chapter 3

At the Harrison residence, the atmosphere was tense. Lily and Max played quietly in the living room, their parents seated nearby.

"I told you filing that report was the right thing to do," Mrs. Harrison said, her voice firm.

Harrison sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I wanted to let it go, Sarah. For Alden's sake."

"For Alden's sake?" Sarah snapped. "What about our children? What about the trauma they endured? Kara has to face the consequences, Harrison. No one's above the law—not even her."

Harrison nodded reluctantly. "I just hope this doesn't destroy what's left of my friendship with Alden."

Kara sat in the interrogation room, her hands cuffed and her expression sullen. Across from her, a stern-faced detective reviewed the case file.

"This isn't a game, Miss Steele," he said, setting the file down. "You orchestrated the abduction of two children. That's a serious crime."

"They're fine," Kara muttered, glaring at the table. "No harm done."

"No harm done?" the detective repeated, his voice sharp. "Do you have any idea what you put those kids through? Or their parents?"

Kara's defiance faltered, but she quickly masked it with a shrug. "I didn't mean for it to go that far."

"That doesn't matter," the detective said. "Intent doesn't erase consequences."

Back at the station, Alden arrived, his face pale and drawn. He requested to see Kara, and after some hesitation, the officers allowed it.

As he entered the room, Kara looked up, her eyes widening briefly before she masked her emotions. "Come to lecture me again?" she asked bitterly.

"No," Alden said, sitting across from her. "I came to tell you that I'm not giving up on you."

Kara scoffed. "Doesn't seem like it. You didn't even try to stop them."

"I couldn't stop them," Alden said, his voice filled with sorrow. "Kara, I've protected you for so long, but it's clear now that I was doing more harm than good. You need to face the consequences of your actions."

"You don't get it," Kara said, her voice trembling. "Everyone just hates me. No one understands what I've been through."

Alden leaned forward, his eyes softening. "Then help me understand, Kara. Let me in. I love you, and I want to help you. But you have to meet me halfway."

Kara's therapy sessions were a glimmer of hope for Alden. For weeks, he saw the fire in his daughter's eyes dim into something softer. She was learning to manage her emotions and unpack the pain buried deep within her.

But progress is fragile, and wounds that haven't fully healed can be easily reopened.

Kara walked into her father's company that afternoon, her head held high. She had come to pick up some documents Alden had asked her to deliver. Therapy had taught her to face the world with grace, but the scars of her past still lingered, hidden beneath the surface.

As she passed a break room, the sound of hushed laughter and whispers caught her attention. Curious, she paused by the door, only to hear her name.

"…she thinks she's better now because she's seeing a therapist," one woman said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Therapy won't fix crazy," another chimed in. "She's a ticking time bomb. Poor Mr. Steele must be exhausted with her antics."

"Can you blame him? She's a lunatic! No wonder she doesn't have friends. Who'd want to be around someone like that?"

Kara's heart pounded. She clenched her fists, trying to hold back the fury building inside her. Ignore it. Walk away, she told herself, repeating the mantra her therapist had taught her. But the words cut too deep, each one chipping away at the fragile wall she had built.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the room.

"Care to say that to my face?" she asked, her voice sharp as glass.

The women turned, startled. One of them, a confident young woman named Trina, smirked. "Oh, look. The princess has arrived. Did you hear everything, or should we repeat it louder?"

Kara's jaw tightened. "You think you're funny?"

"No, but I think I'm honest," Trina said, crossing her arms. "Everyone knows the truth, Kara. You're a spoiled, angry brat who lashes out because you can't handle the fact that no one wants you."

The room fell silent. Kara felt as if the air had been s*ck*d out, leaving her chest hollow.

"What did you just say?" she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of rage and hurt.

"You heard me," Trina said, stepping closer. "No one likes you. Not your so-called friends, not your family. You're just an unwanted kid who takes out her anger on everyone else. Maybe it's time you looked in the mirror and realized the problem is you."

Something inside Kara snapped. Her vision blurred, and the next thing she knew, she was on Trina, her nails scratching across her face.

"You don't get to talk about me like that!" Kara screamed, her voice raw with fury.

Trina tried to push her off, but Kara was relentless. The other women in the room froze in shock, unsure of how to intervene.

Trina managed to shove Kara back and swung at her, but Kara dodged and shoved her hard. Trina stumbled, her heels slipping on the polished floor, and before anyone could react, she fell backward.

The sound of her body hitting the stairs was deafening. She rolled down, landing in a crumpled heap at the bottom.

"Kara, what have you done?" one of the women whispered, her voice shaking.

The police were called immediately, and Kara, still seething and shaking, was taken into custody. Alden arrived at the station shortly after, his face pale and his hands trembling.

"Kara, what happened?" he demanded, his voice filled with desperation.

"She called me unwanted," Kara said flatly, staring at the floor. "She said no one likes me. She deserved it."

"Kara, this has to stop," Alden said, his voice breaking. "I've tried to protect you, to help you. But you're spiraling, and I don't know how to save you anymore." Alden was really broken this time around.

"You think I wanted this?" Kara snapped, looking up with tears streaming down her face. "Do you think I asked to feel this way? To be this…this monster?"

Alden's heart ached as he watched his daughter break down in front of him. He wanted to hug her, to tell her it would be okay. But he also knew that words wouldn't be enough anymore.

Later that evening, as Alden sat in his study, the weight of the situation bore down on him. Trina was in the hospital, unconscious but stable. The news was already spreading, and Alden knew the damage to his company's reputation would be severe.

Harrison called, his voice heavy with disappointment.

"Alden, this can't go on," he said. "I've been your friend for years, but Kara is dangerous. She needs help, real help."

"I know," Alden said, his voice barely a whisper. "I don't know what to do anymore, Harrison. I feel like I'm losing her."

"Then fight for her," Harrison said. "But don't enable her. She needs to face the consequences of her actions, no matter how much it hurts."

Alden nodded silently, a tear slipping down his cheek. He knew Harrison was right. Kara needed more than his love, she needed accountability.

The hospital room was dimly lit, with the steady beep of the heart monitor breaking the silence. Trina lay unconscious, her face pale, bruised, and bandaged. Her mother sat by her side, clutching her hand, tears streaming down her face.

"Why did this have to happen to my baby?" she sobbed, her voice cracking.

Across town, Trina's father, Malcolm, saw the situation through a different lens. To him, this wasn't just a tragedy, it was an opportunity.

Malcolm barged into Alden Steele's office unannounced, his face a mixture of smugness and feigned outrage.

"Alden, we need to talk," Malcolm said, slamming the door behind him.

Alden looked up from his desk, his tired eyes narrowing. "Malcolm, this isn't the time. Your daughter is in the hospital, and I'm doing everything I can to address the situation."

"Address the situation?" Malcolm scoffed, leaning forward. "Your monster of a daughter put Trina in the hospital! My little girl might never recover from this, and you're sitting here acting like it's just another problem on your desk?"

"I understand you're upset," Alden said, his voice calm but firm. "And I deeply regret what happened. I've already spoken with the doctors and assured your family that we'll cover all medical expenses."

"Medical expenses?" Malcolm sneered. "You think paying a hospital bill is enough? My daughter's life is ruined because of Kara! Do you know what people are saying? That your precious company harbors dangerous individuals? If you don't handle this right, Alden, your entire empire will crumble."

Alden's jaw tightened. "What exactly are you asking for, Malcolm?"

Malcolm leaned back, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Compensation. A significant sum to make this right. Let's say five million dollars. That should be enough to cover the emotional distress, the medical bills, and, of course, the silence of my family."

Alden stared at Malcolm, his expression unreadable. "So, this isn't about justice for your daughter. This is about greed."

"Call it what you want," Malcolm said with a shrug. "But you and I both know how bad this could look for you. The media loves a scandal, Alden. And a story about a billionaire's out-of-control daughter putting an innocent young woman in the hospital? That's a headline that'll sell."

"You'd exploit your own daughter's pain for money?" Alden asked, his voice laced with disgust.

"Don't act so high and mighty," Malcolm shot back. "You'd do whatever it takes to protect Kara, wouldn't you? Well, I'm just doing what I need to do to protect my family."

Alden took a deep breath, his mind racing. He knew Malcolm was right about one thing: the story could ruin his company's reputation. But giving in to blackmail wasn't a solution, it was a trap.

"Malcolm, I'll make sure your family is taken care of," Alden said carefully. "But I won't be bullied into paying you an exorbitant sum. I'm already handling Trina's medical bills, and I'll provide additional support to ensure she gets the best care possible. But five million dollars? That's not happening."

Malcolm's eyes darkened. "You're making a big mistake, Alden. I'll make sure everyone knows what kind of man you really are."

"Do what you feel is necessary," Alden said, standing. "But let me remind you, dragging this into the public eye won't just hurt me, it'll hurt your family, too. Think carefully about what you're risking."

Malcolm stormed out of Alden's office, furious. At the hospital, he found his wife still by Trina's bedside.

"What did you do, Malcolm?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"I did what any good father would do," he replied, his tone defensive. "I demanded justice."

"Justice?" she snapped. "Or money? You're always looking for the next payday, even when our daughter is lying in a hospital bed!"

"You don't understand," Malcolm said. "This is our chance to finally get ahead. To give Trina the life she deserves!"

"She deserves her father to care about her, not his wallet," his wife retorted, turning away.

Back in the expansive corner office of Steele Enterprises, Alden leaned back in his leather chair, deep in thought. The confrontation with Malcolm had rattled him, but Alden knew this wasn't the time to falter. His company's reputation, his family's name, and Kara's future were all at stake.

He picked up the phone and dialed the head of his legal team, Margaret Lane, a no-nonsense attorney known for her sharp instincts and impeccable track record.

"Margaret," Alden said as soon as she picked up, "we have a situation. I need you in my office immediately."

"I'll be there in ten," Margaret replied without hesitation.

True to her word, she arrived swiftly, a leather briefcase in hand and a determined look on her face. Alden quickly outlined the incident with Kara and Trina, Malcolm's demands, and the potential risks to the company.

Margaret took meticulous notes, her pen moving swiftly across the notepad.

"We need to approach this from multiple angles," she said. "First, we'll ensure full cooperation with the authorities regarding the incident. Transparency is key to minimizing public backlash. Second, I'll draft a settlement offer for Trina's family, one that's reasonable but doesn't set a precedent for extortion." It was way too much.

Alden nodded. "And Malcolm? He's volatile. What If he takes this to the media?"