Faced with Zeke’s furious questioning, Zora dared not admit the truth.


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    “That’s not mine… I didn’t make that!” she stammered. “It had to be Caitlin! She’s maniptive- she must’ve snuck in here while I was away and nted that thing under my bed to set me up!


    “If I hadn’te home just in time, she would’ve framed me without anyone knowing!”


    Watching Zora deny everything and pin the me on Caitlin, Zeke’s anger boiled over. Without thinking, he raised his hand and pped her–hard.


    Smack!


    Zora’s head spun from the impact, her body mming into the doorframe. Her cheek burned as she clutched her face, eyes welling up with tears.


    “Zeke!”


    She stared at him, stunned and furious, unable to believe he’d just hit her–his own sister–because of Caitlin.


    “How did I end up with such a vicious sister?” Zeke snarled. “How many times are you going to pick fights with Caitlin?


    “Let me be very clear–this house is no longer yours. It was originally Caitlin’s grandfather’s home. This room belonged to her mother when she was young.


    “Mom has already transferred ownership of the Thompson Residence back to Caitlin. She’s the rightful owner now. And you? Pack your things and get out!”


    Zeke jabbed a finger toward the door, his re seething. Zora, shaken by the intensity of his rage, broke down further.


    “Why? Why would Mom give this ce back to her? Why?!”


    Tears streamed down her face as she turned her hatred toward Caitlin. “I knew it–you’ve been plotting this all along! First you stole Patricia, and now the Thompson Residence! You’re scheming, maniptive–every step of this was your doing!”


    She refused to believe her mother gave Caitlin the house willingly. No, Caitlin must’ve ckmailed her somehow<i>. </i>That’s how she worked–always full of devious tricks.


    “This has nothing to do with Caitlin,” Zeke snapped. “It was Mom’s decision.”


    Seeing Zeke continue to defend Caitlin, Zora let out a bitter, mockingugh. “Right. Of course. Go ahead, defend her. Like I don’t know what’s really going on between you two?


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    “She’s got Sebastian, and yet she’s still leading all of you around by the nose! You’re all obsessed with her, patheticpdogs throwing yourselves at her feet, ready to be her ythings in bed…


    “She must be amazing in bed, huh? Got you wrapped around her finger, enough to turn on your own sister. Let me tell you something–she’s got men lined up around the block!


    “Yates, Nn, Felix, Thomas, Federico… any man with talent has ended up under Caitlin’s spell. She’s nothing but a filthy slut, used by thousands, slept with by tens of thousands. Keep simping for her–enjoy being the eternal backup!”


    In Zora’s twisted view, Caitlin had slept with every man she knew. Her hatred had driven herpletely off the rails.


    Zeke’s eyes turned bloodshot. The things she was saying—so degrading, so vile–pushed him past


    his limit.


    Without warning, he lunged forward and wrapped his hand around her throat, mming her back into the doorframe.


    He was furious enough to kill.


    Zora, still spewing venom seconds ago, suddenly went silent. Her breath caught in her throat. Her hands wed at Zeke’s, but his grip was too tight, his strength overwhelming in his fury.


    She couldn’t breathe. Fear surged through her as her face flushed deep red, the world blurring


    around her.


    Caitlin saw it all. When she realized Zora was on the brink of death, she rushed forward and pulled


    Zeke off.


    “Zeke, stop! Calm down!”


    No matter how horrible Zora had been, Zeke didn’t have the right to take her life–especially when they were siblings.


    If Ximena ever found out her son killed her daughter, it would break her. And Zeke… Zeke would


    be a murderer.


    Caitlin couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to him. Not for her.


    Once Zeke was pulled back, Zora copsed onto the floor, gasping violently.


    Cough! Cough! Cough!


    Her throat was raw, her breathingbored.


    “Let’s go! Leave her,” Caitlin urged, pushing Zeke out of the room, terrified he might snap again.


    Zeke, face dark and cold, was forced out. As Caitlin passed Zora, she paused just for a moment.


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    “Miss Harris,” she said tly, “keep walking down this path and you’ll destroy yourself. I suggest you think carefully.”


    They left.


    Zora sat frozen on the floor, the pain in her cheek and neck a burning reminder of what had just happened.


    Zeke couldn’t be her brother. No way. No real brother would do this to her.


    And her mother–clearly brainwashed by Caitlin–was no better.


    She hated them. Hated them all.


    Then her eyes shed with a wicked light.


    Right. She still had the evidence of Caitlin’s “scandals.”


    Tomorrow’s charity award ceremony… that would be Caitlin’s fall from grace.


    She would make sure everyone saw Caitlin for what she truly was.


    The car ride back from the Thompson Residence was heavy with silence. Zeke finally broke it, voice low with guilt.


    “I’m sorry, Caitlin. You didn’t deserve any of that.”


    He felt ashamed–ashamed of his sister, ashamed that Caitlin had to suffer because of his family.


    “I’m fine,” Caitlin said. “I’ve been hated by so many. One more doesn’t make a difference. It’s just… Zora’s not the same person anymore. She’s beenpletely consumed by hate.”


    She sighed. “I thought a few hard hits might snap her out of it. But now I see–there’s no changing her. She’s nothing like your mom or Jillian. Zora and I… we were never meant to coexist.”


    Zeke exhaled deeply. “Then I’ll stop thinking of her as my sister. She’s on her own now. Let her destroy herself if that’s what she wants.”


    He meant it. From now on, whatever happened to Zora–he wouldn’t lift a finger to help.


    He dropped Caitlin off at the Vanderbilt estate and said goodbye at the gate.


    Before heading inside, Caitlin warned him, “Be careful, Zeke. Zorro must be absolutely livid. He’ll stop at nothing to take your life”


    “I know. I’ll watch my back.”


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    When Caitlin returned to the estate, she didn’t see Sebastian right away–but she did find Yates


    there.


    “Caitlin!” Yates greeted her warmly.


    “You’re back already? Didn’t your movie wrap yet?” Caitlin asked, surprised.


    “I came back early to be the opening act for tomorrow’s charity awards g,” Yates replied with a grin.


    “Look at you–heading toward multi–talented stardom.”


    “Haha, I just sing for fun. Mainly, I wanted to be there to cheer you and Sebastian on!”


    The awards are tomorrow?” Caitlin asked. She knew she and Sebastian were nominated for Phnthropist of the Year but hadn’t heard the confirmed time.


    “Yep, tomorrow night. But that’s not the only reason I’m here.”


    He lowered his voice, suddenly serious.


    There’s something important I need to tell you both.”


    E