Chapter 76: CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX

CASEY pursed her lips and sighed afterward.

“It’s all over the news. What will my friends say?”

“That you are an enabler?”

“Cyrel.” Casey shot her a glare.

Cyrel sighed impatiently.

“You know what? If Dad can return the money he took, maybe Mr. King can reconsider. But I don’t think he would do that.”

“I’m not going to live in the streets!”

“Then work your ass out,” Cyrel said matter-of-factly.

“Why do you hate our parents so much?” Casey roared.

“Why are you turning a blind eye? Can’t give up your lifestyle?”

“You only have that courage to talk to your family like that because you’re married into a powerful family,” her sister mocked.

“You regret jilting your groom now, don’t you?”

Casey looked taken aback.

“I talk like this because I’m mad, not because I can buy the world now. Oh, gosh. Stop wasting my time, Casey. Accept the fact that our father is a criminal and our mother could go to jail as an accessory to his crime. You worry about living in the streets? Well, I worry about losing Mom. We’re not the same. And shame on you!” She stood up.

Casey stood up, too.

“Don’t do this to us, Cyrel. I beg you.”

“It’s not really up to me.”

Casey grabbed her hand.

“Cyrel,” she implored.

“I’m sorry,” Cyrel said without sounding apologetic at all.

She pulled her hand away and turned her back.

CYREL took a deep breath as soon as Dalton closed the backseat. Her chest felt heavy. The lawsuit against her dad would take away her peace for a long time. It was already publicized. The whole world literally knew about it already. Now Casey was also mad at her.

What should I do now? she asked herself. I only wanted to do the right thing. Why is it so hard to be a good person without hurting anyone?

Cyrel fished her phone inside her purse and called Ross. When he picked up, her lips began to tremble.

“Hey, what happened?”

“R-Ross… Can I see you now?”

“What happened?”

She sobbed and cleared her throat.

“I’ll tell you later,” she replied.

“All right. Tell me when you’re here, and I’ll meet you on the ground floor.”

“You don’t have to do that. You must be busy. I’ll just wait till you get off from work.”

“No. I’ll ask Dad for some time to have coffee with you. I’m sure he won’t mind.”

Cyrel could sense his smile.

“All right. We’re on our way.”

THE heavy feeling in her heart was replaced with excitement to see Ross. Maybe love should feel like that. Like, you get to be with the person you love every day and still miss them even if you were only a few hours apart. Every day, you just love to look forward to being with them at the end of the day.

Cyrel spotted Ross as soon as she stepped into the lobby. She waved at him. Ross smiled and practically ran to her.

“Hi.” Ross pulled her into a hug. “Everything okay?”

“Y-yes,” she replied, teary-eyed. “I’m okay now.”

But then people started to run toward them. Cameras were flashing, and microphones and phones were pointed at them.

Where the hell did these people come from?

Cyrel felt Ross tighten his grip on her.

“Mr. King, are you open to a settlement with your father-in-law, or are you determined to see each other in court?”

“Mr. King, is it true that your wife planned this with her father, and you wanted Mr. Byrne to take all the blame?”

Cyrel’s jaw dropped.

“What?” Ross glared at the reporter. “What did you just say? Do you want me to sue you for unjust vexation? Leave my wife out of this!”

“Mr. King, didn’t you get married to save Mrs. King’s family business from bankruptcy?”

“Is it true that you are on the verge of filing a divorce?”

What the hell were these people talking about? Where did they get all these rumors?

Moments later, Dalton appeared along with the security group of King Tech.

“Excuse me. You can’t do that here. Leave before we call the police.”

“Get out! Get out, all of you!”

“Mr. King, just a few words!”

“Mrs. King, are you on speaking terms with your family?”

“Let’s go, Cyrel,” Ross said when the security had successfully separated the reporters from them. Ross was now pulling her toward the elevator.

“Don’t listen to them,” Ross said.

“ARE YOU all right? Please say something,” Ross said.

Cyrel was sitting quietly in the conference room. She had not completely processed the incident that took place in the lobby. Now, reporters were eager to know what was going on with their lives. They were not even celebrities!

“I-I have no idea where they got all those stuff,” she said. “H-how could I conspire with my father? Do they know how he treated me? Do they know me? They know nothing!” She stood up hastily.

“I know, I know, Cyrel.” Ross caught her shoulders. “Don’t listen to them. I can sue them and ensure they never get near you again.”

“What else have they said about my family and me? All they knew was to spread gossip and never care to find the truth. That’s not fair, Ross!”

Ross nodded.

“I know, I know that. They were all lying. Don’t take them seriously.” He pulled her into his chest. “Don’t mind them. Don’t listen to them.”

“T-that’s not fair…”

Ross felt trembled against him as she began to cry.

He had not told her how hard it was for him to see her cry and suffer. Though he wanted to cry with her, he knew she needed his strength more than ever. He could not be vulnerable. Not right now. Not ever.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “It’s not your fault. You never wanted this marriage, anyway…” And the truth from his own mouth pierced through his own heart. “I wish I could take your pain away.” He closed his eyes and rested his cheek on her head.