Chapter 27

Ethan Caldwell was fuming. Last night, Lucas Bennett had insisted on dragging him to Eclipse Lounge, and after just two glasses of their strongest whiskey, his memory had completely blacked out.

He had no recollection of how he ended up at the hotel with Vanessa Hart.

This morning, he was ambushed by reporters right outside his suite, their cameras flashing relentlessly. The humiliation burned through him.

"Alexander, don’t you have anything to say?"

Only then did Alexander Whitmore lower the financial report in his hands. His piercing gaze locked onto Ethan.

"Feeling ashamed now, are you? You made this mess. Clean it up yourself."

The ice in his voice sent a shiver down Ethan’s spine.

"Alexander, we’re both Whitmores. This scandal tarnishes the entire family’s reputation. And even if you don’t care about me, are you really going to stand by while Titan Capital Group’s stocks keep crashing?"

Alexander let out a derisive laugh, unmoved. "If Titan Capital can survive this, so can you. After dragging our name through the mud, you still have the nerve to ask for my help? Where do you get that audacity?"

Ethan clenched his fists. The weight of his mistake pressed down on him, but desperation clawed at his throat.

He had underestimated Alexander’s ruthlessness.

And now, he was drowning in the consequences.

Ethan Caldwell thought Alexander Whitmore was being unnecessarily cruel.

Then again, perhaps it was justified. Titan Capital Group had been dragged into this mess because of him, and in a single morning, billions had been wiped from its value. Every shareholder probably loathed him by now.

Just then, Simon Graves knocked and entered. His gaze flickered to Ethan before he spoke. "Vanessa Hart is here to see you, Mr. Whitmore."

Ethan moved to step out, but Alexander's voice cut through the air like ice. "Bring her in."

Vanessa wasted no time. "Ethan, this scandal is spiraling out of control. Horizon Enterprises' stock is taking a hit. If we don’t contain this, the losses will be catastrophic."

The moment Vanessa stepped inside and saw Alexander, her breath hitched. She quickly composed herself. "Mr. Whitmore."

Ethan’s attention snapped to the scarf draped over Vanessa’s arm—the very one he had given Evelyn Carter a decade ago.

His jaw tightened. "That’s—"

"I found it in the trash at Hawthorne Estate this morning. My sister must have thrown it out." Vanessa tilted her head. "I remember this was yours, Ethan. Do you still want it?"

A muscle twitched in Ethan’s temple. His voice dropped dangerously low. "How thoughtful. Evelyn—oh, she’s perfect."

Vanessa's face twisted with guilt and regret. "Perhaps this morning's scandal was too much for Evelyn... Ethan, maybe I should talk to her personally..."

Ethan's voice was icy. "Alexander, I'm breaking off my engagement with Evelyn. Vanessa is the one I'm marrying now!"

His thoughts burned with vengeance. How dare Evelyn discard my belongings like trash? I'll make sure she lives to regret this!

She only had the courage because of our engagement.

Let's see who'll protect her when she's no longer my fiancée!

Alexander's gaze darkened, a storm brewing in his eyes. "Oh?"

Ethan's jaw tightened. "Just announce that Evelyn spent three years in prison—she was never worthy of me. Vanessa has been my choice all along. We simply hadn't made it public yet. That way, the scandal this morning will be justified."

Vanessa's heart soared.

The stage was perfectly set, the drama unfolding exactly as she had envisioned. She had been searching for the right moment to suggest this to Ethan, but he had taken the initiative himself.

In her original plan, things weren’t supposed to escalate this dramatically. Her reputation wasn’t meant to be tarnished so publicly.

But the outcome was the same.

Marrying Ethan was worth every sacrifice. Even her ruined reputation.

The moment those words were spoken, Alexander's cup crashed onto the marble table with a deafening crack.

The air in the room turned thick with tension, making Ethan and Vanessa freeze in their seats.

His voice was dangerously low. "Say that again. She doesn't deserve me?"

The icy fury in Alexander's gaze sent a shiver down their spines.