Chapter 161

Serena's POV

After dinner, Eleanor and I lounged in the living room, sharing a bowl of fresh fruit. Lucas had left for the police station to handle the Ian situation, leaving us to a peaceful moment.

"These strawberries are amazing," Eleanor commented, reaching for another one. "Want one?"

I accepted the fruit, enjoying the simple pleasure of casual companionship. It was strange how natural it felt, sitting here with Eleanor as if we'd known each other for years. "It's nice to just relax for once."

"You should do it more often," she replied, stretching out on the plush sofa. "All work and no play makes Serena a dull girl."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. Eleanor had a way of making everything feel lighter, less complicated. While I reviewed some work emails on my tablet, she flipped through TV channels, providing running commentary on everything from reality shows to news programs.

Life felt almost normal. Then my phone buzzed with a news alert.

"BREAKING: Whitmore Heir Accused of Kidnapping StarRiver Group CEO"

My fingers froze over the tablet screen. Eleanor must have noticed my reaction because she immediately sat up straighter.

"What is it?"

"The news about Ian's attempted assault just broke," I said, scanning the article. The details were surprisingly accurate - the hotel location, the drugged drink.

Eleanor leaned over to read over my shoulder. "That scumbag? He always seemed so proper. How disgusting."

I continued reading, pieces clicking into place. The timing was too perfect, the details too precise. This wasn't just a leak - it was calculated exposure.

"Something's not right," I murmured, more to myself than Eleanor.

"What do you mean? Isn't it good that he's being exposed?"

I shook my head slowly. "Think about it. Who would benefit most from this story breaking right now?"

Understanding dawned on Eleanor's face. "Nina?"

"She set up the situation, probably recorded everything, and now she's using it to destroy both Ian and me." I couldn't help but admire the calculated cruelty of it. "If I try to deny it, I look like I'm protecting him. If I confirm it, I'm the victim of a scandal that will overshadow everything else about me."

"That's..." Eleanor seemed at a loss for words. "That's genuinely evil."

My phone buzzed again - a message from Lucas.

"Want me to handle the press?"

I stared at the message for a long moment. It would be easy to let him fix this, to use his influence to bury the story. But something made me hesitate.

"No," I typed back. "Let it play out."

I know Lucas's concern, but honestly, I'm not worried about the media circus. This isn't my first rodeo with the press - I've weathered worse storms before.

What's actually interesting is watching how this is affecting Ian and the entire Whitmore family. They've always been so careful about their public image. Now? They're the ones scrambling to contain the damage.

Eleanor watched me curiously. "You're not going to try to stop it?"

"Why should I?" I set my phone down, reaching for my coffee. "Nina wants to play chess? Let her. She just sacrificed her strongest piece."

"Ian?"

I nodded. "She probably thought she was being clever, setting up a situation where she could expose both Ian's kidnapping and my 'scandal'. But she forgot something important."

"What's that?"

"I have nothing to be ashamed of. Ian's the one who tried to drug me. He's the one who'll face criminal charges. And if the press wants to speculate about Lucas being my knight in shining armor?" I shrugged. "That's hardly a scandal."

Eleanor's smile was appreciative. "You're actually going to let Nina's plan backfire on her."

"I'm going to let her dig her own grave," I corrected. "The best revenge isn't plotting against your enemies - it's sitting back and watching them destroy themselves."

"I think I'm going to turn in early," I said, standing up. The events of the past twenty-four hours were finally catching up with me.

"Want company? We could have a proper girls' night, face masks and all?"

The offer was tempting, but I needed space to process everything. "Rain check? I just need some sleep."

Eleanor nodded understanding. "Call if you need anything. Even just to talk."

I nodded and walked toward my bedroom. "Good night."

I saw Ian Whitmore's tortured face as I walked into the interrogation room. For a moment, I almost didn't recognize him. The man sitting there, shoulders hunched and hair disheveled, seemed a far cry from the polished figure who once dominated Whitemore International.

His white dress shirt, usually pristine, was wrinkled and stained. Dark circles rimmed his bloodshot eyes, and a day's worth of stubble shadowed his jaw.

"What are you doing here?" His voice came out hoarse, barely containing the rage simmering beneath the surface.

"I came to see how far you've fallen," I replied, my voice steady despite the tumult of emotions churning inside me. "It's quite a view from here."

Ian's hands clenched into fists on the metal table, knuckles white with tension. "Enough, Serena! Just shut up!" He tried to stand, the chair scraping against the floor with an ugly screech. The officer stepped forward immediately, a hand raised in warning. Ian slowly sank back down, but the fury in his eyes only intensified.

"Mr. Whitmore," the officer warned, his tone professional but firm.

I watched Ian struggle to compose himself, noting how his breathing came in short, sharp bursts.

"You still don't see it, do you?" I pulled out my phone, pulling up the trending headlines. "Nina played you like a puppet, and you danced exactly how she wanted."

"You're lying!" The words exploded from him, desperation evident in every syllable. "This is just another one of your manipulations. You've always been jealous of what Nina and I have."

A bitter laugh escaped me. "Jealous? Of what exactly? Your brilliant plan that ended with you in handcuffs while she's probably sipping champagne somewhere, celebrating your downfall?"

Ian's face contorted, a mix of denial and dawning horror fighting for dominance. "She wouldn't... she couldn't..."

"But she did." I set the phone down on the table, screen facing up. The headlines glared accusingly: 'Nina Sinclair Distances Herself from Whitmore Scandal', 'Exclusive: Nina Sinclair's Shocking Revelations about Ex-Partner's Schemes'.

"She wouldn't dare," he whispered, but I could see the certainty crumbling in his eyes.

"She already has. While you're sitting here taking the fall, she's out there rewriting the narrative. You were never anything more than a convenient tool, Ian. Just like you tried to make me."

His shoulders slumped, the last vestiges of his arrogance finally cracking. "Is this what you came for? To gloat?"

I studied him for a moment, remembering the man I'd once thought I loved. How young and foolish I'd been, mistaking his controlling nature for strength, his manipulation for care.

"No," I said finally. "I came to make sure you understood exactly how thoroughly you'd been played."