Chapter 63
Noah.
The drive home is silent, the kind of silence that presses against your skull until every thought is louder than it should be. My mother’s words echo, ringing in my head like a broken record that just won’t stop. You’re going to apologize…
The more I hear them, the angrier I become. I’m so mad at myself for blindly believing Brook and at Brook for lying to me.
By the time I pull into the driveway, my blood is still boiling. The gossip headlines, Lilly’s accusation, the board, and my mom’s apology dinner. It all circles my head like vultures.
I kill the engine in front of my house, gripping the steering wheel a second longer than necessary. There is so much to be fucking done, but none of them feels as heavy as having to apologize to Sierra. It feels like a noose around my neck.
I stride into the house, head straight for the living room, and pull out my phone.
“Initiate damage control protocol,” I bark the moment the line connects.
“Yes, sir.”
“And have the PR team release a public statement apologizing for
my
behavior.”
“What reason should we give, sir?”
I grit my teeth. “I don’t give a damn. Come up with something reasonable. Just make sure it doesn’t paint me as the monster they already think I am.”
Before he can respond, I end the call and punch in the next number.
“Mr. Wood,” a voice answers.
“Why the hell haven’t those posts been taken down?” My growl rumbles low, dangerous.
“We were waiting for your directive, Mr. Wood-”
My temper snaps. “Something like this explodes and your first thought is to wait for my directive? What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“I–I’m sorry. We haven’t had a scandal in years; I just… I panicked.”
“I don’t pay you to panic. Do I?”
“No, sir.”
“Take those posts down. Now. And if you ever hesitate like this again, you won’t just lose your job–you’ll regret ever working for me.”
I hang up without giving him the dignity of a reply.
The phone shakes in my hand. I can’t sit, can’t breathe. My body hums with so much fury it feels like the walls themselves are pressing in on me.
I’m about to shove outside for air when the front door swings open. Brook strolls in, arms full of glossy shopping bags, looking like she’s had a carefree afternoon.
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Chapter 63
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My jaw locks so tight I feel it crack.
Her smile falters the second she sees me.
“Shopping?” My voice comes out low, dangerous.
She freezes mid–step, shoulders stiffening. “Noah… you’re home early.”
I don’t answer. I just watch her, my silence heavier than any words.
I still can’t believe it. That she would lie to me so easily. On the way hotne, I’d wrestled with that thought, but eventually logic won out. Sierra was right. Had she really hit Brook in the mall, it would’ve been trending in minutes. And yet there was nothing.
She sets the bags down slowly, her hands trembling. “I saw the headlines. I know you wouldn’t have done anything like that without a reason. Sierra must have provoked you.”
My fists clench at my sides. Even now, she’s twisting things. When did she become like this?
“Cut the act.” I step closer, my eyes pinning her in place. “You lied to me.”
For a heartbeat, her face drains of color. Then, with ease, she schools her features.
“I don’t know what you mean,” she says softly, blinking at me with feigned confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, Brook.” My voice sharpens, slicing through the air. “The bullshit you fed me about Sierra wanting to replace Chloe, about her scheming to kick you out… every word of it was a fucking lie.”
I take a sharp breath, forcing the rage down before it spirals out of control.
Her lips part, searching for words, but nothing comes out.
My throat feels tight, every syllable scraping as I force it out. “Because of you, I grabbed her. Because of you, there’s a scandal tied to my name. Investors are circling like vultures, my parents are furious… and worst of all? I hurt her.” 1

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