Chapter 2

02.

“Get your facts straight. She’s the one barking lies and selling my estate without permission. She should be grateful I haven’t thrown her into a jail cell yet!”

Hearing my sharp retort, Lola burst into fresh tears and threw herself straight into Derek’s arms.

“Derek, I don't know what I did wrong. I just wanted to save Freya from throwing her life away, but she… she…”

“I know I’m just the driver’s daughter and she looks down on me, but I truly care about her!”

Her delicate weeping instantly triggered Derek’s protective instincts. With a dark expression, he grabbed for my wrist to force an apology, but I dodged him easily.

“Dump me if you want, Derek. But don’t forget that your father’s prime development project in the south district relies entirely on my family’s funding.”

Derek’s face paled instantly.

My family held massive investments across the city, and half the elite families depended on our capital.

Because of our relationship, the Price family had enjoyed endless financial benefits over the years. If our funding stopped, their business would collapse overnight.

Just as Derek hesitated, Cedric stepped forward to back him up.

“Don’t listen to her threats, Derek. My mother and I run the family too, and Freya has no right to call the shots!”

Reassured by Cedric’s words, Derek regained his arrogant posture.

“Freya, don’t think you can boss me around using business ties!”

“We are officially done!”

What a pathetic fool.

In my previous life, Derek dumped me and immediately married Lola.

When Lola gave birth barely seven months into the marriage, Derek claimed it was a premature delivery, doting on her and using my father’s money to pamper her.

Meanwhile, I was rotting away in a windowless ward, being injected with experimental toxins until my heart stopped.

I wouldn’t stay with this spineless scumbag even if he begged on his knees.

“Suit yourself.”

Using Lola’s phone, I immediately dialed campus security.

“There are people harassing and defaming me in the lecture hall, blocking the exits. Send guards right now.”

My late father had funded the construction of this entire campus, so security arrived within minutes.

They held Lola and Cedric back, giving me the opening to slip away.

However, when I reached the school gates, a group of men in black suits was already waiting.

I could tell instantly that they were not my father’s personal bodyguards. I quickly tried calling my grandfather, but the line wouldn’t connect.

Cold sweat trickled down my neck.

Before I could slip away, Lola broke free from the guards and ran toward the gate.

Catching sight of me in the corner, a wicked grin spread across her face.

“Found you, Freya!”

“Let’s see where you run now!”

“She’s right over here!” Lola screamed, pointing her finger straight at me.

The crowd of thugs surged toward me, and my heart skipped a beat.

Right at that critical moment, my Uncle Arthur arrived with a convoy of security personnel.

Shielding me firmly behind his back, Uncle Arthur glared at the men with icy authority.

“Let’s see who dares lay a finger on my niece!”

“Lola Finch, orchestrating a kidnapping in broad daylight is enough to put you behind bars for decades!”

Uncle Arthur raised his phone to dial the police. Panic flashed across Lola’s face, and she quickly backtracked.

“No, that’s not it! I thought they were bodyguards from the family…”

“I have somewhere else to be. I’m leaving!”

Lola turned and fled like a stray dog. Uncle Arthur gently checked my face, his voice filled with concern.

“Freya, are you hurt?”

I shook my head.

My grandfather’s safety mattered far more to me right now. I grabbed Uncle Arthur’s arm. “Uncle Arthur, where is Grandpa? His phone isn’t going through.”

“His line is dead?” Uncle Arthur’s expression hardened. He called the main estate, and after learning Grandpa wasn't home, he immediately dispatched search teams.

A storm was brewing, and I knew Lola had more tricks up her sleeve.

“Uncle Arthur, this isn't a safe place to talk. Take me to our corporate legal team first, and I’ll explain everything.”

We headed to his residence, where our senior corporate attorneys arrived shortly after.

After reviewing the entire situation, the lead attorney gave his expert advice.

“Ms. Montgomery, given the immense financial value of the estate, we strongly advise filing criminal charges immediately.”

“As for the defamation, we can draft a lawsuit within a week.”

“Can you make it faster?” I asked.

A week was far too long to wait.

“If the team works overnight, we can have it ready within twenty-four hours.”

“Do it,” I commanded.

Before the legal team could even step out the front door, heavy pounding rattled the front gate.

“Freya! We know you’re hiding in there! Come out!”

“Stop hiding like a coward! Face us if you have any guts!”

“If you don’t open up, we’ll take the door down!”

The screeching roar of a chainsaw tore through the air. Seconds later, Uncle Arthur’s heavy security gate crashed to the ground.

Uncle Arthur and I walked out into the courtyard, our blood boiling at the sight of the destroyed gate.

Lola stood there with a triumphant smirk.

“Freya, lies can’t hide the truth. Even hiding here won’t cover up the fact that you sold your body!”

“I brought all the mainstream reporters and the maid who served you at the estate. Let’s see you wiggle out of this one!”

I looked past Lola. A massive crowd of journalists had their camera lenses pointed directly at my face.

Several influencers were already streaming the scene live.

Uncle Arthur couldn't stomach the brazen disrespect and snapped at Lola.

“Lola Finch! The Montgomery family took you in and gave you a comfortable life. How dare you bite the hand that feeds you?”

Lola puffed out her chest, acting completely righteous.

“This is a free country, Mr. Montgomery. I am not your servant, so spare me the loyalty lecture.”

“Everything Freya did is an undeniable fact! I have a witness!”

“Sani, step up and tell everyone what you saw in that estate!”

A stout woman with dark skin stepped out from behind Lola. Looking closely, I recognized her as the maid who tended to the estate grounds.

Sani hadn’t originally worked for us. Years ago during a trip, I saw a local farm owner abusing her and paid off her debt to rescue her.

She had knelt before me, begging for a job, so I gave her a position at our European estate out of pity.

Over the years, I supported her family and even paid for her three daughters to attend college so they wouldn't have to break their backs working manual labor.

I truly believed Sani would never betray me.

“It’s okay, Sani. Tell the truth about what you saw. No one here will hurt you,” I said gently.

Yet Sani’s gaze toward me was filled with nervous guilt.

In the next second, her voice trembled as she spoke to the cameras.

“Ms. Montgomery is an absolute monster!”

“She entertained endless streams of men in the estate and forced me to wait on them. Sometimes before the clients even left the room, she ordered me in to clean up the mess.”

“The room smelled rancid and made me gag, but she forbade me from opening the windows, terrified someone might snap photos!”

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