Updated Oct 22, 2025 • ~11 min read
The news broke at nine a.m.
HARTLEY HEIR ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE ASSAULT CHARGES
FAMILY PATRIARCH’S DEATHBED CONFESSION REVEALS DECADES OF COVER-UPS
BROTHER PROVIDES EVIDENCE AGAINST BROTHER IN SHOCKING BETRAYAL
Paige watched the headlines multiply on her phone, each one more sensational than the last. News vans were probably already descending on the Hartley family estate. Reporters scrambling for the story.
“We should get dressed,” Vincent said, still holding her. “Jennifer wants us downtown by noon.”
“I don’t want to move.”
“Neither do I. But the real world’s knocking.” He kissed her temple. “Shower first?”
They took turns—Vincent insisting she go first while he made coffee and fielded calls from his lawyer. When Paige emerged, dressed in jeans and a simple shirt, she found Vincent on her balcony, phone pressed to his ear, shoulders tense.
“I understand. Yes. I’ll resign from the board effective immediately.” His voice was flat. “No, I don’t need time to reconsider. It’s done.”
He hung up and stood there, staring out at the city.
Paige slid open the door. “What happened?”
“The board of Hartley Industries just voted to remove me. Effective immediately.” He turned to her, and his expression was eerily calm. “I’m out. No severance, no golden parachute. Just… out.”
“Vincent, I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. I knew it was coming.” He pulled her close. “The family name is toxic now. Anyone associated with covering up Marcus’s crimes is done. Including me.”
“But you’re the one who exposed him—”
“After bribing a witness and obstructing justice.” Vincent’s smile was bitter. “I’m not a hero, Paige. I’m just slightly less of a villain than my brother.”
“That’s not true.”
“Isn’t it?” He cupped her face. “I let him hurt people for years because it was convenient. Because I was too much of a coward to act until my father was dying. I’m complicit in every woman Marcus hurt after I knew what he was.”
“Stop.” Paige gripped his wrists. “You’re not your brother. You’re not even your father. You made mistakes, yes. But you’re trying to fix them. That has to count for something.”
Vincent kissed her forehead. “It counts because you believe it does. That’s enough for me.”
His phone rang again. He glanced at it and his jaw tightened. “Marcus. From jail.”
“Don’t answer—”
But Vincent already had. He put it on speaker.
“Brother.” Marcus’s voice dripped with venom. “Quite the morning, isn’t it?”
“What do you want?”
“To congratulate you. You’ve destroyed everything. The family business, our reputation, my freedom. Very thorough.” Marcus laughed, the sound unhinged. “But you missed something.”
“What’s that?”
“Me. You think you’ve won? You think locking me up solves anything?” His voice dropped to something dangerous. “I have friends, Vincent. People who owe me. People who’ll do what I ask. And what I’m asking is very simple.”
Paige’s blood went cold.
“If you’re threatening Paige—”
“I’m not threatening anyone. I’m making a promise.” Marcus’s voice was ice. “She took everything from me. My freedom, my reputation, my life. So I’m going to take something from her. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But someday, when she thinks she’s safe, when she thinks this is over—something bad is going to happen. And she’ll know it was me.”
“Marcus—”
“You chose her over blood, Vincent. You destroyed your own family for a woman who was already broken when I met her. I hope she was worth it.” The line went dead.
Paige was shaking. Vincent pulled her into his arms, phone clattering to the floor.
“He can’t touch you. I won’t let him.”
“He’s in jail and he’s still terrorizing me.” Her voice cracked. “When does it end?”
“Now. It ends now.” Vincent grabbed his phone and called someone. “David? It’s Vincent. I need around-the-clock security for Paige Carter. Yes, the same team from before. But upgrade it. I want someone with her at all times until Marcus is convicted and locked away for good.” He paused. “I don’t care what it costs. Just do it.”
“Vincent, you just lost your job—”
“I have savings. Investments. I’m not broke.” He cupped her face. “And even if I was, I’d find a way. You’re not going through this alone. Not anymore.”
A knock at the door made them both jump. Vincent moved in front of Paige immediately, body tense.
“Paige Carter? LAPD. We need to talk to you about Marcus Hartley.”
Vincent checked the peephole, then relaxed slightly. Two uniformed officers with badges visible.
Paige opened the door.
“Ms. Carter? I’m Officer Sullivan, this is Officer Barnes. We’re here about the threats you received this morning.”
“How did you know—”
“Jennifer Walsh from the DA’s office flagged it. Marcus Hartley called you from jail?” Sullivan pulled out a notepad.
“He called my phone,” Vincent said. “Threatened Paige. Said something bad would happen to her eventually.”
“We’ll need that recording if you have it.”
Vincent’s phone had automatically saved it. He forwarded it to the officers while they documented everything.
“Mr. Hartley’s bail hearing is this afternoon,” Barnes said. “Given these threats and his history, we’ll be recommending he be held without bail. But Ms. Carter, you should know—even from jail, he has resources. Family money, connections. You need to be careful.”
“I’m arranging security,” Vincent said.
“Good. Keep her somewhere safe. Somewhere Marcus doesn’t know about.” Sullivan handed Paige a card. “Call us if anything happens. Anything at all.”
After they left, Vincent made more calls—to his lawyer, to the security team, to people whose names Paige didn’t recognize. Organizing, planning, building a wall of protection around her.
“You should stay with me,” he said finally. “My penthouse. Marcus trashed my office but the rest is intact. Better security than here, cameras everywhere, doorman who knows not to let anyone up without clearance.”
“I can’t just move in with you—”
“Why not? We’re in this together, right?” Vincent took her hands. “Paige, I can’t protect you if you’re here and I’m there. And I need to protect you. I need to know you’re safe.”
She wanted to argue. Wanted to say she could take care of herself.
But Marcus’s voice echoed in her head. Something bad is going to happen.
“Okay,” she whispered. “But just until he’s convicted. Just until it’s really over.”
“However long you need.”
They grabbed essentials from her apartment—clothes, toiletries, her laptop. Vincent had a security guy meet them at the building, a former Marine named James who looked like he could break someone in half.
“James will be with you whenever I can’t be,” Vincent explained as they loaded Paige’s things into his car. “He’s trained in personal protection, evasive driving, all of it.”
“This feels excessive.”
“Marcus threatening you from jail feels excessive. This is proportional.” Vincent’s voice was firm. “Please. Let me do this. Let me keep you safe.”
They drove to the DA’s office with James following in a separate car. The building was surrounded by news vans, reporters shouting questions the moment they spotted Vincent’s car.
“Vincent! Did you really bribe a witness?”
“Ms. Carter! How much money did Vincent Hartley pay you?”
“Is it true you two are romantically involved?”
James cleared a path, his massive frame creating a barrier between them and the press. Inside the building, they were immediately ushered to a conference room where Jennifer Walsh and her team waited.
“Thank you for coming.” Jennifer gestured to seats. “This shouldn’t take long. We just need official statements from both of you about the arrangement you made.”
For the next two hours, they went through everything. The initial bribe, the evidence Vincent provided, the timeline of events. Paige’s reasons for withdrawing her statement. Vincent’s reasons for waiting until his father died.
Jennifer’s expression stayed neutral throughout, but Paige could see the judgment lurking underneath.
“Here’s where we are,” Jennifer said finally. “Marcus Hartley is being charged with seven counts of assault, three counts of battery, witness intimidation, and violating a restraining order. The evidence you provided is substantial enough to guarantee conviction.”
“And us?” Vincent asked.
“You, Mr. Hartley, are looking at witness tampering charges. Potentially obstruction of justice.” Jennifer’s voice was crisp. “However, given that you ultimately provided evidence that will convict your brother, the DA is willing to consider a plea deal. Probation, community service, fines. No jail time.”
Vincent nodded slowly. “And Paige?”
“Ms. Carter is in a more complicated position. She accepted money to withdraw her statement, which is technically illegal. However—” Jennifer looked at Paige. “Given that you were the victim, given the circumstances, given that you’re cooperating now, the DA is willing to offer immunity in exchange for your testimony against Marcus.”
Paige felt tears prick her eyes. “Really?”
“Really. But Ms. Carter, you will have to testify. At Marcus’s trial. Tell the truth about what he did to you and about the arrangement with Vincent.” Jennifer’s voice softened slightly. “I know that’s not easy. But it’s the price of immunity.”
“I’ll do it.” Paige didn’t hesitate. “Whatever it takes to make sure he goes to prison.”
“Good. The trial is scheduled for six weeks from now.” Jennifer closed her folder. “In the meantime, stay safe. Stay available. And don’t talk to the press.”
Outside, the reporters had multiplied. James had to physically block several of them as Vincent and Paige made their way to the car.
“Paige! Are you in love with Vincent Hartley?”
The question came from a young reporter who’d gotten too close. Paige met her eyes.
“No comment,” she said firmly.
But as they drove away, Vincent took her hand.
“For the record,” he said quietly, “I’m in love with you. Regardless of what happens. Regardless of trials or charges or public opinion.”
“I know.” Paige squeezed his hand. “I love you too. Even though it’s completely insane.”
“Especially because it’s insane.”
They drove to Vincent’s penthouse in Century City. True to his word, security was intense—cameras everywhere, a doorman who verified their identity three times, key card access to the private elevator.
Inside, the space was exactly as Paige remembered—glass and steel and lonely. Except now Vincent’s office was destroyed, papers scattered, furniture overturned, a clear message from Marcus scrawled on the wall in permanent marker:
TRAITOR
Vincent stared at it, jaw tight. “I’ll get it cleaned up.”
“Leave it.” Paige stood beside him. “It’s a reminder. Of what he is. Of why we did this.”
“It’s a reminder that my brother hates me enough to break into my home and destroy my things.” Vincent’s voice was hollow. “Some family.”
“Hey.” Paige turned him to face her. “You have a new family now. Me. Zoe. The people who actually care about you instead of just using you to cover up crimes. That’s worth more than blood.”
Vincent pulled her close, burying his face in her hair. “I don’t deserve you.”
“Probably not. But you’re stuck with me anyway.”
They spent the afternoon making the penthouse livable. Vincent arranged for cleaners to fix his office. James did a security sweep. Paige unpacked her things in Vincent’s guest room—though they both knew she wouldn’t be sleeping there.
By evening, exhaustion had set in. They ordered takeout and ate on the couch, watching the news coverage of Marcus’s arrest.
“Looks like he’s being held without bail,” Vincent said, reading an update on his phone. “Judge cited flight risk and the threats against you.”
“Good.” Paige curled into his side. “One less thing to worry about.”
“One of many.” Vincent kissed the top of her head. “But we’ll get through them. One at a time.”
That night, Paige did sleep in Vincent’s bed. Not for sex—they were both too exhausted, too wrung out. Just for comfort. For the feeling of being held. For the knowledge that she wasn’t alone.
She woke in the middle of the night to find Vincent awake, staring at the ceiling.
“Can’t sleep?” she whispered.
“Keep thinking about Marcus. About what he said.” Vincent turned to her. “What if he does find a way to hurt you? What if I can’t protect you?”
“Then we deal with it. Together.” Paige took his hand. “But Vincent? I’d rather face that risk with you than be safe alone. Do you understand? You’re worth the danger.”
“I’m really not.”
“Let me decide that.” She kissed him softly. “You saved me. Not from Marcus—from myself. From believing I deserved what he did. From thinking I was broken and worthless. You made me remember I’m strong. That I’m worth fighting for.”
“You always were.” Vincent pulled her closer. “I just helped you remember.”
They fell asleep tangled together, the city lights painting patterns on the ceiling, sirens wailing far below.
And for the first time in months, Paige slept through the night without nightmares.
Because even with Marcus in jail, even with trials looming, even with an uncertain future—
She had Vincent. Had love. Had hope.
And that was more than enough to fight for.
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