If smugness were a person, it would be Vanessa Grant. She stood on my doorstep with one hand on her hip and the other clutching a folder like it held the secrets to the universe—or at least the power to completely ruin my life.
"I thought you'd want to see this before the rest of the world does," she said, her voice oozing fake concern. "Consider it a favor… from one woman to another."
"I don't need your favors, Vanessa," I snapped, crossing my arms. "Get to the point."
Her smile widened as she handed me the folder. I hesitated before taking it, my stomach already churning. Whatever was inside, it wasn't good. I could feel it in the way Vanessa's eyes gleamed, like a cat watching a cornered mouse.
"Your husband isn't exactly the knight in shining armor you think he is," she said, her voice a low purr. "You might want to read up before the tabloids beat you to it."
"I'm not interested in your gossip," I said sharply, but the crack in my voice betrayed me.
Vanessa just shrugged, turning to leave. "Suit yourself. But when this hits the morning headlines, don't say I didn't warn you."
---
The Revelation
When Vanessa left, I stood there for a long moment, clutching the folder like it might bite me if I opened it. Eventually, I forced myself to sit down at my kitchen table and flipped it open.
Inside were photos, old newspaper clippings, and a mess of financial records, all meticulously compiled to paint the worst possible picture of Jackson Carter.
A failed business venture that had lost millions, allegedly taking his family's fortune down with it.
Legal documents accusing him of fraud—though the charges had been dropped.
And the kicker: a photo of Jackson with a glamorous woman, her arm looped around his, smiling like they were posing for a magazine cover. The caption labeled her as his ex-fiancée.
Each page felt like a weight pressing down on my chest.
---
For a moment, I just stared at the mess of papers, trying to make sense of it all.
Was this who Jackson really was? A reckless liar who left chaos in his wake? Or was there more to the story?
Vanessa's voice rang in my ears, along with my mother's sharp accusations, Ethan's warnings, and even Jackson's smug, infuriating grin.
Anger bubbled up in my chest—at Jackson for not telling me, at Vanessa for weaponizing his past, and at myself for not knowing what to believe.
"I'd told myself I wouldn't let other people's opinions shape my decisions anymore, but how could I ignore this? How could I trust a man who kept so many secrets?"
---
Confronting Jackson
When I stormed into the apartment, Jackson was lounging on the couch, eating cold pizza straight from the box and watching a rerun of a cooking show. He looked up at me with a curious expression as I slammed the folder onto the coffee table.
"Care to explain this?" I demanded, my voice trembling with anger.
He leaned forward, glancing at the papers before raising an eyebrow. "Wow, you've been busy. Did Ethan send you on a scavenger hunt?"
"This isn't funny, Jackson!" I snapped. "Is it true?"
---
The smirk faded from his face, replaced by something more serious. He set the pizza box aside and leaned back, running a hand through his hair.
"Yeah," he said finally. "It's true. Most of it, anyway."
"Unbelievable," I muttered, pacing the room. "You didn't think this was worth mentioning? That maybe I deserved to know before it landed on my doorstep?"
"Look, I didn't lie to you," he said, his voice calm but firm. "You never asked, and I wasn't about to dump all my baggage on your doorstep the day we met. You think I wanted this to come out?"
"Explain," I demanded, crossing my arms.
He let out a heavy sigh. "The failed business? It was a startup. A good idea, bad execution. I poured everything I had into it, and when it fell apart, my family decided I wasn't worth the trouble anymore. As for the fraud charges, those were bogus. A smear campaign by a rival who couldn't play fair. The charges were dropped, but the damage stuck."
"And the ex-fiancée?" I asked, my voice quieter now.
His jaw tightened. "She left when things got messy. Picked her career over me. Can't say I blame her."
---
For a moment, neither of us spoke. I could see the vulnerability in his eyes, hidden beneath his usual bravado.
"I can't change my past, Lila," he said softly. "But if you want out, just say the word. I won't stop you."
I hesitated, my mind racing. I still didn't fully trust him, but I also didn't trust Vanessa—or Ethan—to tell me the full truth.
"I'm not staying because I believe you," I said finally. "I'm staying because I don't believe them."
A flicker of relief crossed his face, though he quickly masked it with a teasing grin. "Careful, Mrs. Carter. You almost sounded like you were on my side."
---
Ethan's Next Move
Meanwhile, at the Harper estate, Ethan was busy charming my parents.
"This scandal is only going to get worse," he told my mother, his tone calm but calculating. "But with my connections, I can contain it. All I need is for Lila to see reason."
Margaret, of course, was eager to agree. "Whatever it takes," she said.
Edward, however, hesitated. "And what's your plan for Jackson?" he asked.
Ethan's smile didn't reach his eyes. "By the time I'm done, he'll be a non-issue."
---
Ethan began pulling strings behind the scenes, feeding more details about Jackson's past to the media and spinning the story in the worst possible light.
The headlines spread like wildfire, and by morning, my phone was buzzing with questions from reporters, friends, and even distant relatives who suddenly felt the need to weigh in.
---
That evening, Jackson found me sitting at the kitchen table, my head in my hands as I scrolled through the latest headlines.
"'Harper Heiress and Her Bad Boy Husband,'" he read over my shoulder, grinning. "Nice. We should frame it."
"Not funny, Jackson," I muttered.
"Come on," he said, pulling out a chair and sitting across from me. "You've got to admit, this whole thing is kind of ridiculous. We could throw a press conference, clear the air, maybe stage a public argument for drama."
I glared at him. "This isn't a game, Jackson. This is my life. My family. Everything I've worked for."
He sobered instantly, leaning closer. "It's my life too, Lila. I'm not the enemy here."
---
For the first time, I really looked at him—not the reckless troublemaker the tabloids wanted him to be, but a man who had been judged and discarded, just like me.
Maybe we weren't so different after all.
---
By the time morning came, I'd made a decision. I wasn't going to let Ethan, Vanessa, or my mother dictate how this story played out.
I called my parents, arranging a meeting with them, Ethan, and Jackson. If they wanted a showdown, I was going to give them one—on my terms.
As I prepared, I glanced at Jackson, who was leaning against the counter, watching me with a mix of curiosity and amusement.
"For better or worse," I thought, "I was stuck with Jackson Carter. And maybe, just maybe, that wasn't such a bad thing after all."
"This wasn't just damage control anymore. It was war."