Chapter 13

"Serena?" Dominic's fingers tightened around his phone, struggling to maintain his composure.

"Dom, you have to help me!"

Serena's voice trembled with panic, thick with unshed tears. "I'm trapped outside the Kingsley Group building—reporters everywhere! I'm terrified!"

"I'm coming down now."

Dominic shoved back his chair, snatching his suit jacket as he stormed out of his office.

"Mr. Kingsley, you can't go!"

Gregory lunged forward, blocking his path. "Send security to retrieve Ms. Serena. If you step out there, you'll be mobbed!"

Dominic didn't pause. He brushed past Gregory without a second thought.

Downstairs, the media frenzy had reached a fever pitch.

"Ms. Serena, when's the wedding?"

"Is it true you and Mr. Kingsley have been in love since childhood?"

"What do you say about the rumors that his ex-wife sabotaged your relationship?"

The questions came like bullets. Security struggled to hold back the swarm, but chaos reigned.

Serena, playing the damsel in distress, smirked inwardly.

She had leaked their engagement. She had planted the stories painting his ex-wife as the villain.

That woman had dared to humiliate her. Now, she'd make sure the world saw her as the homewrecker she was.

"Thank you for your concern," Serena said sweetly, eyes glistening. "Dom and I will share news when we're ready. As for his ex-wife... Ms. Evelyn, I barely know her. Please, leave her alone. She's moved on—let her live in peace."

Her words only fueled the fire.

Just as the crowd surged closer, a strong arm wrapped around her. Dominic shielded her, guiding her swiftly inside.

"Dom, thank God you're here." Serena's voice quivered, tears threatening to spill.

Dominic remained silent, jaw clenched.

Then he froze.

A strange sensation prickled his skin—like he was being watched.

Evelyn.

But that was impossible.

The security camera at the Kingsley entrance adjusted its angle slightly.

In her office, Evelyn watched the live feed from the Kingsley building.

She saw Dominic protectively ushering Serena inside. Saw how Serena clung to him.

A sharp pang twisted in her chest.

"Dominic," she whispered, fingers tightening around her coffee cup. "Did you ever shield me like that?"

Her vision blurred.

That stormy night two years ago—when pain had nearly destroyed her—she had called him.

She knew he wouldn’t answer.

But she had hoped.

All she got was the cold, automated voice of his switched-off phone.

"Three years of loving you," she murmured, "and all I was... was a placeholder."

Her phone buzzed.

Sebastian: Evelyn, the editor who broke the engagement news was fired—on Dominic’s orders. The leak came from Serena, not him.

Evelyn smirked. "In their relationship, there are no secrets. They’re one and the same."

Nathaniel: Perfect. Same playbook.

Nathaniel: Evelyn, I’ve got something big. Private chat.

Adrian: Just say it here.

Nathaniel: No way. This is my intel. Do your own digging!

A voice message popped up.

11:30 AM

"Evelyn, Serena’s got skeletons."

Nathaniel wasn’t just a prosecutor. To the Ashbournes, he was a hacker—sharp, relentless.

And Serena? She hadn’t escaped his scrutiny.

Photos loaded onto Evelyn’s screen.

Serena, clad in scandalous lingerie, wrapped around a mixed-race man. In two shots, they were bare, his hands roaming.

Evelyn whistled. "Damn, bro. Where’d you find these?"

"Her Instagram followers. This guy’s a fitness trainer—popular. Hacked his cloud. Took me days."

"Dinner’s on me tonight."

"Just dinner? No drinks? I’m not coming if there’s no booze."

"Open bar. Drink yourself under the table."

"Don’t celebrate yet. There’s more."

A medical report appeared. Then photos—a woman’s abdomen, marked with stretch marks.

Evelyn’s breath hitched.

"Surprise. Serena had a baby overseas. These? Postpartum scars. She’s been sneaking to the hospital for laser treatments."

Evelyn zoomed in, studying the images.

A weight lifted from her shoulders.

"Thank God," she exhaled.

"God? Seriously?" Nathaniel sounded exasperated. "Even if they haven’t slept together, he still cheated! Evelyn, are you really justifying this? Like, ‘At least the fly I ate was protein’?"

Evelyn laughed. "Not defending him. Just... relieved he didn’t betray me physically."

"Either way, it’s payback time." Nathaniel’s voice turned venomous. "He dumped you—a goddess—for that mediocre snake."

Evelyn’s smile faded.

Thirteen years of love didn’t vanish overnight.

But she’d never go back.

"Let’s leak this," Nathaniel urged. "Destroy her."

Evelyn leaned back, red lips curving.

"Patience, brother. The best weapons... are saved for the kill shot."