Broken Trust:

Broken Trust:


Aria's POV

It was too quiet a knock on the door to be a positive one.

I had just gotten back from the vineyard with Cole. My hair was still pinned up from the interview earlier that day, my heels were still off, and the sound of my voice defending my father was still echoing in the back of my mind.

I had the hope that we would have a brief respite.

But my stomach fell to my knees when I opened the door and saw two suit-clad males flashing badges.

One of them asked in a formal, clipped voice, "Cole Montgomery?"

Cole took a step forward. "Yes?"

"You are being investigated for Victor Montgomery's assault. We want you to accompany us so we can question you.

The room whirled. "What?" I suffocated. "What are you discussing? Victor was all right! He was present!

The second man stated, "We got a formal report." "And there is medical proof that the injuries are consistent with physical assault."

Cole's mouth clenched. "This is a set-up."

"You can express your viewpoint. But we must leave right away.

With my heart racing, I grabbed for his arm. "Cole—"

His eyes were calm yet scorching as he turned to face me. It's alright. I'm not hiding. Let them ask me questions.

"No," I muttered. "No, Victor is here. He is attempting to destroy everything, beginning with you.

Cole smiled slightly at me. Although it was filled with suffering, pride was also present. "Our story has already been retracted. He's afraid. He is doing this for that reason.

But when they put cuffs on his wrists—not because he was resisting, but because they insisted on following protocol—none of that made it any easier. The sound of the metal made me cringe as if it were closing off a piece of our lives.

With a quivering voice, I said, "I'll fix this."

He looked directly into my eyes and said, "I know you will." "Just make sure he doesn't win."

The door then shut behind them.

The hours that followed were chaotic.

Cole hadn't even reached the station when the news broke. Social media was filled with images of him being brought in, his head held high, and walking with no shame.

The headlines were harsh.

When a son is arrested for assaulting his father in a family dispute, the Montgomery Empire collapses.

Is Love on a Vineyard Getting Violent? Cole Montgomery is being criticized.

Is Aria Bennett Affected by the Betrayals of Billionaires?

I felt like screaming.

I gave Maya a call instead. "We require a strategy. Quickly.

She declared, "I'm already digging." However, Aria, the media is consuming this. They believe that you are at the heart of it.

"What?"

They claim that Cole lost his temper because of you. that you encouraged him to oppose Victor.

I took a swallow. "Victor wants precisely that."

Maya's voice trailed off. "Are you certain Cole didn't strike him?"

I responded, "I'm sure," despite my heart pounding. Yes, he was furious. But not aggressive. Victor is lying.

However, the mistrust that Victor had sown was already beginning to germinate in the press.

I visited the vineyard later that evening. I always found strength in the solitude there.

I was standing under the arch where Cole and I had had our first genuine moment together, before the storms and the press. I nearly felt his arms encircling me once more.

Now more than ever, I needed that strength.

Because we couldn't turn back now that Victor had finally crossed a line.

He was no longer merely attempting to dominate Cole.

He was attempting to ruin him.

Maya called once more the following morning. "There's another thing."

I prepared myself. "Now what?"

"A video is available."

"What?"

It has a gritty texture. Film from security cameras, maybe from Victor's property. It depicts Victor falling as Cole enters his father's office.

My chest constricted. "Collapsing?"

Indeed. It might have been shoved. Or perhaps it was staged.

"Send it to me."

She did.

Additionally, I repeatedly watched it.

Cole was seen pacing as he entered, visibly irate, in the video. On the other side of the room was Victor. Cole was pointing, shouting, making gestures—

Victor then abruptly stumbled back, collided with the desk, and passed out.

It didn't appear to be a punch. No obvious touch was made.

However, it appeared awful enough.

Enough to raise suspicions.

Sufficient to convict.

The back of my throat burned with tears. "Isn't this how he's going to win?" I muttered.

Not by force.

But through falsehoods that pass for the truth.

That afternoon, I headed to the police station. The flashing cameras, the guards who attempted to halt me down, and protocol didn't matter to me.

I needed to see him.

From behind the glass wall, he glanced up, his eyes flashing with surprise.

"Aria?"

As soon as I took a seat, I said, "They're twisting everything." "A video is available. It is widely available online.

"I understand," he muttered. "I was shown by my lawyer."

"He wasn't touched by you."

"No. However, I approached too closely. I fell for his bait. I'm responsible for that.

"No, Cole. He is to blame for this. And we will demonstrate it.

He raised his hand and pressed it on the glass between us. I did the same.

"I'm afraid," I muttered. "Not only about losing you." But what would happen if we allowed him to continue running our narrative?

Despite being quiet, Cole's voice had a fresh clarity to it. After that, it's time for me to take everything away from him. Including his authority.

I called again that evening.

To a person, I believed I would never see again.

Dawson, Kaitlyn.

Her voice cut as she heard the second ring. "What's the reason for your call?"

"I need your assistance."

Bitterly, she laughed. "Sweetheart, I believe you have the wrong number."

"Cole is having problems. He is being framed by Victor. Additionally, I believe you know more than you have ever stated.

Not a word.

"What makes you think I'd help you?" is the next question.

I am aware that he also took advantage of you. You once claimed that Victor forced you to leave Cole because he threatened your family.

One more pause.

This time, longer.

Then a sigh. "I'm paying attention."

I wasn't prepared for what Kaitlyn told me next.

She stated, "I wasn't just engaged to Cole." Victor was supposed to use me as his puppet. The marriage was strategically arranged.

"What?"

He was aware of my connections. A pristine public persona. I was a part of his scheme to shape Cole into his image.

"And you agreed with it?"

"Initially," she acknowledged. "Until I witnessed the damage it was causing to him." Cole was drowning. Victor was also cruel. In ways that were never reported by the media.

I took a deep breath. "Are you going to testify?"

Kaitlyn didn't say anything. "Don't you truly love him?"

"For him, I would burn all lies to the ground."

"Then I'll assist."

Something sparked inside of me as I hung up the phone.

Fear, wealth, and secrets had been the foundation of Victor Montgomery's dominion for years.

Now, however, his empire was collapsing.

Because he no longer frightened the people he believed he controlled, including Kaitlyn, Cole, and even myself.

And not too long?

Neither would the globe.

I went public once more the following morning.

Another interview. With a twist this time.

I spoke into the microphone, "Victor Montgomery has used fear to control people for years." The truth, however, is beyond his control. And it will happen.

Maya hurried over to me with a pale face as the session came to a close.

Breathless, she continued, "You must see this." "There is a leak."

She raised her phone.

An electronic mail. Anonymous source.

Subject: Confession Recorded by Victor Montgomery

I blinked.

After that, read the transcript's first line.

"If my son refuses to comply... I'll convince everyone that he struck me.

My knees almost gave out.

He was with us.

However, a second message appeared on Maya's phone as I turned to deliver the news to Cole's attorney.

An attachment with a video.

It took a while to load.

Then—

My blood turned to ice.

Cole.

Victor.

And a firearm.

Victor is holding it.

Cole, however, reaching for it—

The screen went dark.