The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 379

Brianna didn’t respond, but her breathing grew heavier. She couldn’t bring herself to face him. She had assumed that after what she had done, Gallop Inc. would sue her into oblivion and Brantley would despise her. Instead, he had gone to great lengths to bail her out.

The lawyer had told her on the way here that Brantley would be handling her case. Since her actions hadn't caused catastrophic damage, Gallop Inc. had agreed to share responsibility and compensate the Covington Group, aiming for a suspended sentence. With Brantley’s connections, she was now free to move about under supervision. In other words, he was protecting her. Brianna remembered the change in his attitude before she left and knew this was personal.

Brantley signaled, and the assistant and lawyer quietly left the room. Alone now, he took a glass, poured some hot water, and slid it across the table to her. “It’s cold. Drink this.”

Brianna’s jaw tightened. She finally looked up at him. His face was all sharp angles and defined lines, radiating an air of authority under the bright lights. She felt like a clown, utterly humiliated.

“Mr. Lawson,” she croaked, her voice hoarse, “I’m sorry. I’ve caused you so much trouble.”

“When you make a mistake, the important thing is to repent,” Brantley said coolly. “Do you know where you went wrong?” He poured a glass of water for himself but only held it, not drinking.

“I shouldn’t have… plagiarized,” Brianna whispered, the words barely audible. Her face burned with shame.

“What else?”

“I shouldn’t have lied to you. I shouldn’t have dragged Gallop Inc. into this.”

“…I”

Brianna was stunned into silence. The cold look in his eyes told her he had already uncovered everything about her. And he had. When Brantley first learned of the disaster, it had taken him a long time to calm down. As the police investigated, he had looked into Brianna’s entire past.

He had been shocked to learn what she had been through. To fall so low for such a despicable, worthless man. No wonder her parents had disowned her for years, refusing to let her set foot in their company. Learning all this, Brantley felt a mixture of anger, disgust… and a surprising pang of pity for her. He had never imagined a woman could be so devoted to a man.

A secret wife for ten years, a son together, and even after the man had been so cruel and his entire family had fallen, she was still willing to be his wife. Brantley didn't understand it, but he was profoundly shaken.