CHAPTER 39: Public Opinion

The David betrayal made headlines within hours.

"Sterling CFO Fired Amid Leaked Documents Scandal"

"Corporate Spy? Sterling's Trusted Advisor Sold Secrets"

James, predictably, used it to his advantage.

He posted on I*******m: "Even my father's own employees know the truth. Justice is coming. 🙏"

The comments were brutal.

@JamesSupporter: Your dad is a fraud! We see through him!

@TruthSeeker: First his son, now his CFO. Maybe Alexander is the problem?

@NYCRealist: When everyone around you is the enemy, maybe YOU'RE the villain.

"Stop reading those," Victoria said, taking my phone. "Social media is toxic."

"Half of them think Alexander is the bad guy now."

"Half of them are idiots." She tossed my phone aside. "Public opinion doesn't matter. The trial matters. Evidence matters. Truth matters."

"Does it? Because it feels like whoever controls the narrative wins, truth or not."

Victoria was quiet. Then: "You're not wrong. Which is why we need to control the narrative."

"How?"

"We do our own interview. Primetime. Major network. Tell our side before James twists it further."

"Patricia said no more interviews."

"Patricia said no more interviews before we knew about the mole. Now? We need to get ahead of this." Victoria was already texting. "I'm calling my contact at 60 Minutes. They've been asking for an interview for weeks."

"Alexander won't agree—"

"Then we convince him."

---

Alexander did not agree.

"Absolutely not. We're not feeding the media circus."

"We're already in the circus," Victoria argued. "James is the ringmaster. We need to take back control."

"By airing our private life on national television?"

"By showing people who you really are. Not the villain James is painting." Victoria pulled up her tablet. "Look at these polls. Your approval rating is at 42%. James's is at 58%. He's winning the PR war."

"I don't care about approval ratings."

"You should. Juries are influenced by public opinion. If they think you're a villain before trial even starts, we've already lost."

Patricia, joining via video call, interjected. "She's right, Alexander. The leaked documents hurt us. We need damage control. A carefully controlled interview could help."

Alexander looked at me. "What do you think?"

"I think I'm tired of hiding. Tired of letting James define us." I took his hand. "Let's tell our truth. Our way."

He studied my face. "You're sure? They'll ask invasive questions. About us. About the pregnancy. About everything."

"Let them ask. We have nothing to hide."

He was quiet for a long moment. Then: "Fine. We do the interview. But on our terms. Topics are pre-approved. No ambush questions."

Victoria was already on her phone. "I'm setting it up. This is going to change everything."

---

The interview was scheduled for the following week.

In the meantime, Patricia drilled us on potential questions.

"Why did you pursue your son's ex-girlfriend?"

Alexander answered calmly. "I didn't pursue her. We reconnected months after their relationship ended. It wasn't planned. It wasn't calculated. It was two people finding unexpected connection."

"Some would say the timing is suspicious."

"Some people will always be suspicious. We can't control that. We can only tell the truth."

Patricia turned to me. "Bella, did you seduce Alexander for his money?"

"No. I was a teacher with my own career and life. I didn't need Alexander's money."

"Then why marry him so quickly?"

"Because when you know, you know. And because I was pregnant and wanted our daughter to have married parents."

"Critics say that's old-fashioned."

"Maybe. But it's what felt right for us. And since it's our family, our opinion is the only one that matters."

Patricia nodded. "Good. Stay calm. Stay honest. Don't get defensive."

"What about James?" I asked. "They'll definitely ask about him."

"Speak carefully there. He's still Alexander's son. Don't trash him, but don't defend him either. Acknowledge the complexity."

---

The night before the interview, I couldn't sleep.

"What if I say something wrong?" I asked Alexander in the dark.

"You won't."

"What if I get emotional and cry?"

"Then you cry. You're human. People connect with that."

"What if they hate us anyway?"

He rolled over to face me. "Then they hate us. But at least they'll hate us after hearing our truth, not James's lies."

"When did you get so wise?"

"I'm not wise. I'm just done caring what strangers think." He touched my face. "The only opinions that matter are in this room. You. Me. Luna."

Luna kicked at the sound of her name.

"She's awake again," I said.

"Can't sleep either, little one?" Alexander moved down to talk to my belly. "Tomorrow's a big day. Your mom and I are going on TV. Probably going to say something embarrassing. But we're doing it for you. So you grow up knowing we fought for our family."

The baby kicked again, stronger.

"She approves," I said.

"Of course she does. She's a Sterling. We don't back down from fights."

"Even fights we might lose?"

"Especially those." He kissed my belly, then moved back up to kiss me. "Get some sleep. Tomorrow, we change the narrative."

---

The 60 Minutes studio was cold and intimidating.

Bright lights. Multiple cameras. The interviewer—Bill Mason—famous for making politicians cry.

"Ready?" he asked, settling across from us.

Alexander's hand found mine. "Ready."

The cameras started rolling.

"Alexander Sterling, your son James is suing you for $50 million and claims you chose lust over family. How do you respond?"

Alexander didn't flinch. "I respond by saying that characterization is both inaccurate and deliberately inflammatory. I didn't choose lust. I chose love. I chose a woman who challenges me, supports me, and makes me want to be better. And yes, that woman happened to be someone James dated briefly a year ago. But James's relationship with Bella was over long before ours began."

"Your critics say the timeline is suspicious."

"Our critics weren't there. They don't know what we felt, when we felt it, or how carefully we navigated this situation. But they're entitled to their opinions."

Bill turned to me. "Bella, you were a high school teacher making $45,000 a year. Now you're married to a billionaire. Can you understand why people question your motives?"

I met his eyes. "I can understand it. I don't like it, but I understand it. Money doesn't buy love, Mr. Mason. It doesn't buy genuine connection or partnership or the way someone makes you feel safe. Alexander could be broke and I'd still choose him. Because I'm not in love with his bank account. I'm in love with him."

"That's easy to say when you're living in a penthouse."

"It is. But it's also true." I touched my belly. "I'm carrying his daughter. Do you really think I'd bring a child into this world just for money? That's insulting to both of us."

Bill paused, then shifted. "Let's talk about James. Alexander, he's your son. How does it feel to be sued by your own child?"

Alexander's jaw tightened. "It feels like failure. Like I somehow raised a man who thinks lawsuits and public attacks are appropriate responses to not getting his way. It feels like heartbreak."

"Do you still love him?"

"Of course. He's my son. I'll always love him. But love doesn't mean accepting destructive behavior. Sometimes love means saying no. Means consequences. Means letting someone face the results of their choices."

The interview continued for another thirty minutes.

Hard questions. Emotional moments. But we held our ground.

When it was over, Bill shook our hands.

"That was good television," he said. "Honest. Raw. People will respond to that."

"For or against us?" I asked.

He smiled. "You'll find out Sunday when it airs."