I woke up to the warmth of Gabriel's arms around me, his steady breath tickling the back of my neck. He held me in a firm, protective embrace, as if even in sleep, he didn't want to let me go. I smiled softly. He was exhausted. I had drained his energy in the early hours of the morning, so I let him sleep a little longer while I slipped out of bed.
The moment my feet touched the cold floor, reality settled in.
I had a life to live. A daughter to care for. A mission to fulfill.
I knocked on Bella's door. "Time to get up, sweetheart. You don't want to be late for school."
After making breakfast, the three of us sat together, enjoying a rare, quiet moment as a family. It was peaceful, something I had fought so hard to have. I kissed Gabriel on the cheek before heading out, dropping Bella off at school, then making my way to work.
As I stepped into my office, my eyes landed on the large framed portraits of Rita Chase.
The woman whose story had changed everything.
The woman who had suffered in silence, just like me.
The woman who never got the chance to fight back.
I felt choked with emotions as my fingers brushed the edge of the frame, and I struggled to hold back tears.
"Thank you," I whispered. "For everything. For all the women you've saved. Even in death, you've been a guiding light."
I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply. But the weight of responsibility pressed down on my chest.
I remembered the day I exposed Alexander my ex-husband. The man who had deceived, manipulated, and hurt me. The same man who had taken lives, including Rita's.
I remembered the terror in his eyes before he took his own life.
That memory was stuck in my head. It wasn't something I could erase. Justice had been served… but at what cost?
To the world, I was a hero. But inside?
I felt the crushing burden of expectations.
A knock at the door pulled me out of my thoughts. Kate, my manager, poked her head in.
"Good morning, Mrs. Carter. We have seven minutes before we go live on Girl Talk and our guest is already here."
I straightened, pushing away my emotions. There was no time for weakness.
I flipped through the letters scattered across my desk, I saw messages from women across the country.
Some shared their own abuse stories.
Others wrote that my work had saved their lives.
Beyond Silence was no longer just a newspaper. It had become a lifeline that fights for women who have been silenced in abusive relationships.
I quickly adjusted my blouse, stood tall, and walked to the studio.
The cameras rolled. The bright lights hit my face. I put on a confident smile.
"Welcome to Girl Talk, where no woman suffers alone."
Today's guest was a woman who had drawn strength from my words, someone who had finally found the courage to speak up.
Tears streamed down her face as she recounted the abuse she had endured at the hands of her partner.
Her voice trembled. "I-I was afraid to leave. But then… I saw your story. I realized I wasn't alone."
I reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. "You are not alone. And you never will be."
She nodded, wiping her tears. Then, with a shaky breath, she spoke his name.
Marcus Timber.
The studio fell silent.
My heart skipped a beat.
Marcus Timber?
Something about that name sounded familiar.
I pushed my unease aside and continued the interview.
And he wasn't just anyone.
He was a ruthless billionaire that had no pity for human feelings.
My guest shared her story how Marcus moved out, leaving her to pay the rent alone. He isn't helping with anything, no support for the kids, not even for food or school fees.
Pamela has two boys and a girl living with her and Its tough to make ends meet. Her job as a stylist isn't picking up the bills yet Marcus is lavishly enjoying and spending his money with other women.
I was touched by her story and right there on live television, I offered her $10,000 to take care of her immediate needs. I also reported her situation to the Child Support Agency (CSA) demanding that they take action against Marcus.
Pamela burst into tears of joy as she jumped up to give me a hug and we both cried with tears running down our cheeks. The Child Support Agency opened her case and promised to make Marcus pay his dues or take legal actions if necessary.
After the girl talk show, I received an offer. "I'll give you $1million to drop your case - Marcus Timber." I rejected the offer without hesitation. Pamela deserves justice and I would see that she got it.
I felt so happy inside, knowing I was meant to fight for those who can't. It felt good to get support for standing up against the cruel elite of our society.
Just as I was about getting into my car, I picked up a letter from the mail box. It read, "You can't silence me the way you silenced Alexander. - Vincent Julian."
I felt a shock wave running through my veins. Who is Vincent Julian? Is he Alexander's brother? Is my past hunting me again?