Chapter 17: The Press Conference
665 Words
The lobby of King's Group buzzed with controlled chaos.
Outside, dozens of reporters crowded behind the security barricades, microphones raised high, camera flashes firing without pause. News vans lined the street, broadcasting live.
Inside the building, Ethan King adjusted the cuff of his suit as if he were preparing for an ordinary business meeting instead of a media storm.
Daniel hurried beside him.
"Sir, every major news outlet is here. If we don't respond carefully, this could affect the company's stock."
Ethan's expression remained unreadable.
"The stock market reacts to fear. I don't."
Daniel fell silent.
There was no arguing with Ethan when he wore that look.
Ava walked beside him, trying to hide her nerves. Her palms were damp, and her heartbeat echoed in her ears.
"What if they ask about our marriage?" she whispered.
Ethan glanced at her.
"They will."
"And if they ask whether it's real?"
He stopped walking.
The hallway suddenly felt very quiet.
Ethan stepped closer until only a small distance separated them.
"Then tell the truth."
Ava frowned.
"The truth?"
"Tell them we're married."
"But..."
"You don't owe anyone an explanation beyond that."
His calm confidence eased the knot in her stomach.
She took a deep breath and nodded.
"I'm ready."
"Good."
The conference room doors opened.
Immediately, the reporters surged forward.
"Mr. King!"
"Is your marriage fake?"
"Did you marry for business?"
"Who leaked the documents?"
"Is your wife leaving you?"
The room erupted with questions.
Ethan raised one hand.
Instant silence followed.
His reputation alone was enough to command attention.
He stepped behind the podium.
"I'll answer your questions."
Hundreds of cameras focused on him.
Someone in the front row stood first.
"Mr. King, reports claim your marriage is nothing more than a contract. Is that true?"
The room held its breath.
Ethan looked directly into the cameras.
"My marriage is a private matter."
The reporters immediately began shouting again.
"But you didn't deny it!"
"Are you saying the reports are accurate?"
Ethan waited until they quieted once more.
"What I will say is this."
He placed both hands on the podium.
"My wife deserves respect."
"Any individual or media organization that publishes false or defamatory information about her will hear from my legal team."
His voice was calm.
Yet every word carried unmistakable authority.
The room fell silent again.
Another reporter stood.
"Mr. King, are you and Mrs. King happy together?"
This time Ethan didn't answer immediately.
Instead...
He turned toward Ava.
She looked surprised as every camera in the room shifted to her.
Ethan walked across the stage until he stood beside her.
Without saying a word, he reached for her hand.
Ava's eyes widened.
His fingers intertwined with hers.
The gesture was simple.
Natural.
But it sent a wave of whispers through the room.
Click!
Click!
Click!
Camera flashes exploded like lightning.
Ethan looked back at the reporters.
"If we weren't happy..."
He squeezed Ava's hand gently.
"...I wouldn't be standing here with her."
Ava looked up at him, stunned.
For a brief moment, she forgot about the cameras.
She saw only Ethan.
And for the first time since their contract marriage began...
Holding his hand didn't feel like an obligation.
It felt right.
Across the city, Victoria watched the live broadcast on television.
Her smile vanished.
"No..."
She grabbed the remote so tightly it nearly cracked.
"They're supposed to be falling apart!"
Lucas calmly switched off the television.
"They're stronger than ever."
Victoria's voice shook with anger.
"So what now?"
Lucas slowly opened a brown confidential file and slid it across the table.
Inside was a photograph of an elderly man lying in a hospital bed.
Beside the photo was a single name.
Richard King.
Ethan's estranged father.
Lucas smiled coldly.
"If Ethan won't break through his wife..."
"...we'll make him face the one person he has spent years trying to forget."
Victoria stared at the file, and a slow, sinister smile spread across her face.
"This," she whispered, "is going to hurt."
- Writer
