2
Ethan arrived quickly.
Trailing behind him was Luna, the “helpless” heroine herself.
She was wearing a simple white dress, her face tear–streaked and her eyes red. The moment she saw me, she shrank behind Eth-
an, putting on a masterful performance of a terrified victim.
She was a natural. A shame she wasn’t an actress, she’d win awards.
Ethan shielded her protectively, like a knight guarding his princess. He frowned at me, his brow so furrowed you could lose a fly in
it
Zoe, what kind of game are you playing now?”
The moment my parents saw him, their faces transformed.
“Ethan, dear, you’re here. Zoe is just confused right now, don’t mind her,” my mother said, her smile sickeningly sweet.
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Chapter 1
“That’s right,” my father chimed in. “Kids throw tantrums. Don’t take it seriously.”
Ignoring my parents‘ frantic damage control, I pulled a document from the bedside table and tossed it to Ethan.
“Here. The annulment agreement. My lawyer already drafted it. Take a look. If there are no issues, sign it.”
Ethan glanced down at the papers, and his expression became a fascinating mix of shock, confusion, and the offended anger of a man whose ego had just been bruised.
He was probably so used to me chasing after him that my sudden, decisive action was more than he could process.
Luna peeked out from behind him and whispered, “Zoe… please don’t be like this. I know you hate me. It’s all my fault. Don’t take it
out on Ethan. I’ll… I’ll leave.”
As she spoke, fresh tears began to fall.
I looked at her and asked with genuine curiosity, “Leave? To where? Are you leaving the city? Should I book you a flight? One–way or round trip?”
Luna’s sobs caught in her throat.
Ethan’s face darkened. “Zoe, that’s enough! Luna is a kind person. Don’t project your own twisted thoughts onto her!”
“Kind?” I repeated the word. “Is ‘kind‘ living in my family’s house, spending my family’s money, and seducing my fiancé? The bar for
kindness seems pretty low these days.”
“That’s not true!” Luna retorted, her voice trembling with emotion. “Ethan and I are truly in love!”
“Oh, true love.” I nodded as if in sudden understanding. “Well, that’s perfect. I’m setting you free. Sign the papers, and he’s all yours.
You two can go wherever you want, and no one will ever stand in your way.”
Ethan stared at me, his eyes searching my face for any sign that this was a trick.
“What do you really want?”
“I want you to sign this document and get out of my life. Is that so hard to understand?” I cleaned my ear with my pinky. “Or are you perhaps reluctant to give up the benefits of a merger between the Vance and Caldwell fortunes?”
That hit a nerve.
His expression turned ugly.
“Zoe, don’t you regret this.” He snatched a pen and scrawled his name on the document, pressing so hard he nearly tore through
the paper.
He threw the agreement back at me. “As you
wish.”
I took it, glanced at the signature, and nodded in satisfaction.
“Excellent. As of this moment, we’re even.”
My parents looked like they were about to have a collective aneurysm.
“Zoe!”
“You’re out of your mind!”
I ignored them and turned to my assistant, Laura. “Laura, please show our guests out.”
Ethan took Luna’s hand and started to leave, but he paused at the door and looked back at me, his eyes filled with a complex emot- jon
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“Zoe, don’t think this little stunt will get my attention. It won’t work.”
I laughed.
“Mr. Vance, you’re overthinking things. I just realized… you’re not good enough for me.”
His face instantly turned blacker than the bottom of a scorched pot.
I didn’t spare him another glance. Instead, I pulled a checkbook from my purse, wrote out a series of numbers, tore out the check,
and held it out to the still–sniffling Luna.
“Here. Take this.”
Luna just stared at it, not moving.
Ethan frowned. “What are you doing now?”
“A severance package,” I said simply.
Everyone froze
I pressed the check into Luna’s hand, my tone surprisingly gentle.
“Five million dollars. The pin is six zeros. Take this money, start a small business, buy a house, whatever. Just don’t ever show your face in front of me again. And tell your mother to stop working as our housekeeper. It’s not just awkward for you; her presence has become an embarrassment to me.”
Luna’s fingers trembled, the check feeling like a hot coal in her hand.
“I… I can’t take this! I’m not doing this for money!”
“I know you’re not here for the money, you’re here for love,” I said with profound understanding. “But love doesn’t pay the bills. Take
- it. Consider it my wedding gift to you and Ethan. After all, I was a witness to your great love story.”
I finished and looked back at Ethan.
“What’s wrong? Is your ‘true love‘ only worth this much? Or did you think it wasn’t enough?”
Ethan was so furious he was speechless, his handsome face flushed a deep red.
He had probably never been so humiliated in his life.
To have a price tag put on his great romance was the ultimate insult.
But that was exactly my intention.
Talk about feelings with you people who live in a fantasy world?
Sorry, I only talk money.
It’s simple, direct, and incredibly effective.
My breakup with Ethan, combined with the betrayal of my best friend, made me the talk of the town.
The rumors were flying.
Some said the shock had driven me insane.
Others whispered that the Caldwell Corporation was on the brink of bankruptcy.
And then there were those who claimed I, heartbroken and scorned, was on the verge of becoming a full–blown villainess
Chapter 1
I had to laugh.
Insane? I’d never been clearer in my life.
Bankruptcy? Please. I’d just dropped eighty million on a diamond at auction yesterday like I was buying candy.
As for being a villainess… I kind of liked the sound of that.
1030
A few days later, an invitation to a charity gala arrived. The host was a prominent socialite, a Mrs. Davenport. In the past, I would have attended on Ethan’s arm, a pretty accessory listening silently as he networked.
But now? I was the powerhouse.
That evening, I arrived alone, dressed in a striking crimson couture gown. The moment I walked in, every eye in the room was on me. I saw surprise, contempt, and a whole lot of morbid curiosity.
I ignored it all, made a beeline for the buffet, and started filling a plate. I’d had a long day, and I was starving.
As I was eating, Mrs. Davenport glided over, a champagne flute in her hand.
“Zoe, darling, it’s been too long. You look absolutely stunning,” she purred, her smile perfectly pleasant.
“You’re too kind, Mrs. Davenport,” I said, spearing a piece of foie gras.
“I heard you’ve been through… a difficult time recently,” she continued, feigning concern. “With Ethan… oh, it’s such a shame.”
“Nothing shameful about it. When you have trash, you take it out. You don’t save it for a special occasion, do you?”
Mrs. Davenport’s smile froze on her face. A few of the women nearby who had been shamelessly eavesdropping suddenly looked very uncomfortable.
“You have such a sense of humor, Zoe,” she said with a dry laugh before getting to the point. “Tonight’s gala is to raise funds for underprivileged children in rural areas. As a successful young woman from such a prominent family, I do hope you’ll contribute generously.”
Here it comes. The guilt trip.
I swallowed my food and looked at her. “I’m happy to contribute. But I have a rule when I donate.”
“Oh? And what’s that?” she asked, intrigued.
“I need to know where every single penny goes,” I stated. “Mrs. Davenport, would it be possible for us donors to review your foundat-
ion’s financial records?”
The air went still.
Mrs. Davenport’s expression soured. “Zoe, what are you implying? Are you questioning our foundation?”
“I’m not questioning anything,” I replied, my face a picture of sincerity. “I’m simply exercising my right as a donor to be informed. It’s
a reasonable request, isn’t it? After all, our money doesn’t grow on trees. We donate because we want to help those in need, not to line someone’s pockets so they can buy designer handbags and jewelry.”
My voice wasn’t loud, but in the quiet hall, it carried. Whispers erupted around us.
Mrs. Davenport’s face turned a shade of beet red. “You… How dare you! Our foundation’s books are impeccable!”
“Then let’s see them,” I said, holding my hands out. “If they’re so clean, you have nothing to hide. Unless, of course, you do,”
“You!” She was sputtering with rage.
Just then, a man with a protruding belly stepped in, placing a hand on his wife’s shoulder. “Miss Caldwell, must you be so aggressi-
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ve? We’re all here for charity, to do some good. There’s no need to make things ugly.”
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“Ugly?” I shot back. “I think auditing financial records is standard procedure. Are you telling me that transparency is an ugly thing,
Mr. Davenport?”
“You’re just here to cause trouble!” he snapped.
“Trouble?” I laughed. “Alright. If you think I’m causing trouble, I’ll see myself out.”
po
set down my plate and turned to leave. Everyone assumed I was retreating in defeat. A triumphant smirk even appeared on Mrs.
Davenport’s face.
I paused at the doorway, turned back, and offered the entire room a brilliant smile.
“Oh, I almost forgot to mention. Half an hour ago, I had my assistant send a full dossier of evidence detailing your ‘charity‘ foundat ion’s fraudulent accounting and tax evasion to the IRS and the State Attorney General’s office.”
The room erupted. The Davenports‘ faces went deathly pale.
“And by the way,” I continued, “donating to children is a wonderful cause. That’s why I’ve already made a direct three–million–dollar donation from the Caldwell Corporation to the official Appalachian Children’s Fund. The funds are earmarked, ensuring every cent goes directly to the kids.”
I locked eyes with the horrified Mrs. Davenport and delivered my final line.
“Charity is a noble cause, Mrs. Davenport. It shouldn’t be a designer handbag to cover up the rot of people enriching themselves. Don’t you agree?”
With that, I turned my back on the chaos and walked out, the clicks of my heels echoing in the stunned silence.
The wind outside was brisk.
And I felt fantastic.
