Chapter 5 - The Ashes of Paisley DaleyWhen a gold-digger hunts for gold in a mine that isn't hers, she shouldn't be surprised when the ceiling collapses on her head.
Two weeks later.
The high-end shopping district on Fairview Boulevard was bustling with wealthy shoppers, bright sunshine, and luxury cars.
Paisley Daley walked out of a designer boutique, holding a small paper bag containing a second-hand handbag she had been forced to buy with her last remaining credit card. Her high-flying lifestyle had vanished overnight when the news of her involvement in the Apex Group scandal hit the local gossip rags. No firm in the city would hire her, and her wealthy friends had blocked her number.
As she stepped onto the sidewalk, a sleek, white Bentley Mulsanne pulled up to the curb.
The back door opened, and Phoebe stepped out, dressed in a stunning pastel-yellow suit, holding a hot cup of coffee.
Paisley stopped dead in her tracks, her knuckles turning white as she clutched her shopping bag. "You..." she spat, her voice filled with bitter poison. "Are you here to gloat?! You destroyed Spencer! You destroyed my career!"
Phoebe walked slowly toward her, her expression calm, serene, and completely unbothered by Paisley’s rage.
"You destroyed yourself, Paisley," Phoebe said smoothly. "You thought that by stepping on another woman, you could climb your way to the top of society. But you forgot to check if the ground beneath you was solid."
"I don't care about your money!" Paisley shrieked, her voice drawing the attention of passing shoppers. "You're still just a boring, quiet woman! Spencer never loved you! He told me you were terrible in bed! He told me you were a burden!"
Phoebe paused, looking at Paisley with a mixture of pity and quiet amusement.
"Spencer said whatever he needed to say to make himself feel powerful, Paisley," Phoebe replied. "And you were foolish enough to believe him because you wanted his money."
Phoebe reached into her leather handbag, pulling out a small, sealed envelope, holding it out toward Paisley.
Paisley stared at it suspiciously. "What is that? A bribe?"
"It's a one-way ticket to Chicago, along with a lease on a small studio apartment for six months," Phoebe explained softly. "My father wanted to blackball you from every industry in the country. I convinced him not to."
Paisley blinked, shock flashing across her eyes. "Why... why would you do that for me after what I did to you?"
"Because I don't build my happiness on someone else’s ruin," Phoebe said, dropping the envelope into Paisley's hands. "Take the ticket, Paisley. Leave this city, get a real job, and learn to build something of your own instead of stealing from other women."
May you like
Phoebe turned around, stepping back into her white Bentley. The door closed with a soft, heavy thud, and the luxury car glided smoothly into the afternoon traffic.
Paisley stood on the sunny sidewalk, holding the envelope in her shaking hands, tears of deep shame finally spilling down her cheeks.
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