Chapter 9 - The Betrayal WithinA week later, catastrophe struck. Clara arrived at her Queens workshop to find the front doors cordoned off with yellow tape and city inspectors loading cartons into unmarked vans. Marcus was already on the scene, arguing fiercely with an official in a trench coat.
"What is going on?" Clara demanded, her heart hammering against her ribs.
"Anonymous tip regarding counterfeit fabric materials and undocumented labor," Marcus muttered through clenched teeth. "It’s a hit job. Someone supplied internal receipts with your forged signature."
Before Clara could process the shock, Julian arrived in a company vehicle, his face carved from granite. He pulled the lead inspector aside, producing documentation within minutes, but the damage was done—the media cameras were already arriving, tipped off by whoever orchestrated the raid.
Across the street, parked behind a delivery van, Clara caught sight of Ethan. He was on his phone, watching the chaos with a desperate, triumphant smirk. Clara realized instantly: Ethan had used old files from their past relationship to forge her personal endorsement on fraudulent vendor lists.
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"Julian, he’s trying to drag your name through the mud using my past," Clara said, panic creeping into her voice as reporters began shouting questions.
Julian didn't look at the cameras. He stepped directly between Clara and the lenses, wrapping his long coat around her shoulders. "Let them shout," he whispered into her hair. "They are attacking you because they cannot break me. We settle this in court, not in the gutter."
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