So what if Ste is more famous than her now? At the end of the day, she''s still stuck in that shabby little apartment.


    If Ste wanted to buy a ce like this ocean-view vi, who knows how many years she''d have to save?


    But for Rachel, a few well-timed tears were all it took to get whatever she wanted. Rachel had just tapped on the trending topics when her phone lit up again.


    She nced at the caller ID-Haynes. Her heart leapt, and her eyes sparkled with surprise.


    How long had it been since Haynesst called her?


    She answered immediately, her voice soft and eager. "Haynie..."


    She didn''t even finish before his voice cut through, low and cold.


    "Rachel, how long did you think you could keep lying to me?"


    Rachel froze. "Haynie, what are you talking about? I don''t understand—"


    She had lied to Haynes so many times that, for a moment, she couldn''t even tell which secret he''d uncovered.


    His voice was colder still,ced with unmistakable disgust.


    "Don''t y dumb. The whole inte is talking about how you''ve been faking your illness.


    Because of what we once had-and because you saved Jasper-I''ve always


    done everything I could to fulfill your wishes.


    But all this time, you''ve been lying to me.


    Did you really think I''d enjoy being made a fool of?"


    Haynes was never one for emotional outbursts, but now his anger simmered just beneath the surface, so intense it made Rachel''s blood run cold.


    She scrambled to exin, "Haynie, there must be some mistake! You know Ms. Cameron has always misunderstood me, that''s probably why-"


    "Mistake?" Haynes cut her off


    sharply "So the video of you joking around with the doctor in the ER


    after pretending to faint-is that just some borate hoax?"


    Rachel was stunned. "Video? What video?"


    Suddenly, she remembered that call she''d gotten not long ago, the one warning


    her that Ste had posted some videos online.


    She hadn''t taken it seriously—in fact, she''d been pleased. She thought Ste had finally lost her patience and made a move against her. With any luck, she could y the victim again and win even more sympathy.


    She had no idea what Ste had actually posted online.


    If Haynes was this furious, there had to be concrete evidence. He wouldn''t believe rumors, and he never got angry without a reason.


    Rachel fumbled for her phone and pulled up the newsfeed, her hands shaking.


    Six out of the top ten trending topics were about her.


    She tapped the first one.


    There she was, clear as day-being wheeled into the operating room, only to sit up straight away, a smug grin on her face.


    "Ste really thinks she can take me on? So what if she''s having Haynie''s baby? The moment I faint, he drops everything-even a sick Keen and rushes me to the hospital.


    "When you go out there, make sure you exaggerate my condition. Tell Haynie I can''t handle any stress or it''ll get worse."


    "Rx. As long as you do your part, there''ll be a generous reward."


    The video cut to an audio recording-Rachel on the phone with the kidnappers.


    "When Stees to swap Keen, take her out. Then use me as leverage against Haynes. He won''t dare try anything, and you''ll get away clean.


    Once it''s done, you''ll get the extra three million wired to your ount."


    Then, footage yed of her intentionally ramming Ste''s car. The video ended with Rachel''s twisted smile and a cold, venomous whisper.


    "Ste, go to hell."