Chapter 74

“She was,” Ethan muttered. “I’m not denying that Chole has…

manipulated things. My mom wouldn’t have gone this far

without someone pulling her strings.”

“You think Chole blackmailed her?” I asked. “Or was it bait?”

“Probably both,” he admitted. “And yeah, I know you’re

recording, Ava. I’m not stupid.”

Ava lifted her phone slightly. “Good. Because this goes to the

press if anyone tries to spin this again.”

I took a breath, steady but bitter. “It’s over, Ethan. Between us.

And if you keep trying to hold on, you’re just giving Chole more

fuel to hurt me with. She’ll only stop when you and I are

completely done.”

Ethan didn’t argue this time. For a long second, he just stood


there.

Finally, he exhaled. “I get it.”

I waited.

He looked at Ava. Then at me. “If a joint statement will help… I’ll 、

do it. I’ll cooperate.”

The quiet that followed our confrontation was unnerving.

After Ethan left, Ava sat down beside me, but didn’t say much.

We didn’t need to. The room still buzzed from the tension, and I

needed to breathe.

I opened my laptop.

team behind

Just me–my words, my evidence, and

trembling fingers.


into the backend of

through my last communication

maybe it wasn’t, but they had

was just fighting back

blinked to

angle. I didn’t want to look too perfect.

want to look broken.

Then I hit record.

Whitmore,” I began. My voice

“I am the legal wife

alone would startle the

silent these past weeks despite public

I was hoping reason would prevail.


Chapter 4

owe

paused, swallowing back a lump in

five years ago. We met in college, felt a mate bond

by our families. I didn’t marry him for status. I

him.

let that

was involved with

early years, but a few

had gone to several ‘business‘ meetings and

out of respect for the Hawthorne

I didn’t

screenshots. Chat


stamped. Aggressive. Controlling.

‘dressed provocatively‘ to seduce

from Amelia Hawthrone–his mother–are

video clip shared

has been edited. Here is the

footage. In it, I was

conference room after a meeting, not entering

with another man.

Chapter 74

want to clarify the financial settlement

agreement–negotiated by lawyers from

not a result of

filled the screen.


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