Chapter 285 — Scandal That Destroyed Her

Chapter 285 — Scandal That Destroyed Her
“Are you absolutely sure about this?”

Alvin De Luca’s voice sliced through the silence of the room like a sharp blade. His tone was calm, but the threat beneath it was unmistakable. The older man leaned slightly forward in his chair, his cold, calculating eyes fixed firmly on Dylan.

Those eyes carried years of authority, power, and control.

“If you are lying,” Alvin continued slowly, each word deliberate and heavy, “you will regret it more deeply than you can imagine.”

The atmosphere inside the room instantly became suffocating.

Even the air seemed tense.

But Dylan did not appear nervous.

If anything, he looked amused.

A smug smile slowly appeared on his lips as he sat comfortably across from Alvin and his wife, Stella. His posture was relaxed, almost arrogant, as though the threat meant nothing to him.

“No, sir,” Dylan replied smoothly.

His voice carried confidence.

“I’m not lying.”

There was not even the slightest hesitation in his tone.

“I have proof.”

With deliberate calmness, Dylan reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. His fingers tapped the screen slowly before he turned the device toward Alvin.

The images appeared immediately.

Alvin’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the screen.

The photos were clear.

Too clear.

They were pictures of a document.

A contract.

A marriage contract.

A document that revealed the truth behind Matteo and Clara’s marriage.

Dylan had secretly taken those photos the day Clara showed him the contract. At the time, she had only been trying to convince him that her marriage to Matteo was not real, hoping he would stop clinging to the past.

She had trusted him.

But Dylan had seen something else.

Opportunity.

And now he was using that opportunity to his advantage.

“I can’t believe this,” Stella De Luca gasped suddenly.

Her voice trembled with shock.

Her face had turned pale as she stared at the images on the phone.

“First that woman with two children, Mia,” she continued anxiously, wringing her hands together in distress, “and now this… a contract marriage with this girl?”

Her breathing became uneven as she struggled to process what she was seeing.

“What is wrong with him?” she cried, shaking her head in disbelief. “Why does my son keep ruining his life because of women?”

The pain and frustration in her voice filled the room.

Alvin remained silent for a moment.

His jaw tightened.

His mind was already working rapidly.

Calculating every possible consequence.

Evaluating every possible solution.

“Don’t worry, Stella,” he said finally.

His voice was calm, but firm.

“I will handle this.”

There was no doubt in his tone.

“I will do whatever it takes to secure my son’s future.”

He turned back toward Dylan.

The warmth in his voice disappeared instantly.

His expression turned cold again.

“What do you want?”

Dylan leaned back slightly in his chair, appearing almost relaxed as he met Alvin’s gaze.

“Honestly, sir,” Dylan said slowly, his voice carefully filled with sadness, “I was planning to go to the press with this information.”

Stella gasped again, her hand flying to her mouth.

Dylan continued speaking smoothly, as though he had rehearsed every word beforehand.

“Matteo married my girlfriend,” he said.

His voice trembled slightly, just enough to make his story sound convincing.

“I loved her deeply.”

He lowered his head slightly before adding quietly,

“I still do.”

His performance was perfect.

“I just want her back.”

Alvin studied him closely.

Every movement.

Every expression.

Every word.

But Dylan had prepared himself well.

His acting was flawless.

“You don’t need to go to the press,” Alvin said suddenly.

His tone was sharp and decisive.

“I will give you money.”

Dylan’s smile flickered briefly before he quickly hid it.

“But in return,” Alvin continued coldly, “you will keep your mouth shut.”

Alvin’s thoughts raced quickly.

If the public ever discovered that Matteo’s marriage was fake—nothing more than a contract—it would destroy his reputation overnight.

The scandal would spread across every news platform.

It would damage his career.

It would ruin the image Alvin had spent years protecting.

As a father, Alvin had no intention of allowing that to happen.

“Thank you, sir,” Dylan replied calmly.

“I won’t go to the press.”

He lifted his phone slightly.

“I’ll delete the photos.”

He paused briefly before continuing casually.

“I’ll forget everything.”

Then he added the condition he had been waiting to say.

“After ten million is transferred to my account.”

Alvin didn’t hesitate.

“Give me your account number.”

Dylan quickly recited the details.

His eyes sparkled with satisfaction.

But Alvin was not finished.

The older man leaned forward again.

His expression darkened.

“I’m doubling the amount.”

Dylan blinked, surprised.

“But there is one condition.”

Alvin’s voice dropped dangerously low.

“I want that girl out of my son’s life.”

His words were cold and ruthless.

“Do whatever it takes.”

His gaze hardened.

“But Matteo must remain untouched by this.”

Dylan slowly smiled.

It was not a friendly smile.

It was the smile of someone who had just received permission to do something cruel.

“Consider it done, sir.”

Inside his mind, dark plans were already forming.

Clara had humiliated him.

She had rejected him.

She had chosen Matteo over him.

Now it was his turn.

—

Clara sighed deeply as she stared at her phone.

Another message from Dylan.

Another missed call.

Another request to meet.

For days he had been calling again and again, begging her to see him one last time.

At first, she ignored him.

Then she blocked his number.

But Dylan kept finding other ways to reach her.

New numbers.

Emails.

Messages through friends.

Finally, Clara decided she had had enough.

She would end this today.

Once and for all.

She disguised herself carefully before leaving her house. A scarf covered her head, and large sunglasses hid most of her face.

When she arrived at Dylan’s apartment building, irritation burned inside her chest.

This was the last time she would ever deal with him.

She rang the doorbell quickly.

Her patience was already gone.

The door opened almost immediately.

Dylan stood there smiling.

Too warmly.

Too politely.

“Come in,” he said.

Clara inhaled slowly before stepping inside.

The moment she entered the apartment, she removed her scarf and sunglasses. Her expression hardened as she turned to face him.

Dylan closed the door behind her.

“What would you like to drink?” he asked casually.

The false politeness made her stomach twist.

“Dylan,” Clara said sharply.

“I don’t have time for this.”

Her voice was cold and firm.

“So let’s finish this quickly.”

She crossed her arms.

“I don’t owe you money.”

Her eyes flashed with irritation.

“I don’t owe you anything.”

She took a step closer.

“So stop bothering me.”

Dylan watched her quietly.

“Clara,” he said gently.

“I don’t want your money.”

His calmness unsettled her.

“I just wanted to see you one last time before I leave your life forever.”

Clara blinked.

She hadn’t expected that.

“After today,” Dylan continued softly, “I promise I will never bother you again.”

Clara studied his face carefully.

Was he telling the truth?

Or was this another lie?

“Do you really mean that?” she asked cautiously.

“Yes,” Dylan said with a quiet sigh.

“I’ve realized my mistakes.”

He slowly opened his arms.

“Can I ask for one last hug?”

Clara hesitated.

Something about the situation felt wrong.

Her instincts told her to leave immediately.

But she also wanted this chapter of her life to finally end.

“Please,” Dylan whispered softly.

“Just one hug.”

Clara lowered her guard slightly.

“Fine,” she said quietly.

She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him briefly.

And then—

Everything exploded.

The apartment door suddenly burst open.

A loud crash echoed through the room as it slammed against the wall.

A wave of people rushed inside.

Camera flashes exploded everywhere.

Bright white lights blinded her vision.

Reporters shouted loudly, their voices overlapping in chaos.

Clara froze in shock.

Her mind struggled to understand what was happening.

She immediately pushed Dylan away.

But it was too late.

The cameras had already captured everything.

Every angle.

Every second.

Reporters surrounded her instantly.

“What is Matteo De Luca’s wife doing in Dylan’s house?”

“Is Dylan your boyfriend?”

“Are you betraying your husband?”

“How could you do this to Matteo De Luca?”

Clara turned slowly toward Dylan.

And saw the smug smile on his face.

Her heart dropped.

This had been his plan.

He had set her up.

“You planned this?” she whispered.

Her voice trembled with anger and disbelief.

Tears burned in her eyes.

“No, babe!” Dylan said loudly, pretending to protect her as he wrapped his arms around her again.

“Please!” he shouted toward the reporters.

“Stop taking photos of my girlfriend! Leave my house!”

Clara felt sick.

Girlfriend?

The lie made her blood boil.

She pushed him away with all her strength.

But the reporters were already closing in.

Microphones were pushed toward her face.

Cameras flashed endlessly.

“Let me go!” she shouted desperately.

But no one listened.

They surrounded her like a wall.

There was no escape.

Questions came from every direction.

“Why are you here?”

“Is your marriage fake?”

“Did you cheat on Matteo?”

Clara’s tears streamed down her face as panic filled her chest.

Her heart pounded wildly.

Her mind raced.

What would Matteo think when he saw this?

Would he believe her?

Or would he believe what the cameras showed?

And worse—

What if the truth about their contract marriage was exposed?

Everything would collapse.

His reputation.

His career.

Their entire arrangement.

Clara’s chest tightenedd painfully.

A terrifying thought filled her mind.

Matteo would never forgive her.

Not after this.