The Fallout Begins

Julia’s First-Person POV

The silence after Ava left felt worse than the screaming.

It sat heavy in the room, thick with shock and fear, while everyone avoided looking directly at me.

Because now they knew.

Not just whispers.

Not just rumors.

The truth.

Julia Bennett.

Hidden heir.

Protected child.

The girl at the center of the Bennett scandal.

My stomach twisted violently.

I pulled my hand from Alan’s grasp and stepped away, needing space to breathe. But breathing felt impossible when dozens of eyes kept sliding toward me with curiosity and calculation.

They were already judging.

Already choosing sides.

And somewhere out there—

Someone who wanted me dead now knew exactly where to find me.

“Kai,” I whispered, my voice shaking, “how much did Ava leak?”

Kai looked exhausted.

Not physically.

Emotionally.

Like he had spent years trying to stop a disaster that finally exploded anyway.

“She uploaded the archived files to multiple press contacts,” he said quietly. “Internal records. Court documents. Protection orders.”

My blood turned cold.

Alan swore under his breath again, pacing once before turning sharply toward Kai.

“You should’ve stopped her sooner.”

Kai’s expression darkened instantly.

“You think I don’t know that?”

The tension snapped through the room again.

I closed my eyes briefly.

“Stop,” I whispered.

Neither listened.

“You knew she was unstable,” Alan continued harshly. “You let this get out of control.”

Kai stepped forward slowly, dangerous calm settling over him.

“And what exactly was I supposed to do?” he asked coldly. “Lock her away? Destroy her? She’s still my sister.”

“She just painted a target on Julia’s back.”

That hit.

Hard.

Because Kai flinched.

Just slightly.

But enough for me to notice.

My chest tightened painfully.

For the first time, I realized something terrifying—

Kai wasn’t afraid of Ava exposing secrets.

He was afraid of what would happen to me afterward.

Suddenly, one of the executives rushed into the lounge, pale-faced and breathless.

“Sir—”

Alan turned instantly. “What?”

The man swallowed hard.

“There are reporters outside the building.”

Everything inside me dropped.

“How many?” Alan asked sharply.

“At least twenty. More arriving every minute.”

My pulse roared in my ears.

Already?

That fast?

Kai dragged a hand through his hair, muttering something under his breath.

Alan immediately moved toward me.

“We’re leaving.”

But before we could take a single step—

My phone rang.

Unknown number.

The sound sliced through the room.

Everyone froze.

A horrible feeling crawled up my spine.

Slowly, I answered.

“Hello?”

Static.

Then—

A distorted voice.

Male.

Cold.

“You should’ve stayed hidden, Julia Bennett.”

My entire body locked up.

Alan’s expression changed instantly the moment he saw my face.

“Who is it?”

I couldn’t answer.

The voice continued.

“Your mother survived longer than expected.”

My breath stopped.

“What?”

A soft chuckle crackled through the line.

“But daughters die easier.”

The call disconnected.

The room spun.

Alan caught me before my knees hit the floor.

“Julia.”

His voice sounded distant.

Kai ripped the phone from my shaking hand, checking the number, his face turning pale with fury.

“That wasn’t Ava,” he said quietly.

Fear exploded through my chest.

Alan’s arms tightened around me protectively.

Then Kai said the words that shattered whatever safety I had left.

“They found her.”