Chapter 138 CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-EIGHT: END OF GAME.

Chapter 138 CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-EIGHT: END OF GAME.
AIDEN
Zara and I found our way to the bar at the back of the hall. They had gone all out with their plans. It seemed like they were betting all they had on it without the thought of whether or not it might fail. 
“I will have a Paloma, please…” Zara tapped her finger rapidly on the bar counter. She turned to me with a smile. 
“Remember the first night we met…” 
“That you jumped me without a single thought to it?” I asked teasingly. She clamped her hand on my face and shot me a deathly look. 
“I didn't jump you," she said slowly, letting go. 
“I think you were in love with me from the start. You just don't know how to express it." 
“I thought you looked like a god… if I had known your ego was bigger than your head, then I would have let you go." 
“I would have clung on," I whispered. 
“I can't believe you have been flirting in a situation like that." 
“I just wanted to put on a show for you, to make you see how cool your husband is… If not, I would have shut this down from the start. 
She smiled, and I felt alive. It felt like it was definitely worth every effort from the start. A static noise echoed through the room, and Mr Velaren took the stage to begin his speech.
He begins talking about legacy and whatnot. Everything he had to do for the company to be where it is today. The only problem with that speech was how he failed to mention all the wrong things he did to get there. 
Silas walked into the room and found us at the bar. 
“Is everything ready?” I asked slowly, turning to him. He nodded. Zara was quietly taking a sip of her drink as she watched the man on stage go on and on about his company. 
“I have gathered everyone here today to celebrate the most important thing that can ever happen, and that is the engagement of my daughter Lysandra Velaren," he gestured to her. 
She walked in front of the camera flashes as she walked up to the stage. Her father helped her up, and she smiled, waving like this was some kind of fashion show. 
“And we have been lucky to have this promise of engagement since…” 
I didn't allow him to finish that statement when I signalled to Silas. He pushed a button, and the screen behind them flickered from the Velaren logo to a compilation of ledgers. 
I allowed the slideshow to go on for a while. Mr Velaren was no longer smiling broadly as he had just signed a multi-million-dollar deal. 
His face was flushed, with his brow knitted in panic. Cold sweat was outlining the tips of his brows and his lips. He was wiping a burr that was not going to make any of this go away. 
Lysandra's head was spinning from side to side as she tried to stop it. "Turn it off!" she was crying and screaming as she marched to the screen, trying to stop it from going on. 
I smiled because I had them right where I wanted them. Their reaction was enough to make it real, even if it was a lie. I moved closer to the stage after allowing the media to get shots of the screen. 
The same media they had bought as a weapon to coerce me into a written agreement for marriage was now the same one that would report on their downfall before the morning sun. 
“You did this," Lysandra's shaky voice welcomed me when I stood right beside her. I shook my head slowly and pointed to her chest. 
Her hand trailed back to her as she pointed to her face. Her head snapped up at me. “Are you saying…" 
“You did this," I cut her off. “You brought this on yourself." 
“Aiden, you are so cruel," she laughed bitterly. “I waited for you. Years upon years, months upon months, and you led me on because I was an easy target…” she trailed off. I still couldn't shake off the feeling that I had somehow failed her. 
She let out a nervous chuckle and spat. "And the first moment you got, you ditched me for her." She pointed at Zara in the crowd while still staring at me like a culprit.
Everything I had done in the past was all because my father thought it was best for me to be in her good books. He was forcing me to play the gentleman role, and no, it had all backfired. 
“I am sorry if it seemed that way, but I was always clear. I only saw us as friends," I muttered. "It's not my fault you thought there was more to it." 
She laughed and threw her head back. She looked at me, and every negative emotion flashed through the pupils of her eyes. "You'll pay for this," she whispered. 
I turned to the media. I was trying to ignore the bright flashes. My eyes travelled through the crowd and rested on Zara. Her gaze was on me, strong, rounded eyes. 
That was the reason I was going through all of this. I had to prove to her that I was not a puppet who could be controlled. I wanted to be a man enough to be able to stand by her side for the rest of our lives. 
“Mr Knight, are you going to address the rumours concerning the merger and marriage announcement?” a reporter asked, cutting off the fluttering of the cameras. 
The room fell silent. I didn't speak immediately; I was trying to let the suspense build so it was all worth it. 
“The merger was a lie. As you can tell from the Velaren books, the Knight family would never jump on a sinking ship." 
“Are you calling off the engagement?” 
“There was never an engagement to begin," I said. “I am already married to the love of my life…”
“Was your marriage to Zara Crawford also an attempt to enter into a merger with…” 
“Of course not." Zara’s voice from the back of the hall was loud enough. She held the side of her dress as she walked up to me. 
“It was and is true love." She stood beside me. I couldn't stop myself from taking her hand. 
“The only reason we didn't shut down the rumours was that it was a good time to take out the bad eggs from the system and show the world that businessmen aren't all bad people." 
“You framed me," Lysandra chuckled bitterly. 
“I didn't frame you, Lysnadra." 
Her father had barely uttered a word. He stood still at the back, speechless as he struggled with the hem of his suit. 
"Actions have consequences, remember," Zara said. “You are an adult; surely you remember that." 
“You can't do this," she suddenly screamed, charging at us. “You can't do this to me…I… we…” 
“The only reason I won't press charges for defamation and slander is that you have too much already on your plate, and for old times' sake, I want to make sure you can stand on your feet again." 
I signalled to Silas. He moved, and soon two men stepped in. They looked like the FBI you'd see in movies. They moved to the stage and turned to Mr Velaren. 
“Mr Velarne, we have a warrant for your arrest. You'd have to come with us." 
The second one moved to Lysandra, who was already trying to get off the stage. “You too, Ms Velaren." 
I watched as they were both led out of the hall. The party had died down, and everyone was out of their seats faster than they had filled the place. 
Zzara held my hand and pulled me closer with a smile on her face. “You did so well today." She patted the top of my hand. 
I took a long sigh and nodded. "It's finally over, isn't it?” 
"It's over," she nodded. 
I pulled her into a hug. I sank my nose in her hair, hoping to take in all of her scent. “It was finally over."