Page 57 of Always Been You
“It’ll be fine. I promise,” he murmurs against my lips.
Then, just as quickly, he steps away, turning toward the door leading outside, then calls out, “Josh.” His voice is cool and detached, and I know he’s already setting something in motion.
I shift my attention back to my family. We strategize, planning how to handle the press together.
“Wait… So you’re all speaking?” I ask, shocked.
The last time my entire family stood together at a press conference was when we announced Aria’s pregnancy. Since then, we’ve done everything to keep Janette out of the media. And now, they’re doing the same for me. Standing beside me. Shielding me.
I glance at the wall, at the familiar calligraphy hanging there—a simple phrase that has always felt like the foundation of our home:
My family eats, laughs, cries, sings, and dances together.
And right now, I know they’re about to fight for me, too.
***
We step out onto the balcony and into the compound, where everything is set. The night air hums with an edge of tension. Janette is asleep inside, blissfully unaware of the chaos brewing outside these walls. The rest of us, however, are ready for war.
Lauren I must say she has done a good job of setting everything up for the press conference in less than 30 minutes. If I weren’t in a bad mood, I would have commended her.
Eddie, though…
I thought he’d keep his distance, but he hasn’t left my side. Instead, he stays close, offering quiet reassurances.
“You don’t have to say a word at this press conference,” Eddie murmurs against my ear, his arms tightening around me from behind. “I’ll take care of it.”
I turn in his hold, my fingers brushing against his jaw. His expression is unreadable, but there’s something dangerous behind his eyes.
“And what exactly does ‘take care of it’ mean?” I ask, searching his face.
He doesn’t answer. Just smirks.
“Ready?” Lauren’s voice cuts through the moment.
I nod. Eddie and I step forward, joining my family as we walk toward the setup.
Lauren steps up to the podium, tapping the microphone once before speaking.
“I wish I could greet you all with a ‘good evening,’ but it is not a good one. It was, until you all barged in here without fact-checking.”
I chuckle under my breath. Only Lauren would open a press conference like this. She is known for being an unfiltered PR bulldog, and her background as a journalist only makes her sharper. According to her, she has the privilege of talking like this.
“Now, what you are labeling a scandal is not. You have only heard one side of the story.” She lets out a short chuckle, shaking her head. “Funny how a man caught on camera with his mistress is somehow still the victim, while a woman simply existing near another man is labeled a cheater.”
A few gasps ripple through the crowd.
A reporter from KL Media steps forward, voice sharp. “So, you’re claiming Mr. Maddox is the one who cheated. Do you have any proof to back that up?”
Lauren scoffs, tilting her head. “You must be new.” She gives him a once-over before continuing. “If you weren’t, you’d know we don’t make claims without receipts.”
She picks up the remote and presses play.
My stomach tightens. The screen flickers to life, and there I am—smiling, glowing, oblivious. Setting up the anniversary surprise with excitement practically radiating off me.
I sucked in a breath.
Eddie’s hand finds my shoulder, his grip firm, grounding me. I asked them to play this; I remind myself. The editing is sharp, with the timeline clear, but I was not prepared to see myself like this. To see what I looked like before it all fell apart.
