The faint buzz of Chloe's phone pulled her from the haze of her thoughts. She'd barely had the energy to get out of bed after the chaos of the previous night. The betrayal, the heartbreak—it was all too much to take in.
The phone's vibration persisted, and with a groan, she reached for it. The caller ID read Martha Gray. Chloe frowned. Her stepmother rarely called unless it was urgent or a matter of importance.
She swiped to answer. "Martha?"
"Chloe," Martha's voice was shaky, frantic. "It's your father Chloe.He's been arrested!"
Chloe shot upright, her heart hammering in her chest. "What? Arrested? Why?"By whom?
"The police came early this morning," Martha explained, her voice trembling. "They said he's being charged with fraud and embezzlement."
"What are you talking about?" Chloe demanded. "That's impossible!"
"It's about a business deal with Nathan," Martha said, her words coming out in a rush.
Chloe felt like the ground had been ripped out from under her. "Nathan?" she whispered, her throat tightening.
"Yes. He's claiming your father scammed him. Chloe, I don't know what to do am very worried. They wouldn't even let me talk to him. Please, you have to go to the station and find out what's going on!"
Chloe's mind raced. Nathan Hill—her ex-boyfriend, the man who had shattered her heart less than 24 hours ago—was now accusing her father of fraud?
"I'll handle it," she said through gritted teeth. "I'm going to the station to see him."
"Thank you," Martha said, her voice breaking.
Chloe ended the call and stood in the middle of her small apartment, her emotions a volatile mix of anger, fear, and determination. Nathan had already ruined her personal life, and now he was coming for her family? She wasn't going to let this slide.
---
The station was a hub of activity as Chloe walked in, her head held high despite the fear gnawing at her insides. She approached the front desk, her voice steady and firm.
"I'm here to see Richard Gray," she said.
The officer behind the desk gave her a once-over before picking up the phone. After a brief conversation, he hung up and gestured toward the hallway. "Someone will escort you to the holding area don't stay too long."
Chloe followed another officer through a maze of hallways until they reached a small, sterile room. Through the glass partition, she saw her father sitting at a table, his hands clasped in front of him. He looked tired, his usually confident demeanor replaced with an air of defeat.
"Dad," she said as she stepped inside, her voice softening.
Richard looked up, and a flicker of relief crossed his face. "Chloe you're here."
She sat across from him, her hands trembling slightly. "What happened dad? Martha said Nathan is accusing you of fraud and embezzlement what happened."
Richard sighed, running a hand over his face. "It's all lies, Chloe. He's setting me up for something I don't know."
"Start from the beginning," Chloe said, her tone firm but gentle.
Richard hesitated before nodding. "Nathan approached me a few months ago with a proposal—a joint investment in a development project. He said it would be a lucrative opportunity, and I trusted him."
Chloe clenched her jaw, remembering Nathan's smooth-talking charm.
"We signed a contract, and everything seemed fine at first," Richard continued. "But then, a few weeks ago, Nathan started claiming there were discrepancies in the finances. He accused me of mismanaging funds and pocketing money. I tried to explain that everything on my end was above board, but he wouldn't listen. And now…"
"Now he's using his influence to drag you through the mud," Chloe finished, her anger boiling.
Richard nodded. "He knows I don't have the resources to fight back. This is about control, Chloe. He wants to ruin me and my family."
Chloe took a deep breath, trying to suppress the rage bubbling inside her. "We're not going to let that happen. Have you spoken to a lawyer?"
"They assigned me a public defender," Richard said bitterly. "But he doesn't seem confident to handle this case."
"That's not good enough," Chloe said firmly. "We'll hire someone who can actually fight this for us."
"Chloe, lawyers like that cost money we don't have," Richard said, shaking his head.
"Don't worry about the money," Chloe said, her resolve hardening. "I'll figure it out some how. You just focus on staying strong for me dad."
Richard looked at her, his little girl,his eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and guilt. "I'm sorry, Chloe. I never wanted you to be caught up in this mess my dear."
"This isn't your fault," she said, reaching across the table to squeeze his hand. "Nathan is the one doing this, and I'm not going to let him win."
As she left the station, Chloe's mind was already racing with plans. Nathan had made a mistake targeting her father, and she was going to make sure he regretted it.