Chapter 35 - The Other Woman’s Truth

Chapter 35 - The Other Woman’s Truth


The air in the conference hall shifted the moment Isla’s heels clicked against the polished floor. The crowd of reporters parted for her like she was royalty—or perhaps more accurately, like a predator among prey. Cameras whirred, microphones thrust forward.

Damian stiffened beside Serena, his hand instinctively tightening around hers. His body radiated fury, but Isla only smiled, basking in the spectacle she’d orchestrated.

“Hello, everyone,” she purred, her voice carrying effortlessly across the room. “I’m Isla Moreau. I’m sure most of you already know me.”

The reporters surged closer, hungry for the drama. Serena’s chest constricted as Isla sauntered to the front, her red dress blazing under the lights, her expression carved with confidence.

Damian growled, low and dangerous. “This isn’t your stage, Isla.”

“Isn’t it?” She flicked her hair over her shoulder, her gaze sweeping over the crowd. “Because from where I’m standing, Damian, it seems the world is a lot more interested in my version of events than whatever fairytale you’re trying to spin.”

The microphones crackled with shouted questions:

“Isla, were you and Damian together before Serena?”

“Did Damian cheat on you with her?”

“Are you saying the marriage is fake?”

Isla held up a manicured hand, silencing them like a queen granting an audience. Then she leaned into the nearest microphone.

“Here’s the truth,” she said, her tone sweet but sharpened to a knife’s edge. “Damian and I were engaged. Everyone knew it. The board, his family, even the press. We had plans—real plans—for the future. And then…”

Her eyes cut to Serena like a dagger. “She came along. The waitress. The charity case. And suddenly, Damian’s loyalty vanished.”

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Cameras flashed like lightning.

Serena’s stomach turned to ice.

“That’s a lie,” she whispered, but her voice drowned in the sea of noise.

Damian stepped forward, his voice booming. “Enough. Isla, you and I were never—”

“Don’t you dare!” Isla snapped, her composure cracking for just a second before she smoothed it over with a smile. “Tell me, Damian, do you want me to show them the photos? The messages? The engagement announcement you never denied?”

The crowd erupted again, reporters shouting over one another.

“Photos? Messages? Do you have proof, Isla?”

“Damian, were you living a double life?”

“Serena, how long have you known?”

Serena’s legs trembled. It didn’t matter that Isla was twisting reality, that the truth was darker, messier. What mattered was that the cameras believed her.

“Damian,” Serena whispered, clutching his hand, “she’ll destroy us.”

He looked at her, his jaw tight, his eyes dark with the weight of every choice he’d made. Then he turned back to Isla.

“You always knew what we had was nothing more than a business arrangement,” he said coldly. “There was no love. No future. And you damn well know it.”

The room fell silent, every ear straining to catch the venom in his words. Isla blinked, her mask slipping just slightly, before she let out a brittle laugh.

“Business arrangement?” she echoed. “Funny, that sounds familiar.”

Her gaze slid to Serena, gleaming with malice. “Isn’t that exactly what you two started as? A transaction? A contract? A marriage built on lies?”

The crowd gasped. Serena’s heart lurched.

Damian froze.

And in that frozen heartbeat, Isla pulled out her trump card. She held up a folder, thick with documents, her smile triumphant.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you—proof. Proof that this so-called marriage was nothing more than a deal. Proof that Serena Hayes Wolfe was paid to play the part of Damian’s loving wife. Proof of deception at the highest level.”

She slammed the folder onto the podium. Reporters surged forward like sharks scenting blood.

“No—” Serena gasped, her pulse thundering in her ears.

Damian shoved forward, grabbing the folder before they could. But Isla’s voice rose over the chaos, cutting like glass.

“You can rip it out of their hands, Damian, but you can’t erase the truth. Your empire is built on lies, and now everyone will see it crumble.”

The room exploded into chaos. Questions hurled, cameras flashed, the crowd pressed closer.

Serena’s head spun. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. All she could hear was Isla’s voice echoing: Paid. Lies. Proof.

Her fingers clawed at Damian’s sleeve. “What is she talking about? Damian… what did you do?”

He didn’t answer. His eyes were locked on Isla, his expression murderous.

And that silence—his silence—was the most terrifying sound Serena had ever heard.

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