Chapter 26 – The Cost of Ambition (Part 2)
(Season 1, Episode 17, Part 2)
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Gossip Girl Blast:
"Ambition is a double-edged sword—sharp enough to cut your enemies, but just as likely to bleed you dry. And with the stakes higher than ever, who's about to pay the price? Stay tuned. XOXO, Gossip Girl."
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Aryan's Gambit – The Trap Springs Shut
Aryan stood at the edge of the ballroom, drink in hand, watching as Russell Thorpe made his grand entrance.
It was almost poetic.
Thorpe thought tonight would mark his victory—the night he secured his takeover of Bass Industries.
But Aryan had ensured the opposite.
A vibration in his pocket. A message from his contact.
"It's done. He won't see it coming."
Aryan smirked. Perfect.
Thorpe moved through the crowd, shaking hands, unaware that the ground beneath him was already crumbling.
Bart approached, nodding subtly to Aryan.
The moment had arrived.
Aryan set his glass down and strode forward.
"Mr. Thorpe," he greeted smoothly. "Enjoying the evening?"
Russell turned, his expression guarded. "Mr. Jain. I was wondering when we'd cross paths."
Aryan's smile didn't falter. "Oh, I'm sure you were."
A beat of silence.
Then, Aryan leaned in just slightly.
"Tell me, Russell—what's it like to lose before the game even starts?"
Thorpe's jaw tightened. "Excuse me?"
Aryan stepped back, slipping his phone from his pocket and holding it up.
A live news alert flashed across the screen:
"Thorpe Enterprises Faces Insider Trading Investigation – Stocks Plummet"
Russell's face paled. "What the hell is this?"
Aryan's voice was calm. "That, Mr. Thorpe, is the sound of your empire collapsing."
Russell turned sharply, eyes scanning the room for an escape—only to find Bart Bass standing at his other side, smirking.
"You should be more careful about the enemies you make," Bart said.
Thorpe exhaled sharply, shoulders tense. "This isn't over."
Aryan chuckled. "Yes, it is."
And just like that, the king had taken the queen.
Checkmate.
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Gossip Girl Blast:
"It's official, Upper East Siders—Thorpe just became tonight's biggest loser. And A? He's still undefeated. But how long can one man keep winning before the board flips? XOXO."
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Blair's Warning – A Heart vs. A Mind
Blair sipped her champagne, watching Aryan from across the room.
She knew what he had done.
She had seen the way Thorpe's face fell.
The power Aryan wielded wasn't just wealth. It was control.
And that's what made him dangerous.
She didn't even realize Serena had appeared beside her until her best friend spoke.
"You're staring."
Blair didn't look away. "You should be careful, S."
Serena frowned. "Careful?"
Blair finally turned to her. "You're falling for him."
Serena swallowed. "And?"
Blair's expression softened, just slightly. "And if you fall too deep? You might never find your way back."
Serena hesitated.
Because the terrifying part wasn't the fall.
It was that she didn't want to find her way back.
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Gossip Girl Blast:
"Love and power—two forces that rarely coexist. Be careful, S. Because once you choose one, you might just lose the other. XOXO."
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Chuck's Crossroads – A Betrayal in Motion
Chuck sat in the back of his limo, staring at his phone.
One missed call from Aryan.
One from his father.
And a message from Thorpe.
"We can still make our move. Are you in?"
Chuck's grip tightened around the device.
Thorpe was finished. Aryan had made sure of that.
But Chuck?
He wasn't sure where that left him.
For the first time in his life, he wasn't certain who he should be fighting for—his father or himself.
But one thing was clear.
He had a choice to make.
And no matter what he decided…
Someone was going to get hurt.
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Gossip Girl's Final Blast of the Night:
"Lines have been drawn, alliances tested, and the game keeps shifting. But be careful, Upper East Siders—because in a world like this, the wrong move can cost you everything. Sleep tight. XOXO."
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[End of Chapter 26, Part 2]
Next: Chapter 26 – The Cost of Ambition (Part 3)