chapter 31

The Press Conference....

Sophie Bennett had spent years being graceful.

Years smiling through rumors.

Years pretending she didn't notice the whispers.

Years acting like she wasn't waiting for a man who never belonged to her.

At some point, grace became exhausting.

The scandal had entered its third day.

News channels were still discussing it.

Articles were multiplying.

Social media had practically declared her Liam's future wife.

The entire situation was absurd.

And Sophie was tired.

Very tired.

That morning, she walked into her grandfather's study carrying a tablet.

Without a word, she dropped it onto his desk.

The older man glanced at the screen.

Then sighed.

"They really have too much free time."

"That's your response?"

"What would you like me to say?"

Sophie folded her arms.

"That they're wrong."

"They are wrong."

"Then why isn't anybody fixing it?"

Her grandfather looked at her carefully.

For a long moment, he said nothing.

Then he asked the question she had been avoiding.

"Do you still love him?"

The room became quiet.

Painfully quiet.

A few months ago, Sophie would've answered immediately.

Now she wasn't so sure.

Maybe she loved the idea of him.

Maybe she loved the years she spent waiting.

Maybe she simply didn't know how to let go.

"I don't know."

The admission felt strange.

Almost embarrassing.

Her grandfather nodded slowly.

As if he had expected that answer.

"Then perhaps it's time to stop waiting."

Across the city, Liam was preparing for war.

Not the corporate kind.

The media kind.

Which, in his opinion, was significantly more annoying.

His legal team sat around a conference table.

Several executives were present.

Public relations specialists.

Lawyers.

Advisors.

People whose entire careers existed to manage disasters.

Unfortunately for them, Liam had already made up his mind.

"We'll release a statement."

One advisor nodded.

"Good."

Liam continued.

"And hold a press conference."

The room fell silent.

One of the lawyers nearly choked.

"Sir?"

"A press conference."

"That's unnecessary."

"It's necessary."

The advisor exchanged nervous glances with everyone else.

Because Liam Smith hated press conferences.

Avoided them whenever possible.

The fact that he was voluntarily suggesting one was deeply alarming.

"Sir, with respect, this will only attract more attention."

Liam's expression remained calm.

"Good."

Nobody knew how to respond to that.

By noon, invitations had been sent.

By evening, every major news outlet in the country was reporting the announcement.

And by nightfall, speculation had reached unprecedented levels.

The next day, the press conference venue was packed.

Journalists.

Cameras.

Reporters.

Commentators.

Everyone wanted answers.

Judith watched the live broadcast from her office.

Mostly because Ava refused to let her avoid it.

"You need to watch."

"I really don't."

"You really do."

Now they sat together in Judith's office.

Julian stood nearby looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.

The broadcast began.

Liam walked onto the stage looking calm, composed and ever confident.

The way he always appeared in public.

Questions started immediately.

"Mr. Smith, are you currently involved with Sophie Bennett?"

The questions were direct and aggressive.

Exactly what everyone expected.

Liam didn't hesitate

"No."

The answer was immediate.

Firm.

Final.

Another reporter stood.

"Have you ever been romantically involved with Miss Bennett?"

Again, Liam answered without hesitation.

"No."

The room erupted into murmurs.

Several journalists exchanged surprised looks.

Because that answer destroyed years of speculation.

Years of assumptions.

Years of rumors.

A third reporter spoke.

"Then why have you been seen together so frequently?"

Liam almost smiled.

"Our families have known each other for decades."

Simple.

Logical and true.

Something you can't deny.

The questions continued.

For nearly twenty minutes.

Then someone finally asked the question everyone actually wanted answered.

"What about Judith Lux?"

The room instantly became silent.

Even watching through a screen, Judith felt her pulse quicken.

Liam looked directly at the reporter.

"What about her?"

The journalist smiled.

The kind of smile that meant trouble.

"There are rumors of reconciliation."

Julian muttered something extremely inappropriate.

Ava looked delighted.

On screen, Liam remained calm.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then he answered.

"Judith is the mother of my child."

Every camera in the room focused on him.

His expression softened slightly.

Only slightly.

Yet enough.

"She's someone I respect deeply."

Judith froze.

The room behind her became quiet.

Liam continued.

"And regardless of what happens in the future, she deserves better than being dragged into fabricated stories."

For the first time since the scandal began, nobody asked a question.

Because there wasn't much left to say.

The message was clear.

Crystal clear.

Just respect.

And somehow that felt more powerful than any dramatic declaration could have been.

The conference ended shortly afterward.

By evening, headlines across the country had completely changed.

LIAM SMITH DENIES RELATIONSHIP WITH SOPHIE BENNETT

SMITH DEFENDS JUDITH LUX DURING PRESS CONFERENCE

YEARS OF RUMORS FINALLY ADDRESSED

For once, the truth was winning.

That night, Judith sat on her balcony reading the latest articles.

Not because she cared about public opinion.

Because she was thinking about Liam's words.

She's someone I respect deeply.

Simple words.

Nothing romantic.

Nothing dramatic.

Yet somehow they stayed with her.

Because years ago, Liam would've avoided the question.

Changed the subject.

Given a corporate answer.

Today he hadn't.

Today he'd stood in front of cameras and told the truth.

Not the convenient truth.

The actual truth.

Her phone vibrated.

A message from Liam.

Did you watch it?

Judith smiled despite herself.

Unfortunately.

Three dots appeared immediately.

And?

She stared at the screen.

Thinking.

Then finally typed.

You did well.

Several seconds passed.

Then his reply appeared.

That's the first compliment you've given me in months. I'm saving a screenshot.

A laugh escaped her before she could stop it.

Across the city, Liam stared at the message and smiled.

A real smile.

The kind he rarely showed anyone.

For the first time since the divorce, it felt like they were moving forward.

Slowly.

Carefully.

One step at a time.

Neither of them noticed someone else reading the same headlines.

Someone who wasn't smiling.

Someone who had just decided that if Liam Smith wanted a second chance with Judith Lux, he was going to have to fight much harder for it.

And his name was Ethan Blackwood.