Chapter 4 Exposed

[Elena's POV]

"Elena!"

I froze at the entrance as my father's voice came from the living room, unlike anything I had ever heard from him before.

My bag slipped from my shoulder and hit the floor as I stepped closer.

In the middle of the room was my father. Jaw tight. Eyes bloodshot. Phone clenched in his fist.

My gaze shifted to the couch. There was my mother, tears burning her face.

The space suddenly felt too small.

My fingers shook.

"Dad..." I whispered.

He just stared at me quietly. "You slept over at Hardin's place," he muttered, his tone far too calm.

I bit my lip. "Yes." My head lowered, pulse roaring in my ears.

"And then, what happened?" he added.

My eyes widened. Why was he asking? Hardin said he had already spoken to them.

"Huh?"

"What happened there?" he asked again, as if waiting for me to say something else.

My palms turned damp. "Nothing..."

Before I could say more, his hand struck my cheek-the first time in my life. Shock hit me as my vision blurred.

What had I done to make him this angry? Then it hit me. No. It couldn't be what I feared. He couldn't know.

"How could you, Elena?!" he growled under his breath. "What were you thinking? And you still lie to me?"

I swallowed, my chest tightening.

He knew. But how?

"Dad..."

"Don't! Just don't!" he snapped, grabbing my wrist and forcing his phone into my hand.

I looked at the screen. My stomach dropped.

There it was, the reality I feared. The intimate video of me and Hardin. And now it was out everywhere.

The phone slipped from my fingers and crashed onto the floor as tears burned down my cheeks.

How did this get out? Who could do this to us?

My father gripped my shoulders. "Please," he said, his voice breaking. "Just tell me that's not you. Tell me I'm overreacting."

All my moments with Hardin flashed in my mind. Silent sobs followed; I couldn't look him in the eyes.

He shook his head. "You've disappointed me, Elena." He sniffed, trying to hold himself together.

"How could you allow this to happen?" His voice cracked, trembling with anger and disbelief. "He's my best friend-old enough to be your father, like an uncle to you!"

I could barely breathe.

"I didn't..."

His stare burned my words away.

"It was.." I choked, trying to explain, but no word could undo it.

My father ran a hand through his hair.

Then.

Shouting erupted outside. Distance at first, then rapidly growing louder.

My feet went cold.

My parents exchanged tense glances. My mother swallowed; my father's fists clenched.

*Leave our society!*

*Your family is disgusting!*

*We can't live in the same country as them!*

*Send them away!*

*Their daughter will corrupt our girls*

The chants landed against our house like violent waves. Stones slammed into our door. Glass rattled. Heavy kicks followed.

A chill ran through my spine.

"They're going to break the door if we don't open it," my mother whispered, her voice splintering. "Gideon..."

"I've called my lawyer. He's on his way," my father muttered.

"They'll get in before he arrives."

Another rock hit the door. The wood groaned.

"I'll go outside and speak to them."

My father moved toward the entrance.

I rushed to him.

"Father, please. Don't go. It's dangerous."

He didn't spare me a glance.

"You should have thought of us before you acted- if you really cared about this family."

He shoved my hands away.

"Take her to her room," he told my mother. "She shouldn't come out."

He left for the door.

My mother's fingers clamped around my wrist, dragging me down the hallway.

I turned-just as the door closed behind him.

___

We entered my room and I collapsed onto the floor, crushed. My mother knelt in front of me, and when our eyes met, her pain shattered me.

"Elena, my dear."

"Mom..." My voice cracked.

"I swear, I didn't mean to disgrace you or Father," I said, clenching my fists. "Please believe me."

She pulled me into her arms.

"It's going to be okay," she whispered, but her arms tightened around me like she didn't believe it.

I nodded. Even though I wasn't sure it would ever be.

I've loved Hardin for years. I wanted him to look at me. But I never meant for this to happen.

___

Minutes later, I paced my room, biting my nails with my hands shaking.

My mother had gone to see what was happening outside and still hadn't returned.

Were they hurting my father? Why wasn't she back yet?

I couldn't even step outside.

My phone buzzed endlessly on the bed. I grabbed it.

Jordan-my best friend and Hardin's cousin-had already seen the video.

Calls kept coming. I ignored them.

How was I going to explain this to him? He would be disappointed in me, just like my parents.

A text popped in. It read: "Are you okay, Elena? Where are you? Why didn't you pick up? Don't do anything stupid. My brother will handle everything. Don't worry."

Tears blurred my vision.

I had to reach Hardin. I needed him.

I rushed to my closet and grabbed a long black gown, a cap, and a mask.

I slipped into them.

No one would recognize me this way.

I pushed the window open slowly, the hinges creaking faintly as my heart jumped into my throat.

I listened. No footsteps. No voices closer.

Then I slipped outside. The front gate was crowded, so I followed the back way, brushing along the shortcut until I reached the highway.

I flagged down a taxi and got in.

"Where to, young lady?" The taxi driver asked.

"Kings' Empire," I replied in a lowered voice.

He glanced at me. "That company?" he scoffed. "The one where the boss slept with his best friend's daughter? Disgusting."

My stomach twisted. Would this affect Hardin too?

They were going to destroy him, and I couldn't even open my mouth.

When we arrived, I paid him and stepped out-to be met with cameras, flashes, too many eyes.

My pulse roared.

No one would recognize me, I hoped.

I pushed my way inside. A reporter's hand accidentally knocked off my cap. I froze.

Shouting stopped.

I felt the weight of the crowd turn on me as the cameras flashed in my face.

Another reporter pulled off my mask.

*Miss Elena Creed, what do you have to say about the video with your boss?*

*Does he sleep with his female staff before hiring them?*

*Did your father know about this?*

My mind went blank. No one stepped forward.

One word from me could destroy everything-Hardin, my father, even me.

The questions were loud. My breath came in ragged gasps.

"Look here, Miss Creed!"

A microphone nearly hit my mouth.

I couldn't move-back or forward.

My eyes searched for an exit.

Then the lobby doors swung open and the shouting stopped.

Even the cameras seemed to pause.

And there he was. Hardin Kings.

He looked untouchable, while I felt myself falling apart.

His gaze found mine-calm and controlled, as if the chaos around him were just background noise.

All cameras turned to him.

*Tell us what happened!*

*Why did you take advantage of your best friend's daughter?*

*Tell us, Mr. Kings!*

He smiled.

It wasn't the smile he gives investors or my father. This one was different.

My fingers curled tightly. What was he planning?

Then his voice calm-firm, cutting through the silence.

"What do you mean by advantage? Elena Creed is my fiancée."