Chapter 5

Before I could speak,Damian laughed.

"Interesting,Mr.Hawthorne.You didn't think about her future when you put your mistress in her wedding dress.You didn't think about her future when you forced her to mother your mistress's child.But now I'm here to propose,and suddenly you remember her future."

Julian's face went pale.

Sensing the shift in the room,Ava clutched her stomach and let the tears fall on cue.

"Mr.Blackwood,you misunderstand,"she said.

"Julian was only thinking of my baby.He never meant to humiliate Miss Sterling."

Ava turned to me,eyes wet.

"Scarlett,if my being here upsets you that much,I'll go.But please don't ruin Julian over this."

Julian immediately pulled Ava behind him.

"Ava,you don't have to beg her."

He glared at me,his eyes filled with blame.

"Scarlett,I always thought you were cold.I never knew you could be this cruel to a pregnant woman."

I scoffed.

Three years.

When Julian's investments failed,I used my trust fund to cover his losses.

When the Hawthorne Group had a PR crisis,I stayed up all night to craft his crisis PR strategy.

When a rival tried to short his company,my father pulled strings to stabilize the market for him.

And now,I refused to let his mistress wear my wedding dress.

He called me vicious.

I was about to speak.

My brother,Ethan,stepped forward with a tight smile.

"Mr.Blackwood,my sister's upset.Please don't take her words seriously."