“It’sfactual,” she said, pulling out herptop and mming it


    open on the dining table. “We’ve got everything, Liv. Your


    marriage certificate. The footage of Ethan crashing your


    workce. His doctor’s record when you had your miscarriage.


    Want me to pull the emotional damageswsuit too?”


    I hesitated again. “If we do this… Ethan and I won’t be able to


    Ava froze. “You still don’t get it?”


    I looked away.


    “No, Liv,” she said tly. “Donotstart that. You think Ethan


    didn’t know what was going on? You think he’s some sad little


    puppet under Amelia’s strings? That man stood silent while his


    mother dragged you in front of the whole damn city!”


    “I know Ava,” I muttered. “But-<b>” </b>


    “Butwhat?” Ava nearly shouted. “You still think divorcing him


    would be as easy as walk into court and sign papers? Just that?”


    “I know he won’t let me that easy. If he were sane, things


    wouldn’t have reached here already! My voice was low now,


    and cold. “But I also have to see for the reputation of the Green


    group and my family”


    Ava stared at me, her jaw clenched.


    “Okay,” I stepped forward, pushing the phone toward her. “Let’s


    do it. Full–on statement. Burn it all down if we have to.”


    “Finally,” she breathed. “You’ve got fire in your voice again.”


    We pulled out notebooks, our phones, scribbling talking points,


    arranging what evidence to present and in what order. Ava was already muttering lines like a war strategist –“We’ll open with


    the timeline. Then move to the receipts and record everything


    from now onwards.”


    My heart thudded fast with every bullet point.


    Just as I opened the photo album on my phone to start


    gathering screenshots, the doorbell rang.


    I froze.


    Ava stood, crossed the room to the door quietly, and peered


    through the peephole.


    She looked back at me, deadpan. “It’s him.”


    My stomach dropped.


    Without <i>a </i>word, Ava flipped on her phone camera and pointed


    it at the door. “Recording”


    She turned to me, calm but sharp–eyed. “Open it.”


    Olivia’s POV


    The moment I opened the door, Ethan barged in like a storm


    front. No apology. No hesitation.


    “Olivia, I swear to God, I had no idea what my mom was going to


    say today,” he started breathlessly.


    I stepped back, crossing my arms. “And yet you stood by and let


    her do it.”


    “She didn’t tell me! I woke up with a hangover, I didn’t even


    have my phone–Reed had toe drag me out of the hotel. By


    the time I saw it, it was already everywhere.”


    I stayed still. My voice didn’t rise, but it didn’t soften either. “So,


    what are you nning to do? Hold a press conference?


    Apologize for the lies? Or maybe admit you cheated on your


    wife with Chole Windsor?”


    Ethan flinched. “I can’t… I mean, it’s not that simple.“”


    “Oh, it’s simple,” I snapped. “Your mother lied. You let her lie. And you still sleepwalk through the fallout like it’s not your


    mess to clean up.”


    <b>“</b><b>I </b>didn’t let her <b>lie-</b>”


    “You didn’t stop her either.”


    “I didn’t know, Olivia!” he shouted, dragging a hand through his hair. “You think I want you being dragged like this? You think I liked hearing what she said about you on live television? My


    own damn mother!”


    “You have a mouth, Ethan. Use it for something other than


    excuses!‘


    Ava entered from the kitchen, holding her phone low at her


    side. “Then tell the truth,” she said calmly. “Go on. Say it. Say


    that your mother lied, and say Chole probably baited her into


    it.”


    Ethan hesitated. “I—” He looked between us, chest rising and


    falling. “She’s not well, Olivia. You know she’s been off for


    months. And with the Windsors pressing her, and everything


    going to hell-<b>” </b>


    “You’re still doing it,” I said. “Making her the victim. Like I’m not


    the one with my name sshed across gossip columns as a


    whore and a thief.”


    Ethan took a step closer. “We can fix this. I’m serious. If we go


    back to how it was-<b>” </b>


    “Don’t,” I cut in. “If you’re about to suggest that we get back


    Chapter <b>73 </b>


    together to make the rumors die down, just don’t<b>” </b>


    <b>“</b>I just meant… if we’re seen together, people might stop


    believing the story. I’m trying to help.”


    “Then help by telling the damn truth.” I looked him straight in


    the eye. “Either clear my name or shut up. You made this mess


    when you cheated. Your mother poured gasoline on it. You


    don’t get to offer me silence as charity.”


    Ethan’s jaw tightened. “I can’t publicly say I cheated, Olivia.”


    “No?” Ava crossed her arms. “But you can say the usations were fake. That your mother wasn’t in her right mind. That


    Chole’s influence was involved.”