The gasp from the audience was a physical wave of sound.
On the screen, Vanessa laughed—a cold, cruel sound. “It was so easy. Twist, snip. Daddy covered the rest. He thought it was just bad maintenance, but he made sure the investigation died. He knew deep down. He always chooses the winner.”
The video cut to black.
Liam turned to Vanessa. She was frozen, her face drained of all color, her mouth opening and closing like a fish on dry land.
“I didn’t stay with you because I loved you, Vanessa,” Liam said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper that the microphone picked up perfectly. “I hated every second I had to hold your hand. Every time you kissed me, I wanted to retch. I stayed with you for five years because I needed a confession.”
He gestured to the screen. “And it took three years to get you drunk enough and comfortable enough to admit it.”
“You… you used me,” Vanessa whispered, the irony completely lost on her. “You lied to me for five years?”
“I was investigating a murder attempt,” Liam corrected. “I was an undercover agent in my own life.”
Marcus Sterling stood up, his face purple. “This is preposterous! That video is a deep fake! I will sue you for everything you have!”
