“Mrs. Caldwell, is it true Ethan is your husband’s illegitimate son?”
“Did you know before marrying him?”
The questions blurred into noise, pressing in from all sides. My bag slipped from my hand. My heartbeat roared in my ears.
Everything spun.
And then—
Nothing.
The door slammed shut behind us with a heavy, shaking bang that echoed through the entire room.
Damien stood there frozen for a second, then turned to me with a face drained of color but burning with rage. His jaw was clenched so tightly it looked like it might break.
“Was that you?” he snapped, voice rising. “Did you leak Ethan’s identity to the press?”
My stomach dropped. “What are you even saying?”
He stepped closer, hands visibly shaking now. “Stop pretending, Clara! It’s everywhere—everyone knows! Ethan’s been locked in his room crying for hours, too scared to even show his face at school. He’s humiliated! Who else could’ve done this if not you? We had a deal—if you crossed the line, I’d destroy your career!”
Tears rushed to my eyes. “Damien, I swear I didn’t do it!” I cried out. “Why would I drag a child into something like revenge? I was just as shocked as you were! I would never—never do that!”