Chapter 35
Why stomach dropped as the first image loaded my high school yearbook photo rest to screenshots of explicit
The headline above them made my blood run cold:
BREAKING: Sex scandal rocks NFL star
NFL star Caspian Drake–Former high school victim speaks out about “The Bet”
text messages I’d never written.
What the hell?” Caspian stored in horror at his phone, flooded with notifications about the story.
My phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number; Told you this wasn’t over. The game’s just beginning. -H.
Rachel had played her next move. And it was devastating.
Blake burst through the door, his face grim. “You’ve seen it? Bed texted earlier that he was coming with updates about Rachel’s manhunt, but this news had clearly changed everything.
“It’s Rachel,” I said, showing him the threatening text, the name bitter on my tongue. “She couldn’t beat us legally, so she’s going for public execution instead.”
The TV in Caspian’s hospital room flickered to life with footage of reporters swarming outside.
They’d found wis.
The article was horrific a perfect blend of truth and fiction that made the lies nearly impossible to disprove.
Fabricated text messages showing Caspian bracing about winning the bet. Doctored photos creating the illusion of intimacy
Even quotes from “anonymous classmates with details only
y someone who’d been there could know.
phone rang – Isolde, her voice tight with panic.
“They’re quoting me as a source!” she cried, “Sage, I swear I never said those things. They’re using my position as a reporter to make this garbage credible. My editor alieady put me on leave!”
This hat Rachel written all over it,” I said, tage building in my chest. “She’s fabricating everything.”
“We need to call a press conference, Blake insisted. “Get ahead of this.”
Caspian shook his head. That’ll just give them more ammunition.”
Before I could respond, Caspian made a strangled sound that stopped my heart.
His face went chalk white, cold sweat beading on his forehead as he clutched at his wounded shoulder, where an alarming red flush spread across the band.gr.
Something not right,” he gasped. “Teels like burning….
I slammed the emergency button. Within seconds, a tall woman with features strikingly similar to Blake’s burst through the door.
“Helena,” Blakes telief was palpable. “Thank God.”
Dr. Helena Mitchell wasted no time, her practiced hands preling back Caspian’s bandage. “The wound’s infected. We need to treat this immediately.” She tained to the nurse behind her. “Broad–spectrum antibiotics, stat.”
As mutes flooded the room with equipment, Caspian reached for my hand.
Don’t believe… what they tearing, he managed, eyes fever bright but intense. It wasn’t like that.”
squeezed his hand. “I know. I believe you.”
Helena gently moved betwe
by the paletera. It’s the only all dud swarming with reporters
take care of lies,” the promised before turning to her brother. “Blake, get her somewhere safe. Use the service elevator
The corrader felt unnaturally bright as Blake guided me toward what should have been a sale exit
Chapter 35
We’d almost reached the service elevator when they found us a pack of reporters lunging forward with microphones extended like weapons.
“Ms. Winters! Is it true you’re representing Caspian Drake as revenge for a high school bet?
“Are you rekindling an old flame, or is this a calculated career move?”
What’s your response to Rachel Millers allegations about your mental state?”
Blake moved in
in front of me, using his
“This way!” A man in
his size as a shield. “Back off!”
man in hospital maintenance uniform appeared beside us. “I know another way out.”
Blake tensed immediately, positioning himself between me and the stranger “Who the hell are you?”
“Mark Bennett, airport security,” the man replied quickly, showing his ID hadge. “Helena texted
to help. I’m her cousin.
He glanced nervously at the approaching reporters. “The kitchen elevator goes straight to the underground parking garage. No reporters there yet.
Lexchanged a skeptical look with Blake. After everything with Rachel, trusting anyone new seemed dangerous. “How do we know we can trust you?”
|“Lock,” Mark pulled out his phone, showing a text from Helena. She knew you’d need help. Please, they’re bringing more cameras through the main
With reporters closing in from both directions, we followed Mark through a maze
se of service corridors until we reached his car.
“Why help us?” I asked as we sped away.
Mark’s expression grew serious. “I was at that game when Drake took that hit that should ve ended his career. But he got up, won it for us. Man’s a warrior.”
“My editor put me on administrative leave, Isolde said during our video call, her eyes red–rimmed. They’re talking about an ethics investigation.”
We’d taken refuge in Blake’s apartment, watching as the fabricated story spread like wildfire.
“Rachel is going to pay for this!” I slammed my fist on the coffee table.
“She won’t be doing it alone, Blake added. “This has Palmer’s fingerprints all over it.”
My phone rang again – Marcus this time.
“You need to fight back,” he said after I explained the situation. “Not with denials, but with the truth. The whole truth.”
I stared at the phone in disbelief. “You want me to publicly talk about Robert? About what happened that night?”
*Sometimes the best defense is complete transparency,” Marcus replied gently. “The mo
more you hide, the more guilty you appear.”
I closed my eyes, instinctively reaching for the small pendant Caspian had given me “Say the right things” engraved on its surface.
My phone rang again Diana Wright.
just arrested Palmer,” she announced without preamble. “He’s already talking, looking for a deal.”
“They found Rachel?” I asked, pulse quickening.
“Not yet. But they’re close.” Diana paused. “Palmer’s claiming Rachel was operating independently when she shot Drake. Says he had no knowledge of her
“That a bullshit,” Blake interjected. “Palmer’s been pulling the strings from day one.”
“Perhaps,” Diana conceded. “But he’s offering midence that Rachel has been blackmailing him. Claims she has recordings of him discussing contract manipulation
The realization dawned on me. This wasnt just about me or Caspian, Rachel was playing a much bigere game.”
Tasked, thinking strategically
Your Testimony against both Palmer and Bachel. Full disclosure, every detail” Diana’s youre took on a calculating tone. “In exchange, they Il ensure the
Chapter 35
media retracts the false stories.”
My fingers found the pendant around my neck. Say the right things.
“I’m thinking its time to stop running.” I said quietly. Time to tell the whole story.”
My phone buzzed with a new text from Rachel:
Think the FBI can save you? Think again, little sister. I’ve got one last surprise that will make Caspian wish I’d shot him in the heart instead of the shoulder.
*Tell the FBI I’ll testify.” I told Diana, a cold determination replacing my
I was halfway to the door when my phone rang
ng again – Helena Mitchell.
fear, “But first, I need to see Caspian.”
“Get to the hospital now,” her voice was tight with controlled panic. “Someone tampered with Caspian’s IV. His heart just stopped.”
Chapter Comments
dana was arrested by the FBI? how is she there again already and helping??
