Chapter 4

Melanie Johnson POV

The headache after the hangover was excruciating.

When I woke up, there was only one hour left before the Rivers family dinner.

I quickly got myself ready and rushed to the banquet hall. But as soon as I entered, I felt the strange looks the guests were giving me.

What's going on?

I frowned, but the murmuring around me grew louder.

"This is the ex-wife Julian Rivers proposed to? How dare she show up today?"

"I heard a few days ago she spent hundreds of thousands at a bar on male models. A woman like that has the nerve to attend the Rivers Corporation dinner?"

...

The discussions surrounded me, countless voices entering my ears.

I suddenly stopped, turned to face the nearest person with the loudest voice, and spoke clearly.

"Yes, I admit I spent lavishly on male models at a bar a few days ago. But at that time I hadn't accepted Julian Rivers' proposal. I don't think I did anything wrong."

I straightened my back, my voice firm and powerful.

To ensure Julian's equity transfer could proceed smoothly, after agreeing to Mrs. Rivers' contract, I had proactively arranged a meeting with the Rivers family's biggest business competitor a few days ago.

When I learned the person in charge was a woman who loved drinking, I even chose New York's biggest bar as the venue.

During the meeting, I spent hundreds of thousands hiring several male models, just to get her to agree not to acquire the Rivers family's scattered shares.

But I couldn't broadcast these things publicly.

Julian was at a critical juncture in the equity transfer. If people with ulterior motives learned the details, I feared Julian wouldn't successfully complete the Rivers family equity handover, and I would violate the contract.

"Is that so, Melanie?"

As my words fell, several Rivers family board members who had been sitting nearby suddenly stood up.

"You being single and hiring male models is indeed not wrong, but you actually met privately with our biggest competitor at the Rivers family-what exactly were you trying to do?!"

"I think you, Melanie Johnson, have ulterior motives! Getting close to Julian Rivers was just to extract Rivers family secrets. Now this photographic evidence is conclusive-what else can you argue?!"

Those board members spoke, then suddenly produced the photos Moira had released at the club last night.

"I didn't! I..."

I tried to explain, but when the words reached my lips, rationality made me close my mouth again.

But my silence at this moment seemed like speechlessness after being exposed in a lie.

In an instant, countless board members whose interests were tied to the Rivers family stood up and began accusing me.

Some even pushed and pressured me!

I was pushed back step by step under their shoving and insults, until suddenly someone shoved me hard. I felt my footing give way and immediately fell backward.

But the expected pain didn't come. A warm embrace steadily caught my body.

With a familiar scent and voice, yet the tone was so cold.

"Melanie Johnson, why did you betray me?"