The Headlines That Changed Everything
724 Words
"I chose."
The words echoed through the private dining room.
Adrian stood frozen.
His gaze dropped to Isabella's hand.
She was holding Damien's.
Not tightly.
Not romantically.
But willingly.
That was enough.
More than enough.
Damien looked at Adrian without a trace of triumph.
His voice remained calm.
"You heard her."
"Leave."
For several long seconds...
No one moved.
Finally...
Adrian let out a slow laugh.
It wasn't amused.
It was bitter.
"So this is your revenge?"
He looked at Damien.
"You've wanted to defeat me for years."
"And now you're using my ex-wife."
Damien's expression didn't change.
"You still don't understand."
"I didn't force her to stand beside me."
"She walked here herself."
Adrian's fists clenched.
He hated that Damien was right.
Every step Isabella had taken tonight...
Had been her own choice.
He turned back to her.
"Isabella."
"Look at me."
She did.
His voice softened.
"I know you're angry."
"I'll explain everything."
"Just..."
"Come home first."
She smiled.
A quiet...
Tired smile.
"Do you remember our second wedding anniversary?"
Adrian frowned.
She already knew the answer.
"You forgot."
"I waited until two in the morning."
"I made your favorite dinner."
"I even bought a cake."
"You never came."
A shadow crossed Adrian's face.
He remembered.
There had been a business banquet.
Sophia had attended as his partner.
He had chosen business over Isabella.
Again.
"You called me the next morning."
Isabella continued.
"Do you remember what you said?"
Adrian remained silent.
"'Stop making a fuss.'"
"'It was just another day.'"
Tears gathered in Sophia's eyes.
Not because she felt guilty.
Because she could see Adrian wavering.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
He wasn't supposed to regret it.
She stepped forward.
"Adrian."
"We're getting engaged next month."
"Why are we still talking about the past?"
Damien's sharp gaze landed on Sophia.
"So you're the woman who enjoyed a public relationship..."
"...while another woman was forced to live in secret."
Sophia stiffened.
"I didn't know—"
"Didn't know?"
Damien interrupted.
"The entire upper class knew Adrian had someone hidden."
"They just didn't know her name."
"You never asked?"
Sophia couldn't answer.
The silence was answer enough.
Damien looked at the restaurant manager.
"Dinner is over."
The manager nodded immediately.
"I'll prepare another room, Mr. Black."
"No."
Damien turned to Isabella.
"I've lost my appetite."
"What about you?"
She shook her head.
"So have I."
They walked toward the exit together.
This time...
Adrian didn't stop them.
He simply watched.
Because for the first time...
He realized force wouldn't bring her back.
...
The next morning.
Knight Group Headquarters.
Adrian walked into the executive meeting.
The room instantly fell silent.
No one dared breathe.
His assistant hurried over.
"Mr. Knight..."
"We have a problem."
"What?"
The assistant placed a tablet on the table.
"It's everywhere."
Adrian looked down.
His expression froze.
Every major news outlet carried the same headline.
"Mysterious Woman Appears Beside Billionaire Damien Black."
Another headline followed.
"Is Damien Black Dating Adrian Knight's Ex-Wife?"
Then another.
"The Hidden Mrs. Knight Finally Steps Into the Light."
There were dozens.
No...
Hundreds.
Every article featured the same photographs.
Damien holding an umbrella over Isabella.
Damien holding her hand.
Damien looking at her with quiet concern.
Millions had already viewed the story.
Comments flooded every platform.
So Adrian Knight hid a wife for three years?
She deserves better.
Damien Black treated her with more respect in one night than Adrian did in three years.
Bang!
Adrian slammed his fist onto the conference table.
The executives jumped.
His voice was icy.
"Who leaked this?"
No one answered.
At that moment...
His phone rang.
The caller ID made every color drain from his face.
Grandfather.
The old chairman of the Knight family.
The one man Adrian had never dared disappoint.
He answered.
"Grandfather."
A furious roar exploded from the speaker.
"Adrian Knight!"
"You've embarrassed the Knight family enough!"
"Bring your wife home!"
Adrian closed his eyes.
His voice was hoarse.
"...She's no longer my wife."
The line went silent.
Then came a sentence that made his heart sink.
"What did you say?"
Before Adrian could answer...
The call ended.
His assistant whispered nervously,
"Mr. Knight..."
"The chairman's convoy..."
"...has just entered the company."
Adrian slowly lowered his phone.
He knew his grandfather.
Once the old man learned the truth...
Nothing would ever be the same again.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD