Chapter 2

Kaitlyn Barton POV:

Edwin' s sudden transformation from my devoted childhood love to a condescending protector of another woman was truly tiresome. I felt a knot of anger tighten in my stomach. The entire encounter left a bad taste in my mouth, spoiling what should have been a triumphant return.

My phone vibrated incessantly. I pulled it from my clutch. My screen glowed with an avalanche of notifications: messages from friends, social media updates, and a flood of shared videos. Everyone was reacting to the awkward scene Edwin and I had just made. I swiped through them, my thumb hovering over one particular video sent by Bettie. I tapped it open without much thought.

The video showed Edwin, seated comfortably in a plush armchair, swirling a glass of amber liquid. He sighed.

"How do you usually handle these kinds of situations, Edwin?" a friend's voice asked off-screen.

Edwin leaned forward, his expression serious. "Kacy... she's had it really tough, you know?" He spoke slowly, a tone of deep concern in his voice. "She comes from nothing. She' s fragile, easily hurt." He looked directly at the camera, as if addressing an unseen audience. "She' s not like us, not accustomed to... the rough edges of our world. People could easily take advantage of her, bully her."

My blood ran cold. He painted Kacy as this helpless, innocent creature. Then, his voice shifted, a subtle, almost imperceptible hardening in his tone as he continued. "Kaitlyn, on the other hand, she' s always been... well, Kaitlyn. Regal, fiery, always getting her way. She doesn't back down from anything. Sometimes she doesn't even realize how sharp she can be." He paused, a troubled look on his face. "I just need to protect Kacy. I can't let anyone upset her." He then shared a specific incident. "Just yesterday, someone said something insensitive to Kacy, and she cried for hours. I couldn't console her. Her tears are just so devastating to see." His tone, despite the implied frustration, held no real impatience. Only deep, genuine concern.

I stared at the screen, my mind blank. The words resonated, echoing the exact sentiment he had just expressed to me in person. He hadn't just warned me; he had publicly defined me. He had twisted my independence into aggression, my confidence into cruelty. My vision blurred. I couldn't decide what I felt more strongly: pure, unadulterated rage, or a chilling sense of ironic amusement at his utter blindness. He had already cast me as the villain, preemptively assigning me guilt for a crime I hadn't committed.

I took a deep, shaky breath, fighting the surge of emotion. My phone buzzed again. It was Bettie.

"Hey, are you still coming to the party? Everyone's here," she asked, her voice laced with concern. "And are you going to meet her? The infamous Kacy?"

"Edwin's been hovering around her like a mother hen," Bettie continued, her voice dropping conspiratorially. "He practically barricaded her in the corner. And she's... well, she's definitely 'tea-flavored.' All sweet smiles and batted eyelashes, but you can practically see the calculations behind her eyes." Bettie's blunt assessment hit home. I knew my best friend saw through people.

"You really should come back, Kaitlyn," Bettie insisted. "Don't let her win this. Don't let Edwin paint you as the bad guy. You need to come and rip that little manipulator apart." Bettie's words ignited a spark of defiance within me. She was right.

A sudden clarity washed over me. Why should I retreat? This was my hotel, my city, my welcome-home party. I had done nothing wrong. I had no reason to run, no reason to hide. I was Kaitlyn Barton. I had a right to be here, to stand my ground. I would not allow myself to be sidelined, or worse, vilified, in my own home.

The thought of all those prominent figures gathered in the ballroom, all the eyes watching, waiting for the drama to unfold, fueled my resolve. If Edwin wanted to turn this into a spectacle, then I would give them a show. I would not disappoint my audience, nor my own dignity.

I turned around, my stride purposeful, adrenaline coursing through me. My heels clicked with renewed determination as I made my way back to the private lounge Edwin had originally pointed to, the designated meeting spot for our closest friends. As I pushed open the heavy oak door, I heard Kacy's voice, soft and melodious, carrying clearly across the room.

"Oh, Edwin," Kacy was saying, her tone a delicate blend of false regret and exaggerated concern. "Is Kaitlyn really not coming back? I feel so terrible. I must have ruined her evening. I am so sorry." She paused, then added, her voice dropping to a near whisper, "Perhaps I should just leave. I wouldn't want to cause any more trouble for her." My entrance, the sharp sound of the door swinging open, cut her perfectly phrased apology short.