Chapter 82: A Scandal in Public.

The morning began calmly. While Alexander drank his coffee and read the news on his iPad, Sophia sat in the bright living room nursing their infant. The day was meant to be routine until his expression became gloomy.

Sophia saw right away. "What's the matter?"

At first, Alexander remained silent. His jaw was set in a rigid line as he tightened his hold on the tablet. Then he swiveled the screen in her direction.

Her heart fell.

"The dark secrets that Alexander Blackwood conceals are revealed."

Paragraphs of charges, including information about his history, his brutal business methods, and even private affairs that had no business being made public, were hidden behind the audacious title. And a photo of him standing next to an unfamiliar guy from years ago at the bottom.

"Thornton is to blame for this," Alexander said in a dangerously composed tone.

Sophia's gut twisted as she read the piece. "They're portraying you as a monster."

Her gaze locked with Alexander's. "That's precisely what they desire."

Hours later, the word got out. Reporters descended to Blackwood Enterprises, seeking comments as social media erupted and news outlets picked it up.

When Sophia entered the foundation, her employees murmured to her. Their gazes weighed heavily on her. Even her best friend Olivia was hesitant to comment.

At last, Olivia replied, "This is bad, Sophia." "A few investors are reevaluating their investments. They fear the negative reaction.

Sophia rounded her shoulders. "What people say doesn't matter to me. There is nothing wrong with Alexander.

But she knew in her heart that it wasn't that easy. It was perception.

Thornton had also done a good job with his cards.

Alexander wasn't spending any time back at his office. Although he was aware that words alone would not be enough, his legal staff was already drafting a rebuttal.

He told his players, "We need to hit back harder." "Learn how Thornton obtained this knowledge. Who made the leak?

His head of security gave him the assurance that "we're working on it." "But there's another thing."

Alexander's eyes narrowed. "What?"

The guy paused. "They are now investigating Sophia. Anything they can use against her is what they're searching for.

Alexander's chest erupted with rage. "They're not going to touch her."

Reaching for his phone, he called Sophia.

"Alexander?" She responded right away.

"You must return home," he replied. "Now."

Sophia failed to see the car parked across the street as she rushed out of the foundation.

A guy with a phone inside watched her.

"She's heading out now," he said.

The person on the other line laughed. "All right. Time to move on to the next phase.

As she drove back to the mansion, Sophia clutched the steering wheel, her heart pounding. Alexander's words weighed heavily on her chest.

They will target you next.

Questions raced through her head. What may they discover about her? She believed she had nothing to conceal.

Then she recalled.

Jacob.

Would they use him to rewrite her past? Would they portray her as dishonest, as if she had swindled her way into Alexander's life?

Her stomach turned at the notion.

She couldn't get rid of the sensation that someone was watching her as she drew into the long driveway. She glanced in her rearview mirror. For the last five minutes, the same black SUV had been following her.

Is it a coincidence?

Not in her opinion.

Sophia stepped up her pressure on the throttle pedal to see if they would follow. Her movements were mimicked by the SUV.

Her heart struck her ribs hard.

She took a sudden right along a side road that led to the security station close to the estate's gate rather than driving directly to the house.

The SUV drove by as soon as she did, obviously no longer following her.

Simply being paranoid or a caution?

She took a trembling breath and turned back to the house, desperate for Alexander's protection.

Alexander was outside, standing close to the door, when she got there. She could see by the stiffness in his posture that he was having a hard time controlling his rage.

He drew her into a close hug as soon as she got out of the vehicle.

"I dislike you driving by yourself at the moment," he whispered into her hair.

She took a little step back. "Alexander, I believe I was being followed."

His whole body tensed. "Explain the vehicle."

"Black SUV. windows with tints. For a time, they followed me, but they continued when I altered my course.

Alexander faced one of his guards. Examine the street cameras' security video. Who precisely was in the car? This is what I want to know.

The guard gave a nod and hurried away.

Sophia made contact with Alexander's arm. "Your reputation isn't the only thing at stake, is it?"

He clenched his jaw. "No. Control is at issue here. Thornton wants me to be preoccupied. After his first effort failed, he is now pursuing you as part of a long-term strategy.

She balled her fingers into fists. "Give him a chance."

Sophia's phone rang with a notice that night when she was rocking their baby to sleep in the nursery.

Olivia had sent a message.

Look at the news. Right now.

She opened the news app on her phone after unlocking it, feeling a sense of dread.

Her throat tightened each breath.

The most recent headline said:

SOPHIA BLACKWOOD: WHO IS SHE? The unreviewed history of a billionaire's spouse

Beneath it was a sensationalized piece that revealed facts of her past connection with Jacob. They portrayed her as someone who often betrayed men, implying that her relationship with Alexander was only another shrewd ploy.

Sophia's hands shook.

Everything was perverted by them. gave the impression that she abandoned Jacob for Alexander out of avarice.

What's the worst? They suggested that she and Jacob were still in communication.

She had a lump in her throat.

To drive a chasm between her and Alexander and for the public to doubt their love was just what Thornton wanted to do.

Sophia's heart broke as she gazed down at her sleeping infant.

She had put a lot of effort into letting go of the past and establishing a genuine relationship with Alexander.

The world was now attempting to tear it all to pieces.

Sophia didn't think twice. With her phone in hand, she barged into Alexander's study.

His face was already set in stone as he gazed at his own screen.

She said in a strained voice, "You saw it?"

He gave a nod. "Yes, I did."

"Alexander, you are aware that this is untrue, ?" Her tone faltered a little.

He looked at her sharply. "I do, of course."

She felt a wave of relief, but it was fleeting as he said, "That doesn't mean we don't respond."

She took a deep breath. "How can we combat this?"

Alexander stood with a strong presence. "We completely shut them down."

His eyes were black with intensity, and his voice was steel.

He said, "They believed they could destroy us." "We destroy them now."

Sophia gave a nod. "I'd like to assist."

His mouth twisted a little. "That was what I was expecting."

Sophia saw a change in herself as he grabbed for his phone, ready to launch his counterattack.

She had changed from being the lady standing next to Alexander.

She was battling for their family .

And she refused to allow anybody to take it away from her.

In the meantime, Thornton was sitting in his office across the city, smirking as he swirled a glass of whiskey.

He was given a folder by a guy who came into the room.

"Everything is set up," the guy said. "However, they are already retaliating."