Chapter 49

Ethan Caldwell was completely drained.

The chaos from earlier had left him restless all night, and now his head throbbed relentlessly.

At the center of it all was his engagement to Vanessa Hart—a situation that had spiraled far beyond his control.

He had to admit, he had severely misjudged the circumstances.

Ever since the grand birthday celebration, everything had taken a sharp, unpredictable turn.

Evelyn Carter, who had once been utterly devoted to him, had abruptly called off their engagement. From that moment, Ethan felt as if he were trapped in a relentless storm.

What he hadn’t expected was Vanessa getting dragged into this mess as well.

If it hadn’t been for that intrusive reporter capturing their compromising photo, things might not have escalated to this point.

Ethan genuinely wanted to marry Vanessa, but after such a public scandal, who wouldn’t question their choices?

Especially now, as a man of high standing in Cresthaven.

The weight of expectations pressed down on him.

His reputation was at stake.

His family’s name was on the line.

And worst of all—he had no idea how to fix it.

The engagement had been meant to secure alliances, to strengthen his position.

Instead, it had become a liability.

Vanessa’s involvement complicated things further.

She wasn’t just some random woman—she was Evelyn’s stepsister.

The media had already spun the story into a sordid love triangle.

Ethan clenched his fists, frustration boiling inside him.

He needed a solution.

Fast.

But every path he considered only led to more complications.

His phone buzzed—another message from his mother, Eleanor.

The family was demanding answers.

The board of Horizon Enterprises was growing restless.

And Alexander Whitmore—Evelyn’s new husband—was watching everything unfold with cold amusement.

Ethan exhaled sharply.

This wasn’t just a personal disaster.

It was a battle for power.

And if he didn’t act soon, he would lose everything.

Ethan Caldwell felt like the universe was laughing at him.

The weight of humiliation pressed down on his shoulders as Vanessa Hart's eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

"It's all my fault..." Vanessa whispered, her fingers trembling as they brushed against his. Her voice cracked, and two crystalline tears escaped, landing softly on his skin like shattered glass.

"I... I'll walk away. Just tell them I was the one who came onto you. I'll bear the blame—I just need you to be okay."

Before he could respond, she pulled away, turning to leave. But her heel caught on a discarded bouquet, sending her stumbling forward.

Instinct took over. Ethan's arms shot out, catching her before she could fall, pulling her tight against his chest.

Vanessa's head bowed as if the world had collapsed around her, silent sobs wracking her frame.

The sight tore at Ethan's heart.

What the hell am I doing?

Vanessa was the one suffering. She was willing to sacrifice everything for him, and here he was, drowning in his own self-pity.

As a man, what kind of coward was he?

Ethan's jaw tightened with resolve as he turned to Alexander. "Uncle Alexander, I want to marry Vanessa. Please stand with us."

The sharp crack of Eleanor's palm striking Ethan's face shattered the tense silence.

"Oh, so you've grown bold, have you?" Eleanor's voice dripped with venom. "You dare defy me for some woman?"

Her fury was palpable.

No one had anticipated she would strike her own son.

The room plunged into suffocating silence, every occupant frozen in shock.

Just as the tension became unbearable, Alexander spoke, his voice calm but firm. "Eleanor, if Ethan is this determined to marry Vanessa, perhaps you should let them."

"And why should I?" Eleanor snapped, her eyes blazing.

Alexander remained composed. "Look at the situation. Refusing won't change anything. Your son has already made his choice public. He's willing to face the consequences for her."

"If you keep fighting this, you'll only turn the Caldwell name into Cresthaven's biggest joke."

Eleanor's fists trembled at her sides, her nails digging into her palms. She couldn't bring herself to face Alexander directly. Instead, she turned to Harold, her voice sharp with desperation.

"Father, are you really going to stay silent? Will you just let Ethan disgrace our family like this?"

Harold, seated in his wheelchair, exhaled heavily, the weight of years pressing down on him. His voice was weary but firm. "I've made my decision. Alexander leads this family now."

With that, he gestured to Harrison Wells, the family butler. "Harrison, take me back to my room."

The dismissal in his tone was unmistakable. He had no interest in the unfolding drama.

Alexander seized the moment, his gaze icy as it locked onto Eleanor. "If you want to salvage what little dignity Ethan has left, you'll accept this. He's already humiliated himself. Do you really want the Whitmore name dragged through the mud with him?"

His words were a blade, sharp and unyielding. A subtle tension coiled in the air as his eyes narrowed, the warning clear.

Eleanor's lips pressed into a thin line, resentment burning in her chest. She shot Vanessa a venomous glare but couldn't bring herself to utter the words that would bind Ethan to her.

All she managed was a bitter, "I'm done with this," before turning on her heel and storming out, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor.

As the final act concluded, the remaining relatives exchanged uneasy glances before slipping away, one by one, leaving only silence in their wake.

Vanessa's fingers quivered, not with terror but with exhilaration.

After all the chaos, she had finally breached the Whitmore family's inner circle!

Overcome with emotion, she turned to Alexander, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Alexander," she breathed, voice thick with gratitude, "I can't thank you enough for believing in me."

The grand hall of Whitmore Manor hummed with hushed whispers, the weight of the moment pressing down on them.

Vanessa straightened her spine, her crimson gown pooling around her like spilled wine. This was her moment—her triumph.

Alexander gave her a measured nod, his piercing gaze unreadable. "You earned your place," he said simply.

A thrill shot through her.

She had done it.

The years of scheming, the careful manipulation—all of it had led to this.

Across the room, Evelyn Carter stood frozen, her expression a mask of quiet devastation.

Vanessa allowed herself a small, victorious smile.

The curtain had fallen.

And she was no longer in the shadows.