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Chapter 3: The First Strike

Priya listened to the recording without interrupting. When it ended, she sat back in her chair and let out a low whistle.

“This is extremely strong,” she said. “Coercion, threats, potential workplace harassment, and clear evidence of him trying to force a medical decision on an employee. We can destroy him with this.”

I nodded.

“I want to move fast,” I said. “Before he has time to cover his tracks.”

Priya smiled faintly.

“First things first. We need to get Rosa somewhere safe. Then we file for a restraining order and start building both the civil and potential criminal case. We should also reach out to the ethics board overseeing his company’s merger. A scandal like this could tank the entire deal.”

Rosa sat on the couch, still looking dazed.

“I don’t want to cause trouble,” she said quietly. “I just… I don’t want to lose my baby.”

I sat beside her and took her hand.

“You won’t,” I promised. “And you’re not causing trouble. He did this. Not you.”

While Priya made calls, I sat with Rosa and helped her file a police report. Then I contacted a women’s shelter I had worked with through my nonprofit. They had a secure location where she could stay temporarily.

By evening, Rosa was safe.

I sat alone in my apartment and stared at the engagement ring on the counter.

Then I picked up my phone and called the wedding planner.

“Cancel everything,” I said. “The wedding is off.”

She was shocked.

“But Evelyn, the deposits—”

“I don’t care about the money,” I said. “Cancel it all. Today.”

After I hung up, I sent Adrian one single text.

Evelyn: The wedding is canceled. Do not contact me again.

He replied almost immediately.

Adrian: Evelyn, please. We need to talk. This is all a misunderstanding.

I blocked his number.

Then I opened my laptop and began drafting an email to the lawyer overseeing Adrian’s company merger — the same lawyer who used to be my law partner.

I attached the recording.

The subject line was simple:

Urgent: Ethics Violation and Coercion Involving Adrian Cole

I hit send.

Then I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes.

May you like

Adrian thought he could threaten and manipulate his way out of this.

He was about to learn how wrong he was.

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