Chapter 233

Chapter 233
QUEENIE’S POV
I sat motionless on the edge of the couch and stared at the television in a daze. Although the sound had long been muted, I could still hear Michael words echoing around my mind.
He told the whole world that I am a gold digger and master manipulator!
What in heaven’s name did I to deserve all these?
I could see his smug face on the screen.
The news stations had replayed the interview all afternoon. It was like a wrecking ball on loop, and every second of it created cracks in my wall of resolve.
To hell with the news stations. Don’t you guys have more pressing events to report? Go on. Profit off the smear campaign and get viewers ratings up!
I haven’t heard from Amelia. Of course, what could she say? There was nothing left to say. What could anyone say?
“He is a monster. He’s also smart.  He knew what would do the maximum damage and he went for it. He came for your credibility, your motherhood, your sanity.” My head replayed what Amelia had said earlier over the phone.
I didn’t argue. There wasn’t any argument to be had there.  It felt like I was drowning. Drowning didn’t quite fit, this was slower than drowning. And from the look of things, I don’t think it was going to be over any time soon.
I finally stood and wandered around  the room like a ghost. 
My eyes fell on Junie toys on the counter. They held my gaze for a long time before I turned away. It only made the knot in my chest tighter.
How do I protect Junie from this?
Last few weeks had shown me what a normal life could look like. There was laughter, joy bliss and lots of love. The kind of life that Junie deserved to grow up in. A life that I thought was beyond me. Slowly, I had let myself began to believe that it was still within reach. 
I was coming up with a blueprint for my clinic, looking at wall colors and various equipment I could get. Silly me! I even went as far as creating a mission statement.
I was a fool. For believing that winning the court case will be the end of it.
Just look at what’s happening now. 
I’m the trending news headline.
Manipulative Woman Uses Adopted Daughter to Trap Millionaire Fiancé.
The article sounded casual like a gossip but the damage was anything but. Each line contained irreparable damage.
It didn’t end at the interview. That was just the catalyst. It birthed a storm of follow-up stories from various  anonymous “sources,” and a lot of  fake concern that masqueraded as speculation. 
People who didn’t know the first thing about me suddenly had opinions and slated me. They air their unsolicited and ill-formed  opinion anyhow and anywhere they could.
I was being judged in public. Nobody even waited to hear my side of the story.
By the time Anton came through the home, it was dark. I hadn’t turned on any lights. I deliberately left all the lights turned off. I felt like the light would judge me too.
He didn’t say anything at first. He just walked in, calm but tense. I wonder what went through his mind when he  saw me lying in the armchair like someone carved  out of marble.
I saw him calmly walked over and  pulled me to my feet. His arms wrapped around me instantly.
I didn’t even hesitate. I was drowning badly. I surrendered to him.
“I’ve got you,” I heard him whisper in slow low voice that anchor me. “I’ve got you. I’m here.”
My tears started slowly. He held me  and told to fight the tears. That I shouldn’t give Michael the joy of breaking me.  He said I have endured worse than this. 
I nodded limply and managed to rein in the flood that was about to flow from my eyes.
When I finally calmed myself enough to speak,  my voice was hoarse. “It feels like I’m losing everything all over again.”
“You’re not,” Anton had said as he  brushed away hair from my face. “He’s not winning.”
“He already did,” I murmured. “He rewrote the story. I have become nothing but a foot mat in my own damn life.”
Anton stepped back, just enough to hold my face in his hands. He searched my eyes as he said, “Listen to me. We control the ending. Not him.”
I met his eyes. “You sound so sure.”
“I am,” he said. “ I’ve been the villain in someone else’s story too. I’ve survived the headlines. I made mistakes that the world tried to shove down my throat but I’m still here. And so are you. That’s how I know you will get through this. You’re not broken. You’re just pissed off.”
I smiled in spite of myself. I didn’t expect that. “ That has got to be the understatement of the century.”
“We’re not going to turn the other cheek,” he continued. “PR is already working overtime. They were able to come up with the a basic plan for a counter strike. Damian using his media contacts has lined up news stations for counter-interviews. My lawyers are going to throw numerous law suits against Michael, he’s  going to wish he never learned how to spell your name.”
He stopped and gaze into my eyes before he continued.
“ I’ve hired a private investigation consultant to investigate his affairs during his time in Ghana. If he bribed  officials, coerced anyone, or even avoiding paying a parking ticket, we’re going to use it.”
I blinked in surprise.  I wasn’t expecting any action from him at all. Yet he had formulated and carried a battle plan under how many hours?
I wouldn’t want to be on his bad side. My God!
“You did all that… already?”
“I told you I’ve got you,” Anton said simply.
I shook my head. I was still overwhelmed. “I appreciate your efforts but I don’t see any good that’s going to do. My license is still suspended. My reputation is all but shot. Who’s going to want to open a clinic with me? Which parent is going to trust me with their kid?”
Anton leaned in, voice steady. “We build anyway. I know you didn’t want this fight. You didn’t ask for it but now you’ve got it. So fight.”
He pulled a manila folder from his jacket and handed it to her.  There were three architectural renderings of the clinic they’d discussed inside the folder . The first one had a garden space in the back for patients. The second one had a community room for free classes. The last one had Junie’s crayon sketch printed on the front desk wall.
Tears flooded my eyes and threatened to flow.
“I told them the final decision rests with you,” Anton said. “ This can wait. I just wanted you to see what’s still possible. Despite everything.”
I sat down slowly. I held the folder so tenderly like it might shatter.
Anton crouched beside me and placed his hands on my knees . “This is our future. And Junie’s. Michael doesn’t get to rewrite it. I’m going to make sure of that.”
The ringing of her phone startled them both. It was Amelia again.
I wondered what had happened again. I can take any more bad news. Lord knows I am at my breaking point.
I held my breathe as I answered.
“You need to see this,” Amelia said, breathless. “Anton’s statement. It’s everywhere.”
I shot him a glance before I  clicked over to a news link Amelia texted. Anton’s words glared back at me, bold and unflinching.
“Michael Fisher’s statements are not only false but utterly malicious. My fiancée, Dr. Queenie Andrews, is a deeply committed mother and physician. This attack is an act of retaliation and  character cowardice. It’s a cheap and pathetic attempt to tarnish the image of a valuable member of my family and the society. We will use every possible  legal means  to correct the public record and protect our family.”
Protect our family. That was the line he used! I felt my throat constrict with emotion.
Anton who was watching  me carefully asked. “ Is it too much?”
“Hell no,” I said. “Not even close.”
Online, the tide was already shifting. Some of my former patients were sharing raw testimonials about how I had helped them. 
A mother thanked me for saving her son during an asthma crisis. Christie, a  teen who had attempted suicide spoke about how I had convinced her to get help.
Lord! I remembered how I went to the rest room to cry after she told her parents she needed help.
Amelia sent another message:
You're trending, but in a good way. People are pushing back. He overplayed his hand.
“Maybe this is the beacon of hope in this gloomy affair,” I murmured. “Maybe the truth still stands for something.”
“It does,” Anton said. “And when it doesn’t , we will make it count.”
I exhaled and we both fell silence. Neither of us was in a hurry to fill it up.
I reached for his hand. “So… we keep building?”
Anton’s answer was immediate. “We build higher.”
I nodded. “Okay.”  I took his hand to my cheek and leaned into it. “ thank you. Not for the lawyers, or the PR, or the buildings. For staying.”
Anton leaned in and kissed her forehead. “Where else would I be?”
I didn’t answer. I just leaned into him.
The world was still noisy and cruel but I knew one thing for certain: I was still standing.