Chapter 216
#216 “We are Together.”
Alexander was feeling the pressure mounting with each passing day. Despite his best efforts, the investigations into his past seemed to hit dead ends at every turn. His mother, too, was tirelessly combing through old documents at the vila, hoping to unearth some clue that could shed light on their predicament. But so far, their efforts had yielded nothing substantial.
Meanwhile, Alexander’s father continued to dominate the headlines, spinning tales of victimhood and falsely claiming that he had left because his life was in danger. The press lapped up his sensationalized version of events, leaving Alexander feeling increasingly frustrated and isolated.
Once again, Alexander found himself seated in front of a battery of microphones, facing a barrage of probing questions from reporters eager to uncover any hint of scandal.
“Mrs. Stone, is it true that your marriage to Sophia Johnson was arranged?” one reporter inquired, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.
“Yes,” Alexander admitted, his voice steady despite the weight of the question. “Our marriage was arranged, and as you know, it’s over.”
“But are you still with Miss Johnson?” the reporter persisted, her tone insistent. Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.
“Yes, and I intend to stay with her,” Alexander asserted firmly. “We are together, and we will continue to be together. This has nothing to do with my company.”
The reporters seemed unsatisfied with his response, peppering him with further inquiries and accusations.
“There are opinions on the matter that your divorce was also a strategic move. So Miss Johnson has inherited almost half the company,” another journalist chimed in, her words dripping with skepticism.
“Our divorce was for other reasons, which I do not intend to discuss,” Alexander replied tersely, feeling his patience wearing thin.
“But does this mean that you being together now is yet another attempt to manipulate the business environment? “the reporter pressed on, her tone bordering on accusatory.
“How could I manipulate the business environment if I married her again?” Alexander shot back, his frustration beginning to show.
The questions continued to come, each one more probing than the last. Alexander felt himself growing increasingly agitated, his nerves fraying under the relentless scrutiny.
“And how are you going to justify what Andrew Stone, your grandfather, did?” another reporter interjected, their words like a knife twisting in Alexander’s gut.
“As I already said, I will give a conference with all the information about the company. Then the truth will come out,” Alexander replied, his voice tinged with desperation.
Alexander knew he was making a mistake. He had no evidence other than his belief that his grandfather was innocent. And he hoped to find some soon.
But then, pushed to his limit, Alexander made a fatal error. “You’re accusing your father of lying?” a reporter pressed, seizing on his slip of the tongue.
“Exactly,” Alexander blurted out, his words echoing in the silence that followed.
Realizing his mistake, Alexander rose abruptly from his seat, signaling an end to the interrogation. He knew he had overstepped, but at that moment, he couldn’t bear to face another question. As he stormed out of the room, he couldn’t shake the sinking feeling that he had just made a bad situation even worse.
As Alexander left the press conference, he felt a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside him – anger, frustration, and a gnawing sense of dread. He knew he had mishandled the situation, and now the consequences of his words hung heavy in the air.
Back at his office, Alexander tried to bury himself in work, but his mind kept returning to the disastrous press conference. He couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the pit of his stomach.
Meanwhile, Sophia was facing her own battles in London. The relentless onslaught of reporters had left her feeling drained and vulnerable. Alexander knew she was at her wit’s end even if she didn’t admit it.
As the days stretched on, the weight of their respective burdens began to take its toll on both Sophia and Alexander. Their phone calls became shorter and more strained, filled with awkward silences and unspoken tension.
Alexander couldn’t help but recall one of their last conversations when Sophia finally told him that all this was getting too much for her. Her voice was shaky, and he could hear the fatigue and desperation in her tone.
“Alex, I don’t know how much longer I can do this,” she confessed, her words barely audible over the line.
Alexander’s heart clenched at the sound of her voice. He wanted nothing more than to reach through the phone and wrap her in his arms, to offer her the comfort and reassurance she so desperately needed.
“We’ll get through this, Sophia,” he replied, his voice rough with emotion. ” I promise.”
But even as he spoke the words, Alexander couldn’t shake the sinking feeling that their troubles were far from over. As the darkness closed in around them, he knew that they would need each other more
than ever to weather the storm ahead.