Chapter 61
Adeline West.
As I stepped out of the elevator and made my way through the fillways of Volkov Enterprises, I could already feel the tension rising in my chest. The meeting hall where the press conference was to be held loomed ahead, and with every step closer, my heart pounded a little harder. I was no stranger to the public eye, but today felt different. Today, I wasn’t just Cen of a company; I was managing the fallout of a personal mess that had become all too public.
The echo of my heels against the marble floors was the only sound in the otherwise quiet hallway. Sophia, trailed behind me, her usual chatter noticeably absent, as if she could sense the gravity of the situation.
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Sophia asked gently as we reached the large oak doors.
I glanced at her, appreciating her concern. “I don’t have a choice I need to get through this.” I said.
She nodded, offering a small, reassuring smile before stepping back to give me space.
I took a deep breath, exhaling slowly, and pushed open the door
The room was already buzzing. Reporters sat in neat rows, cameras at the ready, murmurs of anticipation filling the air. At the front of the room, Killian was seated at the table, his expression unreadable, yet sharp as ever. He didn’t turn when I entered, but I knew he could feel my presence. We hadn’t spoken since that text message about the joint statement.
The moment I stepped into the room, all eyes turned to me, and the noise died down to an expectant hush. I felt the weight of the press, the judgment, the curiosity–they were all waiting for something. An explanation, a scandal, or perhaps the final nail in whatever coffin they believed this story deserved.
Killian glanced up at me as I approached, his dark eyes scanning my face, looking for something. I gave nothing away. We were just the Ceo of our companies who wanted nothing but to shut the rumors, nothing more. I wasn’t going to let anyone see how much this was affecting me–not even him.
I sat down next to him, the silence between us heavy. The tension crackled in the air, but there was no time to dwell on it. The cameras began to flash, and the press conference was about to begin.
Killian leaned in slightly, his voice low, so only I could hear. “Let’s just get this over with.” He said in his husky voice. I swallowed hard hearing it and nodded, keeping my gaze forward.
The buzz of the reporters died down as Killian leaned forward, his voice steady as he began, “Thank you all for coming today. There have been rumors circulating in the media about our relationship, and we’re here to address them.”
I could feel his eyes on me, waiting for me to speak, but my throat felt tight. I wasn’t ready. Not yet.
As the first reporter stood to ask their question, I braced myself for the inevitable.
“Ms. West, Mr. Volkov, rumors have been circulating about your relationship following the photos of your recent… encounter. Can you clarify your relationship status? Are you dating each other?”
Killian shifted beside me, about to speak, but something inside me stopped him with a slight raise of my hand. I knew what was coming if he answered–the standard corporate response, a carefully crafted statement that would cool the flames but leave the speculation intact. But that wasn’t good enough. Not today.
I turned to the reporter, meeting his gaze directly. “There’s nothing romantic between me and Killian,” I began, my voice steady despite the flutter of nerves in my chest. “Killian and I are only business partners now. There is nothing more.”
A murmur swept through the room, the press clearly expecting more.
But that wasn’t the end of it. As I sat there, the memories began flooding back–my forced marriage to Killian, the way
his
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Chapter 61
family had treated me like an outsider, the way he accused me for something I didn’t do everything that happened between us began to running in my head And then, Sebastian’s words from earlier echoed in my mind.
He had always been there for me. Through everything. He loved my children, loved me. And I cared for him deeply.
But was that enough?
The next reporter stood, oblivious to the storm of emotions brewing inside me. “If there’s nothing between you and Mr. Volkov then what about the picture of you two kissing? What does this mean for the future of your companies? There’s speculation that this could affect your professional relationship
Thoughts about Sebastian and his confession kept running through my head. And then there were my kids–innocent, unaware of the storm brewing around them. They adored Sebastian. He had become a part of their lives in a way I hadn’t expected. Could I really turn my back on that? On the life we had built together, even if it wasn’t what I had imagined for myself?
1 glanced at Killian, his face unreadable as the reporters continued to fire questions, but I couldn’t focus on them. My mind was spinning, my past colliding with my present in ways I hadn’t anticipated. The kiss, the rumors, the years of hurt and betrayal–it all felt like too much.
And suddenly, it hit me.
This wasn’t about Killian.
It was about me.
About what I wanted for my
future.
About choosing a path that wasn’t dictated by pain or fear.
“I’m marrying Sebastian Cooper,” Lannounced, my voice cutting through the chatter like a blade.
The room fell into stunned silence.
Even Killian turned to me, his expression one of pure shock. The weight of what I had just said hung in the air like a thick fog, the press seemingly frozen in place. No one had expected this–not even me, if I were honest. But as soon as the words left my mouth, I knew they were right.
I wanted this for my
children.
For
my
future.
For Sebastian, who had been nothing but patient and loving through everything.
The cameras clicked furiously, capturing the moment. Gasps echoed through the room as reporters began scribbling down notes, ready to run with this unexpected twist.
“I’m not sure where all these rumors about Killian and me started, but I can assure you, there’s no truth to them,” I continued, my voice firm. “Sebastian and I are in a committed relationship. He’s been a part of my life for a long time, and I’m lucky to have him. We’re planning our future together. That’s all there is to it.”
The room erupted into chaos–questions flying from every direction, the flash of cameras blinding. Killian, still reeling from my announcement, sat rigid beside me, his jaw clenched, his hands gripping the edge of the table. I could feel the heat of his anger simmering beneath the surface, but I didn’t care.
This wasn’t about him anymore.
past dictate my present. I had
This was about me–about taking control of my life, my narrative. For too long, I had let the let the pain of what happened between Killian and me shape my choices, my decisions. But not anymore.
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I stood, smoothing down my skirt as I prepared to leave. The press were still shouting questions, but I ignored them. My statement was made. There was nothing left to say.
Without looking back, I walked out of the room, my head held high, my heart pounding with a mix of fear and exhilaration This was my moment. For the first time in years, I felt like I was finally moving forward–free from the past, free from Killian Volkov.
