your scapegoat 8

Sapphire’s POV 

“Hold a press conference.” I wiped away my tears. “It’s time to tell the world the truth.” 

The very next day, our company held a press conference. 

The room was packed with reporters, cameras flashing nonstop. I sat at the head table, facing dozens of lenses. 

“Friends from the media,” I began, my voice steady, “I’m here today to set the record straight.” 

The large screen behind me lit up, and the first video rolled. 

Gasps erupted from the crowd. 

“This is the full recording, showing Herman drugging me, knocking me unconscious, and dragging me into a hotel,” I announced. 

Before anyone could recover, the second video started playing. 

On screen, I was forced to drink in a private room, with Sylvester handing over a hotel keycard. The room instantly went silent with shock. 

“This,” I continued, “is what really happened that night. Look closely. Now you know who the real victim was.” 

Then came the final video, the one everyone had been waiting for. 

Messages between Melinda and Ted appeared line by line, showing how they traded company data, backed with money transfer records. 

“One million,” I said coldly, “for the project’s core data. This is the true face of the so–called business elite, Ted Webster.” 

The audience erupted in an uproar. 

Reporters‘ cameras clicked wildly. They knew they had just witnessed the biggest scandal of the 

year. 

Within hours, the footage spread across the internet, and public opinion flipped overnight. 

[Oh my god! Miss Sapphire was the real victim all along!] 

[Ted is a monster. He’s not even human!] 

[Webster Group is vile! How could they smear her like that?] 

Our company’s stock rebounded sharply, while Webster Group’s began to nosedive. 

Sitting in my office, I watched their stock chart plunge, and a cold smile tugged at my lips. “Dad,” I said, “it’s time to close the net.” 

For the next three days, our company launched a relentless counterattack. 

Webster Group’s partners tore up contracts. Banks withdrew loans. Suppliers cut them off. 

Ted, the man who once stood tall as an untouchable titan of business, watched helplessly as his empire collapsed in just three days. 

By the third night, Webster Group declared bankruptcy. 

7:43 pm D 

When the news reached me, I was calmly sipping tea. The first sip was bitter, but the aftertaste 

was sweet. 

This war, the one Ted himself had started, ended with his total ruin. 

With overwhelming evidence in hand, the court wasted no time delivering its verdicts. 

Ted was sentenced to twenty years for kidnapping, corporate espionage, defamation, and attempted assault. 

Meanwhile, Herman received ten years for kidnapping, and Melinda was given fifteen years for fraud, corporate espionage, and defamation, plus an order to return all illicit gains. 

Lastly, Sylvester was sentenced to seven years for gross misconduct and aiding criminal activity. 

On the day of sentencing, I sat quietly in the gallery as the judge read out each name, each 

crime. 

With every conviction, I felt a little lighter. 

When Ted was led away, he glanced back at me. The lustful gleam that once haunted his eyes was gone. It was replaced with nothing but despair. 

Melinda sobbed uncontrollably. 

When Sylvester was escorted out last, his face was etched with regret. He looked like he wanted to speak, but I had already turned my back and walked away. 

When the storm finally settled, I officially took over as branch general manager. 

My first order of business was a company–wide meeting. 

“From this day forward,” I declared from the stage, my voice carrying through the hall, “our company will value one thing only: capability. Not connections.” 

The room buzzed with whispers. Some employees looked excited, others were nervous. 

7:43 pm S 

Sapphire’s POV