Chapter 23 Virginia's POV More Rewards > The phone slips from my trembling fingers , clattering against the marble floor of my bedroom . On the screen , post after post defends that pathetic little bakery . My bakery attack -months of planning , fake accounts , bribes to get people to claim food poisoning - all ruined in less than twenty - four hours . " Sunrise Bakes cleared of all charges . " " Community supports local baker after false accusations . " " Health Department : Bakery exceeds all safety standards . " My chest burns with rage . Someone with serious pull organized this counter - attack . Someone who cares enough about Scarlett to move mountains for her . The question eating at me is who ? I snatch my phone off the floor and call the one person who owes me favors . " Marcus ? The plan failed . Someone got the health department to rush the testing . " " Virginia , I told you this was risky- " " I don't want excuses . I need damage control . " My voice shakes with barely controlled fury . " Delete everything . The fake accounts , the posts , all of it . " " Some are already gone . Whoever's helping her found the connections between the accounts . " Panic claws at my throat . If they can trace the accounts back to me ... " Delete them all . Now . " But it's too late . The damage is done in reverse . Instead of destroying Scarlett , I've made her a local hero . The community darling who overcame sabotage through pure goodness and quality baking . I want to scream . Instead , I pace my room like a caged animal , mind racing . The attention - that's what terrifies me most . Local news picking up the story . " Small Business Fights Back " headlines . What if Jasper sees it ? What if he recognizes her name and decides to investigate ? Four years . Four years I've had him to myself , convincing him that Scarlett abandoned him , 1/6 - < Chapter 23 More Rewards > that she never really loved him . If he finds out she's been here all along , building a life , raising his daughter ... My hands shake as I dial his assistant's number . " Blake Industries , this is Sarah . " " Sarah , hi ! It's Virginia . " I force sweetness into my voice , the same tone that's fooled everyone for years . " I need a tiny favor . " " Of course , Ms. Stone . What can I do for you ? " " Jasper's been working so hard lately . I was thinking maybe he needs a getaway ? That conference in Seattle he mentioned , or maybe the resort in Colorado ? " " That's thoughtful of you to look out for him . " " Also ... " I hesitate , making it sound casual . " You know how he reads those local news articles during coffee ? Maybe focus his morning briefings on national business news instead ? All those local stories just stress him out ." " I could set up some filters on his news apps . Keep things more streamlined . " " Perfect . You're an angel . " After hanging up , I stare at my reflection in the vanity mirror . Dark circles under my eyes , worry lines I didn't have a week ago . This is what Scarlett has done to me . Even from a distance , she's destroying my peace . But filtering Jasper's news won't be enough . He has clients , colleagues , business lunches . Someone will mention the bakery story eventually . I grab my laptop and start researching . Digital marketing firms that can bury search results . Social media companies that track keywords . By the time I'm finished , I've hired three different agencies to suppress any story mentioning " Sunrise Bakes " or " Scarlett . " It costs a fortune , but James gave me unlimited access to the family accounts . Money I was supposed to use for " settling in " and " building my new life . " Well , destroying Scarlett's life is part of building mine . But even as I work , dread pools in my stomach . This isn't sustainable . I can't control every conversation , every news source , every chance encounter forever . The only real solution is making Scarlett disappear . Permanently this time . Scarlett's POV 2/6 : < Chapter 23 More Rewards > " Scarlett ? " Blair's voice shakes through the phone speaker . " Please don't hang up . I know you hate us , but- " My throat closes . Four years , and her voice still sounds like home . Still makes me want to curl up and let someone else handle the world for a while . " I don't hate you , " I whisper before I can stop myself . " Oh , sweetheart . " Her voice breaks . " Are you okay ? Are you safe ? I've worried every single day 11 " You worried? " The words come out harsher than I intended . " You chose Virginia . You made that very clear . " " We made mistakes . Terrible mistakes . But you're still our daughter- " " No. " I cut her off , my chest burning . " Virginia is your daughter . You told me that yourself . " " You're both our daughters ." " Stop . " I can't do this . Can't let her pull me back into caring . " What do you want ? " Silence stretches between us . Then , so quietly I almost miss it : " To know if you had the baby . " My hand instinctively moves to cover Lily , even though she's across the room coloring . " That's none of your business anymore ." " Please . Just ... are you happy ? Are you both safe ? " The genuine pain in her voice almost breaks me . Almost . But I remember that night too clearly . The way they looked at Virginia like she was a miracle and at me like I was the obstacle preventing their family reunion . " Goodbye , Blair . " I hang up and immediately block the number . Whatever guilt they're feeling now , whatever regret - it's four years too late . " Who was that , Mama ? " Lily looks up from her coloring book , crayon poised over a purple butterfly . " Nobody important . " But my hands won't stop shaking .. That voice brought everything flooding back . The love I thought was forever . The family I thought was mine . The life that crumbled the second their real daughter came home . 316 < Chapter 23 My phone buzzes again . This time it's Chloe , and I answer gratefully . " Girl ! Have you seen the news coverage ? " " What news coverage ? " More Rewards > " You're famous ! Channel 7 picked up your story . ' Local Baker Overcomes Sabotage with Community Support . ' You're trending on social media ! " My stomach drops . " That's not good news , Chloe . " " Are you insane ? This is amazing publicity . Your bakery's going to be packed . " She's right , but publicity is dangerous . The more attention I get , the higher the chance someone from my past will notice . " I can come help today if you're reopening , " Chloe continues . " Seems like you'll need extra hands . " " Actually , yes . And Chloe ? " My voice catches . " Thank you . For believing in me when nobody else did . " " That's what best friends do . Speaking of which ... " Her tone shifts to that matchmaking voice I know too well . " That Dorian guy ? The one who saved your bakery ? " " Oh no . " " Oh yes . Rich , powerful , obviously crazy about you , and from what I saw , gorgeous . You need to go out with him . " " I'm not ready for dating . " " It's been four years , Scarlett . You're allowed to be happy . " Be happy . Like it's a choice I can just make . Like I can forget four years of marriage to a man who chose another woman every single day . " He fought for you , " Chloe presses . " When was the last time any man did that ? " Never . Jasper never fought for me . Not once . " I don't know ... " " One coffee . That's all I'm asking . What's the worst that could happen ? " Famous last words . But looking around my empty bakery , thinking about starting over again , part of me wants to try . Not romance - I'm nowhere near ready for that . But kindness ? 4/6 < Chapter 23 Someone who sees me as worth protecting ? " Maybe , " I concede . " That's my girl ! I'll text him right now . " " Chloe , don't- " But she's already hung up , and I know she's already typing that text . Twenty minutes later , Dorian calls . More Rewards > " I hear Chloe has opinions about our friendship ," he says , and I can hear the smile in his voice . Heat floods my face . " I'm sorry . She means well , but- " " She's protective . I respect that . " His voice turns serious . " Scarlett , I want you to know there's no pressure . If you'd like coffee sometime , as friends , I'd enjoy that . If not , nothing changes . I'll still be your customer , still be someone you can call . " The honesty in his voice catches me off guard . No games , no manipulation . Just straightforward interest with clear boundaries . " Coffee sounds nice ," I hear myself say . " Saturday afternoon? There's a café downtown with decent pastries - though nothing compared to yours . " " Saturday works . " After we hang up , I stare at my phone in shock . Did I just agree to a date ? My first since ... since before Jasper . The thought terrifies and thrills me , I flip the bakery sign from " Closed " to " Open , " and my phone buzzes immediately . Unknown number : " Saw the news coverage . Very impressive . Enjoy your moment in the spotlight . " My blood turns to ice . The writing style , the fake sweetness - I know exactly who this is . Virginia .