Chapter 42
"Isn't that Hannah Clementson?"
"Always acting so high and mighty. Turns out her family's into that kind of business."
"Look at how she dresses. She's probably been..."
The company group chat exploded with notifications. Someone had shared the video on social media with a vicious caption.
Hannah emerged from the restroom, her eyes still red. Carrying her lunch, she felt the hallway gazes prick her back like needles.
The office whispers died abruptly. She looked up to see coworkers hastily averting their eyes, phones still glowing in their hands.
Her phone vibrated. A video was spreading like wildfire in the main company group.
[SHOCKING! Female Employee's Secret Transactions Exposed]
Hannah's finger froze mid-air. The footage showed her father's drunken face, the image stabbing her like a knife.
"Well, well. The leading lady arrives." Jessica Rubinstein leaned against her desk, waving her phone. "What a coincidence—I just happened to record this."
Hannah's breath hitched. "You...you—"
"Me what?" Jessica's smile dripped venom. "Everyone deserves to know the truth."
Hannah lunged. The lunchbox crashed to the floor, soup splattering everywhere.
"Delete it!" Hannah grabbed Jessica's collar, voice raw.
Jessica yanked her hair. "Playing innocent? Didn't your own father admit everything?"
They crashed into a filing cabinet. Papers rained down as coworkers filmed instead of intervening.
"Hold her down!" Jessica shrieked.
Half a dozen hands seized Hannah. Her blouse tore at the shoulder, angry red marks blooming on her arm.
Evelyn Roland burst into the office to this scene: Hannah pinned on the floor, tear-streaked, Jessica's hand raised for another strike.
"Stop!"
Evelyn was shoved from behind. She stumbled into a desk, sharp pain exploding at her temple.
"Enough."
The voice cut through the chaos like a blade. Everyone froze.
Sebastian Valdemar stood in the doorway, his gaze glacial. It swept the wrecked office before landing on Evelyn's bruised forehead.
Jessica's hand still hovered mid-air. She paled, lips trembling. "M-Mr. Valdemar..."
Hannah curled on the floor, blouse gaping open. Her phone screen still displayed the looping video.