𝐕𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

Chapter 31 : Defiance

Alexander

Standing beside my mother, I felt a knot of tension tighten in my chest, a tension that had been building ever since the moment I realized what she was about to do. The press conference was supposed to be a celebration of our successful project launch, but it had taken an unexpected and devastating turn, one that threatened to unravel everything we had worked so hard to achieve. Scarlett stood across the room, her eyes wide with shock and hurt, a sight that made my heart clench painfully.

The words my mother spoke hung in the air like a dark cloud, casting a shadow over the room. Reporters clamored for more details, their voices blending into a cacophony of accusations and speculation, each one more damning than the last. It was clear to me that Scarlett was being unfairly targeted, her integrity questioned without merit. It was a blow that I never saw coming, and it made my blood boil.

As I looked at Scarlett, I saw the pain and confusion etched on her face. The woman I had come to care for, who had been an indispensable part of our success, was being torn apart by baseless allegations. My mother’s voice was cold, calculated, every word designed to wound, to discredit, and I couldn’t stand by and let it happen.

“Enough,” I finally interjected, my voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. “This press conference is over.”

But my mother’s expression hardened, her resolve as unyielding as steel. She continued as if she hadn’t heard me, or worse, as if she didn’t care. “Alexander, you must understand,” she insisted, her eyes narrowing at Scarlett, “that this relationship is not suitable for our family’s reputation.”

I shook my head, disbelief and anger rising within me like a tidal wave. “This is not about our family’s reputation,” I countered, my voice tinged with frustration and something else — defiance. “Scarlett has done nothing wrong. She has been an invaluable asset to this project and to our company.”

The tension in the room thickened, each word spoken carrying the weight of unspoken truths and simmering conflicts. I could see the shock on the faces of the reporters, their pens poised over their notepads, waiting for the next bombshell to drop. But I was done with the games, done with the manipulation.

As the reporters continued to press for answers, I made a decision that I knew would have far-reaching consequences. “I will not allow these baseless allegations to stand,” I declared firmly, my gaze locking with my mother’s. “Scarlett is innocent, and I stand by her. And yes, I love her— there is nothing wrong with that.”

The room fell into a stunned silence, the reporters frozen in place as the weight of my words sank in. My mother’s eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, she looked as though she might say something more, but I wasn’t finished. I wasn’t going to let her destroy the woman I loved, not now, not ever.

But before I could say anything further, Scarlett’s sudden movement caught my attention. I watched as she turned on her heel and made a hasty exit, her face pale, her steps unsteady. My heart lurched in my chest, a surge of panic flooding my veins. I tried to reach out to her, to call her name, but the words got caught in my throat, and she was already gone.

I was torn between following her and staying to face the storm that my mother had unleashed. But as I glanced around the room, at the faces of the reporters who were eagerly awaiting more drama, I knew what I had to do.

I turned back to the press, my jaw set, my mind made up. “My mother’s accusations are false,” I began, my voice steady but laced with anger. “Scarlett has done nothing but excel in her role. She has been dedicated, professional, and essential to the success of our latest project. Any suggestion that she has manipulated me or used her position for personal gain is not only wrong—it’s absurd.”