As the last of the images faded from the projector screen, a sense of urgency filled the air. Ethan quickly turned to Alex, who had been observing the chaos unfold. "We need to stop the pictures from rolling out," Ethan said, determination etched across his face. "If this gets into the wrong hands, it could ruin everything."
Alex nodded, instantly stepping into action. "I'll handle it. Let's make sure the press doesn't get access to those photos or the footage from tonight."
With a plan in motion, Ethan took Olivia's hand, feeling the warmth of her grip reassuring him amidst the turmoil. Together, they left the venue and headed to Olivia's mansion. The drive was filled with a tense silence, both of them lost in their thoughts as the gravity of the situation weighed heavily on them.
Once they arrived at the sprawling estate, Ethan felt an overwhelming need to protect Olivia. He glanced around, the shadows of the night creeping in, and a nagging worry settled in the pit of his stomach. "I'm not leaving you alone tonight," he said firmly, his voice steady. "Francis may try to come back. We need to be prepared."
Olivia looked at him, a mixture of relief and fear flickering in her eyes. "You don't have to stay, Ethan. I can handle this."
"I know you can," he replied, his expression softening. "But I want to. I want to help you face this. We'll come up with a plan together."
They settled into the luxurious yet cozy surroundings of her home, the soft glow of the lamps casting a warm light against the darkened walls. Ethan paced the room, formulating a strategy. "Olivia, I need you to contact Francis and ask him to meet you here at the mansion," he said, his voice calm but urgent. "We need to get him to confess everything, and it has to come from his own mouth."
Olivia's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you sure? What if he gets violent?"
Ethan shook his head. "We'll be ready for anything. We can record the conversation, and with Alex's help, we'll broadcast it live to the media. Everyone needs to see who he really is."
Taking a deep breath, Olivia nodded, her determination rekindled. "Alright, I'll do it. But we need to be careful. He won't like being exposed."
As Olivia prepared to make the call, Ethan felt a surge of admiration for her resilience. She was facing her fears head-on, and it inspired him to remain strong. "Just remember, you're not alone in this. I'll be right by your side," he reassured her.
With shaky hands, Olivia dialed Francis's number, her heart pounding in her chest. After a few tense moments, he answered, his voice smooth and charming. "Olivia, it's been a while. What's up?"
"Francis, I need to talk to you," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Can you come over? It's important."
"Of course! I'll be there shortly," he replied, and Olivia felt a chill run down her spine.
Once the call ended, Ethan took her hands in his, grounding her. "Now we wait. Stay strong, Olivia. This is the moment we've been preparing for."
As they awaited Francis's arrival, Ethan laid out the plan. "When he gets here, I want you to keep him talking. Ask him about the business and how he manipulated everything. Get him to spill the details while I prepare the recording equipment."
Olivia nodded, her determination shining through her fear. "I can do this."
Moments later, the sound of tires crunching on gravel announced Francis's arrival. Ethan's heart raced, adrenaline pumping through his veins. They had to be ready.
"Remember, Olivia, you're in control. Just keep your composure, and I'll be right here," he whispered as they positioned themselves near the door.
With a deep breath, Olivia opened the door, revealing Francis standing there, his trademark smile in place. "Olivia! It's so good to see you again," he said, his eyes glinting with a false warmth.
"Thank you for coming, Francis," she replied, forcing a smile as she stepped aside to let him in.
As he entered the mansion, Ethan felt the tension rise. This was it. They were about to confront the man who had cast a long shadow over Olivia's life.
With a nod from Ethan, Olivia took a deep breath, ready to lure the truth out of him. The stage was set, and the night was about to unveil the reality that had been lurking in the dark.
As Olivia led Francis into the mansion, the air grew heavy with tension. Ethan kept a watchful eye from the next room, every muscle in his body coiled with apprehension. He adjusted the small camera Alex had helped him set up, making sure it was angled perfectly to catch the entire conversation. His heart pounded in his chest—this was the moment they had planned for, but the sight of Francis standing so close to Olivia was already igniting a fury within him.
Francis settled into the plush chair in the living room, his eyes wandering over Olivia with a predatory gaze that made her skin crawl. She sat opposite him, trying to maintain her composure, though every instinct told her to run. But she couldn't—not yet. She had to see this through.
"So, what's this about, Olivia?" Francis asked, leaning forward slightly, his voice dripping with an unsettling mix of curiosity and arrogance. "I'm glad you reached out. We haven't had a chance to really talk in years." His hand found its way to her arm, and he let it linger there, his touch far too familiar.
Olivia forced a smile, her heart racing. "I wanted to clear the air, Francis. About what happened between us. You remember, don't you?"
Ethan clenched his fists as he watched from the other room. The sight of Francis's hand on Olivia's arm made his blood boil, but he knew he had to stay hidden for now. They needed a confession, and if Ethan revealed himself too soon, Francis might flee before they could get the truth.
Francis, oblivious to the growing storm around him, slid closer to Olivia, his hand moving to her knee, fingers tracing lightly over the fabric of her dress. "Of course I remember," he said, his voice low, almost mocking. "We were close back then, weren't we?"
Olivia's stomach churned, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she steeled herself and leaned into the uncomfortable moment. "You were a mentor to me, Francis. I trusted you. I even stayed in your home with you and your wife. Things were good in the beginning."
Francis chuckled, his hand moving slightly higher up her thigh, and Ethan's jaw tightened, his teeth grinding as he fought the urge to storm in and rip Francis away from her. His every instinct screamed to intervene, but he knew Olivia needed to lead this conversation.
Olivia swallowed hard, her voice steady despite the sickening sensation of Francis's touch. "But then things changed. You took me to that gala, and people started talking—saying things about us that weren't true. That's when I started pulling away. You didn't like that, did you?"
Francis's smile faded for a moment, and his grip on her knee tightened. His eyes narrowed as he leaned even closer. "You misunderstood, Olivia. People will always talk. I never did anything to hurt you, did I?" He raised an eyebrow, daring her to challenge him.
Ethan could feel the rage bubbling under his skin, his body taut with the effort of staying still. But he focused on Olivia's face—on her courage. She was doing this, facing the man who had haunted her for years.
"You didn't hurt me at first," Olivia replied softly, her voice carrying a vulnerability that she hoped would draw more out of him. "But then you got angry. When I stopped going to events with you, when I refused to be seen with you in public. That's when you… kidnapped me."
The words hung in the air, heavy and dark. Francis's expression shifted, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features. He waved a hand dismissively, but he didn't deny it.
"You were being dramatic," he said, though there was a coldness in his tone now. "You wanted to be a part of this world, Olivia. I just showed you how things work. You needed to be strong, and you got scared. That's not my fault."
Olivia's heart raced, but she kept her voice steady. "So you forced me to stay with you? Took me somewhere against my will? That was part of teaching me to be strong?"
Francis chuckled darkly, his hand once again moving up her leg, his touch growing more invasive. "You were confused. I was giving you what you needed, but you weren't ready to accept it. That's all."
At that moment, Ethan couldn't take it anymore. He stepped from the shadows, his presence immediately filling the room with tension. "Get your hands off her," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.
Francis looked up, startled but still maintaining his composure. "Ethan," he said, his voice dripping with false charm. "I didn't realize we had an audience."
Ethan's eyes blazed with fury. "I've heard enough," he spat. "You're done, Francis. You think you can keep manipulating people, but it ends tonight."
Francis leaned back, smirking, clearly unfazed. "And what exactly do you plan to do about it?"
A sly smile crossed Ethan's face as he motioned to Alex, who was already in position behind the scenes. "We've been live-streaming this entire conversation," Ethan said coldly. "Every word, every touch, every lie—it's all out there. The media, the public, everyone's watching."
Francis's smug demeanor faltered for the first time, his face paling as the gravity of the situation sank in. He glanced wildly around the room, his charm crumbling under the weight of his exposed truth.
Olivia stood up, her voice steady and unwavering. "It's over, Francis. You don't control me anymore. The world knows who you really are now."
As Francis sat there, stunned and speechless, Ethan stepped closer to Olivia, pulling her gently into his arms. He could feel the tension leaving her body, her nightmare finally over. With Francis's deceit laid bare for all to see, they had won the battle. The shadows of her past were fading, and together, they would face whatever came next.