Chapter 6
Within thirty minutes, Winters Corp’s official account posts a detailed statement-
Opening with screenshots of Melody’s lies, livestream clips, plus the full video from the Hayes house showing exactly how she smashed my bracelet, slapped me, and directed the influencers to assault me.
Then the statement lists Hayes family loans from us over three years-$870,000 total, plus five major contracts they landed through our connections, worth over $200 million combined.
The statement ends:
‘Sloane Winters and Carter Hayes are childhood friends. Period. Melody Quinn has repeatedly defamed Ms. Winters through social media harassment and physical assault. We are pursuing legal action. Our business relationship with Hayes Corp is strictly professional. Continued personal drama affecting our operations will result
in immediate termination of all contracts.”
The internet flips instantly.
People who were trashing me start apologizing and going after Melody:
Another plot twist Imao! Living off their money then stabbing them in the back?]
No wonder Carter kept his mouth shut–his whole family’s on the Winters payroll!]
Melody really picked the wrong fight this time?]
Melody’s outside our building reading the statement, face going white. She forgets to end her livestream, mumbling
o the camera:
‘No way… How can the Hayes family depend on the Winters? Carter told me they were loaded…”
Viewers watching her breakdown start roasting her:
Girl, YOU’RE the one blinded by love!]
Miss Winters never even noticed you existed and you still went looking for drama smh]
Soon after, cops arrive and arrest Melody and the influencers for “disturbing the peace.”
Carter gets the police call during a client meeting. Hearing Melody’s been arrested, his face goes white and he can’t focus. Just rushes out to bail her out.
By the time he gets Melody from the station, it’s afternoon.
The second Melody sees Carter, she starts crying:
17:05
She Slandered Me to Millions. (Cue the Fake Tears Livel) But Her Viral Performance? All My Courtroom Evidence!
3.7%
Chapter 6
“Carter, you LIED to me! You said your family was rich–why are you living off the Winters? Did you know this whole time and just hide it from me?”
Carter pulls at his hair, frustrated:
‘I didn’t lie! We just need their help temporarily–once this project goes through, we won’t need them anymore!”
He sounds confident, but inside he knows–without the Winters family, his company would’ve folded ages ago.
But Melody won’t let it go:
‘So why does Sloane get to be such a bitch? Just ‘cause her family’s loaded?! Carter, you gotta help me get back at her–she can’t just walk all over me like this!”
Carter’s head is pounding from her whining. Thinking about Winters Corp’s statement, he finally snaps:
‘Can you STOP? If you hadn’t caused trouble, would I be in this mess? I don’t even know if I can save the project, and you’re still talking about revenge?”
Melody’s shocked by his yelling, staring for a few seconds before crying:
‘You yelled at me? You yelled at me for Sloane? You DO like her!”
With that, she runs off.
Carter doesn’t chase her–just squats by the road smoking, full of frustration and resentment.
That evening, Carter calls me. His voice is reluctant but he has to swallow his pride:
‘Sloane, about today… my bad. Melody’s an idiot–I already chewed her out. But that statement… could you maybe have PR take it down? It’s making us look really bad.”
I’m in a video conference with international partners. I mute the call and say coldly:
“What? Carter, get real–Melody started this shit and I’m just setting the record straight. If the Hayes family doesn’t want people knowing you live off us, you shouldn’t have come begging in the first place. Tomorrow 10 AM, bring your parents and Melody to my office for a face–to–face apology. Don’t show up? Project’s dead and you’ve got three days to pay back every cent.”
With that, I hang up and unmute the conference like I just handled some minor business.
Carter’s shaking with rage holding his phone, but he’s helpless. He knows I mean what I say–if I terminate the partnership and demand immediate repayment, the Hayes family is finished.
He has no choice but to call his parents and tell them my demands.
17:05
