Amy Sinclair wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. "Nathan told me Ms. Langley's been acting strange lately. Instead of taking care of Liam, she sneaked off to a club with male models."

"I thought if I provoked her a little, maybe she'd finally pay attention to Alexander and stop this ridiculous behavior."

Nathan Prescott nodded in agreement. "Victoria has gone too far this time. She should have considered you and Liam, not just herself!"

"The scandal has exploded online. Everyone knows you two are at odds now. Even Blackwood Enterprises' stock has taken a hit."

"That woman is nothing but trouble."

Alexander Blackwood paused, then turned to Amy. "Focus on recovering. I'll handle the online mess."

...

The fallout from Victoria's video was far worse than any previous scandal. Though Alexander managed to suppress the online chatter within a day, sharp-eyed netizens had already saved copies of the photos and videos, circulating them privately with glee.

Several of Alexander's business partners subtly brought up the issue, probing for details. Even small gossip accounts picked up the story, and though they were swiftly shut down, the buzz rivaled that of A-list celebrities.

Who was Alexander Blackwood? A titan of industry in Newhaven. Young, devastatingly handsome, and leagues above any Hollywood heartthrob—he was the fantasy of countless women.

People had painted him as untouchable, a man of perfection. But now, cracks were forming in that pristine image, threatening his reputation. Even the unshakable Blackwood Enterprises felt the tremors.

The Blackwood family, who had remained silent for so long, could no longer stay quiet. That night, Amy received a call from Margaret Blackwood.

"Amy, what in heaven's name were you thinking, causing this kind of scandal? Are you trying to destroy Blackwood Enterprises?"

"You will return to the Blackwood Mansion immediately. I've arranged a press conference. You will publicly claim you fabricated everything just to get Alexander's attention."

"From the start, you shamelessly clung to my son to climb the social ladder! After marrying him, you contributed nothing—just spent his money. And now, you're stabbing him in the back?"

"Mark my words. If Blackwood Enterprises suffers even the slightest because of you, I will have you thrown out of this family!"

Amy listened in silence. Margaret had never liked her, convinced she had schemed her way into the marriage.

Margaret had made it clear more than once that if not for Amy, Alexander would have married the heiress she had handpicked—a refined, well-educated woman from an elite family, someone who could have elevated the Blackwood name, not dragged it down like Amy, who, in Margaret's eyes, was nothing more than a pretty face.

With Victoria back in the picture, Margaret hadn't bothered to intervene or guide Alexander. Instead, she mocked Amy for failing to keep her husband's affection, saying she deserved to be cast aside.

For five years, Amy endured Margaret's relentless criticism and pressure. The worst had been right after the wedding, when Margaret summoned her daily to the Blackwood Mansion to "learn her place."

Margaret forced her to do laundry, cook, and clean, insisting that as a woman, she had no right to sit at the Blackwood family's dinner table unless she proved her worth.