The sting of betrayal was sharp and bitter, but beneath it was a gro

the time for sentiment. She wiped the last of the tea

neck. This was not the little sister he knew, the one who threw tantrums and dem

temples. "That 'nightmare' you had... were there other

nting the seeds for the future. "Just fragments. About

her, every meeting, every conversation, now viewed through a new, harsh lens. He remembered how she always "accidentally" let slip his name to report

ber had been blocked. In a fit of rage, she hurle

wrapping his arms around her from behind. "Is he r

ing venom. "You don't understand! I wa

ce was all business. "Don't panic. If the engagement plan failed, we move to plan B. We'l

Sit there and cry. I'll have someone 'happen' to see you, take some 'candid' photos. I've already got the

iped her face, reapplied her makeup

ew's phone began to buzz in

ingCancelsProposal. CruelHeiressChloe

roken victim, and Chloe as the vicious, spo

He couldn't believe Sloane's audacity,

ding. This was exactly what she had described from her "nightmare." Sloa

reen, her voice filled with feigned panic. "Brother,

mare" evaporated. It was replaced by a chilling, terrifying c

ts attacking his sister. "How dare they write that about you

me the head of PR. I want every single ar

moved against Sloane to protect his sister.

gaze now steady and resolute. "Chloe

other was no longer a pawn in

t off all contact with Sloane. All of it.

w said withou

eginning. The real crisis, the one that had destroyed their fami

newfound trust to start pre