He Locked Me In A Closet, So I Destroyed His Empire Chapter 05

He Locked Me In A Closet, So I Destroyed His Empire Chapter 05

The doors to the emergency room slammed shut behind tne.

Ethan Lockwood remained out in the corridor, handling the fallout.

Weston’s car had practically tailgated the ambulance all the way to the medical center.

He was currently being blocked by two massive security guards at the far end of the hallway.

“Get out of my way! Let me through!”

Ethan stood like a wall before the entrance, his stare glacial.

Weston glared right back at him.

“Who the hell are you?”

Ethan didn’t bother to answer.

Instead, he unzipped his leather briefcase, pulled out a thick manila folder, and thrust it hard against

Weston’s chest.

“Who I am isn’t your concern. Weren’t you dying to know if Summer was lying to you? Take a good look at

this first.”

Weston knitted his brows in confusion, but after a moment’s hesitation, he flipped open the paperwork.

The very first page detailed absolute proof of Chloe’s medical fraud.

It included wire transfers and records showing exactly how she had bribed an administrator at the clinic to alter the digital metrics on Summer’s pre-nup physical.

Beneath that lay the authentic, untampered medical file.

From the exact same medical facility, bearing the exact same date, the diagnosis column read in clear, bold

text: [Exercise-induced severe asthma.]

Weston’s hands began to visibly tremble.

“The doctor who signed off on that fake report took a thirty-thousand-dollar bribe from Chloe,” Ethan

stated, his voice dripping with utter disdain.

“And those ‘old classmates’ she brought in to testify? Every single one of them was a paid actor from a local agency. Are you seriously telling me you couldn’t see through something that pathetic?”

Weston’s mind scrambled for any shred of denial, his voice cracking as he mumbled, “We grew up together. She wouldn’t… there’s no way she’d go that far…”

Ethan’s expression remained completely detached.

“And that exact mindset is why you swallowed every single word out of her mouth. She handed you fabricated evidence, and you didn’t even bother to verify a single detail because you assumed someone you’ve known since childhood could never deceive you.”

“Chloe played your predictable psychology like a fiddle.”

Weston slammed the folder shut, trying to salvage his pride.

“Why should I believe any of this is real? If Chloe could fake a report, how do I know you didn’t forge this entire file just to mess with me? Why should I trust a word you say?”

Ethan looked at Weston as if he were staring at a literal simpleton.

“Are you truly incapable of hiring your own investigators? Honestly, the fact that the Garrison family hasn’t gone bankrupt with you at the helm is a miracle.”

Humiliated, Weston turned to leave, but stopped dead in his tracks after a few paces.

“Is she… is she going to be okay?”

Ethan’s face darkened instantly, a dangerous wave of anger rolling off him.

“You actually have the audacity to ask about her well-being? Get the hell out of here right now before I have my men throw you out a window.”

Weston said nothing more, finally turning and rushing off to verify the files himself.

Ethan quietly pushed open the door and stepped into the private recovery suite.

“You heard all of that?”

I gave a faint nod from the pillows.

“Thanks, Ethan.”

He raised an amused eyebrow, a small smirk playing on his lips.

“You turned down our families’ traditional match years ago for a complete clown like that? Tell me,

Summer, am I really that much of a downgrade?”

I instinctively rubbed the bridge of my nose, feeling a sudden flush of embarrassment.

On the day of my eighteenth birthday gala, my grandmother had suddenly informed me that our families had arranged a match for us when we were children.

Ethan was three years older than me, an old-money neighbor who had basically watched me grow up.

Back then, I was going through my rebellious phase and had just met Weston.

Naturally, I had thrown a fit, demanding that my grandmother break off the arrangement immediately.

I just hadn’t expected him to bring it up again after all these years.

I sheepishly pulled the hospital blanket up over my face.

He let out a low chuckle.

“Alright, stop hiding like a turtle. Everything you ordered has already been set into motion. Your grandmother was absolutely furious when she heard the news; she’s already or a private flight back from

out of state.”

“Rest easy-every single person who put their hands on you is going to pay a heavy price.”

I remained quiet, simply nodding in agreement.

By that evening, the capital extraction was operating at full capacity, freezing multiple high-profile infrastructure projects under the Garrison Group.

Weston attempted to call my phone half a dozen times, but I blocked his number without hesitation.

The following morning, Weston’s mother arrived at the hospital suite, dragging her son along by his sleeve.

“Miss Sterling, we fully support holding Chloe accountable for her actions and will cooperate with any legal proceedings. Weston was entirely in the wrong here as well, and I am here to personally extend our deepest apologies on behalf of the family.”

I leaned back against the headboard, offering absolutely no response.

“However, we hope this matter ends here. Divestment affects the future of both our families, and I hope you

won’t act out of temporary spite. As for compensation, name your price-”

“No need,” I cut her off instantly.

Mrs. Garrison’s brow furrowed, her posture stiffening as if her mere presence at my bedside was already an immense act of charity.

“Miss Sterling-”

“Mrs. Garrison, let’s be entirely clear,” I interrupted, my voice sharp and clear. “I poured my grandmother’s venture capital into Garrison Group because I was infatuated with Weston and thought we had a future.”

“Furthermore, your family’s accounting books were in absolute shambles. Without my intervention, your assets would have been carved up by your competitors months ago.”

“Out of affection, I completely overlooked the lack of immediate financial returns on that investment. Since

that affection has now evaporated into thin air, it is only natural that I reclaim my capital.”

Mrs, Garrison fell completely silent for several seconds, her eyes narrowing.

“Miss Sterling, do you really have to be this ruthless?”

I looked her dead in the eye.

“When Weston stood by and let Chloe lock me in a room full of toxic dust to suffocate, did he show even a shred of mercy?”

Weston, who had remained entirely silent in the corner, suddenly stepped forward to the edge of the bed.

“Summer, I know I messed up completely. I reviewed the entire digital trail myself-it was all Chloe’s doing,

and I was a blind idiot to believe her.”

“But my biggest mistake was doubting you. I swear to you, it will never happen again…”

I cut him off instantly.

“You believed Chloe because she represented your elitist social circle. And the only reason you dared to treat me like garbage was because you truly believed I was just some defenseless orphan with no family backing- someone you could falsely accuse and break without facing any consequences.”

He snapped his head up, his voice cracking. “That’s not true-‘

“Isn’t it? If you were truly capable of uncovering the truth, why didn’t you do it before you let her lock me away? Why did you choose to believe her without a single second thought?”

He closed his eyes, unable to offer a single word of defense.

Once the security team escorted Weston and his mother out of the building, the suite fell into a peaceful

silence.

A chime went off on my phone, displaying a text from Ethan.

[The board of directors just held an emergency session. Weston has been officially ousted from the company

executive branch.]

Furthermore, Chloe’s father was currently being booked by federal investigators for embezzling millions

from a public school development bond, completely shattering the Quinn family’s financial liquidity.

With their own house on fire, the Quinns had absolutely no resources left to mount a legal defense for their

daughter.

By that afternoon, Chloe’s formal conviction notice was broadcast nationwide across multiple media

platforms.

Simultaneously, her court-mandated public apology video went completely viral online.

Ethan slid his tablet across the hospital overbed table toward me.

On screen, Chloe was seated in a stark, gray deposition room, wearing a standard inmate jumpsuit, her long hair chopped into a jagged, ear-length bob. Her complexion was as pale as a sheet of paper.

Her eyes were completely hollow as she read from a prepared script in a flat, dead drone.

“I have caused severe physical and emotional trauma to Miss Summer Sterling. I falsely accused her of high school bullying, maliciously falsified a private medical evaluation, and incited online violence against her

character across various social media platforms.”

After finishing the legal statement, she paused for a few agonizing seconds.

Then, she raised her chin, staring directly into the camera lens.

“I have been in love with Weston Garrison since we were teenagers. But from the moment we entered high

school, his eyes were only ever on Summer.”

“I was consumed by jealousy, and I spent years trying to find a way to drive her out of the district. I eventually succeeded, forcing her to move abroad.”

She choked back a sudden sob, her shoulders shaking.

“But I never anticipated that Weston would follow her overseas. From that exact moment, my jealousy turned into pure hatred, and I became obsessed with ruining her life.”

“I hired actors to pretend to be our old classmates and stage a chance encounter with Weston to plant seeds

of doubt about her illness.”

“Then, I subtly pressured Summer to undergo a pre-nup physical, recommending the specific clinic beforehand so I could easily intercept her records and have a forged copy prepared…”

With her defense completely dismantled, she laid bare every single detail of the conspiracy.

At the very end of the recording, she stood up and delivered a profound, trembling bow toward the camera.

“Summer, I am so sorry. I beg you to leave my family out of this. I will take full legal responsibility for everything…”

I pushed the tablet away, locking the screen.

There was no sudden rush of triumph or joy in my chest.

Because this was only the beginning of their reckoning.