Chapter 37

Zephyr leaned back slightly, his eyes locking onto the reporters who had asked the question. "So, tell me. Do you still think it’s that simple?"

A tense, suffocating silence spread across the room. Some reporters shifted uncomfortably in their seats, while others quickly scribbled down notes.

I took a deep breath, my chest tightening with emotions I had buried for too long.

Then, I finally spoke. "I stayed because I was scared. Because I thought no one would believe me. Because every time I tried to leave, Rowan found a way to drag me back." My voice wavered slightly but remained firm. "And that’s exactly why I’m speaking out now. So no one else has to go through what I did."

My voice was strong and unwavering, as if I were speaking not just for myself but for every woman who had endured the same pain.

The cameras kept flashing, pens moved swiftly across notepads, but no one dared to interrupt me now.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself as I met the gaze of the reporters before me.

"I know some of you still doubt my words," I continued, "I know there are people out there who will say I stayed too long, that I should have left earlier. But unless you’ve been in my shoes, you will never understand the fear, the manipulation, the way abuse chains you to a life you never wanted."

The room was silent. All of their eyes were focused on me.

"I stayed because I was scared. I stayed because I was told no one would believe me. I stayed because every time I thought about leaving, I was reminded that Rowan Fell was a powerful man who could destroy me with a single word." I swallowed hard. "And for a while, I believed him."

"But not anymore," I declared. "I’m done being scared. I refuse to let my past define me, and I refuse to let him control my future."

A murmur rippled through the crowd—some in admiration, others still skeptical. A reporter finally found her voice.

"Samantha, what do you hope to achieve by coming forward now?"

I met her gaze without hesitation.

"The truth," I said simply. "And justice."

"Not just for me, but for a lot of women and men who endured the same pain as me." My eyes locked onto the camera. "I know it’s hard to move forward when you feel like you have nothing left. When the world convinces you that you’re weak, that you’re alone."

I took a deep breath. "But you’re not alone. And you are so much stronger than you think."

At this point, no reporters dared to think that I was just lying.

My voice, my eyes, and my gesture were genuine.

I truly looked like a woman who had just risen from her downfall, like a phoenix rising from the ashes to start a new life.

"I’m standing here today, not just to clear my name, but to remind every woman out there who has suffered in silence."

I said, "You are not defined by the pain someone else inflicted on you. You deserve freedom. You deserve happiness. You deserve to take your life back."

The conference room was silent for a moment, then a ripple of murmurs spread across the crowd.

Some reporters exchanged glances, others hastily jotted down my words, realizing that this wasn’t just a press conference anymore.

It was a movement.

Zephyr, sitting beside me, didn’t say a word, but the way his fingers subtly brushed against my back reassured me.

He was there. He was listening.

A reporter in the front row raised her hand. "Samantha, do you plan on taking legal action against Rowan Fell?"

My jaw tightened, and for the first time since stepping into the room, a small smile appeared on my lips.

"Oh, I already have," I said firmly, emphasizing each word. "I’ll make sure he’s left with nothing but a mountain of debt."

Another reporter raised his hand. "Is it true that you’re making a comeback as an actress?"

"Yes," I admitted confidently. "The reason I stopped acting before was because Rowan forced me to. But now that he no longer has control over me, I’m choosing to step back into the spotlight."

The reporters felt like they had hit the jackpot that day.

My confession was bigger than they had expected—first, the divorce, then the abuse, and now, my grand return to the screen.

All the reporters who missed this conference would surely cry out blood later.

"What kind of project will you be working on?" another reporter asked.

I straightened my posture. "A movie titled The Shattered Bond," I announced. "It tells the story of a woman who, after years of suffering in a toxic marriage, decides to rebuild her life from scratch."

For a moment, silence filled the room. Then, the cameras started flashing even faster.

"Is this film based on your own experiences?"

My lips curled slightly. "While the story isn’t directly about me, I can relate to the character on a deep level."

"That’s why I knew I had to take on this role. If my story can inspire even one person to walk away from their suffering and choose themselves, then my return to acting will be worth it."

The reporters fired more questions, but this time, I wasn’t nervous.

This time, I was ready.

The press conference lasted only half an hour, but in that short time, I had done what once seemed impossible—I cleared my name and shifted the public’s anger toward Rowan.

It wouldn’t be long before social media exploded with support for me. The tide was turning, and for the first time in years, I felt like I could finally breathe.

As I stepped out of the room, I finally felt my entire body relax. I let out a deep breath of relief before crouching down and covering my face with my hands.

"Samantha, what’s wrong?" Zephyr patted my shoulder. His voice sounded concerned. "Are you feeling unwell?"

"No." I murmured behind my hands before lifting my head, a bright smile spreading across my face. "I’m just ... really happy.”