Chapter 3: Vivian's Final Gamble
Prison changed Vivian Mercer.
Not into a better woman.
Into a more desperate one.
Awaiting trial, she secretly contacted a tabloid journalist.
She claimed Victoria had fabricated every document shown at the wedding.
The story exploded online.
Comment sections divided overnight.
Had the evidence been manipulated?
Had Victoria staged the entire wedding for publicity?
The accusations reached Hawthorne Hotels' investors.
Stock prices briefly dipped.
At an emergency press conference, Victoria appeared wearing a tailored business suit.
Beside her stood federal prosecutors.
Without anger...
Without emotion...
She displayed the original encrypted files recovered from Julian's own computers.
Complete timestamps.
Bank records.
Video metadata.
Digital signatures.
Everything independently verified.
Then the lead investigator addressed the cameras.
"Every document presented by Ms. Hawthorne has been authenticated."
"The Mercer family created this fraud."
"Ms. Hawthorne helped expose it."
The room erupted with questions.
Vivian's interview collapsed instantly.
Days later, prosecutors added obstruction of justice to her charges.
Her final attempt at revenge had only made her sentence longer.
May you like
Victoria never commented publicly.
She simply returned to work.
