Chapter 8
I sighed deeply,
“You see, we can only bring each other pain. I can’t pretend nothing ever happened, and I think you feel the same.”
There was no point in continuing this meal. I stood up, grabbed my coat, and walked out.
The next day, the company’s newly developed product launched at a press conference.
This event had been a project I’d worked on for a long time, but I never expected it to be ruined by Nina Alora’s sudden appearance.
as I took the stage to speak, the microphone was suddenly cut off, and Nina Alora’s voice rang out.
“Julia, how could you, a successful entrepreneur, keep clinging to my husband? You’re so shameless, and don’t blame me for exposing your true nature in front of all these people!”
The entire venue erupted in shock. The cameras from the reporters quickly shifted direction, all pointed at me and Nina Alora.
Nina Alora’s pregnant belly was obvious, and it was clear she was expecting.
No matter when, a scandal always grabs attention.
Nina Alora looked pleased, as if she had already predicted she would stand on the moral high ground.
“Julia, back then when Lorenzo was sick, you tricked him into leaving everything behind, forcing him to give up his years of hard work. Now, after he’s managed to rise again with my support, you shameless woman, you’re going after him again!”
The people in the audience looked at me with different eyes, their gazes full of judgment.
The reporters, hearing this new scandal, swarmed around me like a sudden downpour, shoving microphones into my face.
“Ms. Margaret, could you please respond to what this lady has said?”
The scene descended into chaos. The crowd surged forward, and security and bodyguards struggled to control the situation.
In the crush of people, I could barely hear myself over the noise.
Finally, it was only after the police intervened that the turmoil was quelled.
Nina Alora had bribed marketing accounts and posted edited photos of Lorenzo and me eating together.
The online uproar was immediate.
When I opened my phone, all the platforms were filled with hateful comments.
“Is this the real–life version of being the mistress to my ex–husband?”
“Just by looking at her, you can tell she’s scheming. I didn’t expect her to be this disgusting.”
“It’s no wonder she’s driving her current husband crazy. If not, this wouldn’t have blown up like this.”
Lorenzo saw the news and rushed to my house. I was in the middle of a video conference with the board, being questioned about the company’s
current crisis.
The company’s image had taken a massive hit, and the stock price had plunged.
Lorenzo looked apologetic, lowering his head as he apologized to me.
“Julia, I’m so sorry, I didn’t know she would cause a scene at your event…”
Before he could finish, I slapped him twice across the face.
Lorenzo’s face turned slightly as my slap landed, and he stared at me in disbelief.
11:49
Photos, Lies, and Fire
29.9%
After all these years, since we first met, I had rarely raised my voice, let alone hit him.
“Lorenzo, why would you come to provoke me when you’re not even divorced? If you can’t control your wife, at least don’t let her run wild! This project has been my blood, sweat, and tears, and now it’s all ruined because of her. You have to explain this to me!”
My hands trembled with anger, and the company’s PR team had already prepared a legal letter to sue Nina Alora for her false accusations.
Nina Alora thought a few sly words could blur the truth and bring me down.
How naive.
But the moment I saw Lorenzo’s face, all my rage dissipated.
Lorenzo lowered his gaze, shoulders slumped, promising me that he would fix everything.
One day, I received a call from Nina Alora.
Her voice trembled, as though she were terrified.
“Julia, I was wrong. I really know I was wrong. Please, let Lorenzo go. I promise I won’t appear in front of you again.”
The call was abruptly ended, leaving only the sound of a dial tone.
Later, at a gathering in the industry, I overheard some gossip about Lorenzo and Nina Alora.
“My god, Lorenzo looks like such a nice guy, but he’s ruthless with his wife. She was five months pregnant and had to have an abortion. The baby was almost fully developed. I heard he even showed her the fetus afterward, which drove her insane. She’s been sent to a psychiatric hospital now.”
“Shh, I heard a different version. The baby wasn’t even Lorenzo’s. His wife cheated on him and tried to commit suicide instead of divorcing him.”
I realized that I had truly moved on.
Hearing about Nina Alora’s fate didn’t bring me the satisfaction of revenge.
It felt more like I was listening to a story about strangers.
