{ SHE FRAMED ME }

LEILA

The door opened, but the air that rushed in wasn't the cool breeze from the hallway. It was thick with Karl's sandalwood cologne, mixed with a heavy, floral perfume I didn't recognize. It hit the back of my throat, triggering a sudden wave of morning sickness that made my hand move over my flat stomach beneath the tablecloth.

Karl walked in, Natalia Scott's hand laced through his arm. He didn't look at me, nor did he acknowledge that I was sitting there as he turned toward the table.

"Mom… Dad…" he said, his voice as easy as breath. "I'd like you to meet Natalia. My fiancée."

The word landed in my chest like a dropped glass, shattering quietly where no one could hear it but me.

I lifted my water glass and took a slow sip, because two years with the Hawthorne family had taught me never to give them the reaction they were hunting for. Natalia wore a smile too wide and too bright, giving me the briefest dismissive glance as Ellen rose from her seat.

"Come, darling," Ellen said, beaming as she took Natalia's hands in both of hers. "You're even lovelier than he described. Come, sit by me."

She gestured to the seat beside her, and Karl pulled the chair out, guiding her to sit before he sat beside her. My fingers tightened around the stem of my glass until my knuckles turned white, while the sweet smell of Natalia's perfume made my stomach churn again. I forced a quiet breath in through my nose, trying to ground myself.

Across the table, Theodore set down his fork with a sharp clink. He hadn't spoken a single word since Karl walked in, but now his voice dropped low, vibrating with an anger I hadn't heard in years.

"Get her out of here."

Karl's jaw flexed, though he still hadn't looked at me. He picked up the wine decanter to pour a glass for her, then one for himself.

"Natalia is here as my guest, Dad," Karl said, his eyes fixed on the liquid rising in his glass. "Tonight, of all nights, I'd think you'd want to celebrate…"

"Not when your wife is seated at this table," Theodore snapped, his eyes filling with a shame that wasn't his to carry as he looked at me. "This is disrespectful, Karl."

Karl set the decanter down with a thud. "We're getting a divorce. She's aware of that already." He glanced in my direction, but his gaze slid right over me. "Sign the papers, Leila... Stop making this awkward."

"I built everything I own on honor," Theodore roared. "Your marriage was one of them."

"A marriage you arranged," Karl shot back. "We were never meant to be. Everyone in this room knows it."

Ellen's hand found Natalia's shoulder, a possessive grip. "Times change, Theodore. Karl has never been happy. But look at him now. He's finally breathing."

Natalia stood up slowly, feigning hesitation as she looked around the table. "I'm sorry for spoiling your family dinner. I shouldn't have come. I'll take my leave now…"

"No, darling…" Ellen held her shoulders and sat her down firmly. "You're welcome here. Some of us know when to let go of the past." She looked directly at me when she said it.

I set my fork down, the metal making a soft, final sound against the china. "Actually," I said, my voice clear and steady. "I think I'm done."

I pushed my chair back, the legs scraping against the marble floor with a sound so sharp it made Karl flinch.

"I should take my leave," I said, speaking only to Theodore. Karl was already pouring more wine for Natalia, acting as if I had ceased to exist.

"I'm sorry, dear…" Theodore reached out, his hand covering mine, a grip full of regret.

"Thank you, Theodore. I'm fine," I lied.

I turned and walked toward the door, feeling Karl's irritation burning into my back. He'd expected tears, begging, a scene. By leaving calmly, I'd stolen his power instead.

Just as I reached the hallway, the sound of rapid footsteps echoed behind me, and I stopped without turning around.

"Yes, Natalia?" I asked quietly.

She came into view, her face no longer holding the victimized mask she'd worn at the table. Her eyes gleamed with cruel triumph as she stepped into my space.

"You think you're being dignified?" she whispered. "Walking away like you don't care?"

"I don't have to care," I said, reaching for the elevator button.

She laughed mockingly. "While you were sitting at home pretending to be the perfect wife, Karl was with me. For years, Leila. Even on your anniversary. Even on your birthday."

My hand froze on the button.

"He told me how you smelled," she said, leaning in, her breath hot against my ear. "How you cried when he didn't come home. He'd laugh about it with me. You were never his wife, Leila. Just a placeholder. And now you're obsolete."

Obsolete. The word landed somewhere deep, somewhere I didn't have the capacity to feel yet, not here, and certainly not in front of her.

I turned back to the elevator and pressed the button again, my hand shaking slightly, though I didn't care anymore if she witnessed it. Natalia stepped closer, reaching for my arm to spin me around.

"Nothing to say? Don't walk away from me. I'm not finished…"

Her heel caught the edge of the marble threshold, her balance tipping as her hand grabbed for the wall and missed. She went down onto one knee with a gasp. For half a second, she looked startled by her own clumsiness, then her face transformed completely.

"Karl!" The scream tore out of her, louder than the stumble warranted. "Karl, help me!"

The dining room door flew open. Karl rushed into the hallway, his face pale, while Theodore and Ellen stood frozen in the doorway behind him.

"Natalia!" He dropped to his knees beside her, hands hovering over her shoulders. "What happened? Are you okay?"

Natalia lifted her face to him, eyes brimming with tears on cue, her lip trembling. She pointed a shaking finger at me.

"She… she pushed me," Natalia choked out, her voice breaking. "I just… I tried to tell her I was sorry about the divorce, and she… she attacked me. She pushed me down."

Karl's head snapped up, eyes locking onto mine, hatred pure and absolute.

"You," he hissed, lifting Natalia to her feet, wrapping his arm around her waist, shielding her with his own body. "You pushed her? In my parents' hotel? Are you insane?"

"Karl, I…" My voice trembled. "She fell. I swear, I never touched her…"

But my explanation was too quiet to compete with a woman sobbing into his chest.

"Shut up!" he roared. "Don't you dare say a word. Look at her. She's shaking!"

Natalia buried her face into his lapel, weeping softly, but over his shoulder, her eyes met mine. No tears now, only a cold, triumphant smile that vanished the instant Karl turned his head back to her.

"I'm scared, Karl," she whispered into his lapel. "What if she does it again?"

Karl stiffened, looking at me with disgust. "Stay away from us, Leila. If you ever come near Natalia again, I swear to God, I'll make sure you regret it. Sign those divorce papers and get out of my sight."

Ellen rushed forward, fussing over Natalia's knee. "Theodore, say something. Tell her to leave."

Theodore stepped forward, his face grim. He didn't say a word, but his eyes lingered on my hand, pressed protectively over my stomach.

Karl turned his back on me, leading Natalia away down the hall like she was made of glass. "Come on, darling," he murmured, his voice soft in a way he'd never once used with me. "I'm taking you to the hospital. We'll get you checked out."

As they walked away, Natalia glanced back once, lips curling into a smile only I could see.

The elevator doors opened behind me with a soft chime. I stood frozen in the hallway, the echo of Karl's hatred ringing in my ears. But as the doors began to close, shielding me from the family that had just discarded me, I thought about the medical report.

They were rushing to the hospital to check on a fake scratch, completely blind to the fact that I was walking away with the only true heir to the Hawthorne empire.