Part 3Your Fake Angel Wears My Pearls

Three days later was the grand opening of the "Blackwood-Pierce Plaza," a nearly two-billion-dollar commercial complex. It was the crowning jewel of our merger, the symbol of our families' union.

The gala was held in the glass-walled ballroom on the penthouse floor.

Every power player in Manhattan was there. The paparazzi were lined up at the entrance, flashes firing like lightning.

I was in a vintage Chanel fishtail gown, holding court in the center of the room.

A reporter shoved a mic in my face. "Ms. Blackwood, rumors are swirling about your marriage. Care to comment?"

I smiled professionally. "Tonight is about the Plaza. Let’s stick to business."

"But they say you and Mr. Pierce are living apart—"

"In business," I interrupted, "what matters is the ROI. Mr. Pierce and I have always been a high-yield partnership."

Just then, a hush fell over the room.

Greg had arrived.

And he wasn't alone. Faith was on his arm.

She was wearing a white silk dress—a dress I recognized. I’d tossed it into a donation bin last month because it was out of season. It had been crudely tailored to fit her, cinched tight at the waist to emphasize her curves.

But the real insult was the necklace.

A strand of South Sea pearls. My father’s wedding gift to me. Worth seven figures.

I felt a surge of white-hot rage, but I kept my face a mask of bored elegance.

The press swarmed them.

"Mr. Pierce! Who is your companion?"

"Is this a statement about your marriage, Greg?"

Greg looked stiff, trying to shield her from the cameras. "This is my personal assistant. She’s just here to help with the event—"

"Sir," Faith said, her voice soft but perfectly projected for the mics. "Don't hide me. I’ll tell them."

She stepped forward, giving the cameras a practiced, forty-five-degree-angle smile.

"Hi, I’m Faith. I know I shouldn't be here, but Greg needed someone to lean on. Evelyn is... so busy with work. She doesn't have time for him. I’m just doing my part to care for him. It’s the least I can do."

The room went silent.

Every eye turned to me.

I stood my ground, the professional smile still etched on my face.

The stage was set.

I walked toward the podium and took the microphone.

"It seems everyone has seen the headlines," I said, my voice echoing through the ballroom. "Perfect. Since you’re all here, I have an announcement."

The giant LED screen behind me lit up with a single sentence:

“THE CURTAIN FALLS.”

"Three years ago, the Blackwood and Pierce families joined in a marriage of strategic interests," I began, my voice steady. "It was meant to be a model of corporate synergy."

I paused, looking down at Greg, whose face was turning a sickly shade of gray.

"Unfortunately, some people forgot that this was just a contract. They started believing in their own fairytales."

"Evelyn!" Greg tried to storm the stage, but my security team blocked his path.

"So, tonight," I raised my voice, "I am announcing three things."

"First: As of this moment, my marriage to Greg Pierce is over. The papers are signed. I wish him and Miss Jenkins a long and... expensive life together."

The room erupted.

"Second: All joint ventures between Blackwood Holdings and the Pierce Group are hereby terminated. My legal team is already filing for breach of contract."

"Third..."

I looked toward the back of the room. The heavy oak doors swung open.