Chapter 4 - The Betrayal & The Trap
The next evening, the Imperial Hotel was illuminated by blinding floodlights and flashbulbs. Red carpets stretched from the marble driveway to the grand ballroom doors. High society elites, tech moguls, politicians, and news reporters gathered in black-tie attire for the annual Grand Met Gala.
I arrived wearing a simple black evening dress I had borrowed from my roommate, my hair swept back, trying my best to blend in with the sea of wealthy guests. Hidden inside my clutch purse was a flash drive containing the decrypted video logs of Eleanor Hale.
I navigated through the roaring crowd, scanning the room for Ethan.
At the center of the ballroom, standing near a raised stage adorned with velvet banners, was Christopher Hale. He looked regal, holding a glass of vintage champagne, surrounded by reporters and corrupt board members. He was smiling warmly for the cameras—the perfect picture of a philanthropic billionaire preparing to "restructure" his late wife's foundation for the good of the public.
Suddenly, a hand gently caught my wrist from behind.
I spun around. It was Ethan. He looked dashing in a dark tuxedo, though his face was pale and tired. He wore a set of back-up hearing aids he had hidden away years ago.
"You came," he whispered, his eyes filled with profound emotion.
"Of course I came," I signed quickly under the cover of my purse. "Did you get the documents?"
Ethan patted the inside pocket of his tuxedo jacket. "Everything is here. The original non-forged will, stamped by my mother's personal attorney before she died. It proves Christopher has been committing corporate fraud for a decade."
Before we could move toward the media desk, the grand chandeliers in the room dimmed. A spotlight shone on the main stage.
The master of ceremonies took the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the highlight of our evening! Please welcome the Chairman of Hale Global, Mr. Christopher Hale, who will now officially sign the historic transition agreement!"
Applauses thundered through the ballroom. Christopher stepped up to the podium, beaming with arrogance.
"Thank you, everyone," Christopher's voice boomed through the speakers. "Tonight, we honor my late wife's memory by officially folding her foundation into our global equity core—"
"That is a lie!"
A voice roared across the silent ballroom.
Every single head turned. Standing in the middle of the aisle, Ethan stepped forward, his head held high, his posture rigid and powerful.
Christopher stared down from the stage, his smile instantly vaporizing. "Ethan? What are you doing here? Security, escort my son out, he is currently experiencing a severe mental breakdown—"
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"I am not broken, Father!" Ethan yelled, his voice carrying clearly across the room, echoing off the high ceilings. "And I am done letting you steal my mother's life!"
The crowd gasped. Flashbulbs began flashing wildly as reporters swarmed closer, sensing the explosive drama unfolding live.
