The city never truly slept, but tonight, it breathed differently.
Brooklyn stood by the penthouse's floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the lights shimmer below her like fallen stars. The soft hum of the heater whispered behind her. She was wrapped in a cream satin robe, her bare feet cool against the polished floor.
The court win had silenced most of the noise around her — Emmett had gone silent, his fifteen minutes of fame extinguished in a blaze of public shame. But Brooklyn knew better than to relax.
Because Elias was still out there.
And he had proven one thing over and over again:
He didn't play fair.
---
Earlier That Day – Brooklyn's Prenatal Appointment
The clinic was bright and serene, tucked inside a private medical facility that catered to only the city's elite. Brooklyn sat on the exam table, gently caressing her stomach, listening to the soft thump-thump of her baby's heartbeat on the monitor.
The doctor smiled. "You're right on track. Everything looks perfect."
Brooklyn nodded. "Thank you."
She dressed slowly, her mind elsewhere.
As she stepped out into the hallway, her phone buzzed.
Vivienne:
> Emergency meeting. Elias is digging into Carter Global's offshore history. Looks like he's planning something big.
Brooklyn's stomach twisted.
What now?
---
Carter Enterprises – The War Room
The meeting room was full. Damien sat at the head of the table, sleeves rolled up, tie loosened. His board of advisors flanked him — analysts, legal experts, PR directors.
Brooklyn entered and sat beside him.
A massive projection screen glowed with a map and rows of encrypted files.
"Elias has been in contact with someone inside the firm," Vivienne began. "We're not sure who, but someone's been feeding him confidential reports. Financial ones."
Damien leaned forward. "Which ones?"
"Accounts Carter Global closed years ago. Offshore entities our father used during expansion in Europe. We cleaned them up. But if Elias spins it right, it'll look like money laundering."
Brooklyn's eyes narrowed.
"Can he prove anything?"
"No," Vivienne said. "But in the world of billionaires, perception is just as dangerous as evidence."
Brooklyn tapped her nails on the table.
"What if we get ahead of him?"
Everyone turned to look at her.
"I'm not suggesting we expose secrets," she clarified. "I'm suggesting transparency. Let's control the story before he twists it."
Damien tilted his head.
"You want to make it public?"
"Just enough. We pick the narrative. Highlight the cleanup. Show that you fixed the mess your father left behind. Show them you're not hiding anything."
Silence.
Then Damien smiled.
"I like it."
Brooklyn felt something shift in the room.
They weren't just protecting her anymore.
They were listening to her.
Respecting her.
And she was ready.
---
Later – Brooklyn's First Interview
The studio was minimalist and sleek. Brooklyn sat on a white sofa, mic clipped to her dress, lights glowing softly overhead.
Across from her sat Jessica Arden — a respected anchor, known for her empathy and surgical precision.
"You've had quite the year, Mrs. Carter," Jessica began.
Brooklyn smiled slightly. "That's putting it gently."
"Your court case, your whirlwind marriage, the threats against your husband's company. Why come forward now?"
Brooklyn's expression grew serious.
"Because silence protects abusers. Because if you don't tell your story, someone else will write it for you — and twist it until you can't even recognize yourself."
Jessica nodded slowly. "And what's your truth?"
Brooklyn took a deep breath.
"I fell in love with a man who wasn't looking for love. I carried a child I wasn't ready for, but I chose to grow with it. I survived abandonment, betrayal, and attacks from people who've never met me. And I'm still standing."
The live feed comments exploded.
Jessica leaned forward. "And the allegations against Carter Global?"
Brooklyn smiled calmly. "The Carter legacy isn't perfect. But Damien and I have nothing to hide. We're sharing our internal audit documents with the SEC this week — not because we're guilty, but because we're not afraid."
Jessica blinked. "That's bold."
"Truth usually is."
---
That Night – Penthouse Firelight
The fireplace crackled softly, casting golden light across the living room.
Brooklyn sat curled against Damien's chest on the couch, both of them in pajamas, a blanket draped over their legs.
"You were phenomenal today," Damien murmured into her hair. "Smart. Poised. Sharp."
She smiled. "You trained me well."
"No," he said softly. "That was all you."
They sat in silence, the kind that felt like music instead of absence.
Then Damien shifted slightly.
"I've been thinking," he said.
"That sounds dangerous."
He chuckled. "What if… after the baby is born… we moved?"
Brooklyn pulled back to look at him.
"Moved where?"
He hesitated.
"There's a villa in France. South of the coast. It's quiet. Green hills. No paparazzi. No Elias. Just us."
Brooklyn's eyes softened. "You want to run?"
"I want to live. With you. Without the noise."
She leaned in and kissed him gently.
"I want that too."
---
Midnight – Vivienne's Warning
The call came just after midnight.
Brooklyn was brushing her teeth when Damien's phone rang, vibrating across the marble counter.
He picked it up, answered on speaker.
"Vivienne?"
Her voice was low, urgent.
"Someone accessed the company's classified archives. Files only three people have clearance to."
Damien's eyes narrowed. "Who?"
There was a pause.
"That's the problem. The signature was yours."
Brooklyn froze.
"But I didn't—"
"We know. Which means someone's using your access codes. Elias has more than a mole. He has your digital fingerprint."
Damien's jaw clenched.
Brooklyn grabbed a towel, heart pounding.
"What did they take?" she asked.
Vivienne replied, "Everything about Damien's father's final project… and the document tied to your marriage contract."
Brooklyn's skin went cold.
"What does that mean?" Damien asked.
Vivienne sighed. "It means Elias might be preparing to prove that Brooklyn's marriage to you was planned years before she met you."
"That's impossible."
Vivienne replied coldly, "Not if he fakes the evidence."
Brooklyn stepped closer to Damien, eyes wide.
"If he proves I targeted you for money, I lose everything."
"No," Damien growled. "He's not touching you again."
---
Elsewhere – Elias in Shadows
Elias stood before a projection screen in his private hideout, watching Brooklyn's interview replay on loop.
"Charismatic little thing," he muttered.
Beside him, a tech expert scrolled through stolen documents.
"We can redate the contract draft," the man said. "Make it look like it was forged by Brooklyn's lawyer six months before she met you."
Elias grinned. "Good. She wants to play queen?"
He leaned forward.
"Let's make her fight for her crown."