Chapter 165 - A Bridegroom's Reckoning

*Noah's POV*

Scarlett's face crumbles the moment she realizes I know. The brave mask she's been wearing all morning dissolves completely.

"I didn't want you to worry."

"Tell me everything."

She takes a shaky breath. "Bianca called me into her office yesterday afternoon. Said there had been complaints about my work performance."

"That's ridiculous. You're the best employee they have."

"That's what I thought too. But then she showed me the reports. Made-up incidents. False accusations from other departments. A whole file of fabricated evidence."

My hands clench into fists.

"Gabriel Donovan."

"His family has business connections with half the companies in the city. One phone call from them and suddenly everyone thinks I'm incompetent."

Scarlett wipes her eyes with the back of her hand.

"I've applied to twelve different companies since yesterday. Every single one has already heard about my 'performance issues' at Stella. No one will even interview me."

"He's blacklisted you."