After My Best Friend Stole Two Men From Me, I Took Back Everything

Chapter 3

At ten o'clock that morning, Lumaire's official account released a statement.

It claimed that after suffering an emotional setback, I had lost control of my emotions, torn up promotional photos without authorization, and ordered the factory to halt production, causing significant losses to the company.

A secretly filmed video soon appeared in the comments.

It showed only the part where I tore up the photos and left the conference room.

In the video, Tessa tried to persuade me with red-rimmed eyes, while I looked cold from beginning to end.

Within an hour, "Lumaire Founder Bullies Partner" became a local trending topic.

Tessa then posted an article saying that after being betrayed by my ex three years ago, I had developed an anxiety disorder. She and Ethan had always taken great care of me, never expecting their kindness to be misunderstood by me.

At the end of the article, she apologized to the public on my behalf.

"She is just ill. Please do not blame her."

Every word was perfectly composed.

Those words turned me into an ungrateful madwoman.

My father called soon after.

"What exactly is going on with all of this online?"

My father had a heart condition. I did not tell him about the hotel. I only said that my business partner and I had disagreements about the company's operations.

My father took a few breaths over the phone.

"Ethan came to talk to me just now. He said you were only not thinking clearly for a moment. Claire, couples are bound to argue. The launch is important. Finish the work first."

So Ethan had already gone to see my father.

He knew that my father's health was what worried me most.

Holding my phone, I slowed my speech.

"Dad, I am not confused. I just do not want him anymore."

There was silence on the other end of the line for a long time.

My father did not tell me to forgive him. He only asked one question.

"Did he mistreat you?"

My nose suddenly stung.

"Yes."

"Then leave him. If the company is gone, Dad will sell the house and open another one for you. A person can't lose herself just for money."

I lowered my head and covered my eyes with my hand before answering a long while later.

After hanging up, I contacted a lawyer and an auditing firm.

Since Lumaire was founded, I had kept all the original design drafts, sampling records, and supplier emails.

The agreement I had been tricked into signing was indeed troublesome, but Homecoming had originated from my mother's posthumous work, so the ownership of part of the copyright was still disputed.

As long as the launch was suspended, I still had a chance.

That afternoon, I prepared to go to the factory to seal the molds, only to discover that the original sketches in the safe were gone.

The security footage showed that Ethan had entered my office with the spare key three days earlier.

Just as I backed up the video, Jason called.

"I have the original drafts."

"You stole them?"

"Tessa asked me to take them. She said she would return them to you after the launch."

I held back from cursing at him.

"Your terms."

Jason laughed.

"Have dinner with me."

"No."

"Then the day after tomorrow, the original drafts will appear in Tessa's display case. When she says she drew them, who do you think everyone will believe?"

"They will believe a forensic examination."

I hung up immediately.

Five minutes later, he sent another message: You are still so stubborn. If you had been willing to lower your head just once back then, I wouldn't have chosen Tessa either.

I gave the chat history to my lawyer and did not reply.

That evening, Ethan came to my home with my father.

He placed the revised engagement schedule on the table.

"Calling off the engagement would be inauspicious. We can change the engagement reception to a postponement and deal with our personal matters after the launch."

My father sat beside him, his face dark.

"Explain the hotel situation first."

Ethan had not expected me to tell my father about the hotel. A flicker of displeasure crossed his brow.

"That was a misunderstanding."

"I am asking what kind of relationship you have with Tessa."

Ethan was silent for a moment.

"Tessa and I crossed a line once."

I laughed. "Which time? The time she spent the night in our marital home wearing my pajamas, or the time you gave her my brooch?"

My father abruptly stood up and slapped him across the face.

Ethan turned his head and ran his tongue along the corner of his mouth.

When he looked at me again, there was no guilt left in his eyes.

"Claire, are you sure you want to force me to stand against you?"

"You chose that side yourself."

He picked up the documents on the table. Before turning to leave, he said one last thing.

"The launch will proceed as planned the day after tomorrow. You had better not come, or you will be the only one left humiliated."