Chapter 22 The wine ran down her hair , her dress , blooming across her skin like blood . The whole room gasped . Cameras clicked . And of course , Fresca lived for it . She staggered , threw her arms out like she was on stage . " How dare you ! " she screamed . " Do you know who I am ? I'm the wife of Beckley Huntman , a billionaire ! And you - you filthy rising star - you splash wine on me in public? In front of everyone ? You call this how you treat a lady ? " Her voice cracked like glass . She wanted pity . She wanted headlines . Phones shot up , recording every tear . I stepped forward , steady , cold . My voice carried . " Are you scared , Fresca ? Scared Beckley will leave you for me just because I look like the wife you could never replace ? That's the truth , isn't it ? You're terrified because you know you're obvious . Replaceable ." Her scream tore the music apart . She pointed at me , spit flying . " You ruined everything ! You fake star , you little actress ! You're nothing but a whore playing dress - up with billionaires ! Do you think you're untouchable ? Do you think Beckley would ever pick you over me ? " The crowd stirred , hungry for blood . She lunged , eyes wild , hand up to slap me . But before she touched me , Kendrick was there . He moved so fast the air snapped . His arm went in front of me , solid , protective . His other hand steadying me . His body shielded mine like stone . Then I saw him . Beckley . Coming through the crowd like a storm ready to break . His eyes locked on me , his chest rising heavy . Fresca turned , dripping wine and rage , and screamed at him . " This woman humiliated me ! She splashed wine on me in front of everyone , and you - what , you just stand there ? You let her treat me like dirt ? She's wearing Claire's face , Beckley ! She's haunting us ! " His jaw clenched . His eyes were on fire . He looked like a man about to burn the whole place down . I smiled slowly . I let the moment breathe . Then I said it , clear , sharp , so every single phone in the room could catch it . " You want the truth ? Yes . I am that woman . I was Claire Huntman . I faked my death . I left my cheating husband and his snake of a cousin behind . That was then . Now I'm someone else . Now I'm me ." The silence dropped like ice water . Gasps broke it . People's mouths fell open . Cameras shook in hands . Chenter 01 212 75.0 % 9.13 Thu , Oct 16 Kendrick didn't move . He only watched me , steady , like he'd always known . 95 Fresca crumpled to the floor with a howl , clutching her chest again , shrieking like her world had ended . " Liar ! You liar ! You tried to kill me before ! You had a lover , admit it ! You staged your death to steal his money ! You're nothing but a cheap whore playing the victim ! " Her voice cracked , shrill and raw . The cameras leaned closer . I laughed . Hard , sharp . My laughter echoed in that gilded room . " Even Satan would blush at your lies , Fresca . Let's tell the truth for once . I staged my death because Beckley was too busy worshiping my supposed bone marrow donor , my oh - so - perfect cousin . You stole him . You fed him poison about me . You left me to die in the rain while you wore my life like it was your dress . My mother , Helena Montgomery found me . She saved me . Give me bone marrow . She gave me another chance . " Gasps again , the whispers turning to a roar . " Helena Montgomery's daughter ? Oh my god ! " " She said Helena saved her . Is this real ? " " Claire Huntman alive all this time ? " " If this is true , the whole Huntman story is a lie ." Fresca's face went chalk white . Her lips twisted but no words came out . She stumbled , choking on her own lies . Beckley just stood there , his chest heaving , his eyes darting between me and her . He looked broken , like he finally saw what had been in front of him all along . And then Helena entered . Calm , poised , lethal in her silence . She didn't rush . She didn't need to . She stepped up behind me , placed her hand on my shoulder like she was claiming me for the world to see . Her voice cut through the chaos . " Security . " One word . Men appeared instantly , suits moving like shadows . " This woman , " Helena said , nodding at Fresca , " has no place here . Remove her . Now . " Her gaze shifted to Beckley , her voice slicing colder . " And you , Escort yourself out . My daughter will never again be treated as property . " The crowd broke apart in noise . Cameras swinging , reporters shouting , guests gasping . Fresca clawed and screamed as guards hauled her up , her dress torn , her voice wild . " She's a liar ! A whore ! She's nothing ! Beckley , she's nothing ! " They dragged her , thrashing , out the doors . Beckley stayed . Just a second longer . His eyes on me , shattered . Like he knew , finally , that everything was gone . Then his shoulders dropped , and he walked away . Kendrick's hand found mine under the lights . His voice brushed my ear . " Well done , Claire . " Chapter 22 2/3 77.4 % 9:13 Thu , Oct 16 I smiled , small but sharp . " It's over . " But my chest burned . Because nothing with Fresca is ever truly over . 96 The next morning felt unreal . Reporters packed the hall, cameras everywhere , lights burning hot against my skin . Helena stood at the podium like she was born for this , calm , regal , unshaken . " My daughter , " her voice rang , steady and sharp , " was wronged . Betrayed . Abandoned . I will not let her be slandered again . From today , Kendall Scott stands under my name . She is my daughter , Claire Huntman , and she will be protected . " The room erupted . Questions flying like knives , everyone shouting over each other . " Helena Montgomery's daughter ? That explains it ! " " How long has she been hiding ? " " What does this mean for the Huntman empire ? " My hands trembled , but I stepped up beside her . My heart thudded so hard I thought the microphones would pick it up . I smiled , soft but steady , and answered the safer questions . About my work . About my recovery . About how grateful I was for this second chance . Then it came . The sharp one . The kind that cuts you down if you falter . " Is it true ," a reporter shouted , " that billionaire director Kendrick Savatier has been your fiancé since last year in Switzerland ? " The room went dead still . My throat locked . I almost choked on the air . My lips parted but no sound came out . Everyone leaned in . Then he moved . Kendrick . Smooth , confident , like the world bent around him . 9:13 Thu , Oct 16