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


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


    without someone pulling her strings.”


    “You think Chole ckmailed 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


    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 <i>a </i>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 myptop.


    There was no PR team behind me. No stylists. No grand


    production. Just me–my words, my evidence, and my


    trembling fingers.


    I logged into the backend of the Hawthrone Group website. I


    had admin ess through mystmunication team role.


    Maybe it was hical, maybe it wasn’t, but they had tried to


    ruin me first. I was just fighting back now.


    The camera on myptop blinked to life. I took a moment,


    adjusting the angle. I didn’t want to look too perfect. But I also


    didn’t want to look broken. Just real.


    Then I hit record.


    “My name is Olivia Whitmore,” I began. My voice sounded


    steadier than I felt. “I am the legal wife of Ethan Hawthrone.”


    That alone would startle the inte.


    “I’ve remained silent these past weeks despite public usations


    and private threats. I was hoping reason would prevail. But


    after the Windsor family’stest statement, I owe the truth–to myself, and to everyone watching.”


    I paused, swallowing back a lump in my throat.


    “I fell in love with Ethan five years ago. We met in college, felt a mate bond right away, and married in a celebrated ceremony


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


    him because I loved him. We were mates afterall.”


    I let that sit before continuing.


    “I knew Chole Windsor was involved with Ethan after our


    marriage. Not in the early years, but a few yearster. Ethan


    and Chole had gone to several ‘business‘ meetings and tours


    together. I stayed quiet, out of respect for the Hawthorne name


    and because I didn’t want to hurt Ethan.”


    I clicked to insert screenshots. Chat logs from Chole. Time-


    stamped. Aggressive. Controlling.


    “I never ‘dressed provocatively‘ to seduce Ethan. These


    usations from Amelia Hawthrone–his mother–are not only


    baseless, they’re defamatory. The video clip shared on social


    media has been edited. Here is the original.”


    I uploaded the full–length footage. In it, I was simply exiting a


    hotel conference room after a meeting, not entering a room


    with another man.


    “I want to rify the financial settlement Amelia referenced. It


    was a mutual agreement–negotiated bywyers from both


    sides, not a result of ckmail or seduction.”


    More documents filled the screen. Dates. Emails. Official stamps.


    “And finally,” I exhaled slowly, “Ethan himself has admitted that


    the recent usations were untrue. I will not release those


    personal admissions, out of respect. But I hope this video makes


    my position clear.”


    I looked directly into the camera. “I’ve been painted as a viin


    because I dared to leave a man who betrayed me. But I will not


    let others destroy my name. I’ve lost enough.”


    Then I ended the recording.


    Uploading the video took only minutes. My heart, however,


    stayed caught in my throat for much longer.


    Ava leaned in over my shoulder as we watched the views spike


    on the dashboard.


    “Still want to go alone?” she asked softly.


    I nodded. “I have to. I just need <i>a </i>break. A reset.”


    “Okay,” Ava hesitated. “Just promise me you wouldn’t do


    anything stupid, okay?”


    I nodded.


    “And yeah, if you find yourself in any trouble, I would be the


    first one to contact. Promise.”


    “Rx Ava. I’m just going to clear my head.” I said, smiling.


    Ava didn’t seem convinced, but she didn’t press.


    “Okay. I promised I would contact you if needed. Fine?”


    Ava nodded and hugged me strongly.


    That night, I packed quietly. Just the essentials. Laptop, charger,


    a few changes of clothes. No perfumes, no makeup kits. Just


    clothes that feltfortable. Safe.


    It was already dark when I left the apartment.