Chapter 36

I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath before speaking again. This time, my voice was more confident and firm.

"It’s been so long since I last saw all of you in a conference room. That’s why, please forgive me if I seem a bit nervous."

"I know many of you have a lot of questions about me and my husband, Rowan Fell. However, before we move on to the Q&A session, I ask for your patience and hope you will listen to my statement first."

I gripped Zephyr’s hand tightly as I began.

"As of March 17, 2024, I, Samantha Cole, have legally divorced Rowan Fell. I no longer have any association with him—whether personally or in business."

The room immediately erupted into chaos. Reporters hurriedly typed out my statement, while the cameramen snapped countless photos of my face.

My body tensed as their reaction made me even more nervous. What would they say?

Most of them would likely respond negatively to my statement, as it might seem like I was trying to save my own reputation from Rowan’s downfall.

But I had to keep going. For my future and for myself.

Taking another deep breath, I straightened my back and continued, "I understand that many of you might think I’m trying to distance myself from him now that his reputation is in shambles."

"However, that’s not the case. Our marriage has been over for a while, long before his scandals came to light. I chose to stay silent because I didn’t want my personal life to become a public spectacle."

Some of the reporters nodded, while others exchanged glances, still skeptical.

"I have nothing to do with Rowan Fell anymore, and I am not responsible for his actions. But I am here today because I refuse to let his mistakes define my career and my future."

The room went silent for a moment. I could feel Zephyr’s reassuring presence beside me, his fingers lightly brushing against the back of my hand under the table. It was a small gesture, but it was enough to calm me down.

Then, a reporter in the front row raised his hand. "Mrs. Cole, are you saying that you had no idea about your ex-husband’s illegal activities?"

Reece wanted to tell the reporter that it wasn’t time for questions yet, but I lightly patted his arm. "It’s okay," I whispered.

"Yes, I had no knowledge of my ex-husband’s illegal activities," I continued. "I know many of you might think I’m just making excuses, but this is the truth—Rowan always forbade me from interfering in his business affairs."

That was really the truth. Rowan had never allowed me to be involved in his company.

Even when I accidentally saw his financial reports, he would lash out at me, saying it was disrespectful to pry into his matters.

He did that because he didn’t want me to know how much profit he was making or for anyone to find out that he was using cheap materials to increase his margins.

He was truly nothing but a fraud.

"Samantha, what was the reason for your divorce from Rowan Fell?" a reporter asked.

Reece had run out of patience. Since I seemed willing to answer, he simply said, "Since Mrs. Cole has no objections to answering questions, we will now open for the Q&A session."

I could sense Reece’s frustration, but what could he do? My fame had once been too great, and the reporters wouldn’t stop digging into my life until they had uncovered everything.

"The reason for our divorce is simple," I said. "He was a jerk husband. A fucking deadbeat who stole my fortune and slept with countless women in every city."

"To all the women out there, take this as a warning—this man is a menace to society. Trust me, you’re better off running the other way than ending up with regrets ... or worse, an STD."

Everyone gasped in unison. It was the first time they had ever heard the famous diva curse so bluntly.

But more importantly—there was actually a man who had dared to hurt me!

Oh, the audacity.

"That bastard put me through hell during our marriage," I continued, my voice steady and firm. "He abused me—mentally and physically—every single day. So, it would be foolish to think that I’d ever help him escape his downfall."

I leaned closer to the microphone, my gaze sharp.

"Because out of everyone in the world, I am the one who wants to see him fall the most."

My words would undoubtedly become the next day’s headline—no, scratch that.

That statement would flood news portals in less than an hour!

However, while many supported my decision to end my relationship with that bastard, some remained skeptical.

"Samantha, you were married to him for five years. If he was really abusing you, why didn’t you leave sooner?"

"Yes, why wait five years?"

Those questions.

I knew people would ask something like that. I had heard it before. Yet, no matter how many times I did, it still hurt.

It felt like they were calling me a fool over and over again.

Just as I was about to respond, Zephyr, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up.

"Let me ask you something. If you were stuck in a terrible job—your boss was bullying you, your salary was barely enough to survive, but that job was the only thing keeping you afloat—and then one day, your boss threatened you ..."

Zephyr’s voice was calm yet sharp, his piercing gaze sweeping across the room.

"... They tell you that if you quit, they’ll make sure you never find another job. They’ll ruin your reputation, blacklist you, and destroy everything you’ve worked for. Would you still walk away so easily?"

The room fell silent.

I clenched my fists under the table. I knew exactly what Zephyr was doing—turning their own logic against them.

"That’s what abusers do," he continued. "They don’t just hurt you physically or emotionally. They make you believe you have no way out. They strip you of your power, your confidence, and your identity, until you feel like you have nowhere else to go.”