Chapter 8
“No, Ethan,” I snapped, my voice cutting through the night like a blade. “I do understand. I understand that I was nothing but a dirty little secret to you. I understand that while I was carrying your son, you were living a real life with your real wife ”
וי
His expression twisted in pain. “I never wanted to hurt you
I took a step closer, my eyes locking onto his. “And yet, you did.”
A heavy silence fell between us, the weight of our past pressing down like a storm about to break.
Ethan swallowed hard, his gaze flickering over my face. “You’re… different.
Itilled my head. “I had to be. You left me with nothing, remember?
His hands curled into fists. “I didn’t know you were this strong.”
I let out a breathless chuckle. “Then maybe you never really knew me at all“)
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed “Claire=”|||
I cut him off, my voice dropping into something cold.
“You killed my mother”
Ethan flinched. “Claire,
“Shut up.” I whispered, my eyes buming. “You killed her. The moment you took Liam from me, the moment you showed up like nothing happened and dropped that bomb–you took everything from me. She died because of you. And my son.. my son is growing up thinking some other woman is his mother because of you”
Guilt flickered across his face, but it wasn’t enough.
Nothing could ever be enough.
“You killed the old me, Ethan,” I continued, my voice steady, my rage like ice. “So don’t–don’t you dare act like you have the right to miss me. Don’t act like you have the right to look at me now and pretend you care!X
“Claire, I-”
“It’s Sophia now I corrected sharply “Claire is dead. You killed her.”
He clenched his fists, his breathing uneven. 1 never meant for things to end this way.”
I smirked. “Neither did L. But you know what? I’m glad the old me is dead. Because the woman standing in front of you stepped closer, my voice a whisper. “She’s going to take back what you stole from her
Ethan froze “What-”
“My son,” I said, my voice like steel. “I’m going to take Liam back
A storm flashed in his eyes. “Claire, you can’t–9
“I will,” I interrupted, “And when I do, I’ll make sure he never sees you as his father again.”
Ethan’s face paled, his breath coming out ragged. “You wouldn’t do that to me.”
I tilted my head, a slow, cruel smile forming on my lips. “Watch me.
He reached for me again, desperation in his eyes, but I stepped back, raising my glass between us
“Stay out of my way. Ethan,” I murmured, my voice cold, detached. “Or I’ll make sure you lose more than just your son
His lips parted, but no words cameout!!
I took one last sip of my wine, letting the silence stretch, then turned my back on him.
And this time, when I walked away, I knew he was the one left drowning X
(TRISHA’S POV)
now?” i
I slammed my wine glass onto the marble counter, the red liquid sloshing over the rim. “That bitch,” I spat, my entire body vibrating with rage
My mother, Victoria Caldwell, barely spared me a glance from her pristine white couch. “Language, Trisha,”
I turned on her, my face burning with fury. “Language? Are you kidding me right now? That filthy little rat just humiliated me in front of everyone!!
My father, Gregory Caldwell, lowered his newspaper just enough to look at me over the rim. “What happened this time?”
I folded my arms, my nails digging into my skin. “Claire, No–Sophia,” I mocked, rolling my eyes so hard they nearly got stuck. “That little cockroach threw wine at me in the middle of a damn ballroom.
you?”
Mother sighed dramatically, setting her champagne flute down, “Did she, darling? Or did you try to do it first and she just outplayed
I gritted my teeth. “It doesn’t matter! The point is that she just made a fool out of me! in front of cameras! In front of everyone!” I clenched my fists. Tam Trisha Caldwell! I don’t get humiliated–I do the humiliating!“”
Father pinched the bridge of his nose. “This again?“!!!
“YES, this again!” I shrieked. “And you know what’s worse? The whole world is looking at her now! Not me. Not Olivia. Her. They’re calling her a rising star, the next big thing. The media is eating up her little Cinderella comeback story like it’s the greatest thing they’ve
ever seen!” I practically vibrated with rage. “She’s stealing everything. Everything.”
Mother finally sat up, her eyes sharp. “So what do you want us to do, Trisha? You got slapped in public before, and now you got a little wine on your dress. If you can’t handle that, maybe you shouldn’t have started with her
I narrowed my eyes. “I should’ve destroyed her when I had the chance.”
Father exhaled heavily. “If you want revenge, you better come up with something worth our time.”
I smirked, an idea blooming in my mind. “Why don’t we tell the world she was Ethan’s mistress?”
Mother immediately shot me a sharp look. “Absolutely not. Your brother’s reputation is already fragile enough. His company is thriving, and Olivia’s family is an asset. We cannot have his name dragged through the mud with some mistress scandal.“”
I pouted. “But she was his mistress.”
“And yet, that’s a mess we’ve already covered up,” she snapped.
Father hummed in thought before lowering his paper completely. “if you want to ruin her, make sure it won’t touch Ethan.
Traised a brow. “What do you have in mind?“_
paint her as a crazy stalker?”
A slow, sinister smile spread across his face. “Why don’t we p
I blinked. “A stalker?”
Father nodded. “A desperate, obsessed woman who chased after Ethan for years, pretending to be in love with him. We make her look insane. Someone who forced her way into his life, manipulated him, and when he moved on with Olivia, she tried to destroy their happiness. A pathetic, obsessed psycho who wanted to be the next Mrs. Caldwell but never made the cut“:
A slow, wicked grin curled on my lips. “Oh oh, that’s genius.“”
Mother finally smiled, satisfied. That way, no one will sympathize with her. They won’t see a rising star–they’ll see a crazy woman who latched onto your brother and failed.“I
up.”
“And the best part?” Father continued, his tone amused. “People love stories about unhinged women. It’ll sell. The press will eat it
I clapped my hands together, practically giddy. “We can leak fake ‘evidence‘–old photos of her near Ethan, out–of–context messages, “witnesses‘ who saw her lingering outside our home. Maybe even a story about how she threatened Olivia.”%
Mother sighed contently. “And just like that, pool, her little fairy tale ends before it even begins.”
I smirked. “She might’ve changed her name, but she’s still the same pathetic Claire I used to slap around ”
Father lifted his whiskey glass. Then make sure she remembers it”
I grabbed my phone, my fingers already typing.
Game on, Sophia
