The Secret Exposed
1074 Words
CHAPTER FOUR
The scandal spread faster than Adrian’s lawyers could contain it,By lunchtime, every major entertainment website in Los Angeles had published a story about the Ashford marriage.Reporters gathered outside the Ashford estate,Cameras waited outside the gates.People followed Alexer whenever she left the house,She stopped going outside,She hated feeling watched.She hated reading comments from strangers who knew nothing about her.Most of all, she hated the idea that Sheila might be affected,That afternoon, Sheila arrived at the estate.Alexer opened the door,Sheila walked inside and immediately hugged her.
“Are you okay?” Sheila asked
Alexer nodded and replied
“I’m fine.”
“You look exhausted.”
“I am.”
Sheila looked around.
“So this is where you’ve been living.”
Alexer smiled.
“Unfortunately.”
Sheila laughed.
Then her expression became serious.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t know how.”
“You married a billionaire.”
“Technically, yes.”
“And you didn’t think that was worth mentioning?”
Alexer sighed.
“It was complicated.”
Sheila sat down.
“Do you love him?”
Alexer froze.
“No.”
Sheila raised an eyebrow.
“That was a very fast answer.”
“Because it’s true.”
“Alexer.”
“What?”
“You don’t look at people the way you look at Adrian.”
Alexer looked away.
“He is my husband.”
“Because of a contract.”
“Exactly.”
Sheila was quiet,Then she said, “Sometimes people start something for the wrong reason and still end up finding something real.”Alexer looked at her.
“Don’t say things like that.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with them.”
Sheila smiled.
“Then maybe you should figure it out.”
After Sheila left, Alexer went upstairs.She packed a suitcase.She had decided to leave,The contract was becoming too complicated.Adrian’s company was under pressure,His family was angry,The media was attacking her.If she left, perhaps the situation would calm down.She closed her suitcase,Then Adrian entered.He stopped when he saw it.
“What are you doing?” he asked
“Leaving.”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“You can’t tell me no.”
“I can ask you to stay.”
“Why?”
He stared at her.
“Because I don’t want you to leave.”
Alexer’s heart tightened.
“Adrian.”
“I’m serious.”
“You have a company to save.”
“I know.”
“Then focus on it.”
“I am.”
“How can you focus when I’m causing all this?”
“You aren’t causing anything.”
“The contract is.”
“The contract isn’t the problem.”
She looked at him.
“Then what is?”
Adrian took a breath.
“You are not the problem.”
“Then what is?”
“My feelings.”
Alexer went still,He continued.
“I never expected this.”
“Neither did I.”
“I chose you because I thought you would be safe.”
“Safe?”
“Safe from the world I live in. Someone who would take the money and walk away.”
Alexer lowered her eyes.
“But you don’t want me to walk away.”
“No.”
The word was quiet honest,Alexer didn’t know what to say,Adrian stepped back.
“I know the contract is ending soon. When it does, I’ll let you go if that’s what you want.”
She looked at him.
“And if it isn’t?”
“Then stay because you choose to.”
Before she could respond, his phone rang,He answered,His expression changed.
“What happened?”
He listened.
“Send everything to my office.”
He ended the call.
“Lucas has been moving money through several companies connected to his business.”
Alexer looked at him.
“What does that mean?”
“He has been manipulating financial records to make my company look unstable.”
“Can you prove it?”
“Now we can.”
Adrian left for the office,Alexer stayed behind.For hours, she waited.Finally, she turned on the television,Adrian was speaking at a press conference,Reporters asked questions about the marriage.One asked whether Alexer had married him for money,Adrian looked directly at the cameras and said.
“My marriage began under an agreement.”
The reporters immediately started shouting questions.He continued.
“But Alexer has never pretended to care about me for money.”
Another reporter asked whether the marriage was still valid,Adrian paused.
“That is a private matter.”
Then he walked away.
Alexer stared at the screen.
He had defended her without revealing everything,She understood what that meant,He was protecting her.Not his reputation,Hers.That evening, Adrian returned home.He looked exhausted.Alexer was waiting in the living room.
“How did it go?”
“Lucas has been removed from the board.”
She smiled.
“Good.”
“The company is safe for now.”
She nodded,There was silence.Then Alexer said, “Thank you.”
“For what?” Adrian asked
“For defending me.”
Adrian looked at her.
“You shouldn’t have had to defend me.”
“I wanted to.”
She looked down,The contract was almost over.They both knew it.Three days,Three days until their agreement officially ended.Adrian walked toward her.
“I don’t want you to leave.”
Alexer looked up.
“Then don’t ask me to.”
He stopped.
She realized what she had said.
For the first time, she didn’t regret it.The next morning, Victoria came to the estate.Alexer expected another argument.Instead, Victoria sat beside her.
“I owe you an apology.” victoria said
Alexer looked surprised.
“For what?”
“I judged you before knowing you.”
Alexer smiled.
“Thank you.”
Victoria nodded.
“My son has changed.”
Alexer looked toward the staircase.
“Is that bad?”
Victoria smiled faintly.
“No.”
She stood.
“It’s probably the first good thing I’ve seen happen to him in years.”
After she left, Alexer sat quietly.She knew what she wanted,She just didn’t know whether she had the courage to say it.The contract had started with money,It had continued with pretending.But somewhere between the arguments, late dinners and quiet conversations, something had become real.And now Alexer had a choice,She could leave with one and a half million dollars,Or she could stay and risk losing her heart.
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