Chapter 2 - The Gathering Storm

By Tuesday morning, the internet was burning.

Gabrielle was not just a brilliant lawyer; she was a master of the court of public opinion. She knew that rich men like Derek often bought their way out of quiet divorces, burying their abuse under non-disclosure agreements and sealed court files. Gabrielle refused to let Simone be a secret victim.

At 8:00 AM, an anonymous source—traced back to a burner IP, though Cameron had orchestrated it—leaked the security footage from the private jet to a major celebrity gossip site.

The headline read: BILLIONAIRE HEIR’S MISTRESS ASSAULTS PREGNANT WIFE IN MIDAIR WHILE HUSBAND WATCHES.

Within two hours, the video crossed three million views on Twitter. By noon, it was trending at number one on Facebook and TikTok. The outrage was visceral, universal, and explosive.

Women across the country analyzed the video frame by frame. They pointed out Tiffany’s designer suit and her cruel, sneering smile. They zoomed in on Simone’s protective hand over her belly, her quiet dignity, and the sheer terror in her eyes when Tiffany yanked her curls. But the most venom was reserved for Derek. The sight of a husband sitting just two rows away, casually scrolling on his phone while his pregnant wife begged for help, ignited a firestorm of digital fury.

“This man is the definition of a coward. Throw the whole husband away,” read one top comment with fifty thousand likes.

“The way she said ‘My daughter is not your business’—Queen behavior. I hope she takes him for everything he has,” read another.

In Cameron’s sprawling, ultra-modern penthouse overlooking Lake Michigan, Simone sat on a plush velvet sofa, wearing one of Cameron’s oversized cashmere sweaters. She held a mug of chamomile tea, watching the news coverage on the massive flat-screen TV with a sense of surreal detachment.

Cameron walked into the living room, handing a freshly printed stack of documents to Gabrielle, who was set up at the dining table like a war general.

“How are you holding up?” Cameron asked, taking a seat next to Simone on the sofa. He kept a respectful distance, but his presence was a heavy, comforting anchor in the room.

“It feels like I’m watching a movie about someone else’s life,” Simone admitted, taking a sip of her tea. “But… I don’t feel afraid anymore. For the first time in months, I don’t feel like I’m walking on eggshells.”

Cameron’s jaw tightened. “You should never have had to live like that. I should have paid closer attention. I knew Derek was weak, but I didn’t know he was cruel. I’m sorry, Simone.”

Simone looked at him, surprised by the raw sincerity in his eyes. “It’s not your fault, Cameron. You didn’t make his choices.”

“No,” Cameron agreed darkly. “But I’m going to make his consequences.”

And the consequences were biblical.

Across town, Tiffany Blake was barricaded inside her luxury apartment, screaming into her phone. Her social media pages had been flooded with thousands of angry comments, forcing her to deactivate her Instagram and Facebook accounts. The paparazzi were camped outside her lobby. Every single one of her PR clients had sent termination notices. When she tried to order food delivery, the driver recognized her name and canceled the order. She was officially a pariah.

Derek wasn’t faring any better. He was currently sitting in a cheap motel room in the suburbs, staring at his laptop in horror. His face was plastered across CNBC and Bloomberg. The board of directors for the charity organizations he was a part of had publicly demanded his resignation. When he tried to call his country club, they informed him his membership was suspended indefinitely.

Desperate, Derek picked up his phone and dialed Tiffany’s number. He needed an ally. He needed someone to tell him they would get through this together.

The phone rang three times before she answered.

“Tiff, thank god,” Derek breathed. “Listen, it’s bad right now, but I’m going to call some PR fixers—”

“Don’t ever call me again, you broke, pathetic loser,” Tiffany hissed, her voice venomous and unhinged. “You told me your brother would back you up! You told me you controlled the money! Because of you, I have nothing! If you ever come near me again, I’ll tell the press you manipulated me into doing it!”

Before Derek could speak, she hung up.

Derek stared at the wall of the dingy motel, the stench of stale cigarette smoke filling his lungs. He had traded his loyal, loving wife and his unborn daughter for a woman who despised him the moment his wallet went empty.

A dark, chaotic desperation began to brew in Derek’s mind. He couldn’t accept this. He was a Rivers. He just needed to talk to Simone. She was soft. She was forgiving. If he could just get to her, manipulate her into making a public statement defending him, he could salvage his life.