Chapter Twenty-Two

Katherine

I woke up the next morning feeling like absolute hell. My eyes were still swollen from a lot of crying, my head pounded, and my entire body ached from last night. But I refused to let it show. I was Katherine Smith, and I wasn’t going to let this break me.

That bastard Jayden was gone. My father was now in prison. Everyone in the company was whispering behind my back, waiting for me to crumble. But I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction. If Emilia thought she had won, she was dead wrong.

I picked myself up, put on my best dress, did my makeup to perfection, and walked into the Kane Group building like I totally owned the place.

But I wasn’t just here to work today.

I was here to ruin Emilia from the inside out.

And I knew exactly who to use.

As I stepped into the office, I saw Lucia, one of the lower ranked employees who had a bad habit of poking her nose where it does not belong. She was the type to gossip about literally anything and everything, always eager to spread rumors. She's going to be my tool

I smirked to myself. She was perfect.

"Hey, Lucia!" I called out, striding over to where she stood.

She turned, startled, but quickly gave me a polite smile. "Miss Katherine," she greeted.

I gave her a fake smile in return. "Hm, you seem happy today." I tilted my head slightly, pretending to be interested in her pathetic little life. I wasn't interested at all

Lucia chuckled nervously. "Not really, just another very busy day."

I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice. "Tell me, what do you think of Mr. Kane’s wife huh?"

Lucia frowned. "Mrs. Kane? I don’t know… she seems pretty normal?"

I held back my irritation. That wasn’t the answer I wanted.

"Come on," I whispered conspiratorially. "It’s just between us girls. You must have heard something."

Lucia’s face stiffened a little, and she shifted uncomfortably. "Look, Miss Katherine, I don’t want to get in any trouble with Mr. Kane or his wife."

She started to turn away, but I quickly grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

"Honestly, Lucia," I said smoothly, my voice dripping with fake concern. "If you think about it… doesn’t it seem strange? A woman like Emilia suddenly becoming the CEO’s wife out if nowhere? She probably manipulated Mr. Kane into marrying her. Maybe she’s even blackmailing him. Don't you think?" I said with a hushed tone

Lucia’s eyes flickered with interest.

"That would make sense," she murmured.

I smirked internally. Hook, line, and sinker.

"I mean, if you think about it," I continued. "Where did she even come from? She wasn’t from a wealthy family. She had no power or anything, no status. And suddenly, she’s the most important woman in the company?"

Lucia nodded slowly.

"And I heard something else," I whispered, lowering my voice even more. "She sleeps around a lot. Even before meeting Richard. That child she’s carrying?" I scoffed. "Probably not even his. She’s just a gold-digging whore who tricked him."

Lucia’s mouth fell open slightly, scandalized. Exactly the reaction I wanted.

"Anyway," I said, flipping my hair over my shoulder and flashing a smug smile. "I’m sure people will start seeing the truth soon enough."

I turned on my heel and walked away, feeling victorious. Very soon, the entire company would start whispering. And soon, Richard would have no choice but to realize what kind of slut if a woman he had married.

I spent the rest of my morning in my office, pretending to work while secretly enjoying the thought of Emilia’s reputation being destroyed.

Everything was going perfectly.

Until my office door slammed open.

I jerked up, startled, my fingers freezing over my keyboard.

Emilia stood in the doorway, her face furious. And beside her? Lucia.

My stomach twisted. Oh no she didn't.

"Lucia," Emilia said, her voice dangerously calm, "you said she was the one who spread those lies about me right?"

Lucia swallowed, glancing at me briefly before nodding. "Yes, Mrs. Kane," she confirmed. Then, without another word, she turned and walked out, leaving me alone with Emilia.

I stood up bold, crossing my arms over my chest. "I don’t know what you’re talking about," I said coldly.

Emilia marched up to my desk, slamming her hands down on it. Her baby bump was now very visible.

"You just won’t quit, will you?" she demanded.

I met her glare, refusing to back down. "Like I said," I said slowly, "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

Emilia laughed—but there was really no humor in it.

"You’re always going around, spreading false rumors," she snapped. "Don’t you have anything better to do with your pathetic life?"

My hands clenched into fists.

"It's such a waste, YOU are a waste ?," she added, shaking her head in disgust.

That was it. I snapped.

"You crazy bitch!" I screamed.

Before I could stop myself, the words slipped out—words I never should have said.

"I should have just laced your drink with cyanide instead. You wouldn't be here at all, you'd be too busy being dead."

Silence.

I barely had time to register what I had just said.

Emilia’s expression didn’t change immediately. But then, her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes turning icy cold.

My heart pounded. What did I just do?

I had gone too far.

"What? Wait a sec…" Emilia's voice trembled slightly as she processed my words. Her eyes widened in realization, and I knew I had just messed up.

Badly.

She took a step back, staring at me as if she was seeing me for the first time. "Wait… it was you," she whispered, almost to herself. Then, louder, "That night at the club… you drugged me?"

Before I could react, she lunged at me, grabbing a fistful of my hair.

"Ahh!" I shrieked, trying to pry her hands off me. "Let go, you crazy—"

The commotion in my office escalated. Papers scattered to the floor, my chair toppled over, and people gathered outside, peeking through the glass walls. I struggled against her grip, but she was really furious, and no matter how much I pushed, she just wouldn’t let go.

"How could you?!" she yelled, pulling harder. "You ruined my life! You tried to—"

"Get your filthy hands off me!" I screamed back, clawing at her wrist.

Suddenly, the door slammed open.

"What the hell is going on here?!"

Richard's deep, commanding voice froze the room.

Emilia immediately let go of my hair, pushing me away. I stumbled back, catching my breath, my scalp burning from her grip.

Richard stood in the doorway, his sharp gaze moving between the two of us. His jaw was tight, his anger barely contained.

"That night at the club," Emilia said, her voice breathless but steady, "when I was drugged… it was her."

Silence.

Richard’s entire body tensed.

"What?" he said, his voice low.

I quickly straightened up, smoothing my hair, forcing myself to stay calm. "That’s a lie," I spat, my voice firm. "She’s lying because—because that’s what pathetic liars do!"

"She just admitted it, Richard!" Emilia insisted. Her chest rose and fell quickly, her face flushed with anger. "She’s been lying this whole time! She might have been the one who drugged you too!"

My breath caught in my throat.

What?

My eyes darted to Richard. He was drugged that night, too?

I had no idea. Nobody had ever said anything about it. How was that possible?

Richard’s expression darkened. His fists clenched at his sides, his breathing heavy. His eyes locked onto mine, and for the first time ever, I saw pure hatred directed at me.

"You…" His voice was low, almost a growl. "You poisoned me? You fucking bitch!"

I took a step back, shaking my head rapidly. "No! I don’t know what she’s talking about!" I shouted, my voice wavering. "She’s making this up! She—she’s trying to frame me!"

Richard turned to the guards by the door. "Take her away," he ordered, his voice cold. "The police will be here any second now."

No. No, no, NO.

"You can't do this!" I screamed as two security guards grabbed my arms. "Richard, listen to me! She’s lying!"

They dragged me toward the exit, their grip unbreakable. I kicked and fought, my nails digging into their sleeves, but they didn’t let go. The entire office was watching, whispers growing louder as people peeked from their desks and hallways.

My face burned with humiliation.

"Poisoned you?" I shrieked, my voice bouncing off the walls. "I don’t know what she’s talking about! She's a liar"

But nobody listened.

I thrashed against their grip, my heels scraping against the polished floors as they escorted me toward the exit.

Emilia simply stood there, watching me.

Richard didn’t even spare me another glance.

The moment the glass doors closed behind me, I knew instantly.

I was finished.

...