Chapter 53 Chapter 54

Chapter 53 Chapter 54
In the midst of their petty chatter, the circulation of news headlines commenced.

"The mistress is kicking out the wife!"

"The injustice to the wife!"

For a mere five minutes, everything seemed to be going according to Marlie's plan. The insults were aimed at Angelina and even at Chad, who appeared surprised as he stared at the laptop screen. "How did this leak?" Chad wondered silently. His head is pounding.

That was the last thing he needed at that moment, to say the least.

While trying to figure out how to resolve the plummeting stock prices of the company, this information had to come out. Just who in the world is playing him like that?

During those five minutes, whilst reading the news, Chad didn't seem too bothered. As the CEO, he would handle the company's problems regardless of the storm.

But when the tides turned against Charlie (Marlie), and the insults were directed at her, Chad became furious.

He attempted to get Spark to accompany Marlie home, away from the prying eyes of those hungry hawks called reporters.

But no, Spark had his own plan. He intended to use Marlie to rectify the mistake she made with the stock prices and Chad's reputation. If he informs Chad about it, he might gain a punch. So, he wouldn't allow Chad to interfere until his plan also succeeded.



Marlie got dressed and walked out of the restroom. She prepared to face the reporters with determination.

With everything set and ready to go, Marlie took her steps towards the main entrance where Mark and Spark were.

The reporters rushed to her side as soon as they saw her and started bombarding her with numerous questions.

"Madam, can you tell us if it's true that your husband loves Angelina instead of you?" Reporter A asked.

"Is it true that you're desperately trying to ruin her reputation because she's the woman your husband loves?" Reporter B asked.

"Are you the one standing in the way of their happiness?" Reporter C asked.

Many questions on the same topic followed after that.

Marlie tried making a way out of the crowded reporters, pretending to head towards Spark's car but halting with the question that followed,

"Are you creating all this drama because your husband has never been intimate with you, as we've heard?" A more aggressive reporter asked.

All the reporters became quiet after that question as they stared at the quiet and stunned Marlie.

Marlie's eyes widened at such a question posed by the reporter. That was indeed a sensitive question. How could someone's intimacy with her partner become a topic for the entire world to discuss?

Damn it! If it wasn't because she was following a plan, she would have smashed the reporter's face and pummeled them into pancakes.

She was now getting annoyed despite the plan. Why does it seem like everyone is asking about intimacy today instead of normal questions? Was someone behind it?

Marlie tried to calm herself down before turning her back and facing the reporters and the numerous cameras raised toward her.

She stared at the faces of the reporters with wet eyes as if she would cry at any moment from the grievance.

Marlie looked hurt at that specific question. At least, that was what the world might see, but she was seething with anger at the choice of words the reporter used inside her heart.

Her anger had turned into tears, and she allowed them to fall as she responded to the question with a sad expression.

"How could you ask another woman this question in front of the entire world? Have you no shame? Who sent you here to ask me such a shameless question? Did that desperate woman send you?"
Marlie questioned the reporter with all her might and anger.

Smoke would have been coming out of her ears and nose if she were animated on TV.

However, the reporters wouldn't stop at Marlie's glare and sad face.

Spark was the devil indeed. He had sent instructions to the person who leaked their whereabouts that he should tell the reporters not to back down no matter the tears, anger, or how weak Marlie would appear.

He was determined to get his way and make Marlie rectify her wrongdoings.

"Are you acting like this too because what we asked is the truth?" A reporter questioned back, not caring how bad Marlie looked.

Marlie stared at their faces for a minute, not knowing what to say. Yes, that last question was indeed true. Chad had never been intimate with Charlie.

And that angered her the more as she turned herself to face that reporter properly, and the tears fell down her cheeks out of anger instead of sadness.

"How could you make the mistress the victim and the wife, a villain? Have you no shame in asking this question? What do you gain if I tell you the intimacy between Chad and... between Chad and... I? Would that make you rich or beautiful and attract more men? What's exactly your deal?"

Marlie almost made the mistake of exposing herself in front of the cameras in anger. But thankfully, she got hold of herself, finding what to say to gain the upper hand in this situation.

She wasn't the one who planned this, so she wasn't completely prepared to face the situation. At that moment, she somehow felt bad for Chad for how she made the media criticize him when she leaked his picture with Angelina.

In finding a solution, had she forgotten what Spark said? No, Marlie realized the essence of Spark's solution now.

With a little hope and much confidence now, she wiped the tears in her eyes, hiding her fury, and returned to answering them calmly...

"You know, I didn't want to answer any of your questions, but this one, I will answer you." She paused and continued after a while.

"You tell me, since you are so eager and sure to question me that nonsensical question, how would you know if there may have been no intimacy between my husband and me? Do you sleep with us in our matrimonial bedroom?

Well, you tell me again, what will you think about what I'm about to tell you about my husband and me, who haven't had any intimacy since our marriage?"

Marlie questioned and stared straight at the faces of the reporters, who just stood there looking at Marlie with blank faces. How would they know that?

Even Chad didn't know. His shocked expression was so evident in his eyes as he gazed at the screen of David's phone watching the interview in his office.

There was clearly no intimacy between them, and this crazy woman was not going to say it out loud, was she? Now, even he stared, waiting for what Marlie was going to say.

"What, you also think it's not possible?!"
Marlie scoffed at the reporters with disdain. Why wouldn't she? Marlie knew the answer that followed, but is the world ready for it, especially Angelina?

She deliberately keeps them in suspense before opening her mouth to speak slowly.

"If there is no intimacy between my husband and me, how will I be pregnant now?"

"BOOM!!!" The bomb was set.

Marlie placed her hand gently on her stomach, tears streaming down her face as she whispered pitifully...
"Baby, don't be afraid, Mom and Dad will protect you."

Of all the people who were shocked by this news, Chad's expression was priceless. That declaration was something he never saw coming.

The poor guy almost fainted into the arms of his assistant. He was speechless staring at the screen of the phone as the drama unfolded. What in the world was happening?



Well, the show had now ended for the trio with that statement and Spark rushed to Marlie's side to remove her from the reporters and the cameras before they could ask her any question that was not part of their plan.

But one person tried asking another question, and Spark had to scare him away with an icy glare before stating...
"I'm sure you know what Chad Baristana will do to you if anything happens to his child!"

The phone Chad was holding slipped from his hand the moment he heard Spark spit out those words.

David hurried to catch the phone before it fell to the ground. After all, that was his phone.

All the reporters backed away, giving space for them to pass through.

"You deserve an Oscar for being the best actress!"Spark remark.

"You are my role model," Marlie retaliated.



Chad couldn't believe it even when the board members entered the board room with congratulatory wishes. He ran his hands through his hair as the room felt hot and uncomfortable for him.

Intimacy? Pregnancy? Child? Baby? Mom and Dad? Every word Marlie said ran through his head like a tsunami.

Actually, he wasn't the only one shocked. Back at the Baristana's house, Vien's shock caused her to lose balance, resulting in a plate shattering into countless pieces. The stick was on another level. 'Marlie was pregnant with Chad's child? So soon?'

Everyone was flabbergasted. However, Angelina's shock hit on a different note. She was simply enraged. She vented her anger by violently smashing her phone onto the floor.

First, her plan had failed, and now Charlie is pregnant. So, could it be that they had been intimate before the last time she saw them?

Her father tried calming her down and assured her, "Don't worry, sweetie, that child was never conceived, my dear... That girl was just lying to the world."

These words may sound like Mr. Sanchez knows about Spark and Marlie's plan. However, his statement had a totally different meaning.

'That child was never conceived' meant they were going to terminate the pregnancy.

The second part of his statement meant they would make it look like Marlie lied to the whole country.

Well, his words may carry some comfort for Angelina, but that was not her concern right now. Her main concern was that Chad got intimate with his wife. "No, Chad must give me an explanation!"
Angelina grabbed her purse and left her father in her car to go to Chad's office.

She would have stayed home and cried if only she had known more shocking news was on its way.