Chapter 6 A Grieving husband
Lucas POV
An hour before the appointed time for the press conference, I was getting ready to play my role as the grieving husband.
I wore a black suit and had a little makeup applied on my eyes to make them look puffy and tired, to give the impression that I have been crying.
“Wow brother, you look so.. Pitiful” Sasha said when she saw my eyes.
She was wearing a black gown and her eyes were slightly swollen with a few wet patches on her face.
“That's not makeup” I said with a frown when I noticed that her eyes were really wet with tears.
“Nope.. I wanted it to be as real as possible. I just have to think about something horrible, like not going shopping for a month and my tears will immediately start flowing” she said and more tears flowed down her face.
“That's enough now, save the tears for the cameras” I said as I stepped out of the villa.
We got into the car that was already prepared and headed to Luxton hotel.
Yes, I chose to use the same hotel where she was humiliated yesterday. We parted there, so it is also the best place to say my last goodbye.
The drive was smooth until we arrived at the hotel. A huge crowd of reporters blocked the way and the flashes from their cameras were blinding.
Brian got down to clear a path for us to drive into the hotel premises. As soon as I stepped out of the car, the reporters immediately rushed towards me but they were intercepted by the hotel security guards.
“Mr Black what do you have to say about your wife's death?”
“What are your plans to avenge her?
“Is it true that she cheated?”
Being held back didn't stop them from hurling questions at me but I answered none. That's what the press conference was for, so they just had to exercise some patience.
“Welcome Lucas” Bella's father walked up to me and gave me a polite handshake.
“Hello Mr Ricci” I replied during the handshake.
This was our first time meeting after breaking off the marriage contract. His wife and son were behind him, they had no emotions at all.
Unlike Sasha and I that put on a little effort to look sad and grieving, her mother was dressed extravagantly and had flawless make up.
“You didn't have to make it so obvious” I said while looking at her.
“I am going to be on television, of course I have to look my best. Why should I be dressed like a peasant all in the name of mourning.
She is dead and gone, so there is no need to put our lives on hold” she replied while frowning.
“Jenna, that's enough, I told you that you have to watch what you say here. There are people lurking around in search of information that can be used against us” Her husband immediately warned her.
“Come on brother, it's time” Sasha said and we all walked up to the podium and took our respective seats while the reporters all sat below the podium.
“Thank you all for honoring my invitation on such short notice” I said, ensuring my voice sounded as hoarse as possible.
“A terrible thing happened this morning that would forever traumatize me and my family.
My precious wife, Bella Ricci Moretti, left this world in a brutal and heartbreaking manner.
I should have stopped her…or.. Begged her” I made my voice tremble in the end and took off my glasses, so they could see my swollen eyes.
“Mr Moretti is heartbroken because of what happened, so please we have to make this fast so he can leave” Brian said and the reporters surged forward to ask their questions.
“ Mr Moretti, is it true that your wife had been cheating on you and you only found out yesterday?”
“Isn't it too coincidental that you found out about her cheating yesterday and today she is dead?”
“There were rumors that she and Miss Moretti aren't on good terms, how true is that?”
The reporters fired questions from different angles and I decided to randomly pick five to answer their questions.
“You can ask” I pointed at a male reporter and he immediately stepped forward.
“Sir, Yesterday was your wife's birthday and there were different videos circulating about how she cheated on you and you abandoned her at the party.
Did you see her after that? Did the both of you meet yesterday or this morning before she boarded the flight?” he asked and everyone's attention was on me.
“I was too devastated, heartbroken and upset after seeing the pictures, so I left to clear my head which I thought was the best approach.
If I had known that would be the last time I would see her, then I wouldn't have left her… Maybe she would have still been alive now and she wouldn't have boarded that plane”I replied with an emotional voice.
The best way to get these nosy reporters off your neck is to act like their questions have a strong impact on your emotions.
I pointed to the next reporter, an average height woman with a stern expression.
“ Sir, in the video that was posted, you seemed very certain that your wife really cheated, has there been prior incidence?”
“We were married for three years and in those three years, I have always put her first in everything I do. But a few months ago, I started noticing some changes in her behavior. She couldn't take calls around me anymore and refused to go out with her bodyguards. I still tried to be an understanding and loving husband until I saw those photos, then it all made sense” I responded calmly.
She stepped back for the next person to ask his question.
“My question is for the Ricci family” I breathed a sigh of relief when I heard this.
I was getting tired and slowly losing my patience with this question and answer session.
“Mr and Mrs Ricci, did your daughter return home last night? How come her passport was at your house instead of her husband's house. Were you aware of her affair?”
“No, we weren't aware of her affairs and as for the passport, she had brought it over and kept it in her room. She told us that she had a business meeting to attend abroad and dropped her things there, as our house is closer to the airport” Mr Ricci answered calmly. He didn't even take a few seconds to think about what he said.
I pointed to another reporter and decided that she would be the last as I was already tired of acting.
“My question is for Miss Moretti” she said while looking at Sasha.
“I heard that your relationship with your late sister in law was not good. How did you feel when you heard about her death?”
“After the whole cheating scandal was exposed last night, I couldn't believe it because I didn't expect her to ever cheat on my brother because of how much he doted on her.
I spent the entire night crying at home, wishing all of it was just a huge dream… But who would have thought that… That… she would..” Sasha burst into tears and I must admit that she deserves an Oscar.
I was about to round up the press conference when the huge screen on the side, the same one that had displayed Bella's pictures last night, suddenly lit up.
Followed by the sound of loud music and then Sasha was seen in the video dancing wildly and seemed to be intoxicated as well.
“Finally, we got rid of that bitch!”
“Today is one of the best days of my life!”
“Fuck you Bella… You are fucking done for!”
Sasha’s shouts and insults were clearly heard by everyone present and the reporters immediately went wild and rushed forward.