Our Second Chances
1140 Words
Inside the mansion, Adian stared at the television in shock.
“What is he doing?
The screen changed and there he was. Ethan Blackwood standing behind a position in a perfectly tailored black suit, his expression calm, sharp and utterly unreadable. Reporters filled the room, cameras flashing endlessly, the atmosphere felt tense and heavy because everyone knew something important was about to happen.
Ethan looked at the direction of the cameras briefly before he began speaking.
“I generally do not involve myself in public gossip but when my wife is repeatedly attacked with lies, I will respond accordingly.
Adian’s breath caught when he mentioned my wife. Even the word sent a shockwave through the entire room.
“My wife didn't manipulate me, she did not pursue me for money. And she certainly did not betray David Carter”. His every word was sharp, precise and controlled but beneath that control he was furious. The reporters immediately eroded him with questions.
“Mr Blackwood, are you denying the affairs allegations completely “?.
“Yes”!”. He said boldly.
“Then how do you explain the leaked hotel photos”?.
Ethan's expression did not change, he stood well composed, determined and confident.
“ I meant Adian after she discovered Mr Carter was sleeping with her sister the night before their wedding”.
There was silence.
Then the reporters exploded instantly with absolute chaos, questions shooted from every direction.
“Are you confirming infidelity”?.
“Did David Carter cheat with Miss Victory’s sister”?.
“Do you have proof”?.
Ethan still remains composed more than ever.
Then his gaze turned colder.
“I don't make statements without proof”.
He then turned and nodded once towards the screen behind him. Photos appeared instantly, clear, undeniable, photos of David and Molly together entering hotels, private apartments, restaurants,dates ... .months before the wedding.
The entire room went silently shocked.
Adian glued at the television in complete shock too. Her hands trembling
“So he had evidence this whole time? He already has evidence?”.
Back at the press conference, Ethan continued calmly, his expression controlled.
“Mr David chose to publicly humiliate my wife repeatedly in an attempt to protect his reputation and that ends today”. He speaks boldly and well composed.
The room felt colder, even the reporters looked nervous and shocked because, suddenly this wasn't gossip anymore, this was a public declaration.
At David’s Holdings, he watched the conference as Mr Blackwood unfold with horror the whole story. He stayed glued to the television.
“No….”. He whispered.
Molly stood frozen beside him, her face completely drained of color.
“He had proof?. So he had proof all this while?” she whispered shakily.
David’s breathing became uneven, he was visibly shaken as well.
This wasn't supposed to happen. Ethan wasn't supposed to respond publicly because men like him avoid scandals, gossips. They protected their image instead Mr Blackwood did the opposite, he had declared war openly and worst of all the internet had spread like wild fire and already turned against David completely.
Numerous comments flooded every platform instantly.
“So he lied”.
“ He tried to ruin Adian’s life”.
“Justice for Adian”.
“David Carter is worthless”.
“David Carter is disgusting”.
David was obviously furious, he violently threw the remote across the room.
“Damn it”.
But the damage has already been done and it's irreversible.
Back at the press conference, one of the reporters asked the bravest question everyone else was thinking.
“Mr Blackwood, why involve yourself so personally in this situation”?.
The room went completely silent.
Adian breath caught she have to hold her breathing unconsciously while watching the conference. Even Ethan paused briefly before he could answer. Slowly he said.
“Because Adian is my wife”.
“That's all?” The reporter asked,blinking .
“No, it's because she matters to me”.
The moment Adian heard that, her heart stopped. Even the reporters looked amazed. The whole room fell silent because Mr Ethan Blackwood, the coldest billionaire in the country had just publicly admitted emotional attachment and judging by the way , his expression tightened slightly afterwards.
He realized it too but he didn't take it back not once. Instead, he looked directly into the cameras and said.
“So let me make this absolutely clear. Anyone who targets Adian Victory targets me”. His voice sounds dangerously calm.
A cold chill swept through the whole room because everyone believed him, every single person watching knew this wasn't a warning but it was a promise because everyone knew Me Ethan Blackwood to be a man of his words.
When the press conference ended, the internet exploded beyond control, the support for Adian grew instantly.
David and Molly became public enemies overnight, their names trending everywhere for all the wrong reasons.
Meanwhile Ethan's final statement spread faster than anything else.
“Anyone who targets Adian Victory targets me”. People replayed it endlessly, analysed it, talked about it and debated on it. But Adian couldn't focus on any of that because her mind was still stuck on one thing.
“She matters to me”. Her chest tightened painfully because he said it publicly, openly without hesitation.
Suddenly,a knock interrupted her thought before she could answer, Ethan walked into the room. Their eyes met instantly and suddenly the air felt heavier, different, neither of them spoke at first.
“You didn't have to do that”.
“Yes. I did”.
Ethan loosened his tie slightly.
“You could have protected your reputation instead”.
“I wasn't interested in protecting my reputation”.
Adian heart raced.
“Then what were you protecting”?
“You”.
Ethan stepped closer. The answer came instantly like breathing, like instinct.
Adian looked at him helplessly.
“This is getting dangerous”. She whispered.
Ethan stopped directly in front of her.
“It already was”.
Her breath caught. The tension between them became unbearable, emotional, intense, real.
“You stood in front of the entire country for me”? Her voice is lower.
“Yes”.
“Why”?.
Ethan stared at her for a long moment. Then, finally said the one thing neither of them could avoid anymore.
“Because I am in love with you”.
There was complete silence.
Adian stopped breathing entirely, she thought she had heard wrong.
The word hit her like a very powerful, terrying, beautiful and judging .
By the look in Ethan's eyes he meant every single word.
- Writer
