Semua Bab Falling for the Disgraced Heir: Bab 21 - Bab 30

The sound of breaking glass yanked Brandon out of sleep.He bolted upright, heart pounding, the faint glow of dawn bleeding through the blinds. It took a second to realize where he was—the small office above the coffee shop, not the penthouse he used to own. The air smelled faintly of dust, stale coffee, and something metallic.Then he heard it again—a crunch underfoot.“Julia?” His voice was low, wary.No answer. Just the echo of the storm drain outside and the distant hum of the city waking up. He slipped on his jacket, stepping into the narrow hallway. When he reached the office, his chest tightened. The door hung open, hinges twisted.Inside, papers littered the floor. The whiteboard was smeared wi

The pounding on the glass door came before sunrise.Brandon looked up from the desk, eyes bleary from another sleepless night. The rhythmic thud grew louder—three sharp knocks that carried authority, not impatience. Before he could move, the lock turned with a metallic snap.“Brandon Hughes?” a man’s voice barked.He rose slowly, pulse already racing. “Who’s asking?”“Metro Police. We have a warrant to search these premises.”The door burst open, and half a dozen officers flooded into the small office, their black jackets bearing the seal of the city. Behind them, two men in suits trailed with briefcases and clipped expressions.Julia’s chair was empty. Thank God.Brandon straightened. “There must be a mistake.”The lead officer handed him a folded document. “Order signed by the court. Accusations of financial fraud and evidence tampering under your business name—Hughes Ethical Consulting.”He scanned the page. Every word blurred. At the bottom, one name cut through like glass—James W

The crash of glass cut through the silence.Brandon’s coffee mug shattered against the motel wall, dark liquid bleeding down faded wallpaper. Julia flinched but didn’t move. The smell of burnt coffee mixed with anger and exhaustion, thick in the air.“You think I’m that stupid?” His voice came low, rough. “You’re the only one who had the drive. You gave it to me—and now it’s corrupted?”Her eyes widened. “You think I did this?”“I think it’s convenient,” he snapped, pacing. “James gets what he wants, and somehow, the only evidence that could save me just… dies in your hands.”“Careful, Brandon.” Her voice trembled, but not from fear. From disbelief. “You’re accusing the only person still standing beside you.”He raked a hand through his hair, jaw tight. “I can’t afford to be naïve anymore.”She stared at him, tears threatening but never falling. “No, you just can’t afford to trust anymore.”The words hit harder than the mug had.He turned away, fists clenched. “You don’t get it. Every

By the time the sun broke through the city haze, Brandon’s name was back on every newsfeed. Hughes Scion Confesses to Corporate Sabotage. The headline glared from every screen in the precinct lobby, his photo—a still from some long-forgotten gala—staring back at him with that familiar polished arrogance.Inside, Brandon sat calmly at a steel interrogation table, sleeves rolled up, eyes unreadable. He didn’t look like a man cornered; he looked like a man waiting.The door slammed open. Julia stepped in, breathless, fury and fear clashing in her gaze. “Are you insane?”He lifted his head, a faint smile tugging at his mouth. “Good morning to you too.”“Don’t do that,” she snapped, voice trembling. “Don’t act like this is just another game. You confessed, Brandon. They’re already spinning this—saying you orchestrated the sabotage yourself to hide your crimes.”“That’s what I wanted them to think.” His tone was steady, deliberate. “James will panic now. He doesn’t know what I know—or who

The HR tribunal room smelled of polished wood and fear.Julia sat at the end of a long glass table, three executives facing her like a firing squad. Their expressions were polite masks stretched over cruelty. Her palms were damp, but her voice—when she finally spoke—was steady.“You’re accusing me of breaching confidentiality,” she said. “But what I did was tell the truth. Hughes Corp falsified internal audits. The man you’re calling a criminal tried to expose that.”One of the executives leaned back, tapping a pen against the table. “Miss Bailey, you’re emotionally compromised. Everyone knows your... connection to Brandon Hughes.”Julia’s jaw tightened. “My connection,” she said quietly,