Chapter 23: The Engagement Lie

Victoria's recorded cruelty did not prove attempted murder, but it destroyed her image.

By evening, clips from the winter garden meeting had leaked through anonymous legal channels. Every social page replayed Victoria's words. Sponsors vanished. Fashion houses paused collaborations. The Carter family issued a statement requesting privacy.

Privacy was always what the guilty wanted after public humiliation.

Ethan arrived at Moretti House again, this time looking less like a repentant lover and more like a man drowning in consequences.

Scarlett agreed to see him for one reason only: he had information.

'The engagement is over,' he said.

Scarlett sat across from him in the library. Alexander remained near the window, silent but impossible to ignore.

'That is not my concern,' Scarlett replied.

Ethan flinched. 'Victoria lied to me too.'

'Did she force the ring onto her finger?'

'No.'

'Then do not come here asking me to make you innocent.'

Ethan stared at the floor. 'I found emails between my father and Richard. The Carter merger depended on removing your voting rights. They believed your trust could block the deal.'

Scarlett's chest tightened. 'Removing my rights how?'

'First by declaring you medically incompetent. If that failed, they planned to pressure you into signing control over to Richard.'

Alexander's voice cut through the room. 'And after the accident?'

Ethan looked sick. 'Everything became easier for them.'

Scarlett felt cold. 'Did your father know about the brake line?'

'I do not know.'

'Not good enough.'

Ethan reached into his coat and placed a flash drive on the table. 'This is all I have. Emails, meeting notes, one audio file from my father's office. I copied them before he locked me out.'

Scarlett stared at the drive. 'Why help me now?'

Ethan's eyes filled with shame. 'Because I loved you badly. But I did love you.'

For a moment, the old Scarlett wanted to believe him.

Then the new Scarlett remembered the ring.

'Love without courage is just another kind of betrayal,' she said.

Ethan nodded as if she had slapped him.

After he left, Scarlett did not cry.

Alexander picked up the flash drive. 'This may open the Carter side.'

Scarlett looked toward the dark window. 'Then open it.'