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The clip had been shared across multiple platforms, racking up thousands of views.

The comments were a mix of outrage and mockery.

"Typical gold digger, trying to steal from a billionaire."

"I don't believe this. Alexander Cain set her up!"

"Look at her face. She's either a really good actress or genuinely shocked."

"Poor girl… this looks like a trap."

Lena's fingers tightened around the phone. Her face burned with humiliation as she scrolled through the reactions. Some people were mercilessly mocking her, while others were defending her.

Ryan studied her expression carefully. "This is already out there, Lena. People are talking. Some are against you, but some… some actually believe you."

Lena swallowed hard, her mind racing. This wasn't just about the watch anymore. This was bigger than she had realized.

Lena stared at the screen, her hands trembling slightly. Shock and disbelief coursed through her as she read the comments. Some were mocking her, calling her a thief and a gold digger, but others… others recognized her.

"Wait… isn't she the author of that bestselling novel?"

"OMG, that's Lena? The writer of Shattered Dreams?"

"She just hit #1 on the bestseller list, and now she's caught in a scandal? Something feels off."

"No way she'd steal a watch when she's making money from her book!"

Lena's breath hitched. People knew who she was. They weren't just talking about some random woman accused of theft—they were talking about her.

She felt an odd mix of emotions. Pain, humiliation… but also a strange sense of validation. The same industry that had once discarded her was now watching her closely.

Ryan leaned back, studying her reaction. "People are putting the pieces together, Lena. This could go either way. If Alexander decides to push this further, your reputation—"

Lena clenched her fists. "I won't let him destroy me."

Ryan placed a firm hand on Lena's shoulder. "Calm down. Losing control won't help. We still need to find John."

Lena blinked, struggling to steady her breath. Just moments ago, she had discovered her novel was a bestseller, yet here she was—broke, desperate, and now caught in a public scandal. And that video… it felt like the final nail in her coffin.

She ran a shaky hand through her hair. "Ryan… I've already lost everything. If this video spreads more, I won't even have my name left."

Ryan exhaled, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. "You're not finished yet. But first, we find John. Whatever's going on with Alexander—whatever he's trying to do to you—it starts with finding your brother."

Lena nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. She had no choice but to keep moving forward.

Lena let out a shaky breath, her shoulders slumping in exhaustion. "Ryan… I can't do this anymore. I'm tired. I don't have the strength to fight."

Ryan crouched slightly to meet her gaze, his grip on her arm firm but comforting. "Lena, you don't have the luxury of giving up. Your brother is still out there. And whatever Alexander is planning, he's already one step ahead. You need to keep moving."

John's name sent a fresh wave of anxiety through her. The thought of him being in danger gnawed at her insides, making it impossible to breathe properly. She clenched her fists, trying to steady herself when suddenly—her phone rang.

The sound made her jolt, and she instinctively pulled it out of her pocket. Her stomach twisted into knots when she saw the name flashing on the screen.

Jenna.

Her foster sister.

Lena's lips pressed into a tight line, her exhaustion now mixed with irritation. Of all people, why was Jenna calling now? She had a terrible feeling in her gut, but ignoring the call wasn't an option. With a resigned sigh, she swiped to answer.

"What do you want, Jenna?" she asked, her voice sharper than intended.

On the other end, Jenna's breathless, almost mocking voice came through.

"Well, well, look who finally decided to pick up. The famous writer turned thief."

Lena's grip on the phone tightened. "Jenna, I'm not in the mood for your nonsense."

"Oh, but the whole internet is," Jenna sneered. "You're everywhere, Lena. That little stunt at Alexander Cain's office? People are eating it up. Some think you're pathetic, others think you're a victim. But you know what I think?"

Lena stayed silent, her jaw clenched.

"I think it's hilarious," Jenna continued, her tone dripping with cruelty. "You always thought you were better than the rest of us. And now look at you—broke, humiliated, and trending for all the wrong reasons."

Lena shut her eyes, forcing herself to stay calm. "If you called just to insult me, don't bother. I have bigger problems than you."

Jenna let out an irritated sigh on the other end.

"Do you even realize how much humiliation I've had to face because of you?" she snapped. "People are asking me if my dear sister is actually a thief! My friends, my colleagues—everyone is talking about it! Do you have any idea how embarrassing this is for me?"

Lena's patience snapped. Her voice was sharp as she fired back, "And who told you to use my name to get ahead, Jenna? Everything you have—your reputation, your so-called success—it's all because of me! You've built your life using my name, and now you're mad because it's backfiring?"

There was a pause. Jenna's breathing was uneven, but she wasn't done yet. "You ungrateful—"

Jenna's voice dripped with venom. "You ungrateful wretch! Do you think you'd even exist in this industry if it weren't for me? I gave you a home, I gave you opportunities, and this is how you repay me? By dragging my name through the mud?"

Lena let out a bitter laugh. "A home? Opportunities? You mean the way you used me to climb the ladder while making sure I stayed in your shadow? You never wanted me to succeed, Jenna. You just wanted me to be your stepping stone."

Jenna scoffed. "Oh, please. If you were smart enough, you would've known how to play the game. But no, you had to be the righteous little fool, thinking talent alone would get you somewhere. Look where it's gotten you now! A viral scandal, no money, and the whole world calling you a thief."

Lena's grip on her phone tightened. She could feel the sting of Jenna's words, but she refused to let it break her. "At least I didn't sell my soul for approval. Unlike you, I still have my dignity."

Jenna's laughter was cold. "Dignity won't pay your bills, Lena. And after this mess, no one's going to publish your work again. You're finished."

Lena's chest tightened, but she forced herself to stay calm. "We'll see about that," she said through gritted teeth.

Before Jenna could throw another insult, Lena hung up. She stared at her phone, her hands shaking with frustration and hurt. Ryan watched her carefully.

"Jenna?" he asked.

Lena exhaled sharply. "Yeah. And she made sure to remind me just how screwed I am."

Ryan smirked, leaning back in his chair. "She's barking? Then let her bark."

Lena shot him an exasperated look. "Ryan—"

He shrugged. "What? That's all she ever does. Barks, whines, and acts like the world owes her something. You, on the other hand, actually do things. That's why she hates you."

Lena let out a tired sigh. "That doesn't change the fact that she's enjoying this mess."

Ryan smirked. "Then give her something to really talk about—like you rising from the ashes and shoving your success right in her face."

For the first time that day, Lena felt a small, amused smile tug at her lips. "You really have a way with words, you know that?"

Ryan grinned. "It's a gift."

_________________

The dim light of her small bedroom cast long shadows on the walls as Lena lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Her body ached from exhaustion, and her mind felt heavy with everything that had happened. She hadn't told her mother a word about today. There was no point in worrying her any further—her mother had enough on her plate already.

She turned onto her side, hugging a pillow close, willing sleep to take her. But just as her eyes fluttered shut, the sharp chime of her phone cut through the silence.

Her fingers hesitated before reaching for it. She wasn't in the mood for more bad news. But when she saw Ryan's name, she sighed and unlocked the screen.

A single message.

"You need to see this."

Attached was a video.

Lena frowned, sitting up in bed as she pressed play. The screen flickered for a moment before the footage began. The first thing she noticed was the dim setting—an abandoned warehouse, concrete floors stained dark, walls covered in rust and grime. And then she saw him.

Alexander.

Her breath hitched.

He stood in the center of the screen, his usually pristine white dress shirt smeared with splashes of blood. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, exposing strong, tensed forearms. But it was his expression that sent a chill down her spine.

Cold. Unreadable. Merciless.

In his hand, he gripped a heavy, metal baseball bat. The dull sheen of the iron was tainted with fresh blood, and in front of him, a man lay sprawled on the floor, barely moving, groaning in pain.

Lena felt her stomach twist.

Then, without a hint of hesitation, Alexander raised the bat again.

A brutal swing.

A sickening crack echoed through the warehouse.

Lena's fingers tightened around her phone as she watched in horror. The victim's body jerked at the impact before going still. Blood pooled beneath him, staining the cold concrete.

Alexander didn't even flinch. He simply stood there, bat resting against his shoulder, surveying his work with a detached, almost clinical gaze.

The video ended.

Lena could hear her own heartbeat pounding in her ears as Ryan's message popped up underneath. Her hands trembled. Her throat felt dry.

This wasn't the same man who had mocked her today, who had pretended not to know her, who had looked at her with amusement instead of recognition. This was someone else entirely.

Someone dangerous.

Lena's breath caught in her throat as another message from Ryan popped up.

"That man… he's your publisher's CEO. My friend confirmed it."

Her grip on the phone tightened.

The CEO of her publishing house. The same company that had stolen her work, discarded her like trash, and left her struggling to survive.

And Alexander had beaten him to a bloody pulp.

Lena swallowed hard, her mind racing with questions she wasn't sure she wanted the answers to.