Chapter 113

Danica's cheeks burned with shame, her eyes darting to Hannah furiously. The longer she stared at Hannah,the more her lip curled in open revulsion. "Vincent, didn't I warn you? She's just a filthy whore who never learned any manners."

Vincent's gaze cut straight through the noise. His voice came out icy and clipped as he turned to Brinley. "Erase the video."

Brinley froze for a moment before realizing that Vincent was taking Hannah's side. Disbelief flickered across her features."Vincent, after seeing how shameless Hannah is, you're still defending her?"

"There's no way she'd do something like that," Vincent replied,his voice low and certain.

Brinley's composure cracked. "How could she possibly not?|saw it with my own eyes! She checked into Lightwell Hotel this morning-with four men!" She brandished her phone, waving it like a weapon. On the screen, a photo of Hannah appeared,her hair rumpled and clothes in disarray. "See for yourself,Vincent. This is who she really is-you've been fooled."

Vincent's expression faltered. His gaze lingered on the picture.Those clothes... Weren't they the same ones Hannah had on when he'd found her earlier?

Assuming he believed her claims, Brinley made an attempt to latch onto his arm, her eyes shining with victory.

But before she could say another word, Hannah strode forward and delivered a stinging slap across Brinley's cheek.

Brinley staggered back, disbelief etched across her face."How Brinley staggered back, disbelief etched across her face. "How dare you hit me?"

Hannah's expression never wavered. She drew her arm back and delivered another slap-harder, sharper, echoing through the ballroom. "I know exactly what you did. You paid four men to try to rape me."

At this, the room erupted into gasps and shocked murmurs. A mistress orchestrating an attack on the wife? No one could process such a bombshell.

Brinley stood rooted to the spot, her mind spinning. How the hell did Hannah figure it out? She'd covered every trace,destroyed the footage-there was no way any evidence remained.

Struggling to compose herself, Brinley forced a trembling sob,tears spilling down her cheeks. "The video's already out there.You are still denying it and even trying to frame me for hiring those men? How low can you stoop to?"

Danica didn't hesitate, planting herself beside Brinley like a loyal guard dog. "This is beyond humiliating, Hannah. If I were you,l'd crawl into a hole and never come out. That video is disgusting enough-there's nothing left to say. Shameless doesn't even cover it."

Hannah's lips twisted into a cold, triumphant smile. "Oh, thanks for reminding me," she retorted sharply. "Faking a sex tape and hiring thugs to kidnap and assault me? That's more than enough to put you behind bars."

Brinley met Hannah's glare head-on, her chin raised defiantly."You really think you can just accuse me like that? I see right through it! You're furious I exposed you, so now you're desperate to drag me down with you. Pathetic."

With a scoff, Hannah regarded Brinley as though she were some sad spectacle at a circus. Her gaze was sharp, practically some sad spectacle at a circus. Her gaze was sharp, practically humming with derision. "Drag you down? Why don't you tell everyone what this is, then?"

Hannah strode back to the towering projection screen, each step deliberate and steady. Without another word, she tapped her phone, and an audio file sprang to life.

In the record, Brinley's words reverberated off the marble walls,her tone ice-cold and unflinching. "Do whatever you want with her. Send me the video, and you'll get another million."

Then, a man's voice chimed in, greedy and eager. "Don't worry.We'll make sure you get your money's worth." The record ended.

Without warning, Hannah tapped the replay icon, sending the damning audio blaring through the hall, every word amplified for all to hear.

Brinley stood rooted to the spot, her face draining of color.Panic flashed in her eyes-how could Hannah possibly have that recording? She'd been completely unconscious then.There was no chance she could've recorded that.

Desperate,Brinley lunged for Vincent's arm, fat tears welling up and spilling down her cheeks. "Vincent, please, you have to believe me! That's not real, I swear-someone faked it! I would never do something so awful!"

The crowd buzzed, shock rippling through the guests.Everything clicked into place-Brinley had really hired someone to harm Hannah. Hannah hadn't lied or slandered anyone. It was Brinley who'd tried to frame Hannah after plotting against Hannah.

Vincent's gaze bore into Brinley, cold and unyielding. The photo Brinley had flaunted earlier left no room for doubt-she had a hand in what had happened to Hannah. And Hannah had nearly been violated. Vincent's voice dropped to a glacial calm, each word laced with cutting disdain. "Brinley, I never imagined you could stoop this low. I'm deeply disappointed in you."

He pulled his arm free, and Brinley, thrown off-balance,crashed to the marble floor with a startled gasp.

Danica hurried over to help Brinley up, her voice quivering."Vincent, there must be some kind of misunderstanding. Brinley would never do something like this."

Tears shimmered in Brinley's eyes as she pleaded, her voice trembling, "Vincent, you don't believe me?"

Vincent turned away, jaw clenched, his face a mask of icy indifference.

Brinley dragged herself upright, fury flashing in her eyes. She jabbed a finger at Hannah, her voice piercing."You're a master at twisting the truth, aren't you? Why don't you explain the video of you crawling into bed with four men? Audio can be faked, but that footage is real!" A brittle, mocking laugh slipped from her lips. "You can't argue with what's right there on the screen-your face is unmistakable."