The air was thick with tension as Augustus and Evelyn prepared for what would undoubtedly be a defining moment in their lives. The shared office, usually a space for professional discussions, now felt like a courtroom, with evidence spread across the long mahogany table. Evelyn was calm, almost eerily so, as she meticulously arranged the files and screenshots they had gathered. Augustus, on the other hand, stood near the window, his hands in his pockets, his face set in a hard, unreadable expression. 

“She won’t admit it easily,” Evelyn said, her voice steady but cold. “People like her never do.” 

“She won’t have a choice,” Augustus replied, his voice sharp and clipped. He turned to face her, his piercing gaze meeting hers. “You have everything we need to corner her. She’s not walking out of here unscathed.” 

Evelyn nodded but didn’t reply. For once, she wasn’t relishing the thought of proving someone wrong; she was simply determined to see justice done.

---

A few minutes later, Katherine breezed into the office, her designer heels clicking against the polished floor. She wore a cream-colored dress that hugged her figure perfectly, her makeup flawless as always. Her glossy lips curved into a smile as she spotted Augustus. 

“Darling,” she greeted cheerfully, her voice syrupy sweet. She walked toward him with open arms, clearly intending to embrace him. 

But Augustus took a deliberate step back, his expression cold and unyielding. 

Katherine froze mid-step, her smile faltering. “What’s wrong?” she asked, tilting her head in confusion. “Why are you acting so distant?” 

“Sit down,” Augustus said flatly, gesturing to the chair opposite the table. 

Katherine hesitated, her bright demeanor dimming slightly as she looked between Augustus and Evelyn. The tension in the room was palpable, and even she couldn’t ignore it. “What’s going on?” she asked, her tone slightly wary. 

“Sit,” Augustus repeated, his voice carrying an authority that brooked no argument. 

Reluctantly, Katherine complied, smoothing her dress as she perched on the edge of the chair. She glanced at Evelyn, who was standing at the head of the table with her arms crossed, her expression icy. 

“Is this about the merger?” Katherine asked, attempting a light laugh. “I don’t see why Evelyn needs to be here for—” 

“Enough,” Augustus interrupted sharply, cutting her off mid-sentence. His tone was so cold that it sent a chill down her spine. 

“Katherine,” he began, his voice low and measured, “we know what you’ve been doing.” 

Katherine blinked, her confusion evident. “What are you talking about?” 

Evelyn stepped forward, placing a folder on the table and opening it to reveal a series of emails, transaction logs, and screenshots. She slid the folder across the table toward Katherine, her expression unreadable. 

“You’ve been leaking confidential information to our competitors,” Evelyn said, her voice calm but laced with steel. “For months.” 

Katherine’s eyes widened as she scanned the documents. “This is ridiculous,” she said, letting out a nervous laugh. “Why would I do something like that? I’ve been nothing but loyal to Augustus.” 

“Don’t lie to me,” Augustus snapped, his tone cutting like a blade. “We have all the proof we need. Do you want me to read these emails aloud for you, or will you stop pretending?” 

“I don’t know where you got this, but it’s not mine!” Katherine exclaimed, her voice rising. She turned to Evelyn, her eyes narrowing. “This is your doing, isn’t it? You’ve always hated me. You probably fabricated all of this just to turn Augustus against me.” 

Evelyn let out a mirthless laugh. “I don’t need to fabricate anything, Katherine. The evidence speaks for itself. But go ahead, keep deflecting. It only makes you look more guilty.” 

Katherine’s face turned red with anger. “You’re insane!” she shouted, pointing a manicured finger at Evelyn. “You’ve been jealous of me since the day I met Augustus. You couldn’t stand that he loved me, so now you’re trying to destroy me.” 

“Enough!” Augustus bellowed, his voice echoing through the room. Both women fell silent, startled by the sudden outburst. 

He turned to Katherine, his eyes blazing with fury. “Stop this nonsense. Evelyn isn’t the one who betrayed me—you are. I trusted you, Katherine. And you used me.” 

Katherine’s bravado faltered. She opened her mouth to speak but closed it again, realizing that she was cornered. 

Augustus leaned forward, his hands braced against the table as he stared her down. “I’m giving you one chance to come clean,” he said, his voice deadly calm. “If you lie to me again, I’ll make sure you regret it.” 

Katherine hesitated, her eyes darting between Augustus and Evelyn. She realized there was no way out; the evidence was overwhelming, and Augustus was clearly not in the mood for games. 

After a long, tense silence, she finally slumped back in her chair, her shoulders sagging in defeat. 

“Fine,” she muttered, avoiding their eyes. “It’s true.” 

Evelyn crossed her arms, her expression unyielding. “Who sent you?” she demanded. 

Katherine glared at her but didn’t respond. 

“Answer her,” Augustus said coldly, his voice carrying a quiet menace that made Katherine shiver. 

“It was DeLacroix Industries,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “They offered me a fortune to infiltrate your company and feed them information. I didn’t think I’d get caught.” 

Augustus straightened, his jaw tightening as her words sank in. “So all of it—the relationship, the promises—it was all a lie?” 

Katherine flinched at the raw pain in his voice but didn’t deny it. “It wasn’t all a lie,” she said weakly. “I did care about you—” 

“Don’t,” Augustus interrupted, his voice a low growl. “Don’t insult me further by pretending this was anything more than a job for you.” 

Augustus stepped back, his expression hardening into a mask of cold indifference. “Get out,” he said, his voice devoid of emotion. 

Katherine’s eyes widened. “Augustus, please—” 

“Get. Out.” 

The finality in his tone left no room for argument. Katherine rose to her feet, her face pale as she gathered her things. She cast one last pleading glance at Augustus, but he refused to meet her eyes. 

As she walked past Evelyn, she paused. “You may have won this round,” she hissed, “but don’t think for a second that this is over.” 

Evelyn didn’t flinch. “Goodbye, Katherine,” she said calmly, her tone dismissive. 

Once Katherine was gone, the room fell into a heavy silence. Augustus stood motionless, staring at the door as if trying to process everything that had just happened. 

Evelyn watched him carefully, unsure of what to say. She wanted to feel triumphant, but all she felt was a strange mix of pity and sadness—for both of them. 

“Augustus—” she began, but he held up a hand to stop her. 

“I need some time,” he said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. Without another word, he walked out of the room, leaving Evelyn alone with the remnants of their confrontation. 

For the first time in weeks, she felt a sliver of hope—not for herself, but for Augustus. Perhaps now, he could finally begin to heal.