He Chose Her Joke, I Chose His Ruin Chapter 09

He Chose Her Joke, I Chose His Ruin Chapter 09

The Shaw family’s PR team pulled an all-nighter deleting clips and burying trending threads.

The harder they pushed, the louder it exploded.

By noon, Celeste Shaw was released from police custody.

She stepped out in a face mask, swarmed by reporters.

Someone shouted, “Miss Shaw, why did you lock Elena in the glass conservatory during that frigid spray ordeal?”

She snapped, voice cracking. “I didn’t mean to hurt her! I just wanted her to know she doesn’t deserve to take

what’s mine!”

The audio went viral within minutes.

The Shaw family’s PR director nearly fainted on the spot.

By afternoon, Shaw Group’s stock cratered.

Chairman Shaw called me seventeen times.

I ignored every ring.

Finally, he waited downstairs at Starlight Capital.

Ava asked if I’d see him.

“Send him up.”

Ten minutes later, Chairman Shaw entered the reception room.

The formidable patriarch seen across headlines looked to have aged ten years in a single night.

His first words, “Elena, my daughter is ignorant. I apologize on her behalf.”

I stayed seated. “How does Chairman Shaw intend to apologize?”

He gritted his teeth, sliding a document across the table. “The Shaw family stands ready to cover your medical bills and emotional damages.”

I didn’t even glance at it. “Do I look like I need that money?”

His face darkened. “Then what do you want?”

“I want Celeste Shaw to issue a public apology. Admitting to illegal confinement, aggravated assault, and deliberate humiliation. I want every guest who filmed or shared footage to face legal consequences.”

Chairman Shaw’s expression turned glacial. “Elena,leave us some negotiating leeway.”

I met his gaze. “Did your daughter leave me any room last night?”

He choked.

After a long silence, he softened his tone. “Celeste was spoiled rotten. She’s never known hardship. Elena,

you were young once too-must you be so unforgiving toward a child?”

I laughed. “Celeste is twenty-six.”

“If she’s still a child, then Shaw family intends to hand its empire to a child. That’s genuinely concerning.”

Chairman Shaw’s face changed. “What do you mean?”

I pushed over another file. “Risk assessment for Shaw Cultural City.”

“Affiliated funds under Starlight once weighed restructuring your outstanding debt.”

“I’ve decided against it.”

He shot to his feet. “You can’t do that! Without your buy-in, Shaw Group won’t survive the month!”

I looked at him. “Chairman Shaw, your daughter told me last night that Shaw family wouldn’t let me run wild.”

“She was right.”

“I’m not running wild.”

“I’m simply choosing not to save you.”

The color drained from his face.

Too many in power assume they get to dictate other people’s fates.

They only understand the pain when the blade turns on them.

As Chairman Shaw left, he muttered, “Elena, Celeste truly regrets what she did.”

I said, “Regret demands accountability-four words your entire family needs to master.”