Chapter 8: Truth in the Spotlight

Jordan’s gaze hardened as he looked at Hailey.

She was undeniably beautiful, but to him, she had never looked uglier.

“You cheated on me, yet you call me unfaithful? And now, you want to punish me? What a wonderful wife you are. Truly, a rare gem.”

His voice dripped with sarcasm, his patience wearing thin.

Just then, Drew seized the Dragon Ruler and charged at Jordan.

“You dog! You dared to hit me? I’ll destroy your face!”

With blind fury, Drew swung the massive metal ruler, aiming for Jordan’s head.

But Jordan didn’t move.

At the last second, he caught Drew’s arm—twisting it sharply.

Smack!

The Dragon Ruler connected—right across Drew’s own face!

A sickening crack echoed through the hall.

Gasps filled the room.

Drew stumbled back, his already swollen face worsening, his expression one of pure shock.

A live-in son-in-law had just humiliated the heir of the Camden family in front of the city’s most influential figures.

Old Mrs. Camden shot to her feet, her face red with fury.

“Scoundrel! Do you have any idea who is in this room? The government officials here could have you thrown in prison this instant!”

Jordan nodded slowly, unfazed.

She wasn’t wrong. The wealthy and powerful often had deep connections in government circles.

But he simply turned toward the crowd and spoke clearly.

“I think the officials here can all see that Drew attacked first. I only defended myself.”

The room fell silent.

Then, a tall, bespectacled man stepped forward. He wasn’t wearing a uniform, but his presence commanded authority.

“However,” the man said, “you agreed to accept Camden family punishment. And now you resist it? Is that how a man should behave?”

At his words, murmurs spread through the hall.

Old Mrs. Camden smiled smugly.

Jordan remained unshaken.

“I am willing to accept punishment—but only if I’ve done something wrong.”

Old Mrs. Camden’s voice thundered through the hall.

“You had an affair and beat my grandson! Is that not enough!?”

Jordan scoffed.

“For the past three years, I’ve been completely loyal to Hailey. I never even touched another woman.”

His sharp gaze landed on Hailey.

“But she? She checked into the Splendor Hotel with Tyler Collins yesterday. If you don’t believe me, check for yourself.”

The moment he spoke, the room erupted in whispers.

“Tyler? You mean Tyler Collins, the heir of the Collins family?”

“I heard the Camdens were planning to have Hailey marry into the Collins family.”

“If that’s true, why cheat? Couldn’t she have waited until after the divorce?”

“So the so-called ‘most beautiful woman in Orlando’ isn’t as pure as she seems.”

The color drained from Hailey’s face. Embarrassment and rage burned in her eyes.

She hurriedly protested.

“Grandma, everyone, don’t believe his lies! I only met Tyler for business.”

Her voice grew more desperate.

“Landmark Realty has been seeking investors. I met with Tyler for that reason alone!”

Jordan laughed coldly.

“Business, huh? In a hotel room? In a bathrobe? You think everyone here is stupid?”

Just then, the doors of the hall swung open.

Tyler Collins had arrived.

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The Deception Deepens

Tyler walked in confidently, dressed in a luxury suit, carrying a gift.

“Ah, everyone’s here.”

His charming smile faltered when he saw the tense atmosphere.

Hailey immediately grabbed his arm.

“Tyler! Jordan is accusing me of cheating! Tell everyone we were only discussing business.”

Tyler glanced at the room, feeling the weight of every stare.

His mind raced.

‘This bastard actually exposed me in front of all these people?’

The upper-class had affairs all the time, but image was everything.

If he admitted it, his reputation would crumble.

So, he did what all rich men do—lie.

He scoffed, turning to the crowd.

“Everyone, don’t listen to this nonsense. Hailey and I are innocent.”

He glanced at Jordan with disdain.

“She only came to my hotel to deliver a document.”

Tyler then narrowed his eyes.

“Jordan, if you’re so confident, do you have proof? A video? A photo?”

Jordan’s jaw clenched.

He had seen it with his own eyes, but at the time, he hadn’t thought to take a picture.

Tyler smirked.

He knew Jordan had no evidence—he had already used his connections to delete the hotel’s security footage.

Now, all he had to do was deny, deny, deny.

The murmurs in the room shifted.

“Without proof, this is just slander.”

“Maybe Jordan is just bitter about being replaced.”

“He’s nothing but a deliveryman. Why should we believe him over Tyler?”

Tyler smiled wider, sensing the tide turning.

He exhaled dramatically.

“Jordan, I see what this is really about.”

He turned to the crowd.

“What Jordan isn’t telling you is that he also works as a deliveryman. I ordered food yesterday, and he just happened to be the one to bring it.”

He pointed accusingly.

“His attitude was awful. He even threw my food on the ground! That’s why I gave him a one-star rating.”

He then turned to Ryan Dunn.

“Mr. Dunn, you’re here, aren’t you? Check his records from yesterday. See if I’m lying.”

Ryan nodded eagerly, thrilled to join in Jordan’s humiliation.

Old Mrs. Camden smirked.

The crowd turned on Jordan, their previous sympathy vanishing.

The Camdens had set their trap well—and Jordan was right in the middle of it.