Julian's frantic departure left a hollow ache in the middle of the Caldwells' opulent living room. Scarlett stood frozen, her fingers instinctively brushing her neck, ensuring the blue sapphire pendant was still there. The cold metal and the sharp facets of the gemstone felt like her only anchor, keeping her from drifting away into a void of terror.
She retreated to her room with shaky steps and sank onto the edge of the bed, trying to steady a heart that was hammering like a war drum against her ribs.
Her phone buzzed. A news notification flashed with a headline that sent her world into a tailspin: "EXCLUSIVE: Behind the Blue Sapphire – Joshua's Dark Past and the JTC Press Conference Sham Exposed!"
