Chapter 20
The press conference was buzzing with energy, the room packed with reporters and photographers fighting for the best angles. Everyone was eager to see how Julian Hayes, the younger son of the Hayes family, would handle the scandal that had taken over the headlines.
Julian stepped confidently into the spotlight, Zara’s hand firmly in his.
His voice rang out, cutting through the noise of the crowd. “I’m here today to straight about the rumors going around.”
The room fell silent, all eyes on him.
set the reco
“Zara is my girlfriend. I know everything about her, including her past. We’ve known each other for more than seven years, and there’s no need for anyone to spread lies. Zara’s had seven miscarriages over the years, all because of certain a man. I’d really like to know what Landon Winston’s intentions are here.”
He paused, his gaze growing colder, his words sharp and pointed. “You’re the one who cheated. You’re also the one trying to win her back. I suggest you stop harassing my girlfriend, or you might find yourself receiving a lawyer’s letter.”
Julian’s tone grew even colder as he continued, his words cutting deeper with each syllable. “And by the way, Zara and I will be engaged soon. Maybe the journalists in this room should focus on that, instead of wasting time on someone like Landon Winston, whose actions are nothing short of disgraceful. Be careful with what you say about people.”
The room fell into stunned silence. Julian’s icy demeanor left no room for doubt, but for a few moments, no one spoke. The weight of his words hung in the air, thick and heavy. But soon, murmurs began to ripple through the crowd. Whispers and low conversations buzzed, and the media frenzy switched its focus entirely to Zara and Julian. Cameras clicked, reporters scrambled to ask questions, and everyone knew this would make headlines.
Zara, looking up at Julian, was quickly ushered off the stage. She felt the weight of the spotlight shift from her to him. The media, hungry for any angle, followed Julian as he made his exit. It didn’t take long before he was out of sight, the frenzy still echoing in the
air.
Meanwhile, Landon, still at the scene, stood frozen. His face drained of color, and his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. His mind raced, struggling to process what had just happened.
“How did this go so wrong?‘ Not only had Zara not broken up with Julian, but now, it seemed like they were about to get engaged.
Landon’s anger boiled over.
The more he thought about it, the colder the feeling in his chest became. His mind flashed with the realization that he had been outmaneuvered, and the fury grew inside him, pushing
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The crowd’s eyes shifted from Julian to him, and the judgment in their gazes was palpable.
One voice broke through the murmurs, laced with disdain. “Look at Landon. All smiles on the outside, but a cheater on the inside”
Another voice chimed in. “They say a man who cherishes his woman thrives, But one who neglects her? He loses everything. I bet Winston Enterprises won’t be getting any partnerships after this. Hmph!”
Exactly Winston Enterprises is a joke. We should cancel the contract!”
The anger in the crowd was palpable. One by one, people voiced their opinions, condemning Landon
They were quick to turn on him, their judgment sharper than ever.
Landon’s stomach chumed.
He could feel the weight of their words bearing down on him, and the disdain in their eyes. made it all the more suffocating. The reporters, always looking for the next big story. focused on him now. His downfall was the next headline, and they couldn’t wait to get their
questions in.
“Mr. Winston, don’t you have anything to say for yourself?”
“Mr. Winston, Mr. Winston, please, explain yourself…”
Their voices were a blur, each one an accusation, each one a reminder of just how far he had fallen. But Landon didn’t respond. He couldn’t.
Instead, he turned away, his face hidden behind a mask of cold rage.
Later that evening, Landon found himself wandering through a narrow alley in Westfield, the weight of the night pressing down on him. He had bought a bottle of whiskey, but it hadn’t done much to numb the gnawing emptiness in his chest. Stumbling down the alley. his steps unsteady from the alcohol, he tried to clear his mind.
“What had he done? He felt lost, adrift in his own anger.
He paused, his eyes falling on a wall decorated with blooming apricot blossoms. Spring had arrived, but it did little to lift his spirits. As he reached out to pick one, his hand froze in midair. Before he could even touch the delicate petals, a sudden punch landed squarely in his face.
The force of it knocked him backward, his body swaying unsteadily before he crashed to the ground. The alcohol he’d consumed came rushing up, and he vomited violently, his body jerking with each heave. His mind was a blur, the world spinning as he struggled to regain his bearings.
Through the haze, he could just make out a figure standing over him. The cold, biting air swirled around them, and the dark alley seemed to swallow up the light. But the figure’s eyes w
were sharp, cold, and unforgiving.
Landon’s vision cleared enough for him to recognize the face.
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“Julian,” he muttered, his voice hoarse and filled with venom.
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Julian stood there, a slight smirk on his lips, looking down at Landon with a cold, almost amused expression. He raised his hand, and the bodyguards behind him moved into position as if waiting for the next command.
Chapter 21
