Gossip girl

"They say a spider's web is delicate... but don't forget, it's designed to trap. And on the Upper East Side, no one escapes. XOXO, Gossip Girl."

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Aryan's Calculations

As the school day ended, Aryan sat in the back of his sleek black car, scrolling through the latest market reports on his tablet. Jain Global Holdings was quietly expanding, but tonight, his mind was focused on Serena. The tension from Gabriel's disappearance still hung between them—he could feel it.

He knew he needed to address it. Not with explanations, but with reassurance. Secrets were currency here, and Aryan was fluent in the exchange.

"To The Palace," he instructed his driver, already planning how to disarm her doubts without revealing too much.

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Serena's Turmoil

Serena sat in her suite at The Palace, nursing a glass of wine she shouldn't have had access to, thoughts swirling. She trusted Aryan—or at least, she wanted to. But Gabriel's sudden disappearance, with no explanation, left her unsettled.

A knock at her door pulled her from her thoughts. It was Aryan.

"Hey," he said softly, stepping inside with that calm, commanding presence that always seemed to ground her.

"Hey," she echoed, trying to sound normal, but he wasn't fooled.

"You're thinking about him," Aryan stated, not accusingly, but knowingly.

"I just... it all happened so fast," she admitted. "One moment he was here, and then... gone."

Aryan stepped closer, his dark eyes intense. "He wasn't who you thought he was. I made sure he wouldn't hurt you—or anyone else. Trust me."

The way he said it, with absolute certainty, made her heart race—not with fear, but with the intoxicating sensation of being protected by someone who controlled the board.

"I do," she whispered, and the tension between them softened, replaced by something deeper, more dangerous.

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Gossip Girl (Text Blast): "When a knight guards his queen, it's sweet... until you realize he's protecting her from something he's not telling her about. Secrets, secrets... XOXO."

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Blair's Counterattack

Meanwhile, Blair Waldorf was plotting.

The new transfer, Amira, had made the fatal mistake of challenging Blair's dominance at Constance. Today, she'd gotten a little too close to Blair's circle—laughing with the wrong people, lingering in the wrong places.

"She thinks she can just walk in and replace me?" Blair fumed to Kati and Isabel, her eyes glittering with cold fury.

"What are we going to do?" Kati asked eagerly, already anticipating Blair's revenge.

Blair smiled—a dangerous, calculating smile. "We remind her whose school this is. Subtly, of course. We wouldn't want to be accused of bullying."

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Gossip Girl (Text Blast): "B's sharpening her claws... and someone's about to get scratched. Hope you brought band-aids, new girl. XOXO."

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Chuck's Game

Later that night, at The Empire, Chuck Bass was hosting one of his infamous after-hours gatherings. The bass-heavy music thumped through the penthouse, and the city's elite swirled around him like moths to a flame.

Aryan arrived late, effortlessly commanding attention with his quiet intensity. Chuck noticed.

"Decided to grace us with your presence," Chuck greeted, offering a glass of whiskey.

"Couldn't let you have all the fun," Aryan replied smoothly, taking the glass.

They stood on the balcony, overlooking the glittering city.

"So... Gabriel," Chuck said, as though testing the waters.

Aryan's gaze was steady. "What about him?"

Chuck smiled, slow and knowing. "Nothing. Just... he's gone. And you don't seem surprised."

"I deal with problems," Aryan said simply. "He was a problem."

The raw truth of it hung in the air between them, unspoken but understood.

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Gossip Girl (Text Blast): "The thing about power? It only grows when others fear to challenge it. And right now, it looks like A's playing a long game. Careful, Upper East Side... kings rarely play nice. XOXO."

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Nate's Breaking Point

Back at the Archibald residence, Nate sat in the dark, staring at the legal documents that spelled out his father's impending downfall. His phone buzzed—a message from Aryan.

"I have something that might help. Meet me tomorrow."

Nate closed his eyes, the weight of his family's disgrace pressing down on him. He didn't know what Aryan had planned—but at this point, he'd take any lifeline.

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Gossip Girl (Final Text Blast of the Night): "When you're drowning, you don't question who throws you a rope. But you should... because not all ropes are meant to save you. Sweet dreams, Upper East Siders... if you can sleep at all. XOXO."