Chapter 19

Nate's POV

Kelvin's words echoed in Nate's mind as he sat there, processing everything. Allyson wasn't just some ordinary woman; she was the heiress to Spark Empire. The secrecy, the distance, it all made sense now. He felt a pang of guilt for not trusting her, for letting Rachel's manipulations cloud his judgment.

"But why didn't she tell me?" Nate asked, his voice tinged with pain and confusion.

"She wanted to protect you, Nate," Kelvin replied. "The business world can be ruthless, and she didn't want you to get caught in the crossfire. She was planning to tell you everything, but things got complicated."

Nate leaned back in his chair, feeling a heavy weight on his chest. He had been so quick to judge, to believe the worst. He needed to make things right.

"I need to see her," Nate said, standing up abruptly. "I need to fix this."

Kelvin nodded. "I'll support you in any way I can. Just remember, Allyson's been through a lot. Be patient with her."

As Nate left the café, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. He was determined to win Allyson back, no matter what it took.

Allyson's POV

Allyson sat in her office, her mind swirling with thoughts of Nate. She missed him, despite everything that had happened. She wished she could go back in time and tell him the truth from the beginning.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her reverie. It was a text from her uncle, Richard.

"Family meeting tonight. Urgent. Be there."

Allyson sighed. Another family meeting meant more pressure, more scrutiny. But she couldn't avoid it. She needed to face her responsibilities head-on.

As she gathered her things to leave, her assistant walked in, looking concerned.

"Ms. Spark, there's something you should see," he said, handing her a folder.

Allyson opened it and her eyes widened in shock. Inside were photos of her with her uncle at the private function, taken from angles that made it look like something more than just a family meeting. It was clear that someone was trying to sabotage her.

"Who took these?" she demanded.

"We're not sure yet, but we're investigating," her assistant replied.

Allyson's mind raced. This had Rachel written all over it. She had to act fast before these photos did any more damage.

Rachel's POV

Rachel sat in her apartment, a smug smile on her face as she looked at her phone. She had just received confirmation that the photos had been delivered to several media outlets. It was only a matter of time before Allyson's reputation was in tatters.

She sipped her wine, feeling a sense of victory. Nate was hers now, and Allyson would be nothing more than a bad memory.

Her phone buzzed, and she saw a message from the private investigator. "The photos are out. Expect the news to break soon."

Rachel leaned back, feeling triumphant. Everything was falling into place.

Nate's POV

Nate drove towards Allyson's office, his mind racing. He needed to apologize, to explain, to make things right. He was so lost in thought that he almost didn't notice the barrage of notifications on his phone.

He pulled over and checked his phone, his heart sinking as he saw the headlines.

"Heiress to Spark Empire Caught in Scandalous Photos!"

"Allyson Spark's Secret Affair Exposed!"

Nate's blood ran cold as he scrolled through the photos. He recognized the hotel, the angles. It was all a setup. Rachel had gone too far this time.

He dialed Allyson's number, but it went straight to voicemail. Panic set in. He needed to find her, to protect her from this mess.

Allyson's POV

As Allyson left her office, she felt a sense of dread. She knew the photos were just the beginning. She needed to get ahead of this before it spiraled out of control.

Her phone buzzed with calls and messages, but she ignored them all. She had to get to her uncle, to explain, to strategize.

As she stepped outside, she saw a familiar figure leaning against a sleek black car. Nate.

"Allyson, we need to talk," he said, his voice urgent.

Allyson's heart skipped a beat. She wanted to run to him, to tell him everything. But before she could speak, her phone buzzed again, this time with a call from her uncle.

"Allyson, where are you? We have a crisis," Richard's voice was tense.

"I'll be there soon," she replied, hanging up.

She looked at Nate, torn between the man she loved and the family she had to protect.

"Nate, I... I can't right now. There's something I need to deal with," she said, her voice shaking.

"Let me help you," he pleaded. "I know about the photos. I know Rachel's behind this. We can fight this together."

Allyson's eyes filled with tears. "I wish it were that simple."

As she turned to leave, Nate grabbed her hand. "Allyson, please. Don't shut me out."

She looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity, the love. But before she could respond, a car screeched to a halt beside them. Two men in black suits stepped out, and one of them spoke urgently.

"Ms. Spark, we need to get you to the family mansion. Now."

Allyson nodded, pulling her hand away from Nate's grasp. "I have to go. Please, understand."

Nate watched helplessly as Allyson got into the car and drove away, his heart aching. He knew this was far from over.

As Allyson arrived at the family mansion, she was met with a flurry of activity. Reporters were already gathering outside, and security was on high alert.

Richard met her at the door, his expression grim. "We need to address this immediately. The board is demanding answers."

Allyson nodded, steeling herself for the confrontation ahead. But as she walked inside, she couldn't shake the feeling that something even bigger was looming on the horizon. Something that could change everything.

Back at Nate's apartment, his phone buzzed with a new message. It was from an unknown number.

"If you want to know the truth about Allyson, meet me at the old warehouse on 5th Street. Come alone."

Nate's heart raced as he read the message. He knew it could be a trap, but he had to take the risk. He had to find out the truth, once and for all.

With a sense of determination, he grabbed his jacket and headed out the door, not knowing what awaited him at the old warehouse.