Estela Stanton POV:
I was about to hail a cab to the Blackburn estate when a black Bentley slid to a silent stop in front of me. The tinted window lowered, revealing Gannon Farley's sharp profile.
Gannon, the star captain and undisputed centerpiece of the New York Rangers, was one of the biggest names in hockey. The media painted him as a notorious playboy. Beyond that, he was also Jaimen's biggest rival.
"Going to the Blackburns?" he asked.
I frowned. "How did you know?"
"I heard my biggest rival's fiancée was in trouble." A faint smile touched his lips. "Seemed like a good opportunity to make things a little more complicated."
I stared at him. "So you're here to help me?"
"Help you?" His smile widened. "I'm here to interfere. There's a difference."
It was exactly the kind of answer I'd expect from Jaimen's biggest rival. I reached for the door handle of the cab behind me. "Then I'll pass."
"Wait." Gannon's voice stopped me. He nodded toward the Bentley. "If you walk into the Blackburn estate alone, Judith can shut you down before you get through the front door. If I walk in with you, carrying the Farley name, they'll have to hear you out."
I hesitated. He was right. Getting inside was only the first step, and having Gannon beside me would make it much harder for the Blackburns to dismiss me.
I looked at him for a moment, then opened the passenger door and got in.
The drive was quiet. When we reached the Blackburn estate, the massive iron gates swung open the moment the guards recognized the Bentley. Gannon drove straight toward the main house and stopped at the front steps.
I pushed the car door open, my heels making a sharp, determined crunch on the gravel driveway.
Gannon got out from the driver's side. He wore a black suit that made him look taller, more imposing.
He turned, his piercing green eyes lingering on me for a moment. A barely perceptible smirk touched his lips. "Ready?"
I didn't answer, just walked toward the front door. He fell into step beside me.
The butler rushed out to greet us. He bowed respectfully to Gannon, then shot me a look of pure contempt and smug satisfaction.
I walked into the living room. Jaimen's mother, Judith Blackburn, was seated on a pristine white sofa, her posture rigid. Jaimen stood beside her, looking like a scolded child.
Her cold, sharp eyes landed on me. "You have the nerve to show your face here?"
Before I could speak, Gannon strolled in behind me. He casually unbuttoned his suit jacket as if he owned the place. "Judith. Long time no see. Looks like I'm interrupting a family meeting."
Judith's face changed the moment she saw him. His presence was clearly a shock. She forced a tight, brittle smile. "Gannon. What brings you here?"
He ignored her question, walking over to the empty sofa beside me and sinking into it. He crossed his legs, his posture relaxed but dangerous. "I'm with Ms. Stanton. We're here to handle some... private business."
His words left the room silent. Jaimen's eyes reddened, jealousy and anger flashing across his face. Judith stiffened, her expression turning hard.
I was just as shocked, but I kept my expression neutral. I had no idea what his game was, but my instincts told me to trust him.
Judith took a deep breath, turning her venom back on me. "Estela, Jaimen told me everything. Young men make mistakes. For the sake of both our families, this needs to be swept under the rug."
I let out a cold laugh. "Swept under the rug? You want me to pretend nothing happened and marry this... traitor?"
"Name your price," Judith said, her voice dripping with condescension, as if she were dismissing a beggar.
I was about to fire back when Gannon spoke first. He picked up an apple from the bowl on the coffee table, tossing it lightly in his hand. "Judith, I think you've misunderstood the situation."
His voice was soft, but it carried an undeniable weight of authority. "This isn't about what Estela will take. It's about what the Blackburn family is willing to pay to earn her forgiveness."
The color drained from Judith's face. She knew what Gannon—and the Farley family—represented in New York. Their power dwarfed hers.
I seized the moment, laying out my terms. "I want the Blackburn Group's official social media account to post a public statement. It will announce the end of the engagement and state clearly that Jaimen is at fault. If not, those photos will be on the front page of every news outlet by morning."
Judith trembled with fury, pointing a finger at me. "You dare threaten me?"
"She's not threatening you," Gannon said, rising to his feet. His tall frame cast a long shadow, enveloping Judith. "She's informing you."
He moved to stand behind me, his hand resting lightly on the back of my chair in a gesture of pure protection. "The statement, or the scandal. Your choice."
Judith stared at him, then at me, her eyes filled with a hatred so intense it was almost tangible.
Jaimen started to speak, but a single sharp look from his mother silenced him.
After a long, tense moment, Judith ground out the words through her teeth. "Fine. I'll do it."
She snatched her phone and began barking orders at her PR team.
I stood up. My purpose here was achieved. I wouldn't stay a second longer.
Gannon stood with me. His hand slid from the chair to my shoulder, a brief, steadying touch. "Let's go. I'll take you home." His voice was low, a warm current in the icy room.
Together, we walked out of that suffocating house.
