Chapter 4 - The Video That Changed Everything|
By seven the following morning, Sadi's face was everywhere.
The video had accumulated millions of views overnight.
People who had never met her were debating her marriage, her clothing, her character, and her intentions.
Some defended her.
Others called her a gold digger.
A popular account reposted the footage beneath a headline that made Sadi's stomach twist.
MOB BOSS'S WIFE ATTACKS LAWYER AFTER CONFRONTING HER EX.
Roman stood in their kitchen with his phone pressed against his ear.
"No statements without her approval."
He listened.
"I don't care what our public relations team recommends."
Another pause.
"My wife is not a problem to be managed."
He ended the call.
Sadi was sitting at the kitchen island wearing the same oversized sweater from the previous day.
Her coffee had gone cold.
She had read enough comments to understand how quickly strangers could transform a person into a villain.
Roman placed a fresh cup in front of her.
"You don't have to look."
"I know."
But she continued scrolling.
One woman claimed Sadi had deliberately married a dangerous man to punish her ex-boyfriend.
Another claimed Trevor had generously supported her for years.
That one almost made her laugh.
Generously supported her.
She remembered counting quarters for groceries while Trevor spent money on expensive shoes for job interviews.
She remembered working while sick because they couldn't afford to miss rent.
And now people were calling him her benefactor.
"He's going to keep lying," she said.
Roman took the chair beside her.
"Then we'll tell the truth."
"People don't always want the truth."
"No."
He reached across the counter.
"But that doesn't mean we surrender it."
Before Sadi could answer, her phone buzzed with a message from an unfamiliar number.
My name is Nina Carter.
I was working at the boutique yesterday.
I need to talk to you before my manager finds out.
Sadi showed Roman the message.
He immediately called Arthur.
Within an hour, Nina arrived at a quiet coffee shop several blocks from the Voss residence.
She was twenty-two, with nervous brown eyes and a canvas bag clutched tightly against her chest.
Sadi insisted on meeting her personally.
Roman waited nearby rather than joining the table.
Nina glanced toward him.
"Is that really your husband?"
"Yes."
Nina swallowed.
"My dad says he's dangerous."
Sadi considered that for a moment.
"He has been."
The honesty surprised Nina.
"But you're safe here," Sadi added.
"And nobody is going to force you to say anything."
Nina lowered her eyes.
"I watched that man kick you."
Sadi's throat tightened.
"I know."
"I wanted to help."
"But you were scared."
Nina nodded.
"My manager told everyone to stay out of it."
She opened her bag and removed her phone.
"The main security camera points toward the entrance, but I was recording a short video of our new display for the store's social media page."
Her hands trembled.
"I didn't stop recording when he came in."
Sadi stared at the screen.
The footage began with a glittering row of jewelry cases.
Then Trevor entered.
His voice was unmistakable.
"I said, move."
The kick followed.
The video showed Sadi falling hard against the display case.
It showed Trevor standing over her.
It showed him raising his hand to shove her.
And it showed Roman intervening only after Trevor attempted to touch her again.
Sadi felt her eyes burn.
Not because she had forgotten what happened.
But because seeing herself on the floor brought back the helplessness she had fought so hard to escape.
Nina reached across the table.
"I'm sorry."
"You didn't do anything wrong."
"I should have said something yesterday."
Sadi looked at the young woman.
"You came today."
Nina nodded, then leaned closer.
"There's something else."
Her voice dropped.
"My manager received a call before the police arrived."
"From whom?"
"I don't know."
"But he said the store's main recordings had to be deleted before anyone collected them."
Sadi's expression changed.
"Did he actually delete them?"
Nina nodded.
"He told us the system malfunctioned."
She looked toward Roman.
"I think somebody is protecting that lawyer."
Sadi sat very still.
A false social media narrative was one thing.
Destroying evidence was something else entirely.
"May I have a copy of your video?" she asked.
Nina hesitated.
"If my employer finds out, I'll lose my job."
Sadi shook her head.
"Then let's make sure your identity stays protected until you're ready."
Nina gave her the recording through a secure file transfer.
When the meeting ended, Sadi approached Roman.
"We have proof."
His face softened.
"Good."
"But I don't want to post it yet."
Roman studied her.
"Why?"
"Because somebody is going to a lot of trouble to protect Trevor."
She glanced toward Nina, who was leaving through the side entrance.
"I want to know why."
Roman's expression became unreadable.
He had been wondering the same thing.
That afternoon, another message arrived.
This time, it came from Gloria Tate, the woman who ran Harbor House.
Sadi answered immediately.
"Gloria?"
The older woman's voice trembled.
"Sweetheart, I'm sorry to bother you."
"What's wrong?"
There was a long silence.
Then Gloria whispered something that made Sadi stand so quickly her chair scraped across the floor.
"They're shutting us down."
Sadi gripped the phone.
"Who is?"
"Vale Development Group."
Gloria started crying.
"They say we have seventy-two hours to empty the building."
Sadi looked toward Roman.
And for the first time since the incident at the boutique, she saw genuine alarm cross her husband's face.
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Because the company threatening Harbor House belonged to Chloe's father.
And Roman knew that Gerald Vale never made a move without expecting something valuable in return.
