Chapter 47

Zoya's POV

The ride home was filled with light conversation and laughter, but my mind was elsewhere.

Every time my hand brushed against my bag, I felt the weight of whatever Layla had slipped inside. The words she whispered echoed in my mind: You'll want to see this.

By the time we reached my apartment, I was practically itching to be alone and see what she had given me.

"Okay, who's making coffee?" Olivia asked as she kicked off her shoes, stretching like she owned the place.

"I will," Ava offered, heading to the kitchen without hesitation. Olivia raised an eyebrow at me, and I just shrugged.

"I'm gonna go change," I muttered, making my way to my bedroom before they could ask any more questions.

---

Once inside, I shut the door and immediately dumped my bag onto the bed, rummaging through it with shaky hands. My fingers closed around a small, sleek USB drive.

I swallowed hard, staring at it like it might explode in my hands. What the hell had Layla given me?

Plugging it into my laptop, I waited anxiously as the contents loaded. A single folder popped up, labeled "For Your Eyes Only." My pulse quickened as I opened it.

Inside were several files—screenshots of text messages, email correspondences, and even a few voice recordings. My stomach churned as I clicked through them.

Anthony's name appeared over and over again.

There were messages sent to gossip blogs under anonymous profiles, feeding them inside information about Olivia's marriage, our supposed "secret romance."

My heart raced as I listened to a recording of Anthony's voice, unmistakable and dripping with manipulation.

"Olivia doesn't need distractions right now. Zoya is just a phase—she'll realize that soon enough. I just need to show her the way."

I clenched my jaw, anger boiling inside me. He'd been behind it all along. Everything. The rumors, the strategic leaks, the push to isolate Olivia. And worse, he had done it all while pretending to be her friend.

I snapped my laptop shut, my hands trembling.

I couldn't keep this to myself. Olivia needed to know.

---

I rushed back into the living room, my pulse hammering in my ears. Olivia and Ava were seated on the couch, mugs of coffee in hand, mid-laugh at something I didn't even hear.

They both looked up, their smiles fading as they saw the expression on my face.

"What's wrong?" Olivia asked immediately, setting down her mug.

I took a deep breath, holding up the USB. "Layla gave me this."

Ava frowned, sitting up straighter. "What is it?"

I sat down next to Olivia, opening my laptop again. "You need to see this."

As I played the recording of Anthony's voice, I watched Olivia's face change—her eyes narrowing, her lips pressing into a thin line. By the time the audio ended, she was gripping the edge of the couch so tightly her knuckles were white.

Ava was speechless, her eyes darting between us. "Holy shit."

Olivia exhaled sharply, her voice strained. "I trusted him."

I reached for her hand, squeezing it tightly. "I know. But this? This proves everything."

Ava leaned back, running a hand through her hair. "We have to do something. We can't just let him get away with this."

Olivia nodded slowly, her face hardening with resolve. "We won't. But we need to be smart about it."

She looked at me, and I could see the fire burning behind her eyes. "We take him down on our terms."

Ava leaned back against the couch, tapping her fingers against the armrest thoughtfully. Olivia was still staring at the laptop screen, her expression hardened with anger. I could practically hear the wheels turning in her head.

"We can't just sit on this," Olivia muttered, gripping my hand tightly. "He needs to pay for what he did."

Ava smirked, her eyes gleaming with something calculated. "Good," she said. "Because I have a plan."

I raised an eyebrow, folding my arms. "A plan?"

"PR is my game, and this is how we're going to do it." Ava leaned forward, her voice low but filled with determination.

Zoya and I exchanged a glance, knowing better than to question her when she had that look in her eyes.

Olivia's POV

I walked onto the set, my heels clicking against the polished floor, my heart pounding in my chest. Ava's words echoed in my mind—Stay calm. Make him feel like he's winning.

Taking a steadying breath, I spotted Anthony standing by the coffee station, casually chatting with a crew member. As soon as he noticed me, his face lit up with that familiar charming smile.

"Liv," he said, stepping toward me. "You look... better today."

I forced a tired smile, keeping my voice soft and weary. "Thanks, Anthony. It's been... a lot, you know? These rumors are really getting to me."

His eyes darkened with concern—or at least, the fake kind. "I can imagine. It's been brutal watching you go through this."

I sighed dramatically, lowering my voice. "I think... I think I've made a decision."

He leaned in slightly, his curiosity piqued. "Yeah?"

"I'm stepping away from Zoya," I said, my voice laced with regret. "It's not worth it anymore, Anthony. Everything's spiraling out of control, and I just can't keep fighting."

For a split second, I saw it—the glint of excitement in his eyes. He tried to mask it quickly, but I caught it.

"I think that's for the best, Liv," he said, nodding. "You've been through enough."

I hesitated, then gave him a soft smile. "You've always been such a good friend, you know? You saw how unhappy I was with Elijah long before I even realized it."

Anthony grinned, shifting closer. "Of course I did. I've known you for years, Olivia. I could always tell there was something... deeper between you and I , from the way we looked at each other on set."

I chuckled softly, shaking my head. "I should have noticed sooner, huh?"

He smirked, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "But I did. That's why I took action."

My stomach twisted, but I kept my face neutral. "Took action?" I echoed, feigning curiosity.

Anthony's eyes gleamed with pride. "Yeah. I mean, come on, Liv... you would have stayed trapped in that marriage forever if I didn't step in. Someone had to push things in the right direction."

I blinked, staring at him in mock surprise. "You... you're saying the rumors—"

He grinned, almost giddy. "Had to happen, Liv. I had to make sure you saw what was right in front of you. And look at you now—free."

I let out a breathless laugh, forcing my features into something close to gratitude. "Wow... Anthony, I don't even know what to say."

He reached out, touching my arm gently. "Say you're not mad. I did it for you, Liv."

I nodded slowly, stepping back with a carefully placed smile. "I'm not mad... In fact, I think you might've done me a favor."

His relief was almost palpable. "I knew you'd understand."

I glanced at the clock. "I should go get ready for shooting."

"Of course," he said, his confidence back in full force. "I'm always here for you."

I nodded, turning away quickly and heading to my dressing room, where Zoya and Ava were waiting. As soon as I shut the door behind me, I let out a shaky breath, pulling my phone from my pocket and pressing play.

Anthony's voice filled the room, every incriminating word loud and clear.

Zoya stared at me in disbelief. "He actually admitted it?"

I nodded, my hands trembling slightly. "He's so cocky, he thought I'd be grateful."

Ava smirked, crossing her arms. "Perfect. This is all we need."

"What now?" I asked, feeling a mix of anger and relief crashing over me.

Zoya straightened, her expression steely. "We take this to Ezra. He'll handle it."

I swallowed hard, looking at both of them. "And if he doesn't?"

Ava's eyes darkened. "Then we go public."

I nodded, gripping Zoya's hand tightly. "Let's do it."

The three of us sat in Ezra's office, the tension so thick it felt suffocating. My phone was on the table, playing Anthony's recorded confession on a loop. His smug, self-assured voice filled the room once more.

"I did what I had to do. You were better off without Elijah anyway."

Ezra leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled beneath his chin, his expression unreadable. When the recording ended, a heavy silence settled over us.

Zoya was the first to break it. "We have enough to ruin him," she said, her voice steady but tight with anger. "What are we going to do?"

Ezra sighed, rubbing his temple. "This... is bad." He looked at me, his eyes filled with something that almost resembled sympathy. "Olivia, if this gets out, it'll be chaos."

I crossed my arms. "You think I don't know that?" My voice came out sharper than I intended. "He manipulated me. He made me feel isolated, like I couldn't trust anyone. And worst of all, he hurt Zoya."

Zoya placed a hand on my knee, grounding me. "We're not asking for a public war, Ezra. But he can't just walk away from this without consequences."

Ezra tapped his fingers against the desk, his jaw clenching. "If you go to the press, it's going to turn into a circus. Anthony will spin it, claim you set him up, and the studio will take a hit. The show can't afford another scandal right now."

Ava leaned forward, her voice cool and calculated. "We're not here to torch everything down, Ezra. We want this handled quietly." She pointed to the phone. "We have leverage. Use it."

Ezra studied us for a long moment, then finally nodded. "Fine." He stood, pacing behind his desk. "Here's what's going to happen. I'll call Anthony in and have a... conversation." His lips curled into a hard smile. "I'll make it clear he either walks away quietly, or he faces legal action."

I exhaled, a bit of relief washing over me. "And the studio?"

Ezra grabbed his phone, dialing a number. "I'll arrange for an internal announcement—something generic. He'll resign 'for personal reasons.' No one needs to know the truth except us."

Zoya still looked tense. "And if he refuses?"

Ezra gave her a look that made it clear he wasn't messing around. "He won't. Trust me."

I swallowed hard, my fingers tightening around Zoya's. "You're sure about this?"

Ezra nodded. "Anthony might be manipulative, but he's not stupid. He knows if this gets out, his career is finished." He gestured to the phone. "This recording is enough to bury him in the industry. I'll make sure he understands that."

Ava smirked. "You better."

Ezra grabbed his jacket. "Give me an hour."

We sat in my dressing room, the minutes dragging by like hours. Every time the door creaked, I expected to see Anthony storming in, but instead, it was Ezra who finally entered.

"It's done," he said simply, his face unreadable.

Zoya stood. "And?"

Ezra sighed, running a hand through his hair. "He's gone. Packed his stuff, signed the resignation papers. He won't be stepping foot on this set again."

I released a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. "What did he say?"

Ezra smirked. "Tried to play it cool at first, but once I laid out the evidence... he didn't have a choice." His expression hardened. "I made it clear that if he even thinks about causing problems for you again, we'll take this public."

Ava grinned, satisfied. "That's more like it."

Zoya was quiet for a moment before asking, "Did he say anything about... me? Us?"

Ezra hesitated before shaking his head. "No. He didn't have much to say at all. He knew he was cornered."

I reached for Zoya's hand, squeezing it gently. "It's over," I whispered.

She smiled faintly, her fingers tightening around mine. "Yeah... it is."

Ezra folded his arms. "Look, I know things have been hell for both of you lately, but this? This is a win. Now you can focus on what really matters."

I nodded slowly. "Thanks, Ezra. For everything."

He nodded back, his gaze lingering on me for a second before turning to leave.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Zoya exhaled deeply. "So... now what?"

I smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Now? We get back to work. Together."

And for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was finally free.