LOGINThe law office was small and clean. It smelled like fresh coffee. I sat in a leather chair across from a woman named Mackenzie Cole. She was in her forties with sharp eyes and short dark hair. She had been recommended to me by a former classmate who owed me a favor. She did not work for my father. She did not work for Mariano. She worked for me.“I need you to understand something,” Mackenzie said. She folded her hands on the desk in front of her. “You are facing serious charges. Plagiarism. Embezzlement. The evidence against you is strong on paper. But paper can be burned.”I leaned forward. “I do not want you to burn anything. I want you to help me fight.”“That is what I am here for.” Mackenzie picked up a pen and tapped it against her notebook. “Tell me everything. From the beginning.”I told her everything. I sat in the chair and spoke clearly. I told her about my mother. I explained how my mother had manipulated me for months. I told her about the forged documents that had my na
Gabriella POVI walked toward the door of my room and reached out, gripping the brass handle. I turned it and pulled the door open. The hallway outside was dark, silent, and empty."I have been letting people control me my entire life," I told him, stating the stark reality of my existence. "My father controlled me. My mother manipulated and used me, building a web of evil that has nearly destroyed us both. Davis used me. You used your power over me. And I am done.""Gabriella, please—""I am going to find my mother," I continued, stating my purpose clearly. "I am going to make her pay for what she did. For the framing, for the ruin, and for threatening your life. I am going to hold her accountable. And I am going to do it alone.""You cannot do this alone," he argued, his tone desperate, filled with fear for my safety. "She is ruthless. You do not know what she is capable of.""I can. And I will." I took a deliberate step out into the hallway. "I do not need you, Mariano. I do not ne
Gabriella's POV The digital clock on the bedside table glowed in the darkness of the room. The silence surrounding me was heavy, broken only by the sharp, frantic sound of my own shallow breathing. I held the phone pressed tightly against my ear, the plastic casing growing warm against my palm. Every nerve in my body was on edge. "Mariano—" I began, my voice barely more than a whisper. "Listen to me." His voice came through the speaker, urgent and sharp. It was filled with that familiar authority, the tone of a man accustomed to commanding rooms and dictating outcomes. "Do not accept the plea deal. Do not call your lawyer. Do not agree to anything. I am going to fix this. I am going to find a way to prove your innocence. I am going to make sure your mother pays for what she did." I listened to the steady rhythm of his speech. He sounded so certain, so completely convinced of his ability to step in and alter the course of events. He was a man who had spent his entire life taking con
Gabriella's POVI lay on the bed for a long time.The phone was sitting on the nightstand beside me. It was face down and silent. The room was completely quiet. The only sound was the slow rhythm of my own breathing.I had until eight o'clock in the morning. Less than twelve hours. My mother's voice was still echoing in my head. The threats. The coldness. The absolute certainty that she had won.I picked up the phone. My fingers moved without thinking. They scrolled through the contacts until they found his name. Mariano.I pressed call.He answered on the first ring."Gabriella." His voice was sharp and immediate. "Are you okay? What happened?""No." My voice was flat and hollow. "I am not okay."There was a pause on the other end of the line. I could hear him breathing. I could hear movement. He was probably standing up, grabbing his jacket, getting ready to come to me."What happened?" he asked again."My mother called me."The line went completely silent."She called me," I repeat
Gabriella pov"I know the truth now," I said. "I see everything now.""You see nothing," my mother said. "You are standing in the middle of a room, facing criminal charges, with no allies left. Who do you have? Nok? Nok gave you a set of clothes and a push out the door because I told her to."My heart stopped for a second. "What?""Did you really think Nok helped you out of the goodness of her heart?" my mother asked. "She works for me, Gabriella. Every move you made was allowed by me. Every door you opened was unlocked by me.""You are lying," I said, though my voice sounded small."I do not lie to you, Gabriella," my mother said. "I manipulate you. There is a difference. Levi did what he was told because he wanted to keep his sister safe. Nok did what she was told because she knows what happens when people disobey me.""I am going to tell the university," I said. "I am going to tell the court. I will tell the judge everything you did.""With what proof?" my mother asked. "Levi will
"Then explain it to me," I said. I stopped walking and stood still in the center of the room. "Explain why you framed me. Explain why you destroyed my life. Explain why you are calling my phone right now.""I cannot explain everything," Levi said. "Not over the phone. It is not safe.""I do not care about safe," I shouted. "I care about the truth. Tell me the truth, Levi. Tell me why you did this to me."There was another long pause on the line. Levi took a heavy breath."Because I had no choice," Levi said. "Because she threatened the people I love. Because if I did not do what she asked, she would have killed them."I held the phone against my ear. My heart was pounding hard against my chest. My mind was racing to understand his words."Who?" I asked. My voice was lower now. "Who did she threaten?""My sister," Levi said. "Nok. She said if I did not help her frame you, she would kill Nok. She said she would make it look like an accident. She said she would destroy everyone I care ab
Gabriella's POV"—and then Darius came along to claim the proposal but I beat him to it and got the patent." Davis droned on"Nice." I said half-heartedly "Nice? I just told you how I worked hard during my travels and all I get is 'Nice'?" He turned to me annoyed that I was fawning over him like b
Gabriella's POVI woke up to a knock. Groggily I tossed around the bed, swinging my arm to the space beside me. I patted it twice but didn't feel the figure that should have been there.I opened my eyes to see an empty room. Where was Mariano?The knocks came again. I sat up searching for my dress
Gabriella's POVIn one swoop I was in his arms as he walked towards a different door. I helped him open it and there was an inner room with a more simple yet luxurious decor.He dropped me on the bed, towering over me as he threw his shirt to a corner of the room and then his hands moved to his bel
Gabriella's POV"You have no idea how irritated I am by her presence. She's just sexy visually. A fucking prude." Davis, my fiancee, groaned.I stood by the door, visibly frozen in place. The little basket of hand made snacks felt heavy.Was he talking about me? It couldn't be."No way dude," Kevin







