"Vivian.
I want the truth.
All of it.
Right now."
"You're embarrassing yourself—"
"No.
You embarrassed this family." His voice broke for the first time.
"I built this company from nothing.
I shook hands with Charles Sterling at a charity dinner three years ago.
I earned his respect.
And you turned his granddaughter's love into a scheme."
Vivian's eyes narrowed.
"I did what you were too weak to do.
Someone had to secure our future—"
"Our future?" Graham's hands were shaking.
"Our future was standing right here.
A woman who loved our son.
A family that was willing to merge with ours.
And you destroyed it for a contract."
"I was protecting—"
"You were stealing." He turned to Phoebe.
"I'm sorry.
I didn't know.
I swear to God, I didn't know."
Phoebe studied his face.
She saw something there she hadn't expected.
Truth.
"I believe you," she said quietly.
Graham's eyes filled.
He looked away.
Daniel stood up from his chair.
"Phoebe, please.
I'll tear up the prenup.
I'll sign anything you want.
Just give me a chance to—"
"A chance to what?" She turned to face him.
"To phase me out in a year instead of today?"
"I was never going to—"
"You signed a document that said you would."
Daniel's mouth worked.
Nothing came out.
Simone Kerr stepped toward Phoebe.
"I'm sorry." Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"I didn't know what was really going on.
She told me you were a gold digger who trapped him.
She said I'd be saving him."
Phoebe looked at her.
"And you believed her?"
Simone's eyes dropped.
"She paid me.
My business is failing.
She offered to cover my debts if I played the part today."
Phoebe's jaw tightened.
"How much?"
"Two hundred thousand."
Phoebe looked at her grandfather.
Charles Sterling's expression hadn't changed.
"Miss Kerr," he said calmly.
"You'll find a certified check for that amount in your mailbox by Tuesday.
With a condition."
Simone looked up.
"The condition is that you tell the truth.
Every bit of it.
Right now.
In front of every person in this room."
Simone looked at Vivian.
Vivian's face was stone.
"Go ahead," Phoebe said.
"Tell them everything."
Simone's voice trembled.
"Mrs.
Crawford contacted me six months ago.
She said her son was being used by a woman who didn't love him.
She said I was the kind of woman he actually belonged with.
She wanted me to get close to Daniel first.
Build something real.
And then be ready to replace Phoebe at the wedding if the timing was right."
Daniel's face went white.
"You were seeing her?"
Vivian stepped in front of her son.
"I introduced them.
That's all.
He's a man.
He needed options—"
"I needed options?" Daniel's voice rose.
"You manipulated me!
You set this up!"
"You were supposed to choose the right woman!"
"I DID choose!" He pointed at Phoebe.
"I chose her!
And you ruined it!"
"You chose a woman who was pretending to be poor!"
"She wasn't pretending!" Daniel's voice cracked.
"She just never talked about money.
She never showed off.
She was kind.
She was real.
And I—"
He stopped.
Phoebe watched him.
"You what?"
Daniel's eyes were red.
"I got scared.
I thought if she was hiding something, maybe she was hiding other things.
My mother kept saying someone who lies about who they are can't be trusted."
Phoebe's chest tightened.
"I didn't lie about who I was.
I just didn't lead with it."
"That's the same thing—"
"No, Daniel.
It is not the same thing." Her voice was steady but something beneath it was breaking.
"I didn't tell you about my family because I wanted you to love me for me.
Not for my name.
Not for my money.
Not for a merger."
"I did love you for you—"
"Then why did you sign a contract to take everything I had?"
Daniel had no answer.
The silence lasted too long.