Married to the Cold CEO

Chapter Twelve

Scarlett immediately switched on her dramatic mode, her face filled with feigned sorrow as she declared, “Alex, at this point you’re still blaming me. I guess I can’t expect you to fight for my justice—after all, you and Tiffany are married. How could you ever help me?”

Her words hit Alex like a slap; he nearly spat blood from sheer fury.

Almost instantly, a reporter jumped in, “Miss Scarlett, what made you decide to keep your original design files? After all, Tiffany already submitted hers to the contest—it doesn’t seem to serve much purpose. If you really wanted to sue her, wouldn’t you have done it countless times over these past two years?”

Scarlett, rubbing her eyes as if she could squeeze out tears, replied, “Actually, I kept my original design files just as a keepsake. It’s my own work—I wanted to have a record of it. I never imagined that these files would actually come in handy!”

Her voice broke as she continued, “I never intended to sue Tiffany. I would draw, and if she wanted a copy, I’d give her a few. But I never expected her to turn around and sue me—I’m truly heartbroken!”

Another reporter pressed, “Miss Scarlett, at yesterday’s press conference you said you trusted Alex, that your relationship was strong, and you didn’t know he had already married Tiffany, right?”

With eyes red from suppressed tears, Scarlett nodded, “I said that because I didn’t know the truth until a friend sent me photos of them leaving the county clerk’s office. That’s when I realized I’d been deceived!”

Then, glaring at the nearly fuming Alex, she added, “Alex, I trusted you so much. At the conference you even announced our upcoming marriage. Why did you lie to me?”

Alex’s entire body trembled with anger as he shouted, “Scarlett, you know full well what’s going on! You must have known all along—I’m not an i***t! I’m going to sue you until you’re ruined!”

Meanwhile, reporters continued snapping photos and whispering among themselves. One murmured, “What a shameless man—how can someone so unscrupulous still call himself a man?” Another added, “He’s disgraced our entire industry. He doesn’t deserve the title!” Yet another quipped, “Now he even wants to hit Miss Scarlett—she’s so pitiful; she was blinded by love to fall for this bastard!”

Hearing these remarks, Scarlett couldn’t help but let a barely perceptible smile play on her lips. Covering her face, she dashed backstage, leaving everyone convinced that she was overwhelmed with sorrow, unwilling to reveal just how little she cared.

Alex, now completely losing control, broke free from the staff restraining him and stormed after her. In the sparse backstage area, as he finally caught up to Scarlett, he barked without any filter, “Scarlett, listen to me—you think you’ve won? Just wait. You’re still OceanSky Jewelers’ designer, and I’m going to sue you into bankruptcy!”

Scarlett turned around, laughing mockingly as she retreated, “Oh really? I’m so scared!”

In her frantic escape, she inadvertently bumped into someone. At that moment, she heard a deep, authoritative voice: “Is that so? Then let’s see how you manage to bankrupt our Sterling Jewels designer!”

Scarlett immediately put on her theatrical act, her face twisted in feigned sorrow as she declared, “Alex, at this point you’re still blaming me. I guess I can’t expect you to help me seek justice—after all, you and Tiffany are married. How could you ever stand by me?”

Her words made Alex nearly spit out blood in fury.

Almost immediately, a reporter interjected, “Miss Scarlett, what made you decide to keep your original design files? After all, Tiffany already submitted hers to the contest, so what’s the point? If you really wanted to sue her, wouldn’t you have done it countless times over these past two years?”

Scarlett couldn’t help but rub her eyes as if she might squeeze out tears. “Actually, I kept my original design files simply as a memento. It’s my own work—I wanted to have something to remember by. I never imagined that these files would ever come in handy!”

Her voice trembled with indignation as she continued, “I never planned to sue Tiffany. I’d draw, and if she wanted a copy, I’d gladly give her a few sheets. But I never expected her to turn around and sue me—I’m truly heartbroken!”

Another reporter pressed, “Miss Scarlett, at yesterday’s press conference you said you trusted Alex, that your relationship was great, and you didn’t know he had already married Tiffany, correct?”

With eyes red from suppressed tears, Scarlett nodded. “I said that because I didn’t know the truth until a friend sent me photos of them leaving the county clerk’s office. That’s when I realized I’d been deceived!”

Then she fixed a piercing look at a visibly seething Alex and added, “Alex, I trusted you so completely. At the press conference, you even announced our upcoming marriage. Why did you lie to me?”

Alex trembled with anger, his entire body shaking as he spat, “Scarlett, you knew it all along—you must have known! I’m going to sue you until you’re ruined!”

Scarlett’s face darkened further as she retorted bitterly, “Oh really? I’m so scared, Alex!”

Almost immediately, another reporter asked, “Miss Scarlett, how did you come to have so many recordings and videos? After all, Tiffany has already entered the contest with your designs—it hardly seems meaningful to keep them.”

A hint of embarrassment crept into Scarlett’s tone as she replied, “Actually, I’ve always had a habit of recording—when I’m bored, I like listening to your voice, Alex.” She nearly choked on her words. “As for the videos… I installed a tiny hidden camera by my desk because I lost so many of my design files over the past two years!”

At once, a reporter speculated, “Surely it was Alex and Tiffany who took your design files, treating them as if they were their own?”

Scarlett sniffed sadly, her voice soft and wounded, “I don’t know… I always trusted you, Alex, but I never imagined you’d already been married to Tiffany and kept me in the dark—all just to use my design files!”

She wiped away a tear with her sleeve. Almost everyone in the room assumed that Scarlett was crying.

Enraged beyond measure, Alex suddenly leapt to his feet, disregarding the formal setting, and bellowed, “Scarlett, you lowlife! You knew it all along—now wait and see, because as long as you’re still OceanSky Jewelers’ designer, I’ll sue you until you’re ruined!”

Scarlett, hurt yet defiant, turned and sneered at him as she backed away, “Oh really? I’m so scared!”

In her haste, she accidentally collided with someone in the crowded backstage area. Then a deep, gravelly voice cut through the commotion: “Is that so? Then I’d like to see how you manage to bankrupt our Sterling Jewels designer!”

The remark sent shockwaves through the room.