INICIAR SESIÓNMr. Sutton stood by the window of his study, staring out at the quiet stretch of his estate, but he wasn't seeing any of it. His mind was elsewhere. Everything Arabella had said the night before had settled deep into him, rooting itself in places that pride and a wounded ego had already softened. The more he thought about it, the clearer it seemed. Too clear. Mireya had known everything. She had been present at every key moment, every discussion, every plan, and every decision. And then, somehow... the exact piece of conversation had in their home, that could destroy them had surfaced in public. It no longer felt like a coincidence. It felt intentional. His jaw tightened. "She made us look like fools," he muttered under his breath. Behind him, Mrs. Sutton sat quietly, her silence no longer uncertain. It had turned into a cold, steady agreement. "I warned you," she said after a moment. "She has never truly been on our side." Mr. Sutton turned slightly, his expression hardening.
Mr. Sutton did not sleep well that night. The thoughts wouldn't settle. They pressed against his mind in restless waves, replaying everything Arabella had said, reshaping his memories, and twisting moments that once felt harmless into something far more deliberate.By morning, his decision was already made. He sat at the head of the dining table, his expression firm in a way that hadn't been seen in days. Mrs. Sutton sat beside him, quieter than usual, her earlier panic now sharpened into something colder and more focused.Arabella walked in shortly after, composed as always. Her eyes flickered briefly between them, reading the room instantly."Good morning," she said softly.Mr.Sutton didn't waste time on pleasantries. "Set up a meeting," he commanded.Arabella paused, her hand hovering over her chair. "A meeting?""With Andy Montclair."There it was. The shift. The final step.Arabella kept her face perfectly still, her reaction controlled, though something flickered in her chest th
The Sutton mansion was suffocatingly quiet. Nothing had been the same since the election night disaster. The loss hung over them like a toxic fog, but the public humiliation was far worse. Mr. Sutton sat rigid in his chair, his pride entirely shattered. Mrs. Sutton paced the floorboards, the sharp click of her heels betraying her intense anger. "I still don't understand how everything spiraled out of control," she said, her voice tight. "Everything was in place. Everything." Mr. Sutton exhaled a sharp breath. "That's why it makes no sense. We didn't just lose a close race, Eleanor. We were publicly dismantled." A heavy silence followed. Then, Arabella walked into the room. She didn't show an ounce of panic. Instead, she moved with absolute control, her face calm and thoughtful. It was a stark contrast to the broken parents in front of her. She stopped a few steps away, studying their faces. "You're both still trying to figure it out, aren't you?" she said softly. Mr. Sutton fr
The Ashcroft estate was quiet that evening. Mireya and Ronan walked into the lounge, their faces tight with frustration. The other day's disaster played on a loop in their minds, the leaked recording, the public disqualification of her father, and the complete humiliation of the Sutton name on live television."This wasn't an accident," Mireya said, dropping her bag onto an armchair. Her voice was low but steady."The timing was too precise. Someone coordinated this from the inside."Ronan's jaw locked. He paced the floorboards, his knuckles white. "I know. And I want the name of every single person involved. I trusted our security."Mireya sat down, trying to steady her breathing. Her hands were shaking from pure anger. "The tape was cut perfectly. Only my mother's voice was audible, stripped of any context. They knew exactly when the opponent would be delayed, and they dropped the audio at the worst possible second."Ronan stopped pacing, his dark eyes locking onto hers. "Arabella,"
"Today decides everything." The words stayed in Mireya's head while she stood before the mirror, adjusting the fabric of her dress. Her reflection looked composed, elegant, and steady. But underneath the surface, her chest felt tight. Behind her, Ronan adjusted his cufflinks, his movements precise. She knew him well enough now to see past the calm front. He was tense. "Are you ready?" he asked, his voice low. Mireya met his gaze through the glass. "I think so." He stepped closer, his presence grounding. "Whatever happens today, we handle it together." She nodded, though the anxiety behind her ribs refused to settle. "Together." He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her temple before stepping back. "Let's go." ☆☆☆ The venue was packed by the time they arrived. Supporters, officials, and reporters gathered in tight circles, waiting, watching, and whispering. The air felt heavy with anticipation. Mr. Sutton stood near the front podium, surrounded by his campaign team,
"They're gaining." The voice from the television cut through the room as Mireya stepped in, pausing as the news segment played. "...recent developments have shifted public interest toward the opposing candidate, especially following Montclair's endorsement earlier this week..." She walked further into the lounge, her expression composed, though her mind was already working through the tactical damage. Ronan picked up the remote and muted the TV, cutting off the reporter's voice. "The media's changing tone," he said, his voice flat. Mireya nodded, setting her files on the side table. "I noticed during the morning press briefings." He studied her face for a moment. "It's not a direct attack yet." "It won't be," she replied, leaning against the back of the sofa. "Not until they're absolutely sure the smear will stick to Dad's reputation." Ronan leaned back slightly, his dark eyes narrowing. "And until then?" "They plant doubt," she said simply. "They make the public ques







