, "She des

tightening. "Then tomorr

ache. Because it was so easy for him. War

. I don't have an empire, or money, or power. All I

econd, but then the mask slipped back i

"That's not protecti

was an answe

y lights below. My reflection in the

e this whole mess began, I

in Soren's world. Maybe

e broke the silence

who would you rather tr