Chapter 6 - The Scapegoat
By Wednesday night, Sienna Vale realized the ship was sinking fast.
Inside her luxury apartment in SoHo—which Ethan had secretly leased for her using corporate funds—Sienna was packing designer suitcases when the front door burst open.
Ethan walked in, his clothes rumpled and smelling faintly of alcohol. “What are you doing?” he demanded, staring at the luggage on her bed.
“I’m leaving, Ethan,” Sienna said without looking at him, zipping up a leather bag. “My agent called. Three major brands just canceled my design contracts because of the scandal.”
“You’re leaving me?” Ethan asked, laughing bitterly. “After everything I gave you? I destroyed my marriage for you!”
Sienna stopped and turned to face him, her eyes sharp. “You didn't destroy your marriage for me, Ethan. You destroyed it for your own ego. You loved having a young, attractive woman on your arm at galas because it made you feel like a king.”
“I paid for this apartment!” Ethan yelled. “I gave you the Helix contract!”
“And now federal auditors are looking into those contract payments,” Sienna countered coldly. “My lawyer advised me to sever all ties with you immediately. Northstar Vertex is going into receivership on Friday, Ethan. Everyone knows it.”
“Get out,” Ethan whispered, pointing to the door.
“Gladly,” Sienna replied, pulling her suitcases past him without a second glance. “Good luck with the Beaumonts.”
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Ethan stood alone in the empty apartment, the silence surrounding him like a heavy weight. He pulled out his phone and opened the stock tracking app. Northstar shares had fallen by sixty-five percent. The board of directors had just called an emergency meeting for the next morning.
For the first time in his life, Ethan Blackwood realized he was completely alone.
