LOGINWhile we're camping outdoors, my boyfriend, Preston Bassett, hands his cup to his childhood friend, Ashley Rankin. Instead of making a scene, I simply tell him I want to break up. "Just because I'm letting her use my cup?" "Yes." Rather than getting mad, Preston laughs. "Fine. Let's break up then. But try to stand by your decision this time. Don't come crying to me for a second chance before we've even packed up the tent." His friend chimes in from the side, "Maybe you should just apologize. If you guys actually break up, you'll be crying before you know it." Preston looks at me like he couldn't care less, a mocking smirk on his face. "She's just bored out of her mind and is looking for trouble. "Back then, she was even willing to fall out with her family just to move to this city and be with me. I'd be impressed if she could keep this up for two days." He's right. I have loved him for three whole years, and I have willingly given up everything for him. What he'll never understand is the fact that jobs can always be replaced, and the wrong person is always someone worth walking away from. I have already submitted my resignation and received an offer from a new company. So, as soon as the handover is complete, I'll leave. This time, no matter what happens, I am never looking back.
View MoreCapítulo 1: La bomba de medianoche
Liliana Moretti se despertó con el zumbido constante de su teléfono.
El zumbido la sacó de un sueño profundo. Gimió y lo cogió de la mesita de noche, con los ojos aún pesados. La pantalla iluminó su oscura habitación como un foco. Eran las 2:17 de la madrugada. Cientos de notificaciones llegaron de golpe. Mensajes de personas con las que no había hablado en años. Chats grupales que explotaban. Números desconocidos. I*******m y otras aplicaciones mostraban cientos de alertas rojas.
Se incorporó lentamente, con el corazón acelerado. "¿Qué demonios está pasando?"
El primer mensaje era de su prima: *Lia, ¿eres tú de verdad? Llámame ahora mismo.*
Había un enlace adjunto. Hizo clic sin pensarlo dos veces.
El vídeo empezó a reproducirse automáticamente.
Al principio, no entendía lo que veía. Una mujer idéntica a ella yacía sobre lujosas sábanas de seda en una habitación con poca luz. El mismo pelo largo y oscuro. El mismo pequeño lunar justo encima de su cadera izquierda. El mismo delicado collar de oro que su madre le había regalado en su vigésimo primer cumpleaños. La mujer sonrió a la cámara, luego arqueó la espalda y se acarició el cuerpo lentamente, de una manera que a Liliana se le revolvió el estómago.
Esa no era ella.
Nunca había estado en esa habitación. Nunca había grabado ese vídeo. Nunca se había tocado así mientras la grababan.
Pero era su rostro. Su cuerpo. Su voz gimiendo suavemente.
A Liliana se le entumecieron los dedos. El teléfono se le resbaló de la mano y cayó sobre su regazo. Lo agarró rápidamente y empezó a revisar los mensajes frenéticamente. Había más vídeos. Desde varios ángulos. Algunos parecían selfies íntimas tomadas frente a un espejo. Otros eran más cercanos, más explícitos. Todos la mostraban de maneras que nunca había permitido que nadie viera.
Los comentarios debajo de los vídeos ya empezaban a llegar como veneno.
¡Mierda! La princesa Moretti es una auténtica zorra.
La hija del senador viviendo la vida al máximo.
Seguro que ahora le encanta toda la atención.
Las chicas ricas siempre son las más raras a puerta cerrada.
Su respiración se aceleró. Intentó cerrar las aplicaciones, pero seguían llegando mensajes. Amigos preguntando si estaba bien. Desconocidos insultándola. Un blog de chismes ya había publicado un artículo con capturas de pantalla. El escándalo se extendía a la velocidad del rayo.
Salió de la cama a trompicones y corrió al baño, apenas llegando al inodoro antes de vomitar. Todo su cuerpo temblaba incontrolablemente. Cuando por fin se puso de pie y se miró en el espejo, la chica que la devolvía tenía los ojos muy abiertos y aterrorizados, y las mejillas surcadas por las lágrimas.
Esto no podía estar pasando.
Siempre había sido tan cuidadosa. La hija perfecta. La que sonreía para las cámaras en cada gala benéfica, la que estudió administración de empresas y ciencias políticas porque su padre lo esperaba. Salía con personas autorizadas. Nunca bebía demasiado en público. Nunca enviaba fotos comprometedoras a nadie.
Y ahí estaba. Expuesta. Humillada. Destrozada.
Sonó su teléfono. Era su madre.
Liliana contestó con mano temblorosa. «Mamá…»
«No digas nada», la interrumpió su madre bruscamente. «Tu padre ya está hablando por teléfono con nuestros abogados y el equipo de crisis. Quédate en tu habitación. No abras la puerta. No hables con nadie. ¿Me entiendes?»
«Pero yo no hice esto», susurró Liliana desesperada. «Lo juro. Alguien hizo estos videos. Alguien puso mi cara en…»
«Nosotros nos encargamos. Solo guarda silencio.»
La llamada terminó abruptamente.
Liliana se desplomó sobre el frío suelo de mármol, abrazándose las rodillas mientras fuertes sollozos la desgarraban. Fuera de su ventana, los primeros rayos del amanecer asomaban sobre los terrenos de la finca. Pronto llegaría el personal. Pronto el mundo entero despertaría ante su completa destrucción.
Se arrastró de vuelta a su cama y volvió a abrir uno de los vídeos. La mujer que era idéntica a ella sonrió a la cámara antes de gemir con fuerza. El ángulo de la mandíbula era perfecto. La marca de nacimiento en su hombro. Incluso la pequeña cicatriz en su rodilla, recuerdo de una caída de la infancia.
Quienquiera que hubiera hecho esto conocía su cuerpo lo suficientemente bien como para recrearlo a la perfección.
Apareció un nuevo mensaje de un número desconocido. Sin palabras. Solo una frase escalofriante:
*Ahora todos saben quién eres en realidad, princesa.*
Liliana lo miró fijamente hasta que la pantalla se apagó. Entonces arrojó el teléfono con fuerza al otro lado de la habitación. Se estrelló contra la pared con un fuerte crujido y quedó en silencio.
Pero el daño ya estaba hecho.
Para cuando el sol saliera por completo, su vida como Liliana Moretti, la heredera intocable, habría terminado.
Y aún no tenía ni idea de quién lo había matado con tanta crueldad.
Once I got back to work, my life fell right back into the routine of overtime, rest, and occasional business trips.I filled my schedule to the brim, trying to drown out that lingering sense of emptiness that would creep up on me every now and then.That feeling stayed with me for a long time. It wasn't until the following spring that it finally started to fade.I got used to the simple routine of going between work and home every day. I even adopted a cat and occasionally joined social events. My days were ordinary, but they were fulfilling.Then, I met Luke Mills.He was the project lead from our partner company, and like me, he was grinding it out in this city on his own.He had this calm, easygoing personality, but he was incredibly organized and reliable when it came to work.What really stuck with me, though, were his eyes. There was something about the way he looked at me that felt like it could wash away all my anxiety and leave me with this inexplicable sense of securit
Early the next morning, I booked a flight back to Slorville.There was no one left here I cared about, and sticking around would only make me feel trapped. I was just about to drive off when someone started banging on my window aggressively. I looked up and saw Ashley. She seemed frantic, her features twisted with desperation. As she pounded on the glass, she screamed my name.I had no choice but to get out of the car and set the record straight with her. Only after getting out did I realize how terrible she looked. Her makeup had run from crying, and her clothes were all wrinkled.I had barely gotten out when she started demanding answers. "Danielle, I should've known it was you! What did you say to Preston this time?"Why is he refusing to see me? He even said he wanted to cut ties with me… Did you secretly manipulate him again?"I just don't understand. How is he still completely wrapped around your finger and at your beck and call when you two broke up ages ago?Hearing all
Even after Preston returned home, he still wouldn't give up on getting back together with me. He tried every possible way to contact me.He even tracked down former coworkers I'd long since lost touch with and had them try to talk me into taking him back.I was so tired of being harassed that I changed my number and applied to move into the company dormitory, cutting off all unnecessary contact with the outside world.When he couldn't reach me anymore, the noise finally died down. That lasted until our project wrapped up and the whole team got some time off.I decided to go back to Arverport. Even though my family was always busy, I still held out hope for a family reunion.But after I landed, I found out that both my parents were away on business and couldn't make it back.I let myself into our home with my key. There was no one inside, and everything was covered in a thick layer of dust.I stood at the entrance, zoning out as I looked at the empty living room. By the time I'd
At this point, Preston and I ended things a long time ago. I'd told him that we were done so many times, but he was still stuck in his own little world.He was still convinced I was just throwing a tantrum and that, as long as he played the nice guy and apologized, I'd come running back to him.No matter how many times I repeated myself or how firm I was, he still saw me as nothing more than a child throwing a fit because she didn't get her way.He really thought that all he had to do was show up with flowers and a cake, say a few sweet words, and I'd smile and throw myself into his arms, going right back to being that naive, submissive girlfriend.Honestly, I was exhausted.Preston continued to make promises with an earnest look on his face, as if he actually believed every word he said."Danielle, I'm serious this time. I'll change and be a—"He was interrupted by the sound of his phone ringing. He pulled it out, clearly annoyed, and was about to reject the call when he saw th






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