Chapter 218

The tension in the room was suffocating.

Liam Bennett and Grace Collins were seething, their faces flushed with fury. The looping video on the screen left no room for excuses—only humiliation. Arthur and Violet Morris, sensing the storm brewing, stepped forward with weak, trembling voices. "This is all just a misunderstanding—surely, a misunderstanding!"

But their words were hollow, drowned out by the damning evidence.

Mason Hunter and Claire Morgan stood frozen, their minds racing for an escape that didn’t exist. The expressions on Ethan Carter’s face—disbelief, betrayal, disgust—only fueled their panic. When others reached out, trying to diffuse the situation with false familiarity, they were shoved away violently.

The video played again, nearing its end. Claire’s face burned with shame, her blood roaring in her ears. She had never felt so exposed, so violated. Every whisper in the room was a knife twisting deeper.

If only I could faint. If only this nightmare would end.

But her body refused to grant her that mercy.

She was a spectacle now, stripped bare before the crowd. The same whispers she had once reveled in—when they were directed at Violet Carter—now clawed at her skin.

How ironic.

She had stolen the spotlight from Violet, but not in the way she’d wanted.

"The more I look at her, the more disgusting she becomes."

"A calculated performance from start to finish. And she played her part so well."

"She’s beautiful, but her heart is rotten."

"She tried to frame an innocent makeup artist. If she’d succeeded, Violet would’ve been ruined."

"The Hamptons must be blind. Bringing a viper like her into their family—what were they thinking?"

"She broke Mason’s heart and tricked Ethan into marriage."

"Mason’s a fool too. How could he let his ex marry his brother? Was he that desperate to play the victim?"

"Honestly, the only victims here are Ethan and Violet. They never stood a chance against these two."

Even Ethan, usually unshakable, looked like the ground had been ripped from beneath him.

His wife. His brother.

The betrayal was too much.

For Violet, though—the truth was a relief. The weight of their lies had nearly crushed her, but now? Now she could finally breathe. Watching the people who had tried to destroy her squirm under the spotlight?

Poetic justice.

Meanwhile, the rest of the room sat in stunned silence.

The game was over.

And Claire had lost.

"They what?" Vivian Grant gasped, her eyes widening in shock. She'd been completely unaware of the situation until now.

"I can't believe it's really Claire Morgan. How did things come to this?" Beatrice Holloway murmured, equally stunned.

The atmosphere in the room grew heavy. Everyone wore somber expressions, witnessing the downfall of someone they once knew.

"Seems like my presence isn't necessary anymore," Daniel Wright hesitated before adding, "I wonder who leaked this video..."

His voice trailed off as his gaze involuntarily shifted toward Nathan Blackwood and Evelyn Sinclair. There was no obvious evidence pointing to them, but the timing was too perfect—who else would risk angering the Hampton family just to clear the name of a mere makeup artist?

Daniel had only ever seen such bold yet satisfying justice from one particular person.

His suspicions were confirmed when he caught the faint smirk curling at the corner of Nathan’s lips. Meanwhile, Evelyn stood frozen, staring at the screen in disbelief.

Then, realization struck her.

Evelyn whirled toward Nathan, her eyes alight with sudden understanding just as he opened his mouth to speak.

A rush of exhilaration surged through her. Without hesitation, she flung herself into his arms, pressing a fierce kiss to his cheek.

"Nathan! You're incredible!"