Emberly Holmes was trapped in the house, where the staff came on schedule to cook and clean. Anything she asked for was delivered fast. On the surface, her life looked almost normal—Ezrah had returned her phone, but the guards searched her bag whenever she approached a door. After the first call, he had warned her that another attempt to get help would cost her access to her passport and laptop. She could browse and text. Getting someone to her before he intervened was another matter. But she was painfully aware of how completely her view of Ezrah Hunt had shifted.

She was sprawled on the couch, scrolling through her phone, when she saw her name among the trending topics. At first, she brushed it off as a coincidence. Then curiosity got the better of her, and she clicked.

Her stomach dropped. The screen lit up with a video from that humiliating day at the bridal shop—now public for the whole world to see. The title was brutal: "Columbia Admit Exposed as Billionaire's Other Woman."

In the video, Ezrah's and Meadow's faces were blurred out. Emberly's wasn't. Her personal information had been exposed and plastered beside photos of her and Ezrah from all different events. Horrified, she scrolled through the comments, straight into an avalanche of venom.

"She'll do anything for money. She deserves to be punished. A simple apology is too easy—why not let her suffer?"

"People with no morals shouldn't take spots at elite universities. Revoke her admission!"

"I heard her parents met a tragic end. Probably because of their disgraceful daughter."

Emberly read every scathing comment, each one dragging her back through the public humiliation. She hugged herself tightly, feeling utterly lost.

Should she try to clear her name? But the truth was obvious—Ezrah did have a fiancée. And even if she told everyone she'd been deceived, would anyone believe her?

A sound at the door cut through her thoughts. Emberly jumped up, hope flaring in her chest. Maybe it was Ezrah, coming to defend her. But it wasn't. Meadow Price walked in, flanked by several others.

Without warning, Meadow slapped her hard across the face. "So it's true. You really were involved with Ezrah, you shameless little homewrecker."

Stunned and off balance, Emberly didn't hit back. Instead, she tried desperately to explain. "Please, just hear me out. I honestly didn't know Ezrah had a fiancée. If I had, I never would've gotten involved."

Meadow's lips curled into a cruel smile. She glanced around the room with open disdain. "People like you will do anything for money. So are you ready to give up this luxurious little life and stop being the other woman?"

"I may not be rich, but I refuse to wreck someone's home," Emberly said firmly. "Ezrah was injured in the Colorado Rockies when I helped him. If I'd known about his engagement, I never would have come to New York with him."

Meadow stepped closer and tapped Emberly's cheek mockingly. "Such high ideals. If you hadn't tempted him, do you think he'd ever notice a girl from nowhere? You play the saint, but you're the one who tricked Ezrah."

"Me? Trick him?" Emberly's patience snapped. The false accusation lit a fire in her chest. "He's the one who lied to me. He told me he loved me and that he was planning a wedding abroad. I had no idea he was engaged. You saw the guards at the door—he's the one keeping me here. Otherwise, I'd be out of his life forever!"

Meadow's face hardened, jealousy sparking in her eyes. "Are you bragging about Ezrah's love for you?"

Emberly couldn't understand her twisted logic. There was nothing enviable about being lied to and trapped.

Seeing that talking was useless, Emberly let out a breath. "Let me go. I promise you'll never see me again."

Meadow laughed coldly. "Playing hard to get now, are we? Hoping Ezrah will come find you and turn against me? Trying to cause trouble between us? No. You don't get that chance."

She signaled to the guards. They moved fast, pinning Emberly to the floor. Meadow stood over her, sneering. "You think saving Ezrah and a pretty face will keep him interested? Once that face is gone, he'll feel guilty and compensate you generously. You'll thank me for it."

Then she took the knife one of the bodyguards handed her and advanced on Emberly, slow and deliberate.

Panic surged through Emberly. She struggled, but she was powerless against the professional strength holding her down. The cold blade grazed her skin, sending a shiver through her entire body.

Breathing hard, she pleaded, "I'll leave for good—I swear I'll never show my face to Ezrah again. Just don't do this!"

Meadow's lips twisted into a menacing smile. Her eyes glinted with malice. "Too late. You dared touch my man, and you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

She raised the knife. Emberly squeezed her eyes shut—

"Meadow!"