Merlin scoffed,her voice dripping with contempt."Justice?In this industry,power and influence are justice."

"Without us,you’re nothing.A nobody,just an irrelevant model."

"You have one hour to decide.If I don’t see a clarification post within that time,the consequences are all on you."

The call abruptly ended.Zoey spun around in panic,clutching my hand,worry filled her eyes."Winona,she sounded really serious."

"All your endorsements…they came through Stellar Media Group.If they pull out,you’re finished."

I patted her shoulder calmly,completely unshaken."Don’t worry.I saw this coming a long time ago."

An hour passed quickly,yet I hadn’t posted a single clarification.

Soon after,Michelle updated her Instagram.She lay in a hospital bed,her arm wrapped in bandages.The caption read,[I’m sorry for dragging Cillian into this.Everyone,please stop blaming him.Blame me if you must.]

In the photo,her eyes were red,tears streaking her cheeks.She looked fragile and pitiful.Just one post and the public opinion flipped instantly.

[Michelle is hospitalized due to cyberbullying.I think we all knew who's behind this.]

Her post went straight to the top of the trending list,and my Instagram was flooded with harsh comments.

[Winona,you heartless woman!You drove Michelle to the hospital.Don’t you have any conscience?]

[KingCillian,get a divorce already.She doesn’t deserve to be with you!]

[Winona,quit the entertainment industry!Stop ruining Cillian and Michelle's lives!]

***

Cillian’s call came immediately after,his voice seething with rage."Winona,Michelle’s in the hospital.Are you happy now?"

"If anything happens to her,I will never forgive you!"

I listened quietly to his shouting.When he finally paused,I spoke slowly,"Cillian,do you really think the whole world should revolve around you two?"

"She ends up in the hospital,and it’s my fault?And me—the wife you left alone on our wedding night—am I supposed to take all the blame?"

"And one more thing…Michelle should learn to fake being sick better next time.Her bandages are crooked.Did she really think the internet wouldn’t notice?"

On the other end,Michelle’s soft crying could be heard in the background.Cillian shouted something irrational,then hung up.

***

The next morning,calls started pouring in from the endorsement companies.They wanted to cancel my contracts,saying my public image no longer fit their brands.

Soon after,Stellar Media Group released a statement cutting all cooperation with me.

Zoey held the termination letter,her hands shaking."Winona,it’s over.Merlin is trying to destroy your career completely."

I glanced at the letter and smiled."Destroy me?She doesn’t have that kind of power yet."

Then,Cillian sent me a message,full of arrogance.[I gave you chances,Winona.Now get out of my house immediately.The divorce papers will be sent by my lawyer.]

I read the message and replied with just two simple words.[You go.]

Not long after,he stormed into the honeymoon suite with two bodyguards.

"Winona Easton!Don’t make me lose my patience!"

"This house belongs to the Morgan Family.You have no right to live here!"

I sat on the sofa and pointed to the property certificate on the coffee table."Cillian,maybe you should get your eyes checked."

"The certificate is in my name.It was a gift from my parents before our wedding.It has nothing to do with the Morgan Family."

He froze,clearly unaware of this fact.

Michelle peeked out from behind him,her eyes red."Forget it,Cillian,let’s go.Don’t make her angry."

Her soft,pitiful voice made my stomach churn.

Cillian turned to look at her,his gaze full of tenderness."Michelle,you’re just too kind."

Then he turned toward me,his eyes blazing with hatred."Winona,you’ll pay for what you have done.I’ll make sure you can never lift your head in this industry again!"

I stood up right and walked toward him,smiling at both of them.

"Sure.I’ll be waiting."

My gaze then slid past Cillian and landed squarely on Michelle.

"Miss Prescott,next time you fake being sick,at least go to a proper hospital.And don’t use those flimsy bandages that tear with the slightest touch.Everyone can see right through them."

Michelle froze,her face going pale as she clutched Cillian’s arm."Cillian,I didn’t—"

He stepped in front of her,shielding her,glaring at me."Winona,don’t go too far!She ended up in the hospital because of you and you’re still saying this to her?"

I let out a cold laugh and pointed at him."Too far?The ones being truly too far are both of you."

"You gave her hope she never deserved,made her think she could climb over me to get ahead."

"Cillian,you are the root of all of this."

The Morgan Family’s blacklisting hit fast.Every one of my projects was halted,even magazine covers I had already shot were pulled and replaced.

Online,the abuse against me escalated,and extreme fans even dug up my home address.They threw paint on my front door and sent threatening letters.

Zoey reported everything to the police,but it did no good since these people were relentless.One wave would leave,only for another to arrive.

Meanwhile,Cillian and Michelle played the perfect role of the tragic,devoted couple in public.

They appeared together at the esports awards.On stage,Cillian even said,"I know there have been many misunderstandings about me recently,but Michelle and I are just real friends."

"I’ll handle my private matters quickly so they don't affect her."

Michelle sat in the audience,tears in her eyes,looking fragile and innocent.

The internet cheered their pure friendship.And I became the hated ex-wife everyone wanted to see fall.

A call from Merlin came again,her voice thick with smug satisfaction."Feeling regret yet,Winona?"

"I’ve said it before,don’t mess with me.You’re way out of your depth."

"Now,if you kneel and post a confession on your social media,admitting you were just jealous of Michelle and framed Cillian on purpose,I might consider sparing you."

I listened,barely holding back a laugh."Merlin,have you forgotten who I am?My surname is Easton."

My father was the CEO of the Easton Group.Though I had never publicly revealed my family background,in the business world,no one dared to cross the Eastons.

I had held back from using my privilege,not wanting to escalate things further,hoping to give Cillian a last shred of dignity.

But now,it was clear.Those people didn’t even deserve it.

Merlin’s voice turned cold and indifferent."You’re so stubborn,Winona.Don’t blame me for what's going to happen next."

"Winona,I’ll show you what true despair is.By the time I’m done,even kneeling in front of me won’t save you."

After that call,my phone rang again.It was my father this time.His voice was calm and steady,full of reassurance."Winona,my dear,have those people on the news wronged you?"

"Do whatever you need,my dear.I’ll always be your support."

I felt tears sting my eyes,the frustration I had held back for days finally breaking through.

"Dad…I’m fine.I just…I can’t accept this."

After hanging up,I wiped my tears and dialed another number.

"Hello,is this Sharon?You’ve always wanted to be the best in this industry,right?Interested in a sure-win deal?"

A crisp,excited female voice came through."Ah,Winona Easton.Sure,I’m interested.Tell me,how do you want to deal with the Morgan Family?"

Sharon Hirsch was Merlin’s rival and the head of Aurora Esports,a rising company in the esports world.I knew she had been waiting for a chance to take down Stellar Media Group.

I met Sharon at a private lounge.She wore a sleek black suit,looking sharp and confident as she slid a folder across the table toward me.

"This is the cooperation contract with Aurora Esports.Work with us,and I can help you strike back at the Morgan Family.I can give you the resources to climb to the top once again."

Her eyes locked onto mine with a sharp gaze."My condition is simple.I want half of Stellar Media Group’s market share."

I picked up the folder,flipping through it,and then smiled."You have quite big ambitions,Sharon,but I like that."

Reaching into my bag,I pulled out a USB drive and placed it on the table.

"This has all the dirt on Cillian and Michelle,including Cillian fixing matches and Michelle hiring online trolls to harass other players."

"Plus,evidence of their secret scheming.This is enough to destroy them completely."

Sharon picked up the USB,raising an eyebrow,staring at me in disbelief."How did you even get this?"

I sipped my tea with a calm face."When Cillian still trusted me,I had full access to his computer.Backing things up just became a habit."

Sharon’s expression softened with admiration."Cillian really is blind.He lets someone like you go and runs after that little fox Michelle."

She stood up,extending her hand."Here’s to a successful partnership."

"Pleasure working with you."I shook her hand,my eyes flashing with vengeance.

Our alliance was sealed—and the first step was retaliation.

That very night,Sharon’s team moved at lightning speed.A long post titled A Wife’s Story went viral.

Written in my voice,it detailed everything—how I met Cillian,married him,and ended up abandoned on my wedding night for his first love.There were no fiery accusations,just a calm,steady narration.But every line dripped with silent disappointment.

At the end,I added a recording of my call with Merlin—where she arrogantly demanded I kneel and beg her.

Within an hour,public opinion flipped completely.

[Holy hell,the Morgan Family is terrifying.They’re pushing Winona to the edge.]

[Poor Winona…marrying Cillian Morgan must be the worst luck imaginable.]

[Cillian is a jerk,Michelle is a little fox and Merlin is a ruthless mother-in-law.Wow,there’s not a single decent person in that family.]

***

The Morgan Family panicked.Merlin even smashed her antique vase in rage.

Cillian’s team tried to claim the recording was fake,but Sharon’s people were ready.They quickly released a professional forensic report confirming it was real.

The Morgans were left defenseless,helpless as public outrage exploded.

Even Michelle started to crack,sending me a private message.[Winona,I’m sorry.I know I was wrong.Can you please spare me and Cillian?]

I read it,then blocked her immediately.

The next morning,Sharon’s team released more evidence.Proof of Cillian’s match-fixing.

Videos showed him deliberately throwing games,colluding with opponents and pocketing money under the table.

The esports world erupted in an instant.

#KingCillianMatchFixing shot straight to the top of trending lists.Thanks to that,Stellar Media Group’s stock immediately plummeted overnight.

His fans unfollowed him and turned against him,demanding he quit the industry.

Terrified,Cillian immediately called me and pleaded,"Winona,please…please let me go."

Even Merlin called,begging me to stop and promising to restore my endorsements.

I smiled and said exactly what I had told her before,"Merlin,have you forgotten who I am?My surname is Easton."