Chapter 35

I took a few deep breaths and clasped my hands, standing in front of the conference room doors, waiting for the staff’s signal to let me in.

The staff had given me a script to help guide me during the press conference, so I wouldn’t get confused while addressing the reporters. However, I knew better than anyone that the script would be useless once the reporters started to ask too many questions.

This wasn’t my first press conference, yet I couldn’t help but feel anxious every time I imagined my name being called by those reporters.

The last time I stepped into a press conference was to announce that I was leaving the showbiz industry to focus on building a family with Rowan.

But now, I was here to declare that I had cut all ties with him.

Wasn’t that a bit ironic?

Back then, I had sat before them with a bright smile, but now, my face was clouded with gloom, and my eyes were filled with regret.

Both of them were me, but felt like two different sides of the same coin.

"Samantha."

I jolted in surprise as I suddenly heard that deep, familiar voice. I turned around, looking at Zephyr who was walking toward me. "I can reschedule this press if you’re not ready yet."

I immediately shook my head. "No, you don’t need to do that," I said firmly. "Besides, they’d think I’m an asshole if I canceled the press conference at the last minute."

I didn’t want my reputation to deteriorate further.

I couldn’t afford for my reputation to worsen any further.

"If you’re sure about this," Zephyr said, placing his hands gently on my shoulders, "then remember, I’ll be right there by your side in the room. You won’t face them alone, Samantha."

He added, "No matter how things turn out, know that I’ll continue to support you and do everything I can to help you find the best path forward."

I was momentarily stunned by his words. I lifted my head, my gaze meeting Zephyr’s gray eyes.

His eyes were so tender and kind, filled with a warmth that made me wonder—would he go this far for someone else, or was it just for me?

Not only had he supported me by giving me so much money and resources, he had always given me moral support.

This man was like a diamond in the middle of the dirt.

I even wondered how I could choose to marry Rowan instead of him in the first place.

"The reporters will focus on you too if you sit next to me," I sighed. "Many speculations about us might spread. Who knows what kind of stories they’ll publish to the world."

Zephyr chuckled softly, leaning slightly closer to me. "Let them speculate. People will always create their own stories, no matter what we do. The truth is what matters."

I hesitated for a moment, biting my lower lip. "But those rumors might harm your image too, Zephyr. You’ve been helping me so much already, I don’t want to drag you down with me."

"Image? There is no one in my family who has a good image. Well, maybe Darren has that, but that’s not the important thing." Zephyr emphasized, his voice firm. "My image is less important than yours, so you don’t have to worry about me."

I looked at him, my heart fluttering at his words. It was rare for anyone to put me above their own reputation, especially in such a public situation.

"You don’t have to say that," I murmured, "I can handle this. It’s just ... I don’t want to drag you into this mess."

Zephyr reached over, gently caressing my hair. "You’re not dragging me into anything. I’m here because I want to be."

I was about to say something, but the staff suddenly called me. "Mrs. Cole, they’re ready to see you."

Zephyr held my hand. "Let’s go now."

As I stepped into the conference room, dozens of camera flashlights hit me, blinding me for a moment.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves as I walked further into the room, my heels clicking against the polished floor.

All eyes turned to me, like a pack of lions eyeing a rabbit, but the little rabbit wasn’t alone.

I walked beside a wolf, the fierce wolf capable of tearing them apart if they tried to harm the rabbit.

I took my seat at the front of the room, with Zephyr to my right and Reece to my left.

A reporter suddenly asked, followed by others. "Samantha, do you really want to make a comeback?"

"What about your husband?"

"Your husband is on the run now. Do you know where he is?"

"Is it true you came back to pay off your husband’s debts?"

The microphones in front of me suddenly felt too close, too much. I swallowed hard, trying to push back the wave of anxiety in my heart.

As the room grew increasingly chaotic, Reece tapped the microphone with his finger and said, "Please remain calm. We’ll have a Q&A session later, so you need to be quiet for now, or you’ll have to leave the room."

I mouthed a silent "Thank you" to Reece.

"You can make a statement whenever you’re ready, Mrs. Cole," Reece whispered to me.

I nodded. "Okay, I’m ready now."

I brought my face closer to the microphone before speaking, "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen." My voice trembled with nervousness, and my hands suddenly became cold and sweaty.

I looked at the crowd before me, and a sense of dread enveloped my heart like a dark cloud in the sky.

Now I realized, maybe I wasn’t ready for this yet.

However, I couldn’t back down now, or my whole reputation would be thrown to the cliff.

I clenched the paper in my hands, seeking some comfort, but it didn’t work. I had to bite the inside of my lip to keep from showing how out of breath I felt.

As my legs and hands shook, I suddenly felt someone hold my hand under the table. His large hand wrapped around mine, gently caressing my palm with his thumb, as if reminding me that I wasn’t alone.

Zephyr was with me.