Chapter 9
The morning after the banquet, my name- no, Amber Colen‘ s name–was
everywhere.
Every major headline, every gossip column, every social media platform. People couldn’t stop talking about me. About the Colens‘ long–lost heir. About my connection to Zack and Stella. And worst of all, about the rumors: the divorce, the abortion, the scandal that had turned their carefully constructed facade into a pile of rubble.
I scrolled through the articles, my fingers. trembling with a mixture of anger and satisfaction.
“Harriet Gomez or Amber Colen? The Rise
of the Colen Heiress and the Fall of Zack
Wilford.”
“Abandoned Wife or Calculated Revenge? The Truth Behind Amber Colen‘ s
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Dramatic Comeback.”
“The Real Reason Harriet Left Zack
Willford: Blood Banks, Betrayal, and a Dark Affair.”
The speculation was growing by the hour, and if I didn’t act fast, Zack and Stella would spin their lies into something dangerous. They were experts at playing the victim.
I leaned back in my chair, my decision made. I wouldn’t tell my story with words. I’d show it with the truth.
Hours later, a video began circulating online. It was raw, unedited footage–a recording of Zack and Stella. Zack whispering sweet nothings to Stella. Stella laughing about how I was “useful for something, at least.” Zack‘ s cold orders to keep me compliant because Stella needed my blood.
The video painted a vivid picture of the people they truly were. Cruel. Selfish.
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Manipulative.
By evening, the damage was done.
I sat in the study, sipping tea as the news. played on the TV. Headlines flashed across. the screen, accompanied by commentary from analysts.
“Wilford Enterprises Faces Crisis Amid.
Scandal.”
“Investors Pull Out Following Viral Video of Zack Wilford and his mistress Stella.”
“Stella‘ s Connection to Wilford
Enterprises Raises Questions of Misconduct.”
The stock ticker at the bottom of the screen showed a steady decline for White Enterprises.
I smiled, satisfaction blooming in my chest. Zack had taken everything from me -my peace, my trust, my future. Now, I‘ d taken something from him.
The sound of footsteps interrupted my
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thoughts. I turned to see Rojen entering the room, a bottle of wine in one hand and two glasses in the other.
“Well,” he said, placing the glasses on the table and pouring the wine. “I think this calls for a celebration. Don’t you agree, my future wife?”
I smirked, raising a brow. “Well, yes, future husband.”
He grinned, leaning back against the chair. “What should I call you now? Harriet or Amber?”
I took a slow sip of the wine, savoring the taste before answering. “Amber. Harriet’s gone.”
Rojen s eyes sparkled with approval.
“Amber it is.”
“Tell me, though–how
did you get your
hands on that video? I thought Zack and
Stella kept their dirty laundry well
hidden.”
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He chuckled, swirling his glass. “You‘ re not the only one who hates Zack, Amber. And you‘ re certainly not the only one who wants revenge.”
I set my glass down, leaning forward.
“You had it all along, didn’t you? The video. You’ve been holding onto it.”
Rojen nodded. “I planned to release it when the timing was right. Before our grandfather handed over the inheritance. But when your little scandal broke, well…” He raised his glass. “It was too perfect to resist.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, a genuine sound that felt foreign after everything I’d been through. “So this was your revenge,
too.”
“Our revenge,” he corrected, clinking his glass against mine.
“Are you sure this doesn‘ t affect your whole family? You‘ re still a Wilford?” I asked, a bit worried.
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“Don’t worry, Zack’s company is a subsidiary and losing investors in his company would only do little damage… just a reason for my grandfather to lose his trust in him.”
I nodded. “And you’ll get everything?”
He smirked. “That’s the whole point.”
We drank in silence for a moment. Then I broke the quiet. “Shall we talk about the wedding?”
Rojen arched a brow, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. “Already eager to marry me, are you?”
I rolled my eyes, but my tone was serious. “The deal, Rojen. About the son. You still need an heir to beat Zack, don’t you?”
His expression softened, the teasing glint in his eyes replaced with something warmer. “Yes. I guess so. But…”
“But what?”
Rojen set his glass down, leaning closer.
Chapter 9
“It can wait. For now, what matters is you. Healing from everything you ve been through. Taking the time to rebuild. I don’t want you to rush into anything just because of some arrangement.”
I blinked, his words catching me off guard.
“Why do you care so much?”
He smiled, his gaze steady. “Because this isn’t just about business for me, Amber. I’ve been watching you for a long time, even before all of this. Truth be told, you‘ re the girl I’ve dreamed about for years, and now that you‘ re mine, I’ll not let anyone hurt you.”
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