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.

no PR team behind me. No stylists. No

words, my evidence,

trembling fingers.


the backend of the Hawthrone Group website.

admin access through my last communication

was unethical, maybe it wasn’t, but they

first. I was just fighting

on my laptop blinked

didn’t want to

to look broken.

Then I hit record.

name is Olivia Whitmore,” I began.

felt. “I am the legal wife

would startle

remained silent these past

was hoping reason would


Chapter 4

owe the truth–to myself, and

back a lump in my

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

by our families. I didn’t marry him

because I loved him. We

let that sit

was involved with

years, but a few years

Chole had gone to several

quiet, out of respect for the

didn’t want

insert screenshots. Chat logs from Chole.


stamped. Aggressive. Controlling.

never ‘dressed provocatively‘ to

from Amelia Hawthrone–his mother–are not

defamatory. The video clip shared on

has been edited. Here is

footage. In it, I was simply

conference room after a meeting, not

with another man.

Chapter 74

to clarify the financial settlement

agreement–negotiated by lawyers from

a result of

screen. Dates. Emails.


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