Page 12 of Beloved Beauty

Magnolia comes into the room. Calm. Measured. Eyes locked on Courtney.

She doesn’t smile. Doesn’t blink. “Guess you didn’t expect to see me again.”

Courtney scrambles to stand. “I—I didn’t know you were back.”

“Oh, she’s more than back. She’s my fiancée. And as of this morning, the newest employee of Sebring Hotels.”

Courtney’s mouth opens, then closes again.

I keep my voice calm. “You didn’t only screen Magnolia’s calls, Courtney. You lied to her. Lied to me. You blocked her real number in my phone. You changed her contact info. And worst of all—you fabricated texts. You built the lies that tore us apart.”

Still, she says nothing.

“You made me believe the love of my life had walked away with someone else. And you made sure she thought I wanted nothing to do with her. You didn’t protect me. You fucking destroyed me.”

I lean forward, voice low and unflinching. “You sold your soul to Tyson McRae and Celeste Worthington.”

She falters for a moment.

“I was protecting you. Celeste said Magnolia was a gold digger, and she was after the Sebring name and money.”

Magnolia’s expression doesn’t flinch. Her voice is steady, almost too calm. “You really believe that? That I was after what I could get from Alex?”

She shakes her head. “I’ve never wanted Alex’s name or his money. I love him with my whole heart.”

She meets Courtney’s eyes, unblinking. “But you didn’t care. You took one version of a story—one fed to you by people who never wanted to see us together—and ran with it. You let their lies rewrite our love story. And it nearly destroyed us.”

Courtney’s face crumples, voice cracking, as she looks to me. “I was protecting you. I’ve been loyal to this family and company for years.”

“Look at me. Not him.” Magnolia’s voice sharpens, low and cutting. “You didn’t protect him. You betrayed him. And you don’t get to call that loyalty.”

“I didn’t mean to hurt anyone,” Courtney whispers.

I keep my gaze locked on hers. “But you did. And now you aren’t to be trusted.”

“Alex, please,” she says, pleading. “I need this job.”

“You’re fired,” I say, standing now. Calm. Final. “Effective immediately.”

Her voice cracks. “Please don’t do this. I didn’t know who to believe.”

“No,” I cut in, my tone cold. “You knew who to believe, but you chose the side that was paying out bonuses.”

Her eyes well with tears, but neither of us look away. Neither of us flinches.

Because this?

This moment is justice.

And justice doesn’t apologize.

I don’t raise my voice because I don’t need to. “Effective now, you’re no longer employed by Sebring Hotels.” I say, ice running through every word.

Courtney’s face crumples. “Please… you don’t understand. I didn’t mean to?—”

Magnolia doesn’t even blink. Her voice is quiet, steady, unforgiving. “You were aware of what you were doing. And now you’re done.”

Courtney’s voice pitches, desperate now. “You can’t do this. Alexander won’t allow it. He knows what I’ve done for this company.”

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