The woman was dressed in a long bright red dress that accentuated her curves, and her honey brown hair highlighted her elegance. Her every move exuded the aura of an international star.
She was Kayla, Rina's best friend and the only daughter of the top third family in Country G, Rayer. She was also currently the most popular actress in the country - Kayla Rayer.Kayla Rayer had invited her two nights ago to celebrate her birthday.Kayla strode into the room, her high heels tapping on the marble floor like a warning. She was a vision of beauty, her features delicate and her smile as sharp as a knife. With a cruel glint in her eyes, her presence oozed confidence, and she reveled in Rina's vulnerable state."Rina, are you okay?"Seeing her best friend, Rina broke into more tears. "Kay, what do I do? Why did things turn out this way? I remember not taking any alcohol, how was there a man in my bed?""Because someone spiked your juice!" Kayla said."What?" Rina suddenly raised her head, her eyes showing confusion.Kayla's lips curved into a playful smile. "Yes, the juice I gave you two nights ago was tampered with. Not only that, two years ago, I also paid that young actor to frame you."As Rina realized what Kayla was saying, her eyes widened in disbelief and her pupils shrank. Shock, disbelief and confusion overwhelmed her, leaving her mind blank.Seeing Rina's pale face, Kayla's eyes revealed a sense of pleasure. Yes, that's the expression she wanted to see. It was truly delightful to watch.'Are you sad, in pain, or feeling hopeless, Rina? The sadder you are, the happier I become.' Kayla thought."Why did you do this?" Rina exploded with fierce anger, shouting at the top of her lungs."Kayla we have no grievance or enmity between us, why did you harm me?"Looking at Rina's crazed expression, Kayla sneered.Why?Of course, it's because she was perfect.Clearly they both were in the movie industry together and had debuted at the same age and time, but Rina was the goddess in everyone's eyes. She was the most loved, most admired, and got the most jobs. Even in the company they were both signed in, Rina had to select the jobs to take while the rest of them got the hand me downs which she rejected.She was just an ordinary actress in the entertainment industry. Who gave her the right to compete with her?Not only did she want to ruin Rina's marriage, she also wanted to ruin the last of her reputation, and her life entirely.For this, she spent two years plotting, even getting someone to lie next to Rina in bed while she was tipsy and went ahead to take pictures which she sent to her husband."Of course, it's because you are annoying, Rina. If you want to blame someone for your misfortune, blame yourself for blocking my path!" Blocking her path in the industry for far too long. Rina had been too perfect that she had supressed her for many years. She had only gotten the title of most popular actress because Rina had been frozen two years ago after her scandal. Even after leaving the industry to focus on marriage, she had remained the queen of Scottsdale Entertainment. As if that wasn't enough, she still got constantly compared to the trashy Rina Powers.Rina was stunned. She blocked her path?She was just an actress without any background in the entertainment industry, while Kayla Rayer was the heiress of a luxury family in Country G. How could she block her path?Oh, right. Back then, she was the queen of Scottsdale Entertainment, but after the company froze her, the queen became Kayla Rayer.So, what Kayla meant by blocking the way was that she blocked her way to fame and fortune? It sounded both ridiculous and pitiful.Rina laughed, but her laughter was mixed with tears. She was blind to have considered Kayla as her best friend.Looking at Rina who was crying, and laughing like a crazed person, Kayla was disgusted."Tsk tsk, Rina you were always so naive and foolish, so trusting. It was easy to take everything from you. I ruined your reputation, yet you still consider me your best friend. Everytime I see you acting like we are close friends, it's so laughable.""I've improved my acting skills so much in recent years, and it's all thanks to you. Who else would I have to act in front of if not you?""Your husband was also so foolish. I can't believe you gave up your career just to build a life with such a man. How gullible!"Rina stood up suddenly. Her auburn eyes narrowed in anger. The intense hatred she felt almost made her want to tear the woman in front of her apart.But before she could do anything, Kayla slapped her hard across the face."Slap!"The force was so great that Rina fell to the ground. Her knees hit the ground hard causing her face to turn pale with pain. She found it hard to get up.Kayla squatted down beside her, grabbed her hair viciously and forced her to look up."Yes, I framed you, and spiked your juice."It is said that one should not fear the enemy that attacks you, but the fake friend that hugs you.'She had indeed been too naive.The weight of Kayla's betrayal crushed Rina's spirit. She had been deceived not only by her husband but by the person she had considered her confidante."Oh, and want to know another thing?" Kayla's lips curled into a wicked smile. "I put the pill that made you lose the baby."Rina's expression turned crazed as she reached out to strangle the woman in front of her. She had suspected foul play, but hearing Kayla confess to her action cut like a knife. A sudden pang of pain hit her, sending her hand flying instinctively to her stomach. She clutched onto it, her fingers trembling from pain. So she didn't lose her child from a natural cause or her carelessness, but someone was actually responsible?Anguish and rage welled up within her, at that moment, she wanted nothing more than to lash out, to scream, to make Kayla pay for her betrayal and the murder of her child"I'll sue you, Kayla! I'll make sure the world knows about your dirty deeds!" Rina gritted.It was all because of this woman that she had lost everything!Kayla tilted her head and snickered. "Try rising from what I'm about to unleash on you first before dishing out empty threats."Rina was taken aback. "What do you mean by that?"Kayla just smiled. "Check the internet, I've prepared a little something for you." She said and sauntered out.Realizing what had happened, Rina's body shook violently, and the deepest fear from within her made her tremble all over.No…no no…" this can't be happening again…Trembling, she took out her phone and opened a webpage.When she saw today's hot search, her world spun and she felt dizzy. Fear gripped her heart and her soul trembled.#Rina Smith Cheats##Finn Smith and Rina Powers marriage collapses#She occupied two of the top five hot searches.The pictures of her in bed with a strange man filled the top page. The comments section was flooded with vulgar and abusive languages.-Rina Powers is quite disgusting. To think I had so much respect for her!--she's so disgusting. After her scandal two years ago, she could still cheat!--To think I didn't believe the scandal two years ago--This woman is just a whore. She doesn't deserve to be alive-Reading through these, fear gripped Rina whole.-A friend of mine who works in a hospital said they saw her at the city hospital. She came for a checkup. It so happened that she was pregnant, but lost the child-Pain shot through Rina, but she didn't cry.Instead, she wiped away her tears after crying for what seemed like an eternity, her resolve hardening once more.Kayla had just drawn the battle line by confessing all these. She had just blown the battle trumpet, and Rina couldn't afford to lose in this war. She would definitely rise from the ashes of her broken life, and Kayla would pay for her betrayal and so would everyone else. Rina's fingers tightened around the divorce papers. Then they loosened. She wiped her eyes, and carefully flipped through the pages of the paper. She scoffed when she realized that Finn wasn't leaving a dime to her. He was claiming everything she owned and wasn't leaving her any alimony. He was taking her many years of hard work for himself, sparing her nothing.Rina laughed at herself. It was a laughter of mockery, one that was accompanied with tears. Just like her family had said many years ago, she was indeed stupid to have trusted Finn Smith's goodness for it was bad.Really, Finn! She thought to herself. She had really been too naive to trust him."Those who are pitiful are spiteful!" She recalled her grandfather saying.She glanced at the documents, and muttered, "I would sign them, not out of defeat, but as a symbol of my determination to rebuild my life and seek revenge for all my misfortunes. Kayla had awakened a sleeping lioness and she shouldn't be scared to face the consequences that came with her actions.She looked at the document once again. With one signature, they would be strangers from then on, with no connection whatsoever.After a moment of hesitation, she resolutely signed her name.The night air was chilly as Rina walked away from the imposing three-story mansion that stood as a proof to her past generosity. She had once held the keys to that house, and had been welcomed with open arms as the beloved daughter-in-law of the family. But now, she was nothing more than an outcast.Her footsteps echoed in the silence of the empty street, each one a painful reminder of the life she had lost. She clutched the divorce papers in her hand, the inked signature a stark symbol of her shattered dreams. The tears that had dried on her cheeks left a trail of salt in their wake.As Rina walked further from the mansion, she couldn't help but replay the scene in her mind. She had arrived at her in-laws' home, her last hope for a place to stay, and had mustered the courage to explain her situation. The divorce, the betrayal, the plea for shelter.But instead of compassion or understanding, what she had received was cold indifference. Her in-laws, the people who had once smiled upon
The following morning, she sat down for breakfast, her mind filled with determination. Slipping into a floral white dress, she couldn't help but feel the sharp contrast it posed to the somber occasion ahead. White, a symbol of purity, now took on new meaning. Today marked the beginning of her transformation, a rebirth of sorts. For herself and the memory of her tragically lost child, she vowed to reclaim her life and find solace once more.She put on a white sun hat and slipped into a pair of white stilettos. Gave herself a once over in front of the mirror, then picked a designer bag she hadn’t used in a long while. She took a cab to the city hall.On getting there, Finn and his lawyer were yet to arrive. She glanced at her wrist watch. It was almost Ten PM. She picked up her phone and dialed the lawyer’s number. On the second ring, the call was connected.“Hello, Mr. Attorney!”“Ms Powers, hello! My client is still having breakfast, could you wait a moment, we’ll be there soon.”Rina
"Well..." the director, Mr. Bellamy said, rising from his chair on the other side of the table and slowly walking towards Rina, who was on the verge of hopping out of her chair from discomfort."As you might already know, a lot of things have changed in your five years of being a housewife. So I thought it best to inform you..."Rina cringed as she felt both his hands on her shoulders. Immediately, she hopped out of her seat. "Get your filthy hands off me," she ordered, irritated by the thought of what the man was about to do."Mr. Bellamy," she said, her voice cold and firm. "I came here to discuss a role, not to be propositioned. I won't be part of your sick games."Mr. Bellamy's smile vanished, replaced by a sneer. "You think you're too good for this? Too good for me?" Back then when she was an A-list Actress, maybe. But now...He returned to his seat and leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing. "With your current reputation, you still dare to act high and mighty? You're no long
It was late in the evenig when Rina decided to return home. She had stayed at a coffee shop after leaving Mr Bellamy’s office. And seeing as someone had trailed her to the director’s, who was to say there weren’t others reporters lurkinng around her. With her current reputation, she had angered a lot of internet users. If her address were to be found out and shared on the internet…she shivered at the thought of what they’d do. In the entertainment industry, there’s been cases where celebrities have angered netizens. Like four years ago, after Rina had quit on her career to focus on her marriage, netizens had longed for another capable face and talent to grace their screens and soon found her. Jennifer Viagro, one of the industry prinncesses. She was a very great talent, diverse in her field and if not for Rina’s extraordinary skills, she would have easily become a competition. She was a great actress who could easily play any role given to her. With her talent and Rina’s retirement
Zayn Graham slammed his fist on the mahogany desk, his eyes blazing with barely contained fury. His step-brother Jared had done it again - another reckless move that threatened to topple Zayn's carefully built business empire. "What were you thinking, Jared?" Zayn growled. "Signing off on that deal without my approval could cost us millions!" Jared, all 300 pounds of him, merely shrugged as he lounged on the leather sofa, munching on a bag of chips. "Relax, little bro. It's just business. Win some, lose some." Zayn took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. At 32, Jared was one year his senior, but acted like an impulsive teenager. As one of the managing directors of Graham Industries, a multinational conglomerate spanning tech, real estate, and media, Zayn had worked tirelessly to build the company into a powerhouse. But Jared, as a major shareholder, and also one of the managing directors seemed determined to sabotage it all. This latest stunt has involved Jared single
Rina's eyes fluttered open, her vision blurry as she tried to focus on her surroundings. The stark white ceiling and antiseptic smell told her she was in a hospital. As her senses slowly returned, she became aware of a dull ache throughout her body, particularly intense in her lower abdomen. Memories flooded back. She had been so focused on her comeback in the Scottsdale entertainment industry that she had ignored the warning signs her body had been sending. The occasional sharp pains, the unexplained fatigue, the dizzy spells - she had attributed it all to stress and pushed through. Now, as she lay in the hospital bed, Rina realized how foolish she had been. The doctor's words echoed in her mind: internal haemorrhaging due to complications from her recent miscarriage. She had been walking around, putting her body through immense stress, all while bleeding internally. As her vision cleared, Rina's gaze fell upon a figure seated beside her bed. Her breath caught in her throat as she
The steady beep of medical equipment and the faint bustle of nurses in the hallway were like a consolation to Rina's troubled thoughts. She couldn't shake the memory of Zayn Graham’s intense gaze, the way his presence seemed to fill the entire room. Just as she was beginning to convince herself that the whole interaction had been a fever dream, the door to her room creaked open. Rina jerked, her heart racing as she recognized the tall figure of Zayn Graham stepping back into the room."Mr. Graham," she said, her voice betraying surprise and wariness. "I thought you'd left."Zayn's lips curved into a slight smile. "I did, but I realised I forgot something important."Rina's eyebrows frowned. "What did you forget?"Instead of answering immediately, Zayn moved further into the room, his steps measured and deliberate. His eyes never left Rina's face, and she found herself unable to look away. There was something in his gaze that she couldn't quite decipher – a hunger, perhaps, or a chall
Rina brushed her long black hair and packed it into a ponytail. She dabbed the powder applicator on her face, trying to look as best as she could before leaving her apartment. She smoothed the lines on her dress with her hand before walking away from the mirror and closing the door behind her. She was set to get herself a deal in one of the industries again, re-write her past and rise in influence once again. She had always fought for what she wanted from life and she wasn't going to back down now. Even though Zayn had proposed her marriage on his return, she didn't want to accept the fact that he was her only ticket to influence and good-fame once again in the city. She alighted from the cab and stood in front of a modern studio. Taking a deep breath, she walked into the studio. Ignoring the eyes of the onlookers, the whispers in hushed tones. She made her way for the producer's office. George Stone had helped her get an appointment with him a day ago. "Ms. Powers." The produce
EpilogueFive Months Later"With all the evidence presented before me, I have every reason to believe that Mr. Nathan Graham is guilty of a three-count murder charge, blackmail, money laundering, threats, and drug dealing," the judge declared.The courtroom was thick with tension. Every breath, every movement was weighed down by anticipation. Nathan sat stone-faced, but his eyes burned with malice as he glared at Rina, promising vengeance even from behind bars."I hereby sentence Mr. Nathan Graham to life imprisonment with hard labor."Gasps echoed through the room. Nathan clenched his fists as the reality of his fate sank in. His gaze flickered to his parents, searching for even a shred of sympathy. There was none. Instead, their stony expressions confirmed what he had failed to realize before—his parents had been backing Rina all along. The betrayal hit him harder than the sentence itself."I don’t think—""Counsel, please remove your client. Any further disruptions will only worsen
Four Months LaterRina's routine had become predictable—home, hospital, repeat. She had no time for idle conversations or anything that didn’t offer practical solutions.In the midst of everything, she and Mrs Graham had developed an unspoken understanding, rotating their hospital visits so they could each get some rest. Despite their initial differences, the situation had bonded them.That evening, Rina glanced at the time on her phone. She should already be home preparing dinner. Cooking had become her form of therapy—a temporary escape from the overwhelming reality she faced. Besides, her pregnancy cravings were relentless, and hunger gnawed at her stomach every now and then.Her phone rang again, and she already knew who it was."Rina, I know you're about to start cooking up a storm," her mother-in-law's warm but concerned voice came through. "Why don't you take a break? Zayn wouldn't want you overexerting yourself."Rina smiled slightly, though fatigue weighed on her bones. She a
"Rina, I think you need to pick up the phone.”Rina barely acknowledged the George’s words, lazily reaching for her ringing phone at the edge of the bed. She sighed, half-expecting it to be Nathan again.“Yes?” she answered, her voice sharp with irritation.“This is the Central Hospital. Am I speaking with Miss Rina?” a formal yet urgent voice asked.Her brows furrowed. “Yes, this is Rina.”“Mr. Zayn Graham has been involved in an accident, and we require your immediate presence before proceeding with a blood transfusion and other treatments. Can you come?”The words hit her like a freight train.Rina’s breath caught in her throat. Zayn.Never had she imagined she’d find herself in this situation—standing on the precipice of something irreversible.“I’ll be there immediately,” she said, her voice shaking.She grabbed the first set of clothes she could find and rushed out of the house, her heart pounding with dread.She arrived at the hospital in record time, barely aware of how she go
Zayn watched as Rina packed her belongings with sharp, deliberate movements. Her scowl was the only warning he needed—she wasn’t in the mood to listen. He wanted to tell her the truth, to explain everything, but he knew it wouldn’t matter right now.Instead, he pulled out his phone and dialed Igor If she wanted to leave, he wasn’t going to stop her—not like this.“Take her home safely,” he instructed, his voice void of emotion.Rina clenched her fists. He wasn’t even going to fight for her. That hurt more than the betrayal itself.She had wasted her time on him. She should have known he was like every other man.A few hours later, she was back to her cottage sitting in silence. The worst part? He hadn’t even tried to defend himself. He had just… let her go. That made it worse—worse than the rumors, worse than Nathan’s revelations, worse than the pictures she had seen online.Nathan, at least, was there to fill in the blanks. He was the only one who seemed to care enough to tell her wh
The days following Kayla Reese’s exposure were nothing short of chaotic.News outlets, social media platforms, and tabloids were flooded with updates about her arrest and the Reese family’s collapse.#JusticeForRina and #KaylaReeseExposed trended for days, while old interviews, articles, and videos surfaced—showing how Rina had suffered for years because of Kayla’s actions.Netizens Demanded JusticeIn comment sections across social media, apologies to Rina Powers poured in."I feel so ashamed. I was one of the people who dragged her. I'm so sorry, Rina.""I can’t believe we turned against her for so long. This woman went through HELL.""We owe Rina an apology. She deserves the world."But netizens weren’t just apologizing—they were also going after the young actors who had lied against Rina three years ago."So now that Kayla is exposed, WHERE are the actors who lied about Rina?""I hope those ‘up-and-coming’ actors are ready to face consequences.""We need those fake witnesses to co
Despite the man’s confession reversing his previous statement, a significant portion of Kayla’s fans and other netizens refused to believe him. The sudden shift in his stance made them skeptical.“How does a man go from accusing Rina to suddenly defending her in 24 hours?”o9“She probably paid him off. The timing is too suspicious.”“Rina has finally bought her way out of this. What’s new?”The hashtags #RinaIsAWitch, #RinaIsAManipulator, #RinaIsEvil, and #RinaIsAHeartlessFriend surged to the top of trending lists. The internet was once again divided, and Kayla’s camp felt victorious.“We’re back in control,” Damien smirked, taking a sip of his drink as he scrolled through the hate comments directed at Rina.Kayla, lounging on the sofa, smirked. “Of course, we are. People believe what they want to believe. And right now? They want to see Rina suffer.”Just as they were about to toast to their small victory, Damien’s phone buzzed with a notification. His smirk vanished instantly.Kayla
George stared at his phone for a moment, then sighed. He knew better than to question Zayn Graham’s methods. The man was always ten steps ahead of everyone else, and if he said he’d handle it, then the situation was about to take a dramatic turn.Sliding his phone back into his pocket, he turned to Rina. She was still staring at the screen, her face unreadable.“What was that about?” she asked, her voice calm but laced with suspicion.“Just a call I had to take,” George said smoothly, not daring to mention Zayn’s name. “Listen, Rina, I know things look bad right now, but we still have a shot at turning this around. We just need—”“We need proof,” Rina cut in, her gaze shifting to him, sharp and determined. “I don’t care about public opinion anymore. I want the truth out there. I want that man exposed, and I want Kayla to rot for what she’s done.”George hesitated. “Rina…”“No.” She stood, pushing back her chair. “I’ve played nice for too long. I let people walk all over me, let them d
As George stepped out of the room, Rina glanced at the clock. It was nearly time for her planned livestream. She’d decided earlier that morning to address her fans directly, to try and regain control of the narrative.She sat in front of her ring light and adjusted her camera, her heart racing. For someone used to the spotlight, this felt different. This wasn’t a red carpet or a press event—this was her, raw and vulnerable, speaking directly to the people who had the power to either support her or tear her down.After a deep breath, she hit the “Go Live” button. Within seconds, thousands of viewers flooded in, the chat scrolling rapidly with a mix of messages:“We’re with you, Rina!”“Is it true what they’re saying?”“Why didn’t you address this sooner?”“Hi, everyone,” she began, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. “I know there’s been a lot said about me in the past few days. I wanted to take a moment to speak to you directly, without any filters or edits.”Just as
The mornings sun was up and lovely. Rina looked outside her bedroom, wondering how her life had become this way, especially after she had reminded herself of many reasons why she shouldn't get romantically involved with any man because of what she had faced in the past. But here she was contemplating how she was going to make the most of her relationship with Zayn. She couldn't deny the passion that she felt after kissing him and knew that lying to herself was useless at this point. If she could turn back the hands of time, she probably wouldn't have taken that offer, but now she had no choice but to live with it. Pretending that they had never kissed was the coward's way out which she didn't want to take. She prided herself on being an adult who could make her decisions and stick to them but right now she didn't think she fit that category because of every emotion she felt in the last few minutes. Something was wrong with her and it was her duty to find out.Tired of hiding inside