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The balcony of Brighton Wisdom School overlooked the manicured gardens, a place where the elite students came to trade secrets like currency. The air was crisp, and the sun hit the stone railings, but the atmosphere between the girls standing there was ice-cold.
Raina stood tall, draped in a chic, structured black blazer dress that screamed power, despite her recent time away. Her hair was perfectly sleek, a sharp contrast to the chaos she felt inside.
The Stitched-Up Secret
"What happened yesterday?" Selina whispered, her voice trembling. She was wearing a soft pink pleated skirt and a white blouse, looking innocent, though her hands were still shaking.
Raina didn't look at her. "Is he alright?"
Selina nodded quickly.
"Why did you hit him with that bottle, Selina? Don't you want him?" Raina asked, her voice flat.
"I didn't know how else to stop him from finding Gabriella!" Selina cried. "He's alright... but he had to get a few stitches in his head."
Raina rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin.
"Is your plan working?" Selina asked. "Why isn't there any news about Gabriella being arrested?"
Raina let out a harsh, bitter scoff. "No. It failed."
"But how?"
"Don't ask me anything," Raina snapped, her eyes darkening with hatred. "It's all because of that Ajax and Felix. They ruined everything."
Raina turned to leave but stopped dead. Ronnie was standing there. She tried to brush past him, ignoring his gaze, but he stepped into her path.
"Do you hate me that much, Raina?" he asked softly.
Selina stepped in, her voice protective. "You're the one who threw her friendship away for that girl, Lara!"
Raina pressed Selina's hand, signaling her to be quiet. She was about to walk away when Ronnie spoke again, his voice cracking with emotion. "I'm glad you're back, Raina."
Raina's face softened for a fleeting second. She looked at him—really looked at him.
"I couldn't come to see you the second you were released," Ronnie explained desperately. "I wanted to, but I had to go with my dad for business affairs."
"It doesn't matter to me, Ronnie," Raina replied, her voice regaining its icy edge. "You can do whatever you want. I don't care if you visit or not."
"I know you're pissed," Ronnie said, a sad smile on his lips. "But you're still my bestie. I came here the very moment I got back to the city."
Raina's eyes melted just a little. The deep bond of their childhood friendship was still there, buried under layers of pain.
"When you were in prison," Selina whispered in Raina's ear, "he tried hard to see you but they wouldn't give him permission."
Raina exhaled. "I won't forget you, Ronnie. You are still my friend." Ronnie started to smile, but it vanished when she added, "But that Lara? She is my enemy."
Raina and Selina walked away, leaving Ronnie standing in the shadows of the balcony.
"Raina," Selina said urgently. "Don't get mad, but I heard something. Gabriella's father... he's being released today."
Raina stopped walking. Her heart hammered against her ribs. "Really?"
"And that's not all," Selina continued, her eyes wide. "Tonight, Mr. Robert is holding a private engagement party for Gabriella and Jake."
Raina's jaw dropped. "With Jake? But they broke up! How could he? How dare he hide this from us!" Her blood boiled. Jake was supposed to be on her side.
Raina walked back to the edge of the balcony and looked down at the courtyard below. She saw Ronnie walking up to Lara. He looked concerned, handing her a bottle of medicine.
Lara took it with a sweet, fragile smile. But the second Ronnie turned his back to grab something from his bag, Lara tossed the pills into the bushes with a cold, calculated look on her face.
Raina gasped. "Did you see that, Selina?"
Selina's eyes went wide. "Why did she do that? She's supposed to be taking those to regain her memory!"
Raina's eyes turned into predatory slits. She understood everything now. The "fragile" girl was a lie.
"She isn't struggling to remember," Raina whispered, her voice trembling with a new kind of fury. "She's been acting this whole time. She already has her memory back."
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The Price of Freedom
The air outside the prison gates was thick with humidity and the smell of exhaust, a harsh contrast to the cold, sterile bars Frederick had called home for the last four days. He stepped into the sunlight, finally free on bail, but the shadow of the money laundering case still loomed over him like a storm cloud.
A Bitter Homecoming
Roselette, Gabriella's mother, rushed forward in a flurry of silk and expensive perfume, throwing her arms around Frederick. She looked elegant even in her distress, wearing a structured cream blazer and matching trousers that hid her trembling frame.
Gabriella stood a few feet back. She was wearing a dark denim jacket over a simple black dress, her hair windswept. Her eyes weren't filled with relief, but with a burning need for the truth. When Frederick finally opened his arms to her, she leaned into the hug, but her voice was a sharp whisper.
"Are you really innocent, Dad? Tell me you weren't behind the money laundering."
Frederick's smile vanished instantly. He pulled back, his eyes searching hers. "Do you really believe what the papers say about me?"
"I don't," Gabriella said, her voice thick with emotion. "But I need to hear it from you."
Frederick leaned in, his voice dropping to a chilling level. "In business, sometimes you have to make 'wise' decisions to keep the ship from sinking, Gabriella."
Gabriella's heart skipped a beat. Her eyes widened. So... he did it. He wasn't the victim; he was a player in the game.
Frederick quickly turned away to greet his old friend—Dona's father. They hugged, laughing off the tension. "How was the business trip?" Frederick joked. "Finally found time to see me in the dirt?"
A few steps away, Dona was staring at Gabriella. The tension between them was a physical wall. Gabriella looked upset, her gaze fixed on the ground until Dona finally approached.
"Are you alright?" Dona asked, her voice stiff.
Gabriella nodded. "Mmhmm."
"I didn't come here as your friend," Dona said, crossing her arms over her stylish leather jacket. "I came to see Mr. Frederick."
Gabriella let out a tiny, sad smile. "So you don't care about your best friend anymore?"
Dona's face flushed with a mix of fury and deep care. "Then why did I risk my life at the night club? How can you even ask me that?"
Gabriella's icy exterior finally melted. She opened her arms wide. "Come here."
Dona didn't hesitate. She rushed into the hug, clutching Gabriella so tightly it was hard to breathe. "I thought you wouldn't talk to me!" Dona sobbed.
"I was pissed, Dona," Gabriella smiled into her shoulder. "But that doesn't mean our friendship is over. Though... how dare you avoid me for so long?"
"Hey!" Dona pulled back, wiping her eyes. "You're the one who told me to go! Remember?"
Gabriella swallowed hard, feeling the guilt. "I... I... but how could you actually listen to me?" They both laughed through the tears, the bond finally snapping back into place.
While the girls reconciled, Fiona—Gabriella's sharp-witted aunt—was deep in conversation with her brother. She wore a navy blue tailored suit that made her look like the CEO she was.
"So Victor denied helping?" Frederick asked, his jaw tightening.
"Fake friends reveal their faces in a crisis," Fiona said coldly, glancing over at Dona's father. "Just like genuine ones do." She looked her brother in the eye. "Why did you use that money for the business, Frederick? I thought you were smarter than that."
Frederick didn't answer. "Did Richardson talk to you?"
"He's another coward," Fiona spat. "He didn't want to get involved. He was afraid he'd get caught too."
Frederick's eyes turned a dangerous, icy blue. "Richardson... it's all because of you," he whispered so only he could hear.
"And there's more," Fiona continued. "Robert... he helped with the bail, but he wants something in return. He wants an engagement between his son, Jake, and our Gabriella."
Frederick narrowed his eyes, looking over at Gabriella laughing with Dona. "Did you agree to this? What about her?"
"Don't worry," Fiona said, her voice dropping to a serious, protective tone. "His plan won't succeed. Leave it to me. I will handle Robert."
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The Engagement Trap
The top floor of Phoenix Enterprise was a shrine to glass and steel. From the floor-to-ceiling windows, the city looked like a miniature world waiting to be conquered. Inside, the air was quiet, smelling of expensive coffee and leather. Felix sat behind his massive mahogany desk, looking every bit the young mogul in a charcoal-grey designer suit and a crisp white shirt unbuttoned at the collar.
The Urgent Call
Felix was deep into a merger file when his phone vibrated against the desk. He picked it up without checking the ID.
"Hello? Who is this?" he asked, his voice professional and cool.
"Hey! Did you just ask me 'who'? How dare you!" the voice on the other end barked.
Felix pulled the phone away and glanced at the screen. A small, genuine smile broke across his face. "Oh... Sis. Sorry, I didn't notice the ID. What's up?"
"Leave it," Fiona replied, her tone turning sharp and serious. "I've sent you a location. Be there this evening on the dot. Don't be late."
Felix narrowed his eyes, his thumb already tapping his messaging app. "Why? What's the occasion?"
Fiona let out a mocking chuckle. "If you don't show up, you'll miss the greatest show of the year. Check your messages, Felix."
Felix opened the message, and his heart felt like it hit the floor. On his screen was a digital engagement invitation. The gold-embossed letters screamed the names: Gabriella and Jake.
"Is Gabriella really engaging with Jake?" Felix asked, his voice thick with a sudden, hot fury. "But how? Why? After everything that snake did to her?"
"Oh, I forgot to tell you the best part," Fiona said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Robert is playing dirty. He blackmailed Gabriella. He told her if she doesn't marry his son, he'll withdraw his support and make sure our brother rots in prison for the money laundering case."Fiona scoffed.
Felix's grip tightened on the phone until his knuckles turned white. "What does that old man want? First, he tried to steal Gabriella's enterprise shares, and now this? How did he even convince her?"
Then, Felix remembered her tearful confession in the car. 'He was my first love... I can't forget him.' He rolled his eyes, a pang of jealousy and disappointment stabbing at his chest. "So she just agreed? She's going back to him?" He sighed, feeling the weight of the rejection all over again.
"Do you really think I'd allow Robert's plan to succeed?" Fiona asked, her voice turning cold and calculated.
Felix's expression shifted. His eyes darkened as he leaned back in his chair. "That means..."
Fiona chuckled darkly. "The real show is going to happen at the party this evening. Robert thinks he's won, but he has no idea who he's dealing with. Come if you want to see the fallen king lose his crown."
A slow, knowing smirk spread across Felix's face. He looked out at the city, his mind already three steps ahead. "I wouldn't miss it for the world, Sis. Count me in."
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Evening arrived, and the Grand Pearl Ballroom was a sea of shimmering silk and fake smiles.
The Gilded Trap
The Grand Imperial Hotel was a palace of shimmering crystal and golden light. Every corner was decorated with white roses, their scent heavy in the air. But for Gabriella, the beauty felt like a funeral shroud. Tonight was the engagement that was supposed to seal her fate.
The Groom's Secret
In a luxury suite, Jake stood before a floor-to-length mirror. He looked like a prince from a dark fairytale, his golden hair dazzling under the chandelier. He was dressed in a tailored white tuxedo with silver embroidery, looking sharp and regal.
Ronnie stood behind him, adjusting Jake's collar. "Finally," Ronnie teased. "You're engaging with your ex-lover. Looks like your dad indirectly fixed your love life, huh?"
Jake turned, his eyes cold and distant. "Don't joke. You don't know my father. This isn't about my happiness. It's about my father's hidden target: Gabriella's Enterprise."
Ronnie's mocking smile vanished. "So that's why you refused at first. But why did you say yes now?"
Jake's jaw tightened. "Because of Gabriella. I won't lose her again. I'll act like I'm on my dad's side, but I won't let him touch her legacy." He walked out, his footsteps echoing with a heavy, dangerous determination.
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The Pride of a Heartbroken Queen
Across the hall, the atmosphere was suffocating. Gabriella sat at a marble dressing table, her reflection looking like a stranger. She wore a breathtaking champagne-colored silk gown that flowed around her like liquid gold. The off-the-shoulder sleeves and intricate beadwork highlighted her pale skin, but her eyes were void of any joy.
"Enough," Gabriella said, stopping Dona from applying more lipstick.
Dona sighed, putting the brush down. She grabbed Gabriella's hand, her voice dropping to a serious whisper. "Are you really over him? Or Do you still love Jake?"
"He betrayed me, Dona. How could I forget that?" Gabriella replied, her voice steady but cold.
"I know," Dona said, stepping in front of her. "But if you go through with this— I mean if you stop it—you guys might never get a real chance again. Even if he apologized... would you give him another chance?"
Gabriella's face softened for a split second, a flicker of pain crossing her features. "You don't know him," she murmured. "He won't apologize." She stood up and walked out, her heart feeling like a lead weight in her chest.
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A Whisper in the Breeze
Seeking air, Gabriella found her way to a secluded hotel balcony. The night breeze was cool, dancing through her hair and ruffling the silk of her gown. The city lights twinkled below, but she felt utterly alone. Her heart was stiff with an upset she couldn't name—a mix of revenge, longing, and fear.
"Gabriella."
She turned sharply. Standing in the shadows was Jake.
Her face softened instantly at the sight of him. The anger she had carefully built up seemed to waver. Jake walked closer, his presence overwhelming the small space.
"Why are you here alone?" he asked, his voice unusually gentle.
Gabriella didn't answer. She tried to push past him, but Jake reached out and grabbed her hand, his grip firm yet desperate.
"I was wrong," he said, his voice raw with emotion. "I hurt you. I questioned your love for me when I should have been protecting you. I can't lose you, Gabriella."
He looked at her with a face full of serious, agonizing emotion. "Can you give me one more chance?"
Gabriella's resolve began to melt. Looking into his eyes, she saw the boy she had once loved with her whole heart. Her hand trembled in his.
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To be Continued....
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