Chapter 21 She's my wife

Chapter 21 She's my wife
Lucian’s POV

The car ride was quiet, and I secretly watched Sonia. She looked nervous, and her pulse was rising. I wanted to touch her, to calmly assure her that everything would be alright, but it felt weird. We weren't real couples, and if I acted too much, she might get uncomfortable.

Clara was seated in another car, but before we left, she had curiously asked me for Sonia's full name. When I told her ‘Sonia Magnus' she mumbled Magnus to herself, and a mischievous smile played on her lips. I wasn't stupid, and I knew that something was up. But for now, I will play along to her tune.

Outside the tinted glass, dozens of cars were struggling to get to work, and I wondered how it felt to be a working-class citizen. It must be nice….. and stressful. I'd give anything to have that kind of life. A life where I wouldn't need to be fighting for inheritance or power. If I'd been born into a working-class household, my mother would probably be alive by now.

As soon as we arrived in front of the company, cameras flashed like lightning. Reporters and journalists were everywhere. And they were all asking different questions at once.

> “Mr. Smithfield, when did you get married?”
> “Is it true your wife was once your online girlfriend?”
> “Mrs. Smithfield, did you have an affair before the marriage?”
> “Are you in an open relationship?”
> “How did your family take the background difference?”

The security team formed a barrier, pushing back the crowd. Sonia held her dress, and her hands were shaking. I gently placed my hand on hers, and my other hand rested on her waist, guiding her through the crowd. This wasn't the first press conference I've attended, and this was certainly not the biggest rumor gathering I'd been to. I was just four years old when I had to watch as my mother got harassed by reporters.

We entered the lobby, facing the crowd directly, but with a glass shield protecting us. I could feel hundreds of eyes on me; employees, journalists, even interns pretending to work but watching everything unfold.

“Wow, since the news is so popular, why hasn't my father called yet? Is he too busy planning my demise?” I wondered with a smirk.

At the far end of the room, the makeshift podium waited, flanked by the company logo and a dozen microphones.

Sonia leaned close and whispered into my ear. “What should I say? I'm nervous.”

I smiled and gently patted her head. “You don’t have to say much. Just stand beside me.”

She nodded, and I was happy that she was finally learning to trust me.
……..

The Press Conference:

I held the microphone and cleared my throat. “Good afternoon, everyone. I understand today’s news came as a surprise.”

Reporters quieted almost instantly. That’s what my tone did, it made people listen. I enjoyed the silence briefly before continuing.

“To answer your question. Yes, I’m married. Sonia Magnus is my wife. We've known each other for years, but we signed our marriage papers officially this year. We chose privacy, not secrecy. I hope the press will respect that.”

The cameras clicked like gunfire. And Sonia forced a polite smile, I knew she was trying too hard. Every muscle in her face screamed from the effort.

One of the reporters moved to the front and asked his question: “Is it true Mrs. Sonia used to date one of your employees, Mr. Michael Turner?”

I didn’t flinch, I'd long anticipated that question. “Mr. Michael and Mrs. Sonia were colleagues. There was no romantic involvement,” I said with a smooth voice. “Any rumors suggesting otherwise are false.”

Sonia shuddered, clearly uncomfortable, and I was happy that she still had the consciousness to differentiate between right and wrong.

“We also heard they are getting married. Their invitation cards are trending,” a journalist said, and the room erupted into chaos as everyone accused me of lying.

If I had a phobia, it would be the fear of crowds. I grew up in the midst of bullies, and I was always the easy target. I should be scared of bullying journalists, instead, I was more than ready to tackle them, anytime, any day.

I wanted to reply, but Sonia tapped me, asking me for permission to answer the question. I readily nudged her.

“Michael and I were business partners. I doubt we can even be considered friends. Currently, we no longer communicate, and the wedding was purely for business promotion. If you doubt me, go ahead and Google Michael and Georgia, you'll realize that they are in a devoted relationship,” she explained with a calm voice, and I was impressed.

The reporters also looked impressed.

I looked directly into the camera and smirked. “Before we leave. I'd like to say that a blurry sextape has been trending online. The people in that video are my wife and I. We attended a friend's birthday party, accidentally got high, and made out,” I paused to laugh. “I don't understand why anyone would be interested in watching a couple's porn.”

This news shocked everyone, and they all asked questions at once.

> “Oh my gosh!”
> “What sort of shameless man had the mind to record a married couple having sex?”
> “Recording without permission is illegal! They should be arrested!”

And just like that, we won, and no one was focused on whether we're a real couple. Instead, we directed them to the sextape and Michael and Georgia.

\~~~~~~~

Across the Room:

Narrator's POV

Angela stood at the edge of the lobby, frozen in shock. She had just arrived for work when the news broke, and now she was watching her best friend, Sonia, stand beside Lucian like he was her home.

Her phone buzzed nonstop, messages flooding in:

> “Did you know?”
> “Is Sonia really married to him?”
> “Wasn’t she dating that Michael guy?”
> “Has the wedding been canceled?”
> “What's going on?”

Her fingers trembled as she texted Sonia in desperation:

Angela to Sonia: “What the hell is going on? Please tell me this is fake. Am I dreaming? Did you get married and forget to tell me?”

But Sonia’s phone was on silent in her purse.

Angela’s eyes darted toward the reporters, toward Lucian, and toward Sonia’s perfectly calm expression. Something in her chest twisted. Her friend looked different, like a new person, and Angela didn't know what to believe. They've been friends for over seven years, and they planned her wedding with Michael together. So what's going on?

Michael and Georgia stood not far from Angela, and the look on their faces made it obvious that they were lost.

“Married? When did that happen? Aren't you both supposed to get married this week?” Georgia asked with furrowed brows. She knows the answer to the question, she was even one of the planners. But Sonia and Lucian's announcement had made her begin to doubt her memories.

“Something is not right! How …. was she playing me? No…” Michael stammered, lost for words. He liked to control and manipulate ladies, and he was certain that he had broken Sonia completely. So what's going on?

At home, Gawin also couldn't believe what he was seeing and hearing. This news had ruined his plans, and if he posted the sextape, it'd have little to no effect. Fuck!

“I have to come up with a plan B! What exactly does Lucian see in her?” Gawin wondered, his eyes scrutinizing Sonia. “I need her! I must have her! I must have everything that belongs to him.”