Chapter 9
The week leading up to the gala crawled by.
Rachel stayed hidden in a small apartment arranged by Eric. It wasn’t grand, but it was safe. Each day, she reviewed the evidence, rehearsed what she would say, and kept in contact with Eric using a secret phone he gave her. Their messages were brief but steady. He kept her updated. She kept him focused.
Eric, on the other hand, was walking a tightrope. Michelle hadn’t suspected a thing—at least not yet. She was too busy preparing for her grand event. She played the gracious host, the grieving sister-in-law, the perfect socialite. No one could see the monster behind her polished mask.
But Eric could.
And for the first time, he truly saw Rachel, too. Not as the girl who had broken his heart—but as the woman who had survived betrayal, lies, and attempted murder. And she still stood strong.
Finally, the night of the gala arrived.
The venue was bathed in crystal light. Chandeliers sparkled overhead, and every corner was filled with laughter, music, and clinking champagne glasses. Michelle moved through the crowd like royalty—elegant, poised, untouchable. She wore a floor-length white gown that made her look almost saintly.
Eric arrived a little late, wearing a dark suit and a cold expression. He didn’t approach Michelle. Instead, he took his place near the front of the ballroom, where the night’s announcements and speeches would be made. His presence caught attention. Cameras turned. Whispers followed.
But he waited.
Then, just before the main address began, Rachel entered.
The entire room fell silent.
She wore a sleek black dress, simple yet powerful, and walked with the kind of calm that made heads turn. People stared. Some gasped. Others blinked in disbelief. After all, she was supposed to be dead.
Michelle’s glass slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor.
“Impossible,” she whispered.
Rachel didn’t flinch.
She stepped up to the stage, took the mic, and looked straight at the crowd. Then she turned toward Michelle and said, “You tried to bury me. You almost did. But you made one mistake—thinking I’d stay quiet.”
The audience shifted uncomfortably. Cameras began recording.
Rachel continued, voice steady. “I was framed. I was attacked. And I have proof that Michelle Lang has been working with known criminals to cover up abuse, silence victims, and eliminate anyone who got in her way—including me.”
Gasps. Murmurs. A few people in the back tried to leave.
Eric stepped forward and handed Rachel a flash drive. She plugged it into the projector.
Emails. Bank transfers. Testimonies. Photos. Even a recording of Michelle speaking to Gregory Chen about the women they “took care of.”
It was undeniable.
Michelle froze, then lunged forward in a rage. “She’s lying! She’s always been a liar! This is all fake—Eric, tell them!”
But Eric didn’t move to stop Rachel.
Instead, he turned to the crowd and said, “Everything you’re seeing is true. I failed to protect my wife. I let a monster into our home, our company. But no more.”
Security came in moments later. Michelle tried to run, but it was over.
She was arrested in front of everyone.
Reporters swarmed. Flashbulbs exploded. And Rachel?
She just stood there, tall and unshaken, as the truth finally came to light.
After everything—every betrayal, every scar—Rachel had won.
But deep down, she knew this wasn’t just the end of Michelle.
It was the beginning of a new life.