Chapter 15 200 His lips curved slowly , like he already saw the headlines . " Kendall Scott , " he repeated . " Perfect . Clean , powerful , international . That's the name that's going to burn across every screen . And he was right . When he uploaded the teaser - just a short clip of my confrontation scene - everything . blew up . Within hours , my face was everywhere . Hashtags flooding timelines : #KendallScott , #NewFaceNewStar , #KendrickMagic . Fans screaming in disbelief that I was a newcomer . Bloggers and critics dissecting every look in my eyes , calling me " a natural , haunting presence . " I watched the numbers rise , the world whispering my name , and all I could think was : Fresca . I know you saw this . I know you're trembling . I could picture her perfectly ... her perfect little face twisting , her hand tightening until the phone cracked . I could almost hear her spit my name like poison . " That witch is still alive ?! " Yes , darling . Alive . Stronger . And louder than ever . Then came the press conference . My first one . The hall was blinding with lights , cameras firing like gunshots . I walked in wearing a sleek black gown that felt like liquid armor on my skin . The air shifted . People stared , and whispering . I didn't need to say a word . The room already belonged to me . Kendrick , ever the showman , smiled at the reporters . " I've worked with big stars , " he said , " But Kendall is different . She doesn't act . She breathes the role . She's not just a performer , she's art in motion . " I tilted my head at him , pretending to be embarrassed , but inside I felt it . That pulse of power . His words didn't cage me . They set me free . The questions started rolling in fast , journalists pushing forward , throwing out their hooks . " Kendall , who are you outside the screen ? " one of them asked , eyes sharp like he wanted to corner me . I smiled , soft , almost shy . But my words came out like iron wrapped in silk . " My name is Kendall Scott . That's all anyone needs to know . " There was a hush , just for a moment . And I saw it - how the mystery hooked them deeper than any long speech could . They didn't want facts . They wanted the unknown . Who is she really ? Where did she come from ? Why does she feel like someone they've 4/4 50.0 %%% seen in their dreams and nightmares both ? BECKLEY'S POW I was in my office drowning in numbers and boring suits talking about contracts when my right hand barged in without knocking . Pale as hell , sweating like he just saw a ghost . " Boss ! Boss ! You need to see this . " I snapped . " What the fuck is it now ? Can't you see I'm in the middle of bleeding money talks ? " He shoved the tablet in my hand . My patience was thin . I almost threw it at his face. until I saw the screen . Kendall Scott . The viral clips . Her scene . The press conference . Hashtags everywhere . Millions of views climbing like fire . And then I saw her eyes . Her voice . The way she moved . Fuck ! This is ... My blood turned cold . My throat locked . " No ," I whispered , shaking my head . " No. That's not ... that's not fucking possible . " I hurled the tablet across the room so hard it cracked the glass wall . My chest was hammering . I felt like I was choking on my own breath . " That's Claire ," I muttered . My own voice sounded insane . " That's my wife ! My dead fucking wife . " My assistant lowered his voice like he was afraid of me . " Sir ... the world thinks she's a star now . If this is really her ... she's untouchable . " I slammed my fist on the desk so hard pens rolled and papers flew . " Shut the fuck up . She's dead . I saw her body . I saw the DNA results . You think I don't know ? You think I'm that stupid ? " But my voice cracked . My chest burned . I kept replaying that clip in my head . Those goddamn eyes . Nobody has eyes like hers . I raked a hand through my hair , pacing . " But if it's not her.... if it's not Claire , then what the fuck is this ? Why does she sound like her , look like her , bleed like her ? Why the hell . is my heart " I punched the wall , breath ragged . " Why the hell is my heart fucking breaking again ? " He hesitated . " Boss , should I ... dig into her ? Kendall Scott ? Background , family , 8:59 Thu , Oct 16 papers ? " I glared at him , breathing like an animal . " Dig . Tear her fucking life apart . I want everything . If she's Claire , I'll drag her back . I don't care if the world bows at her feet . She's mine . If she's not Claire- " I smirked like a lunatic . " Then she will be mine anyway ." He swallowed . " And ... what about Miss Fresca ? If she finds out ... won't she be .. jealous ? " I laughed . Bitter , sharp . " Fresca ? Don't insult me . Fresca isn't that narrow minded . She's innocent , she's good . I know her . Right now , she's in Hawaii with my son and four fucking nannies and bodyguards . She doesn't need to know shit . " " Okay , sir . I'll report back when it's done . " "Do it fast . I don't give a damn how . If you have to bribe , steal , threaten , I want the truth . " I That night I didn't sleep . Couldn't . I sat there in the dark office with whiskey in my hand , staring at the teaser again and again . Every time her voice cracked in that scene , I felt my chest split open . Every time she looked like she was about to shatter , I remembered the nights Claire cried into my shirt . Fuck . I hated her . I hated Claire for cheating on me . I wanted her gone . I told myself I was glad when she died . But now ? Now all I wanted was her face in front of me again . Her screams , her tears , her fucking betrayal . Mine . All mine . Because I'm Beckley . And nothing - no goddamn destiny , no stage , no director - takes away what I decide is mine .