Chapter 366: A Fatal Affection

[Music recommendation: Mafia · Kim Min Ji · PARK SE JUN]

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Just as Winston left the room, something on the flat-screen television caught both Gavriel and Jade’s attention.

Another reporter turned his line of questioning towards Cillian. "Mr. Pierce, witnesses reported that you rushed to Mrs. Valentine’s side the moment the structural beam fell, completely ignoring your own safety. You remained with her throughout the entire ordeal."

Cillian raised a dark eyebrow. "And your question is?"

"It was an exceptional level of concern shown towards Mrs. Valentine. People are naturally speculating whether there is something more going on between the two of you."

An icy chill settled over the living room at the question.

On the screen, Cillian grinned. "You’re right. There is far more to it. Mrs. Valentine is the wife of my closest friend, an executive partner of Archon Group, and a dear friend of mine. Normal human beings generally check whether their friends are still breathing after a steel beam collapses near them. I do hope that clears up your ridiculous speculation."

"But Mr. Pierce, what do you have to say about people speculating about a secret love triangle between you, Mrs. Valentine, and Mr. Valentine?" another reporter pressed eagerly.

Jade rubbed her arms as goosebumps rose across her skin when a suffocating dark aura began to seep from Gavriel.

Cillian let out a dry chuckle. "If a triangle existed, my legal team would have already sued you for geometry. Move on."

Realising they couldn’t rattle Cillian, a man notorious for bankrupting tabloids with defamation lawsuits, the press turned their attention back to Aliana, assuming she would be the softer target.

But every time Aliana opened her mouth to reply, her words landed like a brutal slap to the questioner’s face, slowly making the room realise that the she-devil was in a savage mood today.

While some journalists began to retreat, one man clearly missed the memo.

Lacking any sense of self-preservation, he pushed forward.

"Mrs. Valentine, we’ve heard some concerning reports that the accident wasn’t really an accident," the reporter began, causing several others to gasp and turn towards him.

He continued, "Forgive me for asking, but some sources claim that since you had no intention of appointing Mr. Owen Ross as Van Empire’s new acting CFO, you deliberately called him away from the others moments before the accident so that he would be caught in the collapse. What do you have to say about that?"

"What a load of crap," Jade muttered as she glared at the screen.

Meanwhile, Gavriel clenched his jaw at the audacious reporter.

Back at the conference hall, the temperature seemed to have plummeted just as drastically.

Cillian’s eyes narrowed dangerously at the reporter, while Aliana’s gaze sharpened at the wild accusation.

Before she could deliver her verbal execution, a sudden movement offstage halted the entire room.

A tall figure emerged from the wings, immediately capturing the attention of every camera lens.

Though clad in his signature tailored suit, his usual fluid posture was broken by the sturdy crutch tucked beneath one arm, bearing his weight away from his bandaged ankle.

A wave of stunned gasps rippled through the media as the very man whose safety had just been called into question suddenly appeared before them.

Owen’s green eyes swept across the sea of reporters before settling on the stage, where they met Aliana’s confused gaze.

He gave her a reassuring nod before slowly making his way towards the podium, where a bewildered Nigel and Kevin stood.

Reaching the podium, Owen offered Nigel a quiet, composed smile. "Nigel, allow me to address this one."

Nigel studied him for a moment, clearly hesitant, before glancing towards Aliana.

Even from across the stage, Aliana had heard Owen’s request. And with the entire conference being broadcast live, she knew she couldn’t simply refuse him.

Owen had been directly involved in the accident, after all. He had also been injured while protecting her.

If she denied him the opportunity to speak now, it could easily be interpreted as an attempt to silence him. Worse, it would give the reporter’s accusation more fuel and potentially make her appear as though she were treating Owen unfairly despite him being the very person who had protected her.

With little choice, Aliana gave Nigel a subtle nod.

Nigel understood immediately and stepped aside.

Owen shifted his weight on the crutch, standing tall as he faced the dense crowd of journalists in front of the stage.

With his back straight, his posture relaxed, and complete composure in his eyes, he addressed the now-silent room.

"I’m sure you’re all surprised by my appearance at this press conference. In truth, I was meant to sit on this panel from the beginning, but given my injury, Madam CEO insisted that I take the day off and rest."

He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping across the room.

"However, as this is merely a minor injury, I chose to return to duty and uphold the responsibilities entrusted to me. And I have to admit, I made the right decision in coming here. Because I found myself rather aghast at the malicious accusations being directed at Madam CEO when she had absolutely nothing to do with causing this accident."

His statement plunged the room into silence.

"I understand that as journalists, it is your duty to investigate every angle," Owen continued, his expression hardening. "However, the foundation rule of journalism is to verify facts before giving life to reckless speculation. Especially when a single vicious rumour can destroy an innocent person’s reputation. Allow me to enlighten you with the actual facts of what transpired."

He paused, holding the room’s undivided attention.

"First, it was I who requested a private conversation with Madam CEO to discuss sensitive and high-level business matters.

Second, when the structural beam gave way, it was Madam CEO who stood directly in the line of impact. Had I not intervened to shield her, as any decent person would have done, she might not be standing here today answering your questions. It was nothing short of a miracle that both of us escaped with our lives."

A storm of quiet whispers erupted throughout the hall as reporters who had hurled baseless accusations lowered their gazes in shame.

"Lastly," Owen added in a firm tone, "if Madam CEO no longer wished for me to serve as acting CFO, she would not need to orchestrate a complex workplace disaster. She would simply fire me."

A faint, almost amused smile touched his lips. "Given her reputation for efficiency, I estimate it would have taken her approximately four seconds."

A few restrained chuckles escaped from somewhere in the crowd.

"So I ask that you drop these absurd conspiracy theories and focus on reporting the actual facts. Thank you."

Back at the Valentine estate, the living room felt colder than a tomb.

Gavriel sat completely motionless on the sofa, his eyes locked onto the screen as Owen finished his speech. The murderous aura that had surged through the room when the reporter accused Aliana still lingered in the air, but now... it had transformed into something far more dangerous.

Watching another man stand before the world to shield his wife, claiming to have pulled her from the "narrow jaws of death," grated on his nerves to such an extreme that the fine teacup in his grip shattered instantly under the surge of his fluctuating power. ℯℯ𝑙.

Jade, who was standing not far from him, flinched at the sudden crack.

Her eyes darted towards Gavriel, taking in the dark tea staining his clothes and hand. Yet she didn’t dare make a sound when she saw that his icy gaze remained fixed on the screen.

Shifting her attention back to the broadcast, she watched her brother approach Aliana as Nigel officially concluded the press briefing.

In that fleeting moment, Jade was horrified to finally catch a look in Owen’s eyes as he gazed at Aliana.

A look she had never seen him direct at anyone before.

’No... Owen... you are playing with something far too dangerous,’ Jade whispered in her mind, her chest tightening as she recognised the tender, unspoken affection shining in her brother’s eyes. ’Why now? Why... when the chance is already gone?’

Slowly, Jade’s eyes flickered back toward Gavriel and a terrible feeling took root in her gut.

She knew with absolute certainty that if Owen dared to walk down this path, Gavriel would obliterate him without a shred of mercy.