Maddie's POV
I was at home this week to focus on my studies. I sank into the chair in the dimly lit study room, the heavy scent of mahogany and leather enveloping me. This study room felt like a cold fortress now, as a storm was on its way. The laptop sat before me. Hesitant fingers reached out, and I opened the lid. The screen flickered to life, illuminating the room in a soft glow.
There it was...the article that Mariko had found. The words on the screen seemed to dance, mocking me with their accusations. My breath caught in my throat as my eyes scanned the headline: "Maddie Exposed: Unraveling the Allegations of Gold Digging Behind the Glamorous Facade."
A surge of anger mixed with profound hurt welled up inside me. How had it come to this? The warmth that once filled this room now
