The girl blinked innocently, whining, “Daddy Ethan, you haven’t come to see me and Mommy in so long! Aren’t you divorced from that bitch? When are you going to marry Mommy?”
Ethan frowned. “Bitch? Who are you talking about? Who taught you to speak like that?”
Anna tried to burrow back into his arms. “That bitch Charlotte, of course! I’m so mad I didn’t push her harder. Then the truck would have hit her for sure, and the three of us could have been a happy family! Oh, Daddy Ethan, I want a new doll.”
Looking at the little girl, a sense of horror crept into Ethan’s heart. The child he had doted on was this venomous. And this poison had to have been taught…
As he was thinking, Abby sashayed over. “Ethan, darling, this is a bit serious. You might have to appear in court. But don’t you worry. When I’m on the case, is there any I can’t win?”
Chapter 2
14.00
Ethan looked at the woman and child before him, a complex storm of emotions churning inside him. He said nothing for a long
time.
He had been so, so wrong.
He never thought he would see the face he longed for day and night again, especially not across a courtroom.
I was in a professional suit, and I gave him a brief, polite nod before looking away, as if we were strangers.
He stared at me, mesmerized. That was his Charlotte. The brilliant counselor he had cherished.
I knew I’d be facing Abby and Ethan today. After all, I was the one who had discovered the legal vulnerability in his company.
Abby was clearly not expecting me. She was so furious she lost all professional composure.
“Ms. Monroe. Long time no see. I have a gift for you after the trial.”
She snorted, ignoring my outstretched hand. “Who wants anything from you.”
Ethan appeared at an inopportune moment, his voice hoarse. “Charlotte… are you… are you okay?”
He looked disheveled. He was wearing a suit I’d bought him years ago. Compared to the polished man he used to be, he looked haggard and worn.
I smiled and nodded. “Quite well, thank you. And you, Mr. Bonerz?”
“Not good!” he blurted out, his voice desperate. “Charlotte, I’m not good at all. You…”
I raised a finger to my lips, shushing him. “But what does that have to do with me?”
The case was surprisingly short. For some reason, Ethan completely lost his nerve. He demanded to terminate the proceedings and conceded, agreeing to pay all damages.
He was staring at me the entire time he said it.
Abby’s face fell, but she couldn’t stop him. She had to accept defeat.
As I was leaving, she rushed after me, grabbing my sleeve. “Don’t be so smug, Charlotte.”
“Abby, regardless of anything else, your only two losses have been at my hands. I’m quite satisfied with that.”
“Oh, by the way,” I said, watching the color drain from her face, “I told you I had a gift for you. You should check your phone.”
She looked at her phone, her eyes widening in horror. She staggered back a few steps and collapsed onto the floor.
Of course she was panicked. The news had just broken–about Ethan stealing my files, and about her bribing my witness,
For someone so obsessed with her reputation, this was a fatal blow.
“You… how did you get proof…”
“As for how I got that recording,” I said, “you can ask the man who just arrived.”
Ethan came running up, out of breath. He had no eyes for Abby. His gaze was locked on me.
“Ethan…” Abby’s voice was a whisper of disbelief. Then she shrieked, “No! It can’t be Ethan!”
I crouched down, tilting her chin up. “Abby, darling. This little piece of irrefutable proof? It was a gift. From Ethan. I’m just re–gifting
it to you. How does it feel to be on the receiving end of the public’s hatred?”
1401
Chapter 2
I had thought I’d have to swallow this injustice, that I’d never have the proof. But then, Ethan had sent me the security footage him- self, with a note asking to see me.
The note, in his familiar handwriting, said: I’m sorry, Charlotte. I want to start over with you.
I had my assistant reply for me: I’ve received the package. A meeting won’t be necessary.
Now, he stood before me, pleading. “Charlotte, I got revenge for you. If you’ll just come back, I can blacklist Abby, just like I did to you… I was only ever repaying a debt to her. The one I’ve always loved is you…”
Every word he spoke made me feel sicker. I cut him off, my voice cold. “Blacklist her like you blacklisted me? Ethan, don’t overesti- mate yourself.”
