Chapter 4

On the night of the anniversary gala, I entered the ballroom in the dark blue gown.

Ethan was waiting for me at the entrance.

He fastened the diamond necklace around my neck and smiled.

“Everyone will envy you tonight.”

I took his arm.

“Is that so?”

He missed the sarcasm in my voice.

After the gala began, Ethan introduced me to the senior executives of Brooks Group.

“This is Eva, my girlfriend.”

The Crown Club members hidden in the crowd raised their phones.

They could barely hide their excitement. They were waiting to record my humiliation.

Following Ethan’s script, I walked onto the stage.

“When I first joined Brooks, I had nothing. Ethan gave me a chance, and he has protected me ever since.”

I looked at him as my eyes turned red.

“I love him.”

The moment I said those words, people in the crowd began cheering.

Chloe was smiling more than anyone else.

She had already pointed her phone at my face. She was waiting to record me breaking down in tears.

Ethan slowly walked toward me.

He did not hug me.

Instead, he let go of my hand in front of everyone.

The large screen behind us lit up.

Edited messages appeared on it.

They made it seem that I had asked Ethan to place me on an important project. They also made it seem that I had asked him to secure my permanent position and had invited him to meet me late at night.

The crowd erupted.

The whispers grew louder.

“So she really did use a man to get ahead.”

“No wonder a new trainee got onto the core deal team.”

Ethan looked at me.

There was no warmth left in his eyes.

“Eva, my pursuit of you over the past thirty days was only a bet. You did not really believe I would marry a management trainee with no family or connections, did you?”

Someone in the crowd finally laughed.

Ethan smiled too. He was enjoying the moment his trap closed around me.

“You were placed on the core deal team because I allowed it. You are wearing that gown because I decided to play along with you.”

“Now the game is over.”

The head of Human Resources walked onto the stage.

“Eva Stone, Brooks Group is ending your probation effective immediately. All of your project access will be revoked. The company also reserves the right to take legal action regarding the leak of confidential information.”

Chloe walked toward me with several other women.

“Poor little toy. The game is over. Give back everything that was never yours. The necklace, the dress, and every other thing Ethan gave you.”

I took off the necklace and tossed it into the champagne flute beside me.

The diamonds sank to the bottom.

The room suddenly fell silent.

I did not cry or beg.

I walked onto the stage and took the microphone from the host.

“That works out well. My thirty-day evaluation also ends tonight.”

Ethan frowned.

“What evaluation are you talking about?”

I took out my phone, called a number, and turned on the speaker.

“Suspend Hale Capital’s $2 billion investment in Brooks Group.”

“My final evaluation is that Brooks Group, under its current management, does not qualify for Hale Capital’s investment.”

The ballroom went completely silent.

The smile slowly disappeared from Ethan’s face.

I did not look at him.

I continued speaking to the person on the phone.

“Also, inform both families.”

“The engagement between Victoria Hale and Ethan Brooks is over.”