Chapter 88

SABELA’S POV

I had been sitting in my office with my head down, lost in thought. Memories flooded my mind even long after Ariana had left. It was hard figuring out who to be angry at—Ariana, for using my past against me, or Ethan, for telling her about us in the first place.

I felt betrayed. Ethan had crossed a line I never thought he would.

“Keep it together, Sabela…” I muttered. No one had ever cracked the armor around my heart, but Ariana had done it, and that alone burned more than I wanted to admit. How could she?

I had to face the truth again. I still missed Ethan. I had loved him once, deeply. And now, jealousy crept in like a slow poison. I hated it, but it was there. I remembered the plans we made, the laughter that now felt like a lifetime ago.

Now, he needed my help. And I couldn’t decide if it was karma or irony that he was coming back into my life through her.

A part of me thought they were mocking me, playing some twisted game by asking for my help. I wouldn’t let anyone use me for sympathy or airtime, not after everything.

Maybe he was trying to prove a point. Maybe this was his way of saying, “That could have been us.”

And maybe it could have. Once. Before I ruined it. Before I walked away from the only man who had ever made me feel alive.

“Miss Vega…” Ellery’s voice broke through my thoughts as she walked in. Her timing, as usual, was painfully perfect. I quickly wiped my eyes before facing her.

“I’m fine,” I said, forcing a smile. “Just overthinking.”

She tilted her head, studying me. “Did Miss Fisher say anything to you? You haven’t been yourself since she left.”

Ellery always noticed everything. Her loyalty ran deep, even when I tried to keep my distance. She was more than my assistant; she was one of the few people who actually cared.

“I don’t want you worrying about me,” I said quietly. “I’m handling it.”

“You’re breaking one of your own rules.”

That caught me off guard. “Excuse me?”

“Rule number four,” she said, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Never let your emotions show on your face. You’re doing that right now.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. She had me. “You’re right,” I said softly. “I taught you too well.”

“I’m not trying to be disrespectful,” she said, walking closer. “But you’ve been carrying too much lately. Sometimes even the strongest people need to stop pretending.”

Her kindness hit me harder than I expected. “Yeah… emotions are stubborn,” I said, my voice shaking. “They always find a way out.”

Ellery smiled, the kind that made you feel like someone actually saw you. “You should let yourself feel it, Miss Vega. You deserve that much.”

Before I could answer, my phone buzzed sharply on the desk. I sighed. “You can stay,” I told her. “I’ll make it quick.”

I picked up the call, expecting it to be Ariana or Ethan. Both owed me an apology, and both were at the top of my block list in my mind. “Hello,” I said curtly. “Make it quick.”

A familiar male voice chuckled on the other end. “Relax, Sabela. It’s been a while.”

My heart dropped. “Dale?”

“The one and only,” he said smoothly. “You sound surprised. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten me already.”

My grip tightened around the phone. “What are you doing calling me?”

“I figured it was time we talked,” he said, his tone as smug as ever. “After all, you’re still the beautiful woman who almost became my sister-in-law. What a shame my brother ruined that.”

He was baiting me. He always did. “What do you want, Dale?”

“I want to make a deal,” he said. “One that’ll give you exactly what you’ve been waiting for. A chance to get even with Ethan.”

Ellery’s brows furrowed as she studied my face. I raised a hand, silently asking her to give me a minute.

“I’m not interested in your family’s drama,” I said. “If this is another one of your pathetic games, you can count me out.”

“Oh, come on,” Dale said, his voice laced with mock amusement. “You of all people should know better. This isn’t a game. I’m talking about justice. I’m talking about giving Ethan what he deserves for betraying both of us.”

“I’m listening,” I said flatly.

“I know about the show,” Dale said. “The one he’s planning with Ariana. Her grand reappearance. You’re hosting it, aren’t you?”

I didn’t answer, but the silence told him enough.

“I have footage,” he continued. “Footage that could change everything. Ariana’s past, Ethan’s lies—everything. Imagine how quickly the tables would turn if you had that on live television.”

I swallowed hard, my pulse rising. “Why would you hand that to me?”

“Because I want to see him fall,” Dale said. “And because I know you do too.”

I leaned back in my chair, staring at the city skyline through my window. The night outside was quiet, but inside my chest, everything was chaos.

Ethan’s betrayal still stung. Ariana’s manipulation still echoed. Dale’s offer was dangerous, but it was tempting. Too tempting.

“What’s the catch?” I asked.

“There’s always a catch,” he said. “You’ll know soon enough. But I promise, when the cameras roll, you’ll thank me.”

The call ended before I could respond.

I set the phone down slowly, my mind spinning. Ellery stepped closer. “Who was that?”

“No one important,” I lied, though my voice trembled slightly.

She didn’t believe me. I didn’t blame her.

Because deep down, I knew this was far from over. Whatever Dale was planning, he wasn’t doing it alone. And Ethan was walking straight into it—dragging Ariana with him.

For the first time in years, I didn’t know if I wanted to stop it.

I looked down at my trembling hands and whispered to myself, “What are you getting into, Sabela?”