Chapter 73 Abandoned by My Wife
The entire banquet hall fell so silent you could hear a pin drop. The recording kept playing from the big screen.
The woman's voice was sweet yet cutting, highly distinctive.
It was unmistakably Grace herself.
What made it worse was that tonight's launch event—to boost credibility, Baker Corporation had invited almost exclusively well-known media outlets.
And somewhere in the crowd, some news agency had actually started a live stream!
Seeing juicy gossip, the comments exploded!
"Did I hear that right? The white moonlight asking the legal wife to design wedding rings for her and the husband?"
"What kind of next-level two-faced move is this? Miss Johnson is so pitiful—she's the actual wife! What's Grace doing jumping around like this?"
"People were calling Emily a homewrecker online before. Does their face hurt now?"
"Mr. Baker must have bad taste, treasuring someone like this as his white moonlight? Feel bad for Miss Johnson for three seconds..."
After the deathly silence, an even bigger commotion erupted!
The reporters pushed forward like crazy, practically shoving cameras in Grace's face.
Their questions were sharp: "Miss Miller, what were you thinking and in what capacity did you say those things?"
"Who paid that 3 million? Did Mr. Baker know about it?"
"Was this staged by yourself, or did Mr. Baker knowingly make promises to you before his divorce?"
Grace stood frozen on stage, the color draining completely from her face.
How... how could this happen?
That bitch Emily actually recorded it!
Grace's previously pitiful demeanor now seemed somewhat stiff.
She couldn't squeeze out tears anymore even if she tried. Instead, she was filled with sheer panic.
This recording was enough to ruin her reputation. Wouldn't marrying into the Baker family be even harder now?
"No... that's not me!" Grace snapped back to reality and quickly pointed to the side. "This is fake! Miss Johnson, what did I ever do to you? You'd go so far as to forge a recording to frame me! Right, they can do voice synthesis now. Did you steal my voice? Miss Johnson... I really had no other intentions. Why are you accusing me?"
Grace fired off several questions, each one seemingly heartbroken.
Then, without waiting for Emily to speak, she clutched her belly, looking aggrieved: "Alex... you know me. Please say something for me."
Usually, whenever she showed this wronged expression, Alex would soften and protect her, unconditionally taking her side.
But this time, Alex didn't move an inch.
His gaze was locked on her face, his eyes so terrifying it seemed like he could see right through her.
It made Grace's heart race. She forced out a smile: "Alex?"
Alex's brow furrowed.
His gaze moved past Grace and landed on Emily.
She stood under the spotlight, facing multiple media outlets without the slightest panic.
She didn't show even a hint of emotional disturbance?
When was this recording made?
Why didn't she tell him, just silently enduring the grievance?
Suddenly, Alex pressed his lips together.
No, she had told him.
During their three years of marriage, Emily had brought it up to him many times, gently and sadly.
But he had ignored her every single time, repeatedly favoring Grace instead.
"Alex..."
"Enough!" Alex said. "Whether it was you or not, you know in your heart."
With that simple statement, Alex sealed Grace's fate.
Grace's face went pale. She couldn't say another word.
He... he actually believed the recording!
Nearby offstage, Andrew's face was stern as he signaled to his assistant.
The assistant quickly went on stage to control the situation: "Please everyone, calm down! Next, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Baker will officially announce the collaboration between our two companies, and this launch event..."
On stage, the microphone volume was adjusted perfectly.
Emily's expression remained calm throughout.
She cooperated through all the procedures, her tone official and distant, without any personal emotion.
She was cooperating not for Alex, and certainly not for this ridiculous farce.
She just didn't want these rumors to affect Johnson Corporation's stock price or worry her father.
Half an hour later.
All official statements had been read, and reporters' questions had been answered one by one.
Emily nodded slightly, politely wrapping up: "That's all I have to say. Follow-up matters will be addressed by both companies in a unified response."
As soon as she finished speaking, without waiting for anyone to stop her, she turned and walked off stage.
Originally standing together, she quickly left the stage while Alex was left behind. At first glance, it looked like he'd been abandoned.
The reporters' eyes lit up as they quickly pressed their shutters.
The moment they captured it, they'd already thought of the headline!
"Mr. Baker's Marriage in Shambles, Suspected of Being Abandoned by Mrs. Baker—Can This Marriage Be Saved?"
Total bombshell material!
And others in the circle were gossiping even more.
Andrew stepped forward to smooth things over. This launch event was only halfway through.
At this moment, Alex was shrouded in gloom.
She just left like that?
She didn't have a single word to say to him?
Various emotions intertwined in his heart, almost drowning him.
He was clearly standing by her side, yet she wouldn't even give him a chance to get close.
Emily didn't want to be cornered or deal with anyone else.
She walked up to Andrew: "Dad, I'm going to get some air in the back. Just call me when we're leaving."
"Okay." Andrew glanced in that direction.
Then she left directly through the side door, going alone to the back garden for air. The air was better there, without perfume smells, and far from the banquet hall's noise and flashbulbs.
When Emily pushed open the door to the back garden, she slowly let out a breath, her tense nerves finally relaxing.
"Hm? This is..."
However, as soon as she looked up, she froze slightly. The entire back garden was planted with precious flowers.
Many were imported from abroad, rare varieties you couldn't easily find on the market.
Clusters of them, blooming vibrantly.
She remembered... this back garden used to be abandoned.
Even the old swing had been restored. It looked... oddly warm somehow?
Emily walked forward a couple of steps, her fingertips lightly brushing the petals.
These flowers must have been carefully tended.
She frowned slightly, somewhat surprised.
This launch event was just a hastily arranged dinner to clarify controversies.
Who would go to such lengths to arrange such an elaborate garden of precious flowers?
"Do you like it?"
Suddenly, a voice came from behind her.
Caught off guard, it startled her.
Emily turned around.
Alex had appeared behind her at some point.
Emily was impatient: "What are you doing here?"