Mr. Graham was in his study when Zayn walked in briskly. He was a very agile man, who even in his older years, still had a certain charm and strength to everything he did. He was going through some papers, but stopped mid-way and looked up to welcome his son home.โI was beginning to think you might turn down this invitation as well,โ his father said, shaking his head subtly. โWhen was the last time youโve been home?โโYou said it was urgent,โ Zayn replied, making himself slightly comfortable on the white couch away from the desk. โWhat happened?โโSo you wouldnโt have come home if it wasnโt.โ It wasnโt posed as a question because both Zayn and his father knew the veracity of those words. Although Zayn loved his parents and could do anything for them, there were just some variants that made him weigh his choice each time he felt like coming over.But when his mother had called the previous to inform him it was pretty important he was over at the house that morning, Zayn had at once, p
She had already started on her way out of the house but returned a few minutes later to check if the doors were locked, even though she knew sheโd locked them before leaving. Call it paranoid, but Rina knew Finn had all the resources he could employ to ensure she lost the house.But one thing was sure. Rina Powers wasnโt giving up without a fight.Even though Kayla had hinted a week ago about a relationship between her and Finn, Rina hadnโt exactly believed it because she didnโt know Finn to be that low a person. But when he threatened her with the powers of Kaylaโs family, it finally dawned on Rina that Kayla had had no reason to lie to her about that.Rina laughed at the absurdity of the situation, coupled with the fact that even after everything Finn had said and done to her, sheโd still believed in the personality heโd shown to her all those years before it got bad.Or could that all have been a lie?Hugging herself from her stylish black trench coat, Rina walked down to the bus s
The only interference they had was the one time Joelโs phone rang, but he was quick to swipe the end button, paying rapt attention to Rina. He watched as her lips moved, accentuating every word she said, and the way her eyes lit with excitement when spoke about something she particularly enjoyed.There were gaps in the story, like how she breezed over the doorbell sheโd heard ring that morning, but didnโt actually tell him what sheโd found. But Joel didnโt push it. If he was going to be friends with her, he needed to allow it to work out naturally. She didnโt trust him enough to share every single detail about herself. And in truth, Joel couldnโt blame her. Sheโd been through a lot.โHow about your day?โ Rina laughed, her red hair catching in the light. โIโve been the only one talking. Now that I think about it, I just might have bored you to death.โโNo.โ Joel shook his head slowly, his eyes watching her face intently, memorizing every detail. โYou canโt bore me. I actually enjoy hea
Joel leaned over the table to grab a pen, flexing his lean biceps in the process. It bulged a little through the linen shirt he had on, and Rina's glances lingered a little too long. Catching herself, she pulled his gaze away, grabbing her phone and scrolling through nothing in particular, until she heard him speak again.โI prepared the contract this week,โ he explained, trying not to sound like he had been super excited drawing out the terms to both of their benefits. He wouldnโt reveal that it was the most important thing for him in the process โ the terms being favorable enough to Rina.Most employers wouldnโt have done that, as realizing profit was the end goal in the long run. And maybe Joel would have been that way if he was dealing with a random model he barely felt a flicker for.But this was Rina. No part of him wanted to do anything that wouldnโt be beneficial to her.Sliding the papers over to her, he watched her face as she flipped through each page diligently, her eyes g
It was already evening by the time Rina left the constructed building for the O.S.N fashion house. She stood just a few minutes away from it, her face raised up to the gathering clouds. It was going to rain that night, so the logical thing was to return home before it met her on the way.But as Rina reached out to flag down a taxi, she remembered the note Zayn had sent earlier that day. The taxi stopped in front of her, with the driver sticking his head out of the window to ask where she was headed.Rina shook her head softly, her red silky strands bouncing across her back, and a few coming to the sides of her face. She pushed them behind her ears as she leaned closer to the driver. โIโm sorry,โ she muttered. โI changed my mind.โThe driver nodded and sped away in the distance, surprising Rina. Sheโd been so sure heโd recognize her and dish out his own venom without holding back. Perhaps, not everyone knew her as much as she thought. And there was also the possibility that not everyon
It was a seven-star restaurant located at the heart of the city, yet conspicuous enough not to rouse any unwanted attention. Rina was touched by the intentionality that went into picking this place for her. The security at the gates did a light check to ensure it wasnโt a reporter or the paparazzi before letting them through.During the ride, Rina had tried making small talk with the driver, but his replies had been so curt and polite that Rina gave up altogether. He hadnโt even looked curious when he saw her get into the car, almost like heโd expected his passenger to be the famous Rina Powers.He brought the car to a halt at the small entrance, and said nothing else, pulling away and returning to the gates. Rina walked inside hesitantly, her eyes taking in the space, still on the lookout for another face even though Zayn had told her they would be the only ones dining.It was a really huge space, but the dimmed lights made it appear smaller. The restaurant went with an exotic black
The playlist was now on The Chainsmokersโ Something Just Like This. They were on the first course, and true to his words, no one, not even the waiters, was around the restaurant. She chuckled as he went behind the counter, coming out with a cart.โI would have told you what was in the appetizer, but the only thing I recognize there is the cornbread.โ Zayn was kidding, but he loved hearing the sound of Rinaโs laughter. She shook her head, her face brightened from the humor that had settled comfortably.Zayn slid in a plate before her, then took his and returned to his seat. The cart still had something in it, and Rina looked at him with the question in her eyes.โOh, that.โ He grinned ruefully. โI couldnโt go back at every course. I donโt know much about serving myself either, so I just decided to get it all in there. The dessert is going to be slightly different because it canโt be brought out just yet. One of my men is keeping watch over it, though, but you shouldnโt worry. Heโs pret
It started raining, soft paters gently hitting the window panes. Yet, in the middle of the restaurant, Zayn and Rina were untouched. The rain ushered them into their third course, a light meal of chocolate pudding that melted in Rinaโs mouth the moment she placed it on her tongue.Zayn watched when she rolled her head back as the taste buds burst with richness and texture. He swallowed when his eyes met her nape, tender and elegant, like a swine. She had on small pearls โ his favorite piece of jewelry.If Zayn didnโt know any better, he would have thought Rina was trying to seduce him.When she returned her head straight up, she met his eyes, brown fierceness that made Zayn release a deep breath. This was becoming too much trouble for him. The more he tried to avoid it, the more it smacked him in the face, forcing him to stare in that direction, to be painstakingly aware of every moment.Pulling his eyes from hers, Zayn continued with the rest of her face. Her pointy nose was built on
EpilogueFive Months Later"With all the evidence presented before me, I have every reason to believe that Mr. Nathan Graham is guilty of a three-count murder charge, blackmail, money laundering, threats, and drug dealing," the judge declared.The courtroom was thick with tension. Every breath, every movement was weighed down by anticipation. Nathan sat stone-faced, but his eyes burned with malice as he glared at Rina, promising vengeance even from behind bars."I hereby sentence Mr. Nathan Graham to life imprisonment with hard labor."Gasps echoed through the room. Nathan clenched his fists as the reality of his fate sank in. His gaze flickered to his parents, searching for even a shred of sympathy. There was none. Instead, their stony expressions confirmed what he had failed to realize beforeโhis parents had been backing Rina all along. The betrayal hit him harder than the sentence itself."I donโt thinkโ""Counsel, please remove your client. Any further disruptions will only worsen
Four Months LaterRina's routine had become predictableโhome, hospital, repeat. She had no time for idle conversations or anything that didnโt offer practical solutions.In the midst of everything, she and Mrs Graham had developed an unspoken understanding, rotating their hospital visits so they could each get some rest. Despite their initial differences, the situation had bonded them.That evening, Rina glanced at the time on her phone. She should already be home preparing dinner. Cooking had become her form of therapyโa temporary escape from the overwhelming reality she faced. Besides, her pregnancy cravings were relentless, and hunger gnawed at her stomach every now and then.Her phone rang again, and she already knew who it was."Rina, I know you're about to start cooking up a storm," her mother-in-law's warm but concerned voice came through. "Why don't you take a break? Zayn wouldn't want you overexerting yourself."Rina smiled slightly, though fatigue weighed on her bones. She a
"Rina, I think you need to pick up the phone.โRina barely acknowledged the Georgeโs words, lazily reaching for her ringing phone at the edge of the bed. She sighed, half-expecting it to be Nathan again.โYes?โ she answered, her voice sharp with irritation.โThis is the Central Hospital. Am I speaking with Miss Rina?โ a formal yet urgent voice asked.Her brows furrowed. โYes, this is Rina.โโMr. Zayn Graham has been involved in an accident, and we require your immediate presence before proceeding with a blood transfusion and other treatments. Can you come?โThe words hit her like a freight train.Rinaโs breath caught in her throat. Zayn.Never had she imagined sheโd find herself in this situationโstanding on the precipice of something irreversible.โIโll be there immediately,โ she said, her voice shaking.She grabbed the first set of clothes she could find and rushed out of the house, her heart pounding with dread.She arrived at the hospital in record time, barely aware of how she go
Zayn watched as Rina packed her belongings with sharp, deliberate movements. Her scowl was the only warning he neededโshe wasnโt in the mood to listen. He wanted to tell her the truth, to explain everything, but he knew it wouldnโt matter right now.Instead, he pulled out his phone and dialed Igor If she wanted to leave, he wasnโt going to stop herโnot like this.โTake her home safely,โ he instructed, his voice void of emotion.Rina clenched her fists. He wasnโt even going to fight for her. That hurt more than the betrayal itself.She had wasted her time on him. She should have known he was like every other man.A few hours later, she was back to her cottage sitting in silence. The worst part? He hadnโt even tried to defend himself. He had justโฆ let her go. That made it worseโworse than the rumors, worse than Nathanโs revelations, worse than the pictures she had seen online.Nathan, at least, was there to fill in the blanks. He was the only one who seemed to care enough to tell her wh
The days following Kayla Reeseโs exposure were nothing short of chaotic. News outlets, social media platforms, and tabloids were flooded with updates about her arrest and the Reese familyโs collapse. #JusticeForRina and #KaylaReeseExposed trended for days, while old interviews, articles, and videos surfacedโshowing how Rina had suffered for years because of Kaylaโs actions. Netizens Demanded Justice In comment sections across social media, apologies to Rina Powers poured in. "I feel so ashamed. I was one of the people who dragged her. I'm so sorry, Rina." "I canโt believe we turned against her for so long. This woman went through HELL." "We owe Rina an apology. She deserves the world." But netizens werenโt just apologizingโthey were also going after the young actors who had lied against Rina three years ago. "So now that Kayla is exposed, WHERE are the actors who lied about Rina?" "I hope those โup-and-comingโ actors are ready to face consequences." "We need those
Despite the manโs confession reversing his previous statement, a significant portion of Kaylaโs fans and other netizens refused to believe him. The sudden shift in his stance made them skeptical.โHow does a man go from accusing Rina to suddenly defending her in 24 hours?โo9โShe probably paid him off. The timing is too suspicious.โโRina has finally bought her way out of this. Whatโs new?โThe hashtags #RinaIsAWitch, #RinaIsAManipulator, #RinaIsEvil, and #RinaIsAHeartlessFriend surged to the top of trending lists. The internet was once again divided, and Kaylaโs camp felt victorious.โWeโre back in control,โ Damien smirked, taking a sip of his drink as he scrolled through the hate comments directed at Rina.Kayla, lounging on the sofa, smirked. โOf course, we are. People believe what they want to believe. And right now? They want to see Rina suffer.โJust as they were about to toast to their small victory, Damienโs phone buzzed with a notification. His smirk vanished instantly.Kayla
George stared at his phone for a moment, then sighed. He knew better than to question Zayn Grahamโs methods. The man was always ten steps ahead of everyone else, and if he said heโd handle it, then the situation was about to take a dramatic turn.Sliding his phone back into his pocket, he turned to Rina. She was still staring at the screen, her face unreadable.โWhat was that about?โ she asked, her voice calm but laced with suspicion.โJust a call I had to take,โ George said smoothly, not daring to mention Zaynโs name. โListen, Rina, I know things look bad right now, but we still have a shot at turning this around. We just needโโโWe need proof,โ Rina cut in, her gaze shifting to him, sharp and determined. โI donโt care about public opinion anymore. I want the truth out there. I want that man exposed, and I want Kayla to rot for what sheโs done.โGeorge hesitated. โRinaโฆโโNo.โ She stood, pushing back her chair. โIโve played nice for too long. I let people walk all over me, let them d
As George stepped out of the room, Rina glanced at the clock. It was nearly time for her planned livestream. Sheโd decided earlier that morning to address her fans directly, to try and regain control of the narrative.She sat in front of her ring light and adjusted her camera, her heart racing. For someone used to the spotlight, this felt different. This wasnโt a red carpet or a press eventโthis was her, raw and vulnerable, speaking directly to the people who had the power to either support her or tear her down.After a deep breath, she hit the โGo Liveโ button. Within seconds, thousands of viewers flooded in, the chat scrolling rapidly with a mix of messages:โWeโre with you, Rina!โโIs it true what theyโre saying?โโWhy didnโt you address this sooner?โโHi, everyone,โ she began, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. โI know thereโs been a lot said about me in the past few days. I wanted to take a moment to speak to you directly, without any filters or edits.โJust as
The cold, sterile air of the detention center was a far cry from the lavish comforts Kayla Reese was used to. Yet, as she lounged on the narrow cot in her cell, her posture was anything but defeated. When the metallic clang of the door opening echoed through the room, she turned her head lazily to see her manager, Damien, stepping inside. His tailored suit seemed almost comical against the backdrop of concrete walls and dim lighting. โFinally,โ Kayla drawled, swinging her legs off the cot and sitting upright. โI was beginning to think youโd forgotten about me.โ Damien gave her a curt nod, his expression tight. โI just got out of the press conference. The Reese Group did what they could to smooth things over.โ Kaylaโs eyes lit up with curiosity. โAnd?โ Damien pulled out his tablet and tapped a few buttons. โHere, see for yourself.โ He handed it to her, the video of the conference playing from the start. Kayla watched intently, her eyes narrowing as the legal representative danced a