Finding Love In A Scripted Betrayal

Jenkin

eting second, her sweet, vulnerable facade cracked, revealing the sharp edges beneath. Then,

e sweet, instantly drawing all attention back to her. She glid

umming in the background of my mind, flash

or a hug. She's going

Jami, caught off guard by my evasion, stumbled. Her outstretched hand

hat was

ing the image in a fraction of a second. Item identified: small, ornate silver brooch, sharpen

ons... The family would instantly believe I' d attacked her, or at least caus

out in my mind wit

e just wanted to welcome you!" I'd be the villain, again. Exp

n elaborate floral arrangement, toppled over. Water, flowers, and a half-eaten dessert cascaded onto her

knew how to

atedly clutching her arm. "I just wanted to hug you!

oom. All eyes, brimming with c

h. He helped her up, his gaze instantly hardening as he turned to m

to fall for her theatrics. She could stab you with

was an instinct, Joel. She came at me qu

rying to look pathetic. "I just wanted to make amends, Chloe. I thought... after

y. "You think you can just show up and ruin everything? Jami has been

h. I've heard this one before. It's almost as

lism' - glorified gossip, if you ask me. You write scandalous stories about anyo

, triumphant smirk. She knew exactly what she was doing. W

it often does. My 'quick buck' journalism kept me alive when your 'family' fortune left me to starve. At least I earn my own l

stories to rival tabloids while simultaneously positioning herself as a victim of Chloe's "ruthless investigative tactics." Jami's social media

her. The irony would be hilarious

e firm, though his eyes still held a lingering bewilderme

he's-" Cann

zing with an uncharacteristic fury. "She's always lying! Always making things

I say something, Jami? My apologies. I mu

Did they hear my thoughts, or is she just reacting t

you said... you said I was a fraud! That I stole content! Tha

led. "She didn't say any of that, Jami. She ju

non' s eyes narrowed, a vein throbbing in his t

oing to be incredibly inconvenient. O

stem infect them too? Maybe it's contagious. The Jenkins family goes

can hear, this could be my ticket out. How badly do I need to

charge. "Joel, take Jami upstairs. She needs

y ascended the grand staircase, Jami shot me a glare filled with pure, unad

d her throat, gasping for air, her eyes wide with terror as

hts? This power is stranger than I th

ng now?" I murmured, more to myself than t

ly, ushered her sons. "Go!

ed and deeply shaken, followed Jami upstairs

y plate looked lonely. "Well, that was certainly a lively start to dinner." I examined the

ith an unreadable expression, cleared

my steak. "I missed lunch. And the

. "We'll have the staff prepare a

ly. "This is perfectly fine. Unless you're implyin

hen closed it. "No, of course not. We just.

ing something earlier, Chloe. About your future. We thought perhaps a good match would be beneficial

sical blow. The system hummed, a new data stream instantly flowing into my m

still looking flustered from the earlier incident, nervously adjusted a stray strand

ng out struggling tech companies, including some of the Jenkins' more vulnerable subsidi

y fork down. "Damon Ayers.

ft sigh of relief. Carlotta actually smiled. The remaining brothers, who h

daughter, finally falling in line. How quaint. They have no idea

ne of corporate espionage and family drama. This is