Chapter 39 A Careful Choice
The room took a few moments to settle after Adeline finished speaking, but even as the noise died down, the tension in the air only seemed to grow worse. The reporters leaned forward in their seats, their eyes fixed on the two figures standing at the podium like they were watching something unfold in real time. There was a sense of anticipation in the room, an understanding that the real story was only just beginning and that the next few minutes would determine exactly how this situation would be perceived by the world outside those walls.
Julian stepped forward slightly, his posture relaxed but controlled, as though he had done this a hundred times before. He glanced across the room with an ease that made it seem like the flashing cameras and curious eyes didn’t bother him in the slightest. His presence carried confidence, and when he leaned slightly toward the microphone, his voice came out steady and clear, cutting through the lingering noise with ease as he gave them permission to begin.
“You can go ahead with your questions,” he said simply, and that was all it took for the room to come alive again.
Several hands shot up at once, and voices overlapped as different reporters tried to get his attention. It took a moment before the noise settled into something more controlled, and then one voice managed to rise above the rest. A female reporter stood up, holding her microphone firmly, her expression focused and direct as she prepared to ask the question that had clearly been on her mind.
“Mr. Hale, Miss Carter,” she began, her tone professional but sharp, “are you really as in love as you claim to be?” The question alone was enough to quiet the room again, but she didn’t stop there. “There have been speculations that this marriage is nothing more than an act of convenience. Some people believe that this is simply a strategic move to create the appearance of an alliance between your families, one that doesn’t truly exist.”
The seriousness of her words hung in the air, and for a brief moment, all eyes were on Julian and Adeline, waiting to see how they would respond. It was exactly the kind of question they had both expected, the kind designed to expose cracks if there were any. Julian, however, didn’t look even slightly thrown off. If anything, there was a small, knowing look in his eyes, like he had already prepared for this exact moment.
He stepped forward just enough to take control of the response, his expression calm as he nodded slightly, acknowledging the question before answering it. “That’s a fair question,” he said, his voice steady and measured, giving the impression that he wasn’t trying to dodge anything. He let his gaze move across the room briefly, taking in the audience before continuing. “But the answer is actually very simple. We’re just two people who are in love.”
There was no hesitation in the way he said it, no pause that might suggest doubt. He continued speaking with the same level tone, explaining that he and Adeline had known each other for years, long enough to understand one another beyond what most people could see from the outside. He mentioned that what had kept them apart all this time wasn’t a lack of feeling, but the complicated history between their families, something that had made it difficult for them to act on what they felt. As he spoke, the reporters typed quickly, capturing every word, and the atmosphere in the room shifted into something more focused.
Julian went on to explain that at some point, they had both realized that holding back no longer made sense, that continuing to ignore what they felt was only making things harder. He spoke about choosing to stop pretending, about deciding to live honestly rather than quietly stepping around a situation that had already lasted too long. He also touched on the issue of their families, saying that while the past between them had been difficult, it didn’t mean the future had to be the same. He expressed confidence that things could change, that both sides could find a way to come together again, and that their relationship might even be the reason that happened.
When he finished, the room filled with the soft sound of typing once again, and Adeline remained silent beside him, her expression calm as she let his words settle. She didn’t feel the need to add anything. His answer had been exactly what they needed, and it had been delivered in a way that sounded convincing enough to make people believe it.
Another reporter stood up almost immediately, this time directing her question straight at Adeline. Her tone was just as firm, and it was clear that she had no intention of holding back. “Miss Carter,” she began, “what do you have to say to those who believe that you treated your husband, Patrick Sterling, unfairly?”
The question drew attention instantly, and the room grew quieter again as she continued. “Many people feel that you went too far, especially by publicly announcing your relationship with Mr. Hale before addressing your marriage. Some have described your actions as humiliating for Mr. Sterling.”
Adeline didn’t flinch at the question. She had expected it, and she knew this was only the beginning of more difficult ones to come. Instead of reacting emotionally, she stepped forward slightly, her posture straight and her expression composed as she faced the room. Her voice, when she spoke, was calm and steady, carrying just enough weight to make people listen closely.
“I understand why people would see it that way,” she began, acknowledging the perspective without dismissing it. “But the reality of my marriage is very different from what most people assume.” She paused briefly, giving the reporters a moment to focus before continuing. “My marriage to Patrick was arranged from the very beginning. It was never based on love, and it was never something I chose for myself.”
The room grew even quieter as she spoke, and she continued without rushing, explaining that the relationship had always been more of an agreement than a real marriage. She described how they had lived together for years without forming any real emotional connection, how it had felt more like sharing a space with someone rather than building a life together. Her tone remained neutral, not bitter, not overly emotional, just honest enough to sound believable.
“Patrick was never someone I loved,” she said clearly. “And I was never someone he loved either.” She added that for a long time, she had tried to accept that reality, to live within the expectations placed on her without questioning them too much. She explained how she had convinced herself that it was enough, that it was what she was supposed to do, even if it didn’t feel right.
There was a slight pause before she continued, her voice softening just enough to add depth to her words. She said that eventually, she realized that living that way wasn’t truly living at all and that she couldn’t keep pretending forever. As she spoke, she turned her head briefly to look at Julian, her expression shifting just enough to suggest something deeper before she looked back at the reporters again.
“For years, I tried to ignore what I felt,” she said, her tone steady. “But at some point, I made the decision to stop living a lie.” She explained that she didn’t want to continue in a marriage that had no meaning for her and that she no longer wanted to let anyone else decide who she could or couldn’t be with.
She acknowledged that the way everything had happened might have seemed sudden or even harsh, but she didn’t back away from it. Instead, she made it clear that the situation was not what people believed it to be. “There was no real relationship there to damage,” she said, her voice firm now. “Patrick and I were never in a position where we could hurt each other in that way, because there was nothing real between us to begin with.”
She went on to explain that her decision to go public with her relationship with Julian before announcing the divorce had been intentional, not careless. It had been her choice, something she did because she wanted to be honest about her life for the first time in a long while. She admitted that it might not have been handled in the way people expected, but she stood by it anyway.
“I was tired of pretending,” she said finally, her voice calm but resolute. “And for once, I chose to do something for myself.”
When she stepped back, the room remained quiet for a moment, her words settling over the crowd before the sound of typing began again, faster and more intense than before.