Chapter 169

The tension in the penthouse was so thick Evelyn Sinclair could almost taste it. Nathan Blackwood stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his broad shoulders rigid with barely contained fury. The city lights flickered behind him, casting long shadows across the polished marble floor.

"You knew," he said, his voice dangerously low. "And you didn’t tell me."

Evelyn swallowed hard, her fingers tightening around the edge of the velvet sofa. "I didn’t think it was relevant."

Nathan turned sharply, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. "Not relevant? Victoria Hayes has been leaking confidential company documents for months, and you didn’t think I needed to know?"

A sharp knock at the door interrupted them. Serena Whitmore stepped in, her usually composed expression strained. "We have a problem," she announced, holding up a tablet. "The press just got wind of the scandal. It’s everywhere."

Evelyn’s stomach dropped. This was worse than she’d imagined.

Nathan snatched the tablet, scanning the headlines with a scowl. "Who tipped them off?"

Serena hesitated. "Anonymous source. But the details are too precise—it had to be someone on the inside."

Evelyn’s mind raced. Victoria had always been ruthless, but this? Sabotaging the company just to get back at her? It was unthinkable.

Nathan tossed the tablet onto the coffee table with a clatter. "Damage control. Now." He turned to Evelyn, his expression unreadable. "You’re coming with me."

"Where?"

"To face the wolves."

As they strode toward the elevator, Evelyn’s phone buzzed. A message from an unknown number lit up her screen:

You should’ve stayed out of this, Evelyn. Now you’ll both pay.

Her breath hitched. This wasn’t just about business anymore.

The sleek black sedan rolled to a stop outside a bustling supermarket, its tinted windows reflecting the afternoon sun.

Gabriel Ramirez stepped into the restroom, his hands trembling slightly as he checked his phone. The anonymous message had come through just minutes ago. With a deep breath, he dialed the number provided.

A cold, calculated voice answered. "This is your only chance. Follow our instructions exactly, and your fifty-million-dollar debt disappears by tonight. No one will ever trace it back to you. We don’t make promises we can’t keep."

Gabriel swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. Determination flickered in his dark eyes.

If this debt vanished, no one could accuse him of using Vivienne Monroe to settle his gambling debts. He could spin it as a desperate attempt to win her back—a foolish, lovestruck mistake, nothing more.

Better to be seen as reckless than a fraud.

His mother, Claire Harrison, would never have to know. His friends wouldn’t look at him with pity or disgust.

He’d never touch another card again.

When Vivienne received the message, her heart sank. This only confirmed her decision—she had to go public.

Meanwhile, Isabelle Laurent was deep in conversation with the film’s director, Preston Whitmore, and producer, Donovan Sharpe. The premiere countdown had begun, and the industry was buzzing. Every major player was watching, waiting for a misstep.

After triple-checking the arrangements, Donovan finally exhaled. "Everything’s set."

Just as they turned to leave, Isabelle cleared her throat. "One more thing. We need to replace an actor."

Preston and Donovan spun around, their expressions a mix of resignation and—oddly—excitement.

"Go ahead," Preston said, grinning. "We can handle it."

Isabelle arched a brow. Had Evelyn Sinclair’s reputation really made them this jaded?

The two men stared at her with an almost challenging glint in their eyes, as if daring her to drop another bombshell.

What else do you have up your sleeve? their gazes seemed to ask.

Isabelle suppressed a smirk.

This was going to be interesting.

The director and producer's excitement deflated instantly.

The stage play's theme was "Home." Evelyn Sinclair and Julian Blackwood would portray an epic love story from a national perspective—a tale of sacrifice where a mother sends her only son to war, only for him to perish in battle. The underlying message? That a nation's strength is what makes a home possible.

The animal actor in the play was a military dog. The son brings home a puppy for his mother to meet, but in the end, only the wounded war dog returns, staying faithfully by her side.

Two animal actors were needed—one for the puppy, which was easy to cast, and another for the adult dog, which required a more nuanced performance.

Initially, they had hired a regular, well-trained canine actor—obedient and cooperative. But Isabelle Laurent, the manager, wasn’t satisfied. The dog’s expressions and posture lacked the raw emotion needed to truly move the audience.

Isabelle had bigger ambitions. The play’s patriotic theme was profound, and she wanted it to resonate deeply—maybe even catch the attention of government officials. While that wasn’t her primary goal, the potential for recognition was too good to ignore.

She envisioned a retired military dog in the role—something that would spark public discussion. Unfortunately, military dogs were highly valued assets and couldn’t be loaned out for performances.

Then, she ran into Daniel Wright.

While a military dog was off the table, a police dog? That was doable.

With some persuasion—emphasizing the artistic integrity and potential positive PR—Daniel agreed to help. Whether it was out of respect for Nathan Blackwood or the promise of good publicity, he secured them a recently retired K-9 unit dog.

The police dog’s role was simple: follow commands and react naturally. The real magic was in its presence—the way it carried itself, the weight of its service evident in every movement.

It didn’t need rehearsals. As long as its handler was present, it could adapt seamlessly.

Evelyn and Julian had already perfected their scenes together, flawlessly in sync. They just hadn’t informed the director and producer yet.

Animals, like humans, could keep secrets. But Isabelle still mentioned—casually—that she had secured a real retired police dog with a decorated service record.

The director and producer, recognizing the promotional goldmine, didn’t question it. They simply nodded and left.

Once Evelyn and Julian makeup, they headed to the lounge. The police dog and its handler were already there.

It wasn’t every day they encountered a K-9 unit dog—especially one so imposing. Yet—

When off duty, the dog was unexpectedly affectionate. The trio was completely smitten, snatching every chance they could to play with it.

Just then, they spotted Vivienne approaching Isabelle. Unable to resist the juicy drama, they lingered nearby, eager for gossip.

After hearing their thoughts, Isabelle agreed—but not without a warning. "This approach might stir controversy. Whether it's the unresolved gambling debts, emotional debts, or the incident of reporting Gabriel to the police…"

If one person directly accused another, no matter the truth, there would always be sharp minds spinning conspiracy theories or wielding moral pressure.

Eavesdropping, Genevieve suddenly spoke up. "Why not act it out?"

All eyes turned to her.

Genevieve fidgeted, scratching her ear sheepishly. "Isn't that what we usually do? Your group's performance already involves a daughter seeking her mother's help when in trouble. Couldn't we swap the trouble with this issue?"

Isabelle's eyes lit up. Exactly. Their performances had always been a tool—when evidence was scarce, they used drama to provoke thought and encourage the audience to uncover the truth. This situation was no different.

Staging it on their unique platform would carry more weight than a blunt accusation. Though not performed by Justice Upholder, Vivienne would soon join their studio, subtly tempering Evelyn’s exaggerated persona.

Isabelle loved the idea but hesitated. "But changing plans last minute…"

Rebecca, freshly made-up, strolled over with a smile. "Vivienne can handle it."

They’d studied each other’s strengths meticulously.

Truthfully, Vivienne preferred acting over blunt confrontation.

Her gaze flicked toward Claire, standing nearby.

They knew the full truth—like having the entire script. Vivienne was a natural, and Claire was an award-winning actress. A minor script tweak wouldn’t faze them.

Claire nodded. "Let’s refine the changes. The performance could serve as a lesson—teaching girls how to handle these situations right."

Her serious tone dissolved when Vivienne ducked her head, embarrassed.

The group burst into laughter.

As the live stream began, comments flooded in—speculations swirling in the chaos.

The moment Vivienne Monroe and Claire Harrison stepped onto the stage, the internet erupted. Their flawless performance, combined with the shocking revelation of a carefully orchestrated scam, sent social media into a frenzy.

Vivienne, radiant under the spotlight, delivered her lines with such raw emotion that the audience held their breath. Claire, playing her counterpart, matched her intensity with a chilling precision that left no doubt—this was no ordinary performance.

As the scene unfolded, the truth behind the scam was laid bare. The audience gasped, whispers spreading like wildfire. Within minutes, hashtags related to their performance were trending worldwide.

"Did you see that?" one viewer tweeted. "Vivienne and Claire just exposed everything. This isn’t acting—it’s real."

Backstage, Gabriel Ramirez watched the live feed, his expression unreadable. His mother, Claire, had warned him this moment would come, but even he hadn’t anticipated the sheer magnitude of the reaction.

Meanwhile, Claudia Bennett, gripping her phone tightly, scrolled through the flood of comments. Her lips curled into a smirk. "Let’s see how they spin this," she murmured.

The performance ended with a dramatic crescendo, leaving the audience in stunned silence before erupting into thunderous applause. The cameras panned to Vivienne’s face—her eyes glistening with unshed tears, her lips trembling ever so slightly.

And just like that, the world was hooked.

By the time the credits rolled, theories were already circulating. Was this part of the script? Or had Vivienne and Claire just broken the fourth wall in the most spectacular way possible?

One thing was certain—no one would forget this night.

The internet, as always, would demand answers. And Vivienne Monroe was more than ready to give them.