Chapter 40 The information she carried
THIRD PERSON’S POV.
“I was raised by a woman who taught me that respect was not optional,” Damian said calmly. “My mother taught me how to treat women with care, with dignity, and with love. I have never even raised my hand to a woman, and I would never in my life commit the act I’m being accused of.”
He paused, his jaw tightening. “The night the accuser is claiming I raped her, I was with Serena Gregory, not in hiding nor in shame, I was just loving my life. And I didn’t leave her sore until we parted ways in the morning.”
That was a lie, Serena thought. He had been absent for most of the night when he claimed he was intercepting a meeting between his board of directors, but she didn’t point that out.
The crowd began to murmur again some wondering why Damian was with Serena of all people while others wondered who Serena Gregory even was.
His voice lowered. “These lies have tried to take everything from me, my name, my family, my company, and the people I love. But I will not carry a crime I did not commit and I will not be silent to make things easier for enemies to win.”
When he didn’t speak again the reporters started raising their hands, throwing questions at him.
Serena's phone began to ring in her pocket. She saw Trisha's name and answered immediately.
“Trish where are you?” Serena whispered into the phone.
“Babe I need you to listen quietly, okay?” Trisha’s voice sounded strained over the phone.
Immediately, Serena began to panic, heart beating faster.
“Look, something’s come up,”‘Trisha continued,her breathing sounding haggard. “I had an accident, someone pushed my car over a hill.”
“What?” Serena half screamed, already making to leave.
“No,” Trisha said painfully but firmly. “You need to stay calm. I called so you wouldn’t panic about my absence.You need to focus, Serena, even if I’m not there, you have to carry on okay? This has to be done. Do you understand?”
“Don’t say that Trish” Serena whispered, tears slipping free. “I’m coming to you now, I’m coming to the hospital, okay?
“Not now. Finish with the press conference and then come meet me at the hospital and I’ll tell you everything. But first, you have to finish this task and every other task ahead. With or without me.”
No response.
“Rena, please say you understand.”
She swiped the lone tear from her eyes. “Yes Trish, I understand you completely.”
“Good, I love you Serena.” Trisha said it like she was saying goodbye.
“I love you too…” the call disconnected.
Serena patted her eyes dry.
When she finally looked up again, she saw Damian point at a lady in the front row wearing a tag that said ‘Channel 1 news network’ she stood and opened her notepad.
“Mr Damian,” she started, “how are we to believe that your alibi isn’t just a lie?”
“Because, Miss Channel One News, why would I lie about spending the night with my own fiancée?”
Fiancée.
The words echoed louder than the speakers could have carried, sending everyone who was tuned in into shock.
Another reporter stood up, “Are you saying that you and Miss Gregory are engaged?”
Damian smiled, “Why don’t you hear it straight from the source?”
He turned, staring straight at Serena as he called her to the stage.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Serena Gregory.”
She took a deep breath and stepped out from where she was standing. She tried to remember to put one leg in front of the other. The last thing she needed right now was to fall on national television.
Cameras flashed from all angles, reporters yelled out their questions hoping she would answer them all.
She got to the podium and intertwined her hand with Damian’s and smiled warmly at him. That’s what the media team had told her to do.
He offered her the mic.
“This has been a very rough time for Damian and me, from losing my grandfather to this ugly accusation that was made, but I want to assure all of you that these are all lies, spread by our enemies to try and bring us down.” She said everything in one breath, and with a convincing smile on her face.
“How long have you been engaged for?” Another reporter asked.
“We’ve been engaged for six months and married for two weeks but we decided to keep it a secret because I didn’t want outsiders involved in my personal life.”
Damian’s smile stiffened
Married?
That wasn’t part of the plan. They weren’t married yet, so why had she said that?
The questions from the reporters tripled, throwing decorum to the wind.
The questions multiplied, decorum dissolving instantly.
“Married?” one reporter yelled. “Are you saying you are now Mrs. Serena Gregory Crowne?”
Oscar stepped forward immediately.
“That’s all the questions we’ll be taking today. Any further inquiries will be addressed in our official press release. Enjoy the rest of your day.”
Security moved swiftly, ushering them away from the crowd and into the building.
“Married?” Damian didn’t wait for the doors to close before he attacked. “Why the hell will you tell them we’re married?”
“Because, someone just tried to kill Trisha,” Serena shot back, her voice shaking. “And I know it’s because they didn’t want you and me to go through with our marriage plans,”
Damiana's resolve softened, “Is she okay?”
“I think so, I'm going to the hospital to see her now.” serene replied.
“Look, I’m really sorry about Trisha, but I fear you may have ruined our plan, because they will soon figure out that we are not truly married. They might even discover that our engagement was just yesterday.”
“They won’t,” Serena insisted.
“You don’t know that.” He slightly raised his voice then stopped himself, breath uneven. The weight of everything happening was crushing him.
“We can get married today,” Serena said suddenly, “just arrange a priest to meet us at the hospital. When Trisha is stable she can stand as my witness and Oscar can be yours.”
“Our lawyers need to be present,” Damian said immediately.
“My lawyer can meet me there. That’s not a problem.”
“So can mine.” He said.
Serena nodded. “So It’s concluded then, we are getting married today.”
In response, Damian turned to Oscar. “Oscar, we are heading to the hospital, make the arrangements and meet us there.”
“Understood.” Oscar replied “I’ll see you shortly. ”
They exited through the back, heading for the garage. Minutes later, the car was speeding toward the hospital.
Across town, In the Gregory house, Clara stood frozen in her bedroom, Damian’s interview replaying on the screen.
She watched every second of it.
She finally understood what Serena had been planning, She had gone behind their backs and married Damian.
She was angry, filled with rage and jealousy but deep down she had some sort of joy.
Horace hadn’t seen the interview, and he was still in the dark about Serena’s marriage, this was her chance to redeem herself before her father.
She ran out of the room, walking purposefully to Horace’s study, the information she carried would change everything.