CHAPTER 40: The Verdict of Public Opinion

The 60 Minutes interview aired Sunday night at 7 PM.

Victoria, Catherine, Alexander, and I watched together in the penthouse, my hand gripping Alexander's so tightly my knuckles were white.

Seeing ourselves on screen was surreal.

Alexander looked composed, authoritative. I looked younger than I remembered, and definitely pregnant.

"You look beautiful," Alexander whispered.

"I look terrified."

"You look honest. That's better."

The interview played out exactly as we'd lived it. The hard questions. The raw answers. Alexander's admission of feeling like a failure. My passionate defense of our love.

When it ended, we sat in silence.

Then Catherine's phone started ringing.

Then Victoria's.

Then both of ours.

"It's trending," Victoria said, scrolling rapidly. "Number one on T*****r. F******k. I*******m. Everything."

"Good trending or bad trending?" I asked.

She looked up, eyes wide. "Good. Bella, it's really good."

She showed me her screen.

@MediaMom: I was Team James until this interview. Alexander Sterling is genuinely heartbroken about his son. That's real.

@NYCLawyer: Bella Martinez Sterling just became my hero. "Money doesn't buy love" - PREACH.

@DadOf3Girls: As a father, I understand Alexander's position. Sometimes loving your kid means holding them accountable.

@TeamBella2025: I SOBBED. The way he talked about choosing love over lust? The way she defended their relationship? This is REAL.

Not everyone was convinced. There were still plenty of James supporters, people calling us liars, people who would never believe us.

But the tide was shifting.

"Your approval rating is up to 61%," Victoria said, checking multiple sources. "James dropped to 39%. You won the interview."

Alexander exhaled slowly. "We didn't win anything. We just told the truth."

"Sometimes that's enough."

---

Monday morning brought more surprises.

Patricia called at 8 AM. "Have you seen the news?"

"Which news?" Alexander asked on speaker.

"Three of James's harassment victims just came forward publicly. They're willing to testify and go on record with their stories."

I felt hope surge. "Really?"

"They said your interview inspired them. Showed them it's possible to tell the truth even when it's hard." Patricia's voice was excited. "This changes everything, Alexander. We have corroboration now. Multiple witnesses backing up your reasons for firing James."

"When can we meet with them?"

"This afternoon. My office. We need to prepare them for trial."

After she hung up, Alexander looked stunned.

"Three women," he said. "Three women who were too scared to speak before just volunteered to testify."

"Because you showed them courage," I said. "Because we showed them it's possible to stand up to James."

Victoria appeared from the kitchen with coffee. "Have you seen James's response?"

She showed us his I*******m.

A photo of him looking contemplative, staring out a window. The caption: "When your own father goes on national TV to destroy you, you learn who your real family is. Thank you to everyone still supporting me. The truth will come out. ⚖️"

The comments were mixed now. Some supportive, many calling him out.

@Realist2024: Dude, three women just accused you of harassment. Maybe stop playing victim?

@TruthMatters: Your dad literally cried talking about you. That's not destruction, that's heartbreak.

@JamesSupporter: Stay strong! Don't let them break you!

"He's losing control of the narrative," Victoria observed. "And he knows it."

"Which makes him dangerous," Alexander said. "Cornered animals fight hardest."

---

The meeting with the three women was emotional.

Sarah, twenty-four, had been James's assistant. He'd pressured her for dates, touched her inappropriately, made crude comments.

Michelle, twenty-eight, worked in PR. James had offered her a promotion in exchange for "private meetings."

Diane, thirty-one, was in accounting. James had retaliated against her when she rejected him, trying to get her fired.

All three had stayed silent because they needed their jobs. Because they feared retaliation. Because they thought no one would believe them.

"I watched your interview," Sarah said to me. "The way you stood up for yourself. For your family. I thought... maybe I can do that too."

"You absolutely can," I said. "And we'll support you. All of you."

Patricia walked them through what testifying would mean. The preparation. The cross-examination. The media attention.

"I won't lie," she said. "Margaret Chen will try to destroy your credibility. She'll dig into your past. Question your motives. It will be brutal."

"Worse than working for James Sterling?" Michelle asked dryly.

Patricia smiled. "Fair point."

---

That night, Alexander was quiet during dinner.

"What are you thinking?" I asked.

"About James. About how three women were too scared to report his behavior while he worked for me. What does that say about the environment I created?"

"You didn't create it. James did."

"Did he? Or did I enable it by not looking closer? Not asking questions?"

I set down my fork. "You can't blame yourself for not knowing what people deliberately hid from you."

"Can't I? I'm the CEO. Everything that happens in that company is ultimately my responsibility."

"Alexander—"

"Those women suffered because I didn't see. Didn't notice. Didn't create a space where they felt safe reporting him." His voice was heavy. "I failed them."

"So make it right. You're giving them a platform now. Supporting them. Believing them. That matters."

"Does it? After the damage is already done?"

I moved to sit beside him. "Yes. It matters. Late justice is still justice. And those women are choosing to testify because they believe in you. In us. Don't dishonor their courage by wallowing in guilt."

He pulled me close. "When did you become so wise?"

"Pregnancy brain. Makes me philosophical." I kissed him. "Also, Luna is hungry. She wants ice cream."

"It's 9 PM."

"She doesn't care about time zones."

Despite his heavy mood, he smiled. "What flavor?"

"Mint chocolate chip. With pickles."

"That combination is still disgusting."

"That combination is still delicious. Don't judge Luna's choices."

He stood, kissing my forehead. "Fine. I'll get your disgusting ice cream. Because I love you. And apparently I love our daughter's terrible taste."

As he headed to the kitchen, I touched my belly.

"Your dad is a good man, Luna. Even when he doubts himself. Especially then."

She kicked in response.

---

Later, as we lay in bed, my phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number.

"Enjoyed the interview. You're almost as good a liar as he is. See you in court. -J"

I showed Alexander.

His face darkened. "He's not supposed to contact you. That violates the restraining order."

"It's from a burner number. Hard to prove it's him."

"I'll have Marcus trace it anyway." He took my phone. "He's getting desperate. That's when he's most dangerous."

"Should we increase security?"

"Already done. I added another bodyguard to your detail this morning."

"Alexander, I'm pregnant, not the president."

"You're my wife. Mother of my child. That makes you more important than any president." He pulled me close. "I won't let him hurt you. I promise."

I wanted to believe nothing could hurt us now.

But as Luna kicked restlessly in my belly, I couldn't shake the feeling.

The worst was still coming.