Chapter 6
Ethan’s father turned sharply toward Noah.
“Do you have evidence?”
Noah opened the first file.
It was the complaint Anna had submitted two years earlier.
It contained secret recordings, edited messages, and an audio recording of a meeting in which she had been pressured to admit that she had pursued her supervisor for a promotion.
At the bottom of the file was the final decision.
**No Action Taken.**
The Vice President of Human Resources had signed it.
The Office of the CEO had also been copied on the complaint.
Ethan’s father’s expression finally changed.
“This only proves that someone handled the complaint improperly. It does not prove that the company deliberately covered anything up.”
Noah did not argue.
He opened the second file.
There were eight victims and eight payments labeled as severance compensation.
Every payment had come from the same company affiliated with Brooks Group.
The amounts were different, but the description was identical.
**Settlement of Training Dispute.**
“After these women left, Brooks changed all of their employment records. Some were accused of gross misconduct. Some were accused of harassing their supervisors. Others were falsely recorded as having resigned voluntarily.”
Noah looked up.
“This was not one complaint handled badly. This was a system that operated for three years.”
The ballroom doors opened again.
A pale woman walked inside.
Mia drew in a sharp breath.
“That is Anna Lewis.”
Anna did not look at anyone.
She walked straight to the table and placed a check on it.
“Two years ago, they told me to accept this money. In return, I had to admit that I had pursued my supervisor and agree never to mention the Crown Club again.”
She took out a resignation letter.
Her name was typed at the bottom, but there was no signature.
“I did not resign. Brooks created this letter and submitted it under my name.”
Ethan leaned against the table, his face cold.
“You disappeared for two years. Now Victoria appears, and you suddenly come back to testify against me. Who knows what she offered you?”
Anna looked directly at him.
“When I filed my first complaint, she had not even joined Brooks.”
“Are you going to claim she arranged that too?”
Ethan had no answer.
Noah opened the written statements from the other seven victims.
Some had been secretly recorded.
Some had been burdened with fabricated debt claims.
Others had their references destroyed because they refused to sign nondisclosure agreements.
The names Brooks had hidden appeared on the large screen one after another.
Anna stared at Ethan.
“What about them?”
“What excuse are you going to use for all seven of them?”
No one in the ballroom was laughing anymore.
Ethan suddenly pointed at Chloe.
“She selected the women. She also handled the recordings and edited the messages.”
Chloe turned toward him, her face filled with anger.
“You are trying to put all the blame on me?”
“Were you not responsible?”
Ethan looked at her coldly.
“You contacted the Brand Department, Human Resources, and the photography team every time. I only took part in the game.”
Chloe’s hands began to shake.
Then she suddenly laughed.
“Fine. If you expect me to take the fall alone, then we can all go down together.”
She took out her phone and connected it to the large screen.
The first recording began to play.
“Choose someone with no connections. Do not touch anyone whose family has influence. They will be harder to deal with afterward.”
It was Ethan’s voice.
The second recording played.
“Put her on the core deal team first. Once she thinks she will receive a permanent position, release the evidence.”
Then came the third recording.
“We control their references. They will never risk making this public.”
The recording ended.
Ethan’s face turned completely white.
The other Crown Club members began to panic.
None of them wanted to become Ethan’s next scapegoat.
One person immediately turned over the group messages.
Another admitted to making the secret recordings.
Someone else admitted to contacting the head of Human Resources.
The same people who had stood around Ethan and cheered earlier were now fighting to prove that they had only followed his orders.
Ethan stared at them in disbelief.
“Every one of you took part in this!”
No one answered him.
Chloe disconnected her phone.
“Do not take it so seriously, Ethan.”
She looked at him with a mocking smile.
“It was only a game, remember?”
Ethan stood frozen.
The ballroom was full of people, but not one person stood beside him.
Videos from the gala were quickly posted online.
Within half an hour, the Crown Club was trending.
The public was not only condemning Ethan.
People were also condemning the Brooks family for burying complaints, changing employee records, and using company resources to protect their heir.
Business partners began calling one after another.
They demanded that current projects be suspended, signed agreements be canceled, and every partnership with Brooks Group be reviewed.
Several major brands publicly announced that they were ending their relationships with the company.
Regulatory agencies sent formal notices of investigation.
Hale Capital announced that its $2 billion investment would be frozen indefinitely.
The Brooks board called an emergency meeting.
The decision soon reached the ballroom.
Ethan was permanently removed from every company position and stripped of his status as the Brooks heir.
Every Crown Club member was suspended.
The Vice President of Human Resources and several senior executives were placed under investigation.
Ethan’s bonuses, stock distributions, and family trust assets were temporarily frozen to cover future compensation claims.
The chairman of Brooks Group was also ordered to undergo an independent review.
Ethan finally lost control.
He turned toward his father.
“Dad, help me! You knew the Crown Club existed. You told me young people could have some fun as long as no one ended up dead!”
Every camera in the ballroom turned toward his father.
His face had gone gray, but he still stepped back.
“These were your actions. As of this moment, you no longer represent Brooks Group.”
Ethan stared at him in disbelief.
“You are putting all the blame on me?”
His father refused to meet his eyes.
Security officers walked forward and removed the employee badge from Ethan’s jacket.
He instinctively raised a hand to stop them.
Then he noticed that everyone was watching.
No one spoke for him.
The last name he had always been so proud of could no longer save him.