Chapter 86: Chapter 87

Chapter 0087 +25 BONUS “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” I demanded. “I could have defended you tnore forcefully! It’s going to be harder to win people back to your side now because of the delay.

“Will it?” he asked, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. “I think if I had rushed out to make a statement immediately, it would’ve made me seem guilty.”

I paused, considering his words. Maybe he was right. If he’d hurried to respond to the first one or two women who had spoken out, it might have seemed overly defensive, even suspicious. Perhaps it was my own anxiety driving my frustration, not his lack of action.

“What have you done to address it?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

“You don’t need to concern yourself with all the little details, but I believe that someone has hired these women. There are some of them posting now that I’ve never even met. This seems to be an organized attempt to smear my name.” he said, his tone tight with anger. “I’ll make a public statement tonight. I’ve already arranged it.”

“Well... I’m relieved to hear that,” I said quietly.

I was relieved, but something still felt off. I had an idea of who would be willing to go to such lengths to hurt Alexander’s reputation, and it angered me to think that David was still trying to manipulate me like this.

Alexander POV The way Ella was pouting was almost cute, though guilt gnawed at me for the situation I’d inadvertently put her in. It couldn’t be easy for her to receive all those messages and letters from my exes.

In a way, it was embarrassing. If there was something real between us, I’d be infuriated. But since our relationship was just for show, it was more of an annoyance though one that seemed to be wearing on her.

I had consulted August, of course, and he agreed with my decision to make a public statement. Addressing the situation all at once seemed like the best option, but seeing Ella like this made me wonder if it was already too late.

Maybe I should have communicated my plans to her earlier it might have eased her mind and avoided this growing tension between us.

“Would you like to come with me?” I asked.

Ella looked up at me in surprise, her big, dark eyes wide and innocent, and I had to glance away for a moment, the intensity of her gaze stirring something in me.

“To make the public announcement?” she asked.

“Yes,” I replied. “It might look better if you were by my side, to show that you’re standing with me through this turmoil.”

“That does make sense,” she said, nodding thoughtfully. “When will it be?”

“In about an hour,” I said, checking the clock. “It’ll be brief I promise. Just a quick statement to a few media outlets downstairs in the lobby.”

“Okay,” Ella agreed, her tone soft but resolute. “After all, it won’t be long before we’re announcing our engagement. We can’t let people think there’s any strain in our relationship.”

“That’s right,” I murmured.

But I couldn’t shake the thought that there was a strain between us now, and it was likely my fault.

+25 BONUS Chopter 0087 “I’m going to get a cup of tea, and I’ll meet you in the lobby in 45 minutes,” Ella said, her gaze lingering on me as if searching for something.

“Yes, that sounds good,” I replied, pretending to be absorbed in the work on my desk. But as she stood and left the room, I couldn’t help but watch her go.

Ella was certainly doing her part to fulfill our agreement. It was only natural, as I was upholding my end by helping her expose David for the manipulative, disloyal creep that he was.

But there was more to her than that. Something she wasn’haring, something she wasn’t telling anyone else either. I had a strong suspicion that she was keeping her own secrets, perhaps because she didn’t have anyone she truly trusted.

I understood what that felt like.

The more time I spent with Ella, the more I realized we might have more in common than either of us had expected. And the more I felt that we were a better pair than I ever could have imagined.

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