Chapter 4 - The Counter-Strike
News of the scandal at the Vale estate exploded across Manhattan’s high society like a dynamite blast.
By the next afternoon, headlines dominated the tabloids:
VALE ENGAGEMENT CANCELED: CELESTE ASHFORD ARRESTED FOR TWO-MILLION-DOLLAR DIAMOND FRAME-UP!
THE REAL HEROINE: FORMER TOP MODEL TURNED MAID REVEALED AS BILLIONAIRE’S TRUE SAVIOR!
Sitting in the penthouse library of the Vale Tower overlooking Central Park, Mara watched the news reports on a giant screen. She was wearing a soft cream cashmere sweater and trousers provided by Julian's personal stylist.
The door opened, and Julian stepped inside carrying two cups of steaming tea.
He set a cup down on the glass table beside her and sat in the armchair opposite hers.
"Your sister Maya's tuition deposit at Columbia has been paid in full," Julian said softly. "In fact, I established a full four-year medical scholarship in her name this morning. She will never have to worry about a single dollar for the rest of her education."
Mara’s eyes filled with tears. She wiped them away quickly with the back of her hand. "Julian... you didn't have to do that."
"It's the very least I can do," Julian said, his eyes filled with immense regret. "For eleven years, I lived a lie while you suffered. Celeste destroyed your modeling career, didn't she?"
Mara took a sip of tea, staring into the liquid.
"Eleven years ago, right after I got the Vogue Italia cover, Celeste planted three thousand dollars worth of designer dresses from the shoot in my backstage bag," Mara recalled bitterly. "She told the agency owner I was a chronic thief. I was twenty-one, broke, and had no legal representation. My contract was canceled, my name was blacklisted, and my father fell ill shortly after. I had to take whatever jobs I could find to support Maya."
Julian’s jaw tightened. "She didn't just ruin your past, Mara. She tried to ruin your future last night. But she underestimated me."
Before Mara could respond, Julian’s private secretary, Mr. Vance, entered the library holding an encrypted tablet.
"Mr. Vale," Vance reported, his voice grave. "Celeste’s father, Arthur Ashford, has just launched a smear campaign against Miss Ellison. He hired a public relations firm to release old, fabricated police reports from eleven years ago to the press, claiming Mara has a history of theft."
Mara dropped her teacup onto the saucer with a loud clatter. Her face went pale. "He's trying to finish what Celeste started."
"Let him try," Julian said calmly, standing up. "Vance, bring in Mr. Harrison."
A sharp-looking man in a pinstriped suit walked into the library carrying a thick leather briefcase. It was David Harrison, Manhattan’s most feared corporate defense attorney.
"Mr. Vale," Harrison nodded respectfully. "We have compiled eleven years of financial records, witness statements from former agency staff, and digital communications from Celeste Ashford’s personal servers."
Julian looked at Mara. "When Celeste was arrested last night, my tech team seized all corporate devices connected to the Ashford family network. We found emails from eleven years ago between Celeste and the modeling agency director—proving Celeste paid the director fifty thousand dollars to frame you for theft and blackball you from the industry."
Mara gasped, clutching her chest. "You found the proof?"
"We have the wire transfers, the emails, and the signed confession from the former agency director, who agreed to cooperate in exchange for immunity," Harrison added with a cold smile. "The Ashford family isn't just facing civil ruin. Arthur Ashford and Celeste are facing federal conspiracy and bank fraud charges."
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Julian walked over to Mara’s chair, reaching down to take her trembling hand into his broad, warm palm.
"Eleven years ago, you protected me in the dark on an icy road," Julian whispered, looking into her gray eyes. "Today, Mara, I am going to tear down everyone who ever tried to hurt you."
