Chapter 191

Chapter 191

Damian's POV

The office door slammed open. Olivia burst in like a storm. Her brows were tight, and her whole body looked tense.
She held her phone tightly. On the screen, a video played—Ethan's voice, raw and tearful, pouring out his version of the story.

"You've seen the news, right?" Olivia asked, her voice shook a little..

I glanced at the phone, then answered like it didn't matter. "Yeah. I saw it."

Olivia placed both hands on my desk and leaned in, panic sharpening her tone. "I don't care what you're working on. Drop it. Right now. Come with me to the press conference."

"Is it that urgent?" I set my pen down and tried to stay calm. But I heard her mutter under her breath.

"You might not care about your reputation, but I do," she said, voice tight. "I'm not taking the fall for something I didn't do."

Her eyes were red-rimmed. Lately, maybe because she was pregnant, her emotions had been unpredictable. It seemed like she could cry at any moment.

I covered the back of her hand with mine and gave it a light pat, forcing a small smile. "Don't worry. It'll be fine."

"How can I not worry?"

She pulled her hand away, and whether she meant to or not, she tucked it behind her back, as if she suddenly needed space from me.

She sniffed, then finally let it all spill out. "If this only affected me, I wouldn't care. But I'm carrying a baby. I don't want my kid to be born and have people calling them an illegitimate child."

As she spoke, her palm drifted to her stomach, protective and instinctive. I hadn't been in a rush before, but the sight of her like that twisted something in my chest.

Even if I didn't do it for myself, I had to do it for our child.

I stood and reached for her hand, guiding her toward the door.

We were almost there when she suddenly stopped and looked at me with confusion. "What are you doing?"

"Going to clear this up," I said, like it was obvious.

She took two small steps in front of me, glanced toward the hallway, then hesitated. "You go out first. I'll come out in a minute."

"What's wrong?"

A second ago, she was dragging me out of my chair. Now she didn't want to walk out with me. I couldn't understand her at all.

Olivia clasped her hands in front of her belly, her mouth opening like she wanted to say something but couldn't.

I gently lifted her chin so she had to look at me. "Talk. I don't play guessing games."

Her lips moved, then she let out a soundless sigh.

She pointed toward the door, resignation heavy in her voice. "It won't look good if they see us together."

"How is that not good?" I tightened my grip, just enough to make the point. "Our relationship is already out there. Let them see. Honestly, it'll save you from sneaking around every time you get into my car."

I looked straight into her eyes. "Now everyone knows. From now on, I'll wait for you right at your desk."

"No." She said quickly. That single word annoyed me.

I lifted her chin again, making her look at me. "Why not? We can't hide this anymore. Or are you planning to deny what's between us?"

No matter what she wanted, I wasn't giving her that option.

Olivia swallowed, then brushed my hand off her face. "I don't want them pointing at me."

I frowned, the frustration pressing at my temples. "Once we clear this up, no one's going to point at you. And this is my company. What exactly are you scared of?"

I knew she was stressed, so I tried to lighten the mood, even if it was a risk. "You're Mrs. Costello now."

Olivia stared at me, stunned, and the tips of her ears turned bright red.

I took her hand and walked her out anyway, right in front of everyone.

The moment the door shut behind us, people started whispering.

I turned to Olivia. Her head was bowed, and if someone didn't know her, they might've thought she was shy. But I knew better.

She was humiliated.

In the video, Ethan had been smooth, confident, telling his story like it was gospel while he painted my relationship with Olivia in dirty gray smears.

Everyone now believed Olivia had slept her way to the top. On the way out, no one dared say it to my face, but their eyes said everything. Sharp. Judging. Almost gleeful.

I looked at Olivia, her chin almost touching her chest, and let out a hard breath. "Don't let it get to you."

It was a useless thing to say. The only real answer was to tear Ethan's lie apart and clear our names.

The press conference was being held at the biggest media company in the city. Olivia and I made it there in half an hour.

Even outside the door, I could hear Ethan talking, his voice carrying through the room like he owned it.

I was about to tell Olivia to go home—this kind of scene could be too much—when she stepped up beside me and reached for the door.

Right before she pushed in, I asked her quietly, "You scared?"

Olivia looked up at me, steady as a blade. "Why would I be scared if I didn't do anything wrong?" She held up her phone. "And I've got proof he set me up."

When she'd come to my office earlier, she'd brought the test report the doctor had done back then.

Ethan probably had no idea that when Olivia learned the truth, she didn't just record what that doctor said—she kept her own medical report, too.

If he'd known, he wouldn't have acted this reckless.

The room went completely silent the moment we walked in, like someone had cut the power.

I stopped looking at Olivia and focused on Ethan.

He stood on the stage, still animated, still performing as he explained how he'd "discovered" Olivia and me were together.

The instant our eyes met, his expression froze. He blinked like he couldn't make sense of what he was seeing.

I gave him a fake cold smile, tightened my hold on Olivia's hand, and spoke calmly. "Mr. Smith. Hello."

It took Ethan a couple of seconds to recover. His gaze flicked away, fast and guilty, and it was obvious he was scared.

But with all those cameras and microphones aimed at him, he tried to look calm. "Hello, Mr. Costello. I honestly didn't expect you to come."

He really was surprised. He'd barely said my name at all. He'd built the entire story around Olivia's betrayal.

A reporter with quick instincts rushed over, shoving a mic so close it nearly brushed my chest. Nobody could resist a headline like this.

Ignoring my expression, he fired off the question. "Mr. Costello, is what Mr. Smith saying true?"

"Only you people would believe that," I said flatly.

Without letting go of Olivia, I led her straight to Ethan and set what I'd brought down on the table: the documents and a flash drive loaded with evidence.

Once everything was in place, I connected the drive and projected its contents onto the screen, zooming in until the details were impossible to miss.

When the reporters' faces shifted—surprise rippling through the room—I rested my hand on Olivia's shoulder and leaned close enough for only her to hear.

"Go on," I murmured. "Say it. Tell them what you went through. Tell them the truth."

Olivia looked at me, confused. She didn't speak, but I could read the question in her eyes.

I gave her a small nod. "This should come from you."