Lahat ng Kabanata ng TWISTED OBESSION: MY FIANCE CHEATED SO I SLEPT WITH HIS BOSS: Kabanata 31 - Kabanata 40

DAMIEN  The press conference room at Cross Enterprises is packed.Every major news outlet in New York is here. With cameras everywhere and reporters jostling for position.I walk in at exactly 2 PM with Elara at my side and Noah and Sebastian behind us. The room falls silent.I don't bother with pleasantries."Thank you for coming. I'm going to make a brief statement and then take limited questions." I look directly at the cameras. "Over the past week, there have been numerous allegations made against me. Allegations of corruption, of violence, of criminal activity. I'm here today to address these allegations directly."I pause, letting the anticipation build.

ELARA  I’m working at my desk when James stops by.“Hey,” he says, leaning against my desk. “I saw the press conference yesterday. You and Damien looked… intense.”“We said what we needed to say.”“Are you really okay?” he asks. “The way he talked about Lucas Reed, about getting revenge… it was a lot.”“He was keeping me safe,” I answer. “Lucas hurt us. But Damien made sure he couldn’t do it again. I’m not sorry about that.”“I’m not asking you to be sorry. I’m just worried about you. Damien Cross is… dangerous. People who get too close to men like him either change completely or get broken.”I look straight at him. “Or they get protected. Loved. Treated like they’re the most important person in the world.” I pause. “I know

DAMIEN We're in the car heading back to the penthouse when Noah calls. "Status on Elena Blake." I put it on speaker. Elara deserves to hear this. "She's been handled," Noah says. "Had a conversation with her this evening. Explained exactly what would happen if she continued pursuing legal action or talking to reporters." "And?" "She understood. The lawsuit threat is gone. She signed an NDA. And she's agreed to leave the city for the foreseeable future." "Agreed? Or was persuaded?" "Does it matter?" "Not particularly." I glance at Elara, whose face is unreadable. "Where's she going?" "California. Has a friend in Los Angeles. She'll be gone by Monday." "Good. Make sure she actually leaves. I want confir

ELARA I wake up to an empty bed again, but this time I hear voices from the living room: Damien’s low rumble and Sophia’s softer tone. They’re talking about the threats.I pull on one of Damien’s T-shirts and walk barefoot down the hall.Damien is standing at the windows, arms crossed, staring out at the city. Sophia sits on the couch with a cup of coffee. Noah stands near the door, tablet in hand.“Morning,” I say quietly.Damien turns instantly. The tension on his face softens when he sees me. He crosses the room in three strides and cups my face, kissing me like he needs to make sure I’m real.“Any news?” I ask Noah.“We found the person who delivered the black roses,” Noah says. “A kid from a local florist. Paid in cash by someone wearing a hoodie and a medical mask. No face on camera.”“And the texts?” Damien’s voice is deadly calm.“Burner phone bought with cash two days ago. Activated once, used only to message you, then turned off. We’re pinging towers, but…” Noah shrugs. “Wh

ELARA  Elena walks out of the courtroom between two officers. Her shoulders are shaking with tears. She looks so small and destroyed.I watch her go and feel… nothing. No happiness or anger. Just an empty space where my sister used to be.Damien stands up beside me. “Are you okay?”“I don’t know.”Outside in the hallway, Margaret is smiling widely. “That went perfectly,” she says. “The judge threw out everything Elena said. And now Lucas has a new charge for trying to trick the court. He’ll get even more prison time.”“How did you know about the money?” I ask.“Noah’s team watched every dollar that went into Elena’s bank account,” Margaret explains. “Tim Warren’s wife sent her fifty thousand dollars two weeks ago. They didn’t even hide it well. If you’re going to pay someone to lie, at least be smart about it.”“What will happen to Elena now?”“Probably six months to a year in