Chapter 14
People started whispering: “I heard the Morrison and Pierce families are even cousins or something. You really can’t trust anyone–pulling something this sick?”
Claire went white as a sheet, but Mr. Whitmore was still trying to play it cool:
“You think one sketchy recording is gonna nail us? How do we know you didn’t just deepfake this whole thing?!”
Sebastian let out a dark laugh. “Chill, I’m just getting started.”
The massive screen started playing that convo between Claire and her dad in his office, plus all of Mia’s medical records from when she got hurt.
All the shady crap the Whitmore and Morrison families had been pulling–barely staying on the right side of legal–kept scrolling across the
screen.
Then came the security footage of Claire straight–up smashing that bathroom mirror and going after Mia like a total psycho.
The whole crowd absolutely lost their minds.
The romantic fairy–tale vibe was completely trashed.
Claire’s eyes went huge with panic as she looked for a way out, but security had her totally boxed in.
The host passed Sebastian the mic, and he broke down exactly how Mr. Whitmore had gamed the legal system to steal everything from his
family.
This engagement had been the social event of the year, livestreaming to like half of Manhattan.
He walked straight up to the main camera, looking completely broken.
“The only woman I’ll ever marry is Mia Brooks.”
Mr. Whitmore’s face went tomato red.
He threw his arm over his face, trying to hide from all the phone cameras.
“Back off! Stop recording!”
Claire was still being totally delusional, trying to get Sebastian to forgive her, but he shoved her away hard.
She looked like her whole world just collapsed.
“Sebastian, you swore you’d protect me from everything!”
“Your parents are already dead, so just for that trashy Mia girl, you really gonna destroy all of us…”
Hearing her say that garbage, Sebastian’s whole body tensed up with rage.
“How do you have the balls to say that?!”
He grabbed Claire by the throat.
“You and your dad ruined me and Mia! You killed my entire family! If Mia hadn’t saved me, I would’ve been dead in that crappy apartment eight years ago!”
Dark bruises started showing up on her neck real quick.
Right before she blacked out, Sebastian dropped her in disgust, letting her hit the floor hard.
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Chapter 14
Getting his hands dirty on trash like this wasn’t even worth it.
Mr. Whitmore saw the evidence completely destroying him and had to eat shit, breaking down and begging Sebastian:
“Sebastian, I fucked up! I was just greedy! The Morrison family threatened me they said they’d kill me if I didn’t cooperate!”
Seeing him sell them out, the Morrison family went ballistic and one of them backhanded him hard, then they all started beating the crap out of
each other.
“You lying piece of shit! You were the one who wanted the blood money! I’m gonna fucking murder you!”
Sebastian watched this pathetic shitshow, but his eyes just looked dead inside.
Eight years ago, he’d lost his parents and everything–these assholes had orchestrated it all.
Eight years later, he’d lost Mia and any shot at love–and these same bastards were still ruining his life.
Sebastian, you’re such a goddamn moron.
FBI agents swarmed the venue and cuffed everyone.
“Mr. Pierce provided us with everything we need for federal charges. You’re all under arrest.”
Claire was still in agony when the feds scared her so shitless she literally pissed herself right there.
Her Instagram–perfect makeup was streaked down her face and she’d lost teeth from eating concrete, but she crawled to Sebastian on her hands and knees, ugly–crying and smashing her forehead on the floor.
“Sebastian, don’t let them take me! I swear I’ll never go near Mia again! Please, I’m fucking begging you! I can’t survive in federal prison!”
He stared down at her with pure disgust.
“You want a plea deal? Mia already showed mercy to your psycho friends. What makes you think I’d do you any favors after what you put her through?”
“Enjoy life behind bars with daddy dearest. Maybe you’ll have time to think about how you destroyed my family and tortured Mia.”
Claire went completely limp, broken.
But as the agents dragged her away, she started cackling like a deranged witch:
“Sebastian! You’re the one Mia should hate most! You’re the one who betrayed her over and over!
I hope she never forgives your sorry ass and you die alone and miserable, you fucking bastard!”
The nightmare finally ended and the crowd scattered.
Sebastian sat alone in the wreckage of what was supposed to be his engagement party, looking like a walking corpse, but the crushing guilt wouldn’t let him sleep.
He buried his face in his hands, muttering like a broken record:
“Mia, I’d rather have you hate my guts.”
At least then he’d have a shot at earning forgiveness instead of this… nothing.
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