CHAPTER 17: The Face Behind the Betrayal
The air inside the studio turned ice cold.
Elara's fingers tightened instinctively around the flash drive.
Her heart pounded—but not with fear.
Not anymore.
"Sophia…"
Her voice was quiet.
Steady.
Almost unrecognizable.
Sophia stepped further into the room, her heels clicking softly against the floor.
Slow.
Unhurried.
Like she had already won.
"You remembered," Sophia said, tilting her head slightly. "I was wondering how long it would take."
Aiden moved subtly in front of Elara.
Protective.
Instinctive.
"Stay behind me," he said under his breath.
Elara didn't move.
Her eyes never left Sophia.
"Why?" she asked.
No anger.
No shouting.
Just one question.
Sophia smiled.
But it didn't reach her eyes.
"Why?" she echoed. "You really don't know?"
Elara's jaw tightened.
"No."
A soft laugh escaped Sophia.
"That's the problem with you, Elara," she said. "You always thought the world was simple. That people were either good… or bad."
Her smile faded slightly.
"But it's not that easy."
"Then explain it to me," Elara said.
Her voice was calm.
But her grip on the flash drive tightened.
Sophia's gaze flickered to it.
And something dark flashed in her eyes.
"You should put that down," she said lightly. "It's dangerous."
Aiden's expression hardened.
"Take one more step and this ends differently," he warned.
Sophia didn't stop.
Didn't hesitate.
She kept walking.
"You always had everything," Sophia continued, her voice soft but sharp. "The perfect life. The perfect image. The trust of everyone around you."
Her eyes locked onto Elara's.
"And you didn't even realize it."
Elara frowned slightly.
"That's not true—"
"It is," Sophia snapped.
The sudden shift in her tone echoed through the room.
"You were loved," she continued, her voice rising slightly. "By your family. By your friends…"
A pause.
Her gaze flickered briefly toward Aiden.
"…by him."
Silence followed.
"And you?" Elara asked quietly.
Sophia laughed again.
But this time—
It sounded hollow.
"I was always second," she said. "The backup. The shadow."
Her eyes darkened.
"No matter what I did… I was never you."
Elara's chest tightened.
"Sophia…"
"Don't," Sophia cut in sharply. "Don't pretend you didn't see it. You just chose to ignore it."
"That doesn't justify this," Elara said firmly. "It doesn't justify betrayal. Or trying to kill me."
Sophia's expression changed.
Something colder.
Something more dangerous.
"You were going to ruin everything," she said.
Elara stilled.
"You found out about the accounts," Sophia continued. "The transfers. The network."
Her voice dropped.
"And you wouldn't let it go."
"So you tried to kill me?" Elara asked.
Still calm.
Still steady.
Sophia didn't answer right away.
Then—
"You were supposed to walk away," she said. "Daniel said he could handle you."
A faint scoff.
"But you didn't."
A heavy silence followed.
"So you decided to handle me yourself," Elara finished.
Sophia's lips curved slightly.
"I decided to fix the problem."
Aiden stepped forward slightly.
His voice cold.
"You just made it worse."
Sophia's eyes flickered to him.
"You think you can protect her?" she asked quietly. "You couldn't even protect her the first time."
The words hit.
Hard.
Aiden's expression didn't change.
But something in the air did.
"This time," he said, his voice low, controlled, "you don't walk away."
Sophia smiled again.
But this time—
There was something unhinged behind it.
"You really think you're in control?" she asked.
Then—
She reached into her bag.
Everything happened at once.
Aiden moved instantly.
Elara's heart stopped.
But Sophia was faster.
She pulled out a gun.
And aimed it directly at Elara.
"Don't move."
Silence.
Heavy.
Deadly.
Elara froze.
Her pulse thundered in her ears.
Aiden stilled.
Calculating.
Watching.
Waiting.
"You should've stayed gone," Sophia said softly.
Her finger tightened slightly on the trigger.
Elara's breath slowed.
Her fear—
Didn't take over.
Because something inside her had changed.
"You won't shoot me," Elara said.
Sophia blinked.
Just for a second.
"And why is that?" she asked.
Elara took a slow step forward.
Aiden's voice came low and urgent.
"Elara—"
But she didn't stop.
"Because if you wanted me dead," Elara said, her voice steady, "I wouldn't be standing here right now."
A pause.
Sophia's grip faltered—just slightly.
"You need something," Elara continued. "The same thing Daniel needs."
Her hand lifted slightly.
Holding the flash drive.
"This."
The room went still.
Sophia's eyes locked onto it.
Hungry.
Desperate.
"Give it to me," she said.
Elara shook her head slowly.
"Not a chance."
A dangerous silence followed.
Sophia's finger tightened again.
"Then I'll take it."
Aiden shifted.
Ready.
Elara didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
Because now—
She understood everything.
And for the first time—
She wasn't the one at a disadvantage.