CHAPTER 5: THE WOMAN WHO CHANGED SIDES
The news spread across the country within hours.
Business channels replayed the bridge footage nonstop.
Financial analysts called it one of the biggest corporate scandals of the decade.
Investors fled.
The company's stock collapsed.
And Ethan found himself completely alone.
Almost.
Because one person still remained.
Lauren.
The woman he had chosen over Sophie.
The woman who had helped him build his empire.
The woman sitting across from him in their penthouse apartment that evening.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Finally Lauren broke the silence.
"Did you really leave her there?"
Ethan looked away.
"It wasn't like that."
The answer told her everything.
Lauren slowly nodded.
A strange sadness crossed her face.
Not because she loved Sophie.
Because she suddenly realized something terrifying.
If Ethan could betray Sophie...
one day he would betray her too.
"Ethan."
His voice sounded tired.
"What?"
"I'm leaving."
His head snapped up.
"What?"
"I'm done."
For the first time, genuine panic appeared in his eyes.
"You can't leave now."
Lauren almost laughed.
The irony was unbelievable.
Three years ago he abandoned one woman.
Now he was begging another to stay.
Then she opened her purse.
And placed a folder on the table.
Ethan's stomach dropped instantly.
Because he recognized it.
The offshore accounts.
The hidden transactions.
The forged transfers.
Lauren had copies of everything.
"You kept records?"
"I kept insurance."
Ethan stared in disbelief.
"You were planning this?"
"No."
She stood.
"I was surviving you."
Then she delivered the final blow.
"The anonymous photo Sophie received on the bridge?"
His eyes widened.
Lauren nodded.
"I sent it."
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Colder.
More dangerous.
Because the woman Ethan trusted most had been working against him from the very beginning.
May you like
And tomorrow morning...
she planned to testify.
