CHAPTER 25: SUE THEM ALL

"So, anything else?" Alisha asked as she pulled off her mask and gloves, her voice slightly hoarse after helping the landslide victims for hours.

It wasn’t her first time volunteering on the field. After being adopted by her father, Alisha grew up determined to help families like hers, families torn apart by tragedy. She’d lost hers in a fire and had been separated from her siblings in the chaos that followed.

She refused to let any other child or parent experience the same pain.

Her adoptive father understood that pain. He’d supported her by helping her create an organization focused on rescuing and rehabilitating displaced individuals. Even while Alisha pursued her main career as a model, she never let go of her mission. And even while pursuing her career, she didn’t forget about her main mission.

Balancing it all had been hard at first, but now, things were moving more smoothly.

Across from her, Ryan sat at his desk, typing steadily on his computer. His glasses reflected the white-blue glow of the monitor as he reviewed files.

"Nothing so far," he muttered, not looking up. "I’m still analyzing the substances we found in the victims’ homes. It’s definitely not a coincidence. Someone’s been supplying them with those drugs."

Alisha folded her arms. "Someone had to smuggle those drugs into Lexora first before they ever reached the victims."

Ryan nodded. "Exactly. And since Mr. De Rossi is the governor of this city, it’s technically under his jurisdiction. Every single shipment, every license, every permit—it goes through his office. If a whole neighborhood is hooked on the same drug, then it either slipped past him... or he let it in."

A cold weight settled in Alisha’s chest.

She despised politicians.

Her biological father had once worked as a personal bodyguard for a high-ranking politician—one of the few good men in the industry. He had risked his life daily to protect someone in power, believing in loyalty, believing in duty.

But when he died, burned alive in the fire that claimed their home, that same politician hadn’t so much as acknowledged his death. No letter. No apology. No call. No compensation. Not even a funeral wreath.

Her mother, who hadn’t worked and had taken care of the house and kids full-time, died along with him. And Eva , too young at the time, ended up in an overcrowded orphanage.

For years, speculations filled her mind. And the older she got, the more certain she became that something wasn’t right. The fire wasn’t random. The deaths certainly weren’t accidental.

Her first suspect had been the very politician her father had served.

But he was long dead. A heart attack had taken him years ago, right before she could even confront him. She’d been left with nothing but a burned house, dead parents, and a vengeance she didn’t know how to channel.

No photos. No records. No proof.

Alisha had considered asking Dante for help. He had power, access, and eyes in places she didn’t. But the idea of confiding in him made her stomach twist. She didn’t trust him.

"If this is the work of that old man," she said, "What’s his endgame? Secretly drug everyone in Lexora? To what end? What good is being elected if half the city’s dead or unstable?"

Ryan gave a slight shrug. "That’s what we still need to figure out. You visited his home with Dante, didn’t you? Anything strange?"

Alisha’s face fell slightly when she recalled how Jennifer had abruptly interrupted her.

She shook her head. "I didn’t get the chance. But maybe I can convince Dante to schedule another dinner. I’ll say it’s for the sake of bonding with his mother. That might buy me some time."

Ryan paused, then leaned forward. "Whatever you decide, just be careful. That man and his son... they’re not to be trusted."

He reached out and cupped her cheek. Alisha instinctively leaned into the warmth of his palm, her expression softening.

"You don’t have to worry about that," she replied. "By the time he finds my sister, we’ll have enough proof to bring down his entire bloodline."

A small grin tugged at her lips, laced with steel.

It was still morning...

The sun glared faintly above, hidden behind streaks of clouds that made the breeze feel softer against the skin.

Veila buzzed with energy. Everyone was going about their assigned drills and tasks, set by their individual managers. Everything in this elite academy was crafted to mold the girls into perfection—disciplined, trained, and flawless.

Alisha noticed it almost immediately, how the atmosphere around her had shifted.

Girls who once smiled at her or gave her a casual wave now averted their eyes. Conversations hushed when she walked by. She wasn’t particularly close to any of them, but they’d always maintained a cordial relationship.

Now, it was like she was a ghost. Or worse... a threat.

"Alisha!"

She turned at the familiar voice.

It was Hex—the girl who had landed in the sickbay on day one after someone tampered with her food. She was looking much better now, her skin glowing with recovery.

"Have you seen the headlines?" Hex asked.

Alisha frowned. "What headlines?"

Hex didn’t answer with words. Instead, she handed Alisha her phone.

It was a video.

A short clip of Alisha walking beside Katherine.

Everyone in Veila had phones, but filming someone else, especially in training or off-hours, was strictly prohibited. Someone had broken the rules.

And now the video had gone viral.

It had racked up millions of views. And the comments...

Alisha exhaled sharply as she scrolled down. She knew what to expect, but the sting still hit hard.

"Who does she think she is walking like that? She should just walk straight into the river and drown."

"She’s trying to steal Katherine’s spotlight. Alisha De Rossi? Girl, go back to whatever village you crawled out from."

"Copycat. Trying to mimic Katherine’s strut. Cringe."

"Alisha De Rossi, die!!"

That last one.

She froze at the word.

Die.

It was one thing to be criticized. She was used to the harsh world of the internet.

But a death wish?

That was something no one should have to read under their name.

A part of her wanted to brush it off. Just another online troll with too much time and too little empathy. But a bigger part of her was done being silent.

She took a deep breath, screenshot every nasty comment, and typed out a short message to Maxine.

"I want to sue them."