Chapter 52

• Samantha's POV
• The world outside my window seemed oblivious to the chaos consuming my life. The hum of traffic, the chirp of distant birds-it was all maddeningly normal. Meanwhile, my world was collapsing. I sat on the couch, staring blankly at my phone as it buzzed with relentless notifications. Every message, every news alert chipped away at what little strength I had left.
• The photos of Louis and me-photos I had no memory of being taken-were everywhere. Every news outlet, every gossip site had them splashed across their front pages. The headlines were as cruel as the betrayal they documented: "Smith Heiress Caught in Scandal with Ex-Fiancé" and "Samantha Blake: The Fall of a Golden Girl."