Brielle’s POV
The silence inside the penthouse was deceptive. Outside, the world still raged — news articles refreshed by the second, hashtags trending, her face splashed across social media like a scandalous headline someone couldn’t wait to devour.
“Illegitimate daughter of Sean Mitchell and Fiona.”
That was the title.
That was the wound.
I stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, arms wrapped around myself, trying to quiet the chaos inside. Adrian sat on the couch behind me, his presence solid and still, but I couldn’t turn around. I didn’t want him to see me like this — hollowed out, gutted, a stranger even to myself.
“They’re calling me Brielle Mitchell,” I murmured.
Adrian rose, walked over, and stood behind me. “They’re wrong.”
I finally turned, searching his face for some kin
