Chapter 14
Standing before the floor-to-ceiling window on the top floor of Kane Group, Kieran gazed down at Novara’s glittering nightscape. Behind him, his office replayed the news broadcast. He adjusted the cuff of his suit, and a cold smirk tugged at his lips as he thought about the mess waiting for Damien.
Just then, a knock came at the door. His assistant entered and handed him a file. “All the paperwork is complete, Mr. Slate. Kane Group’s core assets have been fully transferred to your name.”
“Good.”
Kieran took the pen and signed his name on the file. “Inform the PR team that I’m holding a press conference.”
That afternoon, the conference hall of Novara Financial Hub was packed with reporters.
Under the flashing cameras, Kieran was dressed in a sleek suit and wore the perfect smile on his face. Subtly lowering his head, he began in a sincere voice, “In regard to the recent rumors online, I’d like to clarify a few things. First, Ms. Callie Frost and I are just friends, and all the rumors are pure fabrication.
“Second, the crisis at Kane Group stems entirely from poor decisions made by the previous management. All Slate Group did was make the appropriate choices at the right time. Furthermore…”
Before he could finish, a recording suddenly played through the speakers of the conference
hall.
Callie’s voice cracked with hysterical desperation as she screamed, “Once Damien has nothing left, he’ll finally see who’s truly right for him! I got all the files ready. You promised me that once it’s done, you’d give me everything I want!”
Kieran was heard responding, “Of course, partner.”
The hall erupted in chaos, but Kieran unflinchingly pressed the remote. “As you just heard, everything was orchestrated by Ms. Callie Frost alone. I have plenty more evidence to prove it…
11
Meanwhile, hiding in an apartment, Callie trembled as she watched the press conference live on TV. Her phone buzzed violently with endless texts from unknown numbers, each cursing
her out.
With shaking hands, she dialed Kieran’s number, only to receive a cold, mechanical response.” Sorry, the number you’ve dialed is not in service…”
“Fucking jerk!” she screamed and hurled her phone against the wall. Her delicate makeup was smeared by tears, exposing the haggard face beneath.
The doorbell rang.
As if she had caught a lifeline, she lunged forward to open the door, only to be blinded by a sea of camera flashes. The hallway to her apartment had been swarmed by reporters at some point.
“Why would you frame Damien Kane, Ms. Frost? Is there any reason for that?”
“What’s your relationship with Kieran Slate? Did you act on his orders?”
“Is it true that you faked a pregnancy to force Mr. Kane into a marriage? Care to comment?”
As Callie staggered back, her high heels caught on the carpet, and she tripped.
Flashlights and cameras shuttered away at her as she hysterically screamed, “It was Kieran who forced me into everything! He promised me that once Damien had nothing left, he’d marry me!”
Then, she grabbed anything within reach and smashed it toward the reporters at the door.” Get out! Get lost, all of you!”
The video of her breakdown soon spread all over the internet like wildfire.
At this moment, Damien was sitting in the control room of a police station, watching it all unfold expressionlessly. He’d been the one to leak her address to the press.
“The video you provided is crucial evidence, Mr. Kane,” the officer said. He handed Damien a file after verifying the video.
“Kieran Slate is suspected of commercial fraud, and we’ve requested an arrest warrant.”
Damien nodded and drummed his fingers on the table. “Callie leaking corporate secrets is more than enough grounds for us to prosecute her as well. Kane Group will press charges and file a lawsuit against her.”
It was dark by the time he stepped out of the station. Rain poured down in sheets just like the night Juliet had left.
Damien tilted his head back and allowed the icy rain to patter on his face. He knew that some mistakes could never be made up, and some losses could never be reclaimed. But at least, he’d make those who had hurt her pay.
Under the same sky, Callie finally stumbled free from her apartment after the reporters left.
Standing outside Kieran’s apartment, rain dripped from her hair as the fruit knife she clutched glinted coldly. Her once meticulously manicured nails were now chipped and broken, and her expensive dress plastered to her skin like a layer she couldn’t peel away.
The guard at the gates recognized her as a frequent visitor who used to flaunt herself as Kieran’s “girlfriend”. He hesitated briefly before letting her in.
As the elevator ascended, Callie’s breathing turned ragged. She thought of Kieran’s cold eyes at the press conference, the way he had casually brushed off their relationship, and the way he had cast her aside as if she were trash.
The elevator doors opened with a ding.
The lights in Kieran’s apartment blazed bright. He was lounging on the couch, swirling a glass of red wine with stacks of shareholder agreements he had just received spread out before him. There was a satisfied smile on his face as he leisurely savored his spoils.
“Kieran.” Callie’s voice was so hoarse that she hardly sounded like herself.
His head jerked up at the sound, and after noticing her, his eyes widened in shock.
“How did you get in here?” He got up so fast that the wine spilled all over the floor.
Callie laughed so hard that she nearly shed tears. Then, she whispered, “You ruined me, so I’ll ruin you too. Let’s burn in hell together…”
Kieran’s gaze flickered to the knife in her hand, and color drained from his face. He stumbled backward as he fumbled for his phone, screaming, “You’re insane! Security! Anyone!”
But Callie didn’t give him the chance to act. She lunged and sliced the knife through the air, and though Kieran narrowly missed it, the tip of the knife still slashed across his shoulder. Howling in pain, he crashed into the coffee table and knocked over all the files.
“You’re a crazy bitch!” he roared.
But Callie ignored him. She stooped over to grab the fallen papers and started laughing like a madman. Then, she flicked a lighter to life with trembling hands and hissed, “You want Kane Group, don’t you? I’ll make sure you never get it!”
Fire from the lighter instantly caught on the papers and set them ablaze. The flames started devouring the leather couch, sending thick smoke billowing to the ceiling.
“How dare you!” Kieran’s expression twisted in horror. He dove forward to snatch the files back, only to be driven back by Callie’s knife.
“I’ll call the cops! I’ll make a report!” he shouted at the door.
Standing amid the burning flames, Callie laughed like a victor before murmuring, “It’s too late. You’re doomed.”
Outside, sirens wailed and closed in fast, while the roar of fire trucks followed closely behind.
Staring at her, Kieran suddenly scoffed and spat through gritted teeth, “Lunatic! A fucking idiot like you deserves everything Damien did to you!”
Callie’s smile froze on her face.
Then, the cops burst in through the door and pinned her to the floor. Her face glowed in the firelight, and everything was like the ending scene of a dramatic play.
Standing aside with blood seeping from his shoulder, Kieran’s gaze was terrifyingly dark. He watched as everything he had schemed so hard for crumbled into ashes and was swallowed by
the flames.
