Chapter 3

Once I reached my office, I pulled up every project file Brantley had touched recently and combed through them again.

Every single one was flawless, not a single discrepancy in sight.

Just as I was beginning to feel defeated, the office door clicked open quietly.

Lucas leaned against the doorframe, that signature carefree smirk on his face.

He strolled over to my desk, then suddenly leaned in close, his voice dropping to a low, almost teasing murmur. "Claire. I heard you're expecting?"

I forced a casual smile and met his gaze. "That's right. We've been married for two years. Having a baby seems pretty normal, doesn't it?"

"Is that so?" He straightened up, pulled a sleek black USB drive from his pocket, and placed it gently on the desk. "Well then, consider this a little congratulatory gift."

He turned and sprawled across the leather couch as if he owned the place, scrolling through his phone like I wasn't even there.

I plugged the drive into my computer.

As the files loaded, I stole another glance at Lucas lounging across the room.

People really did underestimate him. Beneath that easygoing exterior was someone who saw everything.

We quickly outlined a strategy to secure Claire's Jewelry for good.

I knew my father all too well. To him, everything came down to the bottom line.

That afternoon, we drove to Summers Group headquarters. The whole way through the lobby, employees couldn't stop staring.

Just as we reached my father's office, the door swung open from the inside.

Brantley and Vivian came outside side by side, Vivian wearing a smirk that said she'd already won.

When Brantley spotted me, he moved to pull me into a side hug. "Claire, you shouldn't have come all this way yourself. I could've handled it."

I stepped out of his reach, my eyes locking onto my father. "You gave Claire's Jewelry to HIM?"

My father's expression faltered for just a second before he straightened up, putting on his usual authoritative tone. "Yes. Brantley's family. Why draw lines between us?"

I took a sharp breath, nails digging into my palms to keep from slapping him.

When it came to money, my feelings never mattered.

Brantley glanced at Vivian, then spoke in that slow, calm tone he used when he thought he was being reasonable. "Claire, Vivian needs the exposure right now. Once she's established, Claire's Jewelry will come back to you."

It felt like a physical blow. I couldn't stop trembling.

He knew full well this was my mom's legacy, my name, my last boundary.

He'd promised me, swore on everything, that he'd help me get Claire's Jewelry back, safe and sound.

But now, he was giving it away to Vivian, just like that.

I took another slow breath, realizing I'd never get it back through him.

"Let's go," I said quietly.

Back at the office, my phone began buzzing relentlessly with notifications.

[BREAKING: Vivian Reed is named face of Hawthorne Corporation's new jewelry line.]

[Brantley Hawthorne transfers "Claire's Jewelry" subsidiary to Vivian Reed.]

Vivian even posted a glossy selfie on her official Instagram, captioning it. [New role, new beginnings. Grateful for the trust, Brantley.]

Minutes later, a direct message from Vivian popped up on my screen: [Your title as "Mrs. Hawthorne" is just for show, Claire. He never loved you.]

[Two years of marriage and he wouldn't even touch you.]

[You're holding onto a joke everyone's laughing at.]

[And Claire's Jewelry? Soon it'll be Vivian's Jewelry.]

I stared at the message, speechless.

Everyone knew the story. When Brantley was kidnapped years ago, Vivian took a knife for him, a wound that left her unable to ever have children.

After that, Brantley would always choose her. That was a debt that would never change.

But I was done. Done with this so-called love, and done with Brantley.

Without hesitation, I anonymously leaked everything: security footage of Brantley and Vivian entering her apartment late at night, dashcam clips of them kissing in his car, time-stamped photos from hotel lobbies.

Our wedding had been private, but everyone in the industry knew I was the rightful Mrs. Hawthorne.

Within thirty minutes, social media was on fire.

[Vivian Reed exposed as the homewrecker.]

[Brantley Hawthorne, CEO of Hawthorne Corp, caught cheating for real.]

Hawthorne Corporation's stock plummeted. My phone lit up with calls from furious shareholders, all demanding answers.