All Chapters of The Billionaire's Rebel Fiancée: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Adriana's POVThe flight back felt endless. I was too tired to cry, too restless to sleep, and I hadn’t slept at all. Every time I closed my eyes, the same headlines flashed in my mind. By the time the jet touched down in Milan, my stomach was in knots. I stared out the window as the runway blurred past, wondering why everything seemed to be falling apart in less than a day.Sage reached across the aisle and touched my hand. “We will fix this,” she said quietly.I nodded, though I did not believe it yet. The pilot opened the door, the air hit first, sharp and dry, followed by the noise. Cameras. Reporters. A wall of flashes that made my eyes sting.I froze at the top of the stairs. There were too many of them, different voices shouting my name.“Adriana, did you falsify data at Reeve Technologies?” “Were you involved in the manipulation?” “Are you hiding in New York because of the investigation?”Each question landed like a slap.Sage moved in front of me and shouted for them to mov

Adriana's POVThe past two days had been the most tedious of my life since arriving in Milan.I wished I had the vast resources Zayn possessed. He had been of great help but he only intervened when I needed him. He seemed to be understanding the type of woman I was becoming and I loved him more for it.I spent those two days reviewing evidence. Alicia's IP address, Eric's stolen credentials and the timestamps that proved someone had framed me. Every detail mattered. I couldn’t afford to miss a single one.My phone rang at eight in the morning. Paolo."Board meeting is in two hours," he said without greeting. "They moved it up."My stomach dropped. "Why?"“Pressure from some clients. They want this resolved fast to be sure their data is safe.”I hung up and stared at the evidence I had gathered so far on my desk. Two hours to prepare a presentation that could save my career or destroy it completely.Sage was incredible. She helped me organize everything into a clear timeline. IP addre

Adriana's POVThree days into my two week deadline and I still didn't know who helped Alicia.I've been living in my office. Barely sleeping. Reviewing access logs until the numbers blurred together.Sage brought snacks around noon. "You look terrible.""Thanks.""I'm serious. When was the last time you slept?"I couldn't remember. Yesterday? The day before?"I'll sleep when this is over."She handed me a flash drive. "Connor sent technical specs. VPN routing, masked IP addresses. Everything you need to trace the breach."I plugged it in immediately. Connor's help through Sage, not Zayn. That I could accept, because the company belongs to Sage.The files were perfect. Detailed instructions on tracking digital footprints through corporate networks.My office door opened without knocking.Eric.I hadn't really spoken to him since the board meeting. Since he'd mouthed those two words. I'm sorry."Can we talk?" he asked.Sage looked at me. I nodded and she left, throwing Eric a distrustf

Adriana's POVThe boardroom felt different this time. I'm in charge and in full control today.Last week I'd walked in here accused, desperately fighting for my career with evidence that barely kept me standing.Today I walked in with proof.The room was packed again with full board, lawyers and regulatory commission observers. But this time Paolo wasn't the only one who believed in me. This time I wasn't alone.Sage sat in the back corner. Professional and composed. It's her father's company and her father's board, but she couldn't show favoritism. She could not defend me publicly to avoid people whispering nepotism.But she was here. And her presence matters alot.Eric stood near the window looking nervous. He'd helped me trace the final connections last night. Stayed late going through financial records until we found everything.I caught his eye and he gave me a small nod.Whatever suspicion I'd felt about him was gone now. He wasn't the betrayer. Just someone who'd been careles

Adriana's POVI woke up at six thirty in the morning, earlier than I'd planned but my body was still wired from two weeks of barely sleeping and constant stress. For the first time in weeks though I didn't immediately reach for my phone to check emails, review evidence or obsess over what new crisis might be waiting. The morning light was just starting to stream through my bedroom window, and I just lay there staring at the ceiling, feeling calm for the first time in weeksThe storm had passed and I was still standing.My phone buzzed on the nightstand, I found a message from Paolo. "The board approved your sabbatical leave, four weeks paid, effective immediately. You earned this, Adriana. Rest."I read it again just to make sure they weren’t adding conditions. Four weeks to recover from the scandal that had nearly destroyed everything I'd built.I got up and made actual good coffee instead of the terrible instant stuff I'd been surviving on, sat at my kitchen table in pajamas and