Chapter 8 - The Price of Treason
"You destroyed yourself, Ethan," I said, stepping closer until I was inches from his face. For the first time in five years, I looked down on him. "You thought money made you powerful. You thought putting me on a bus with twenty-three dollars in my pocket meant you won. You didn't realize that everything good in your life—your reputation, your instincts, your strength—was built by me while you were busy chasing shadows."
"Claire... please," Ethan begged, his voice breaking down into a pathetic whimper as he realized the full extent of his ruin. The cameras flashed relentlessly, capturing every second of his humiliation. "We can talk about this! Think of the babies! They need their father!"
"They have a mother who fought for them," I replied with chilling stillness. "And they have a future that you will never be allowed to touch."
The two Federal Marshals stepped forward, grabbing Ethan by his arms.
"Ethan Mercer, you need to come with us," the lead officer declared, pulling Ethan’s hands behind his back and snapping cold iron handcuffs around his wrists.
"No! Get your hands off me!" Ethan screamed, thrashing wildly in his tuxedo as the officers dragged him across the ballroom floor. "Claire! Sabrina, help me!"
Sabrina Vale backed away from him as if he were radioactive, ripping off the diamond necklace he had given her and throwing it onto the floor. "Don't touch me! I don't even know him!" she yelled toward the news cameras, desperately trying to save her own career.
The heavy oak doors closed behind Ethan’s frantic, echoing screams, leaving the ballroom in stunned silence.
Julian stepped to my side, placing a warm, reassuring hand on the small of my back. He raised his glass to the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Julian announced with a brilliant, triumphant smile. "Enjoy the evening. Tonight, we celebrate justice."
May you like
The room erupted into applause.
As guests crowded around us to offer congratulations and support, I looked up at Julian. The pain of the past months washed away, replaced by an intoxicating sense of freedom.
