Page 58 of Always Been You
The video ends with the weight in the room shifting.
Then, more evidence appears. Documents, timestamps, and a witness statement I did not even know existed.
Lauren delivers the final blow.
“If you came here looking for salacious gossip, I suggest you find it elsewhere.” The reporters are stunned. Some shift uncomfortably. No one dares to interrupt. She steps aside, and Aria steps up next, her presence commanding as she faces the now-mellowed crowd.
“Thank you, Lauren,” she begins, then turns back to the reporters gathered. “Let’s talk facts. Derrick Maddox is a failed businessman whose biggest asset was the Dua Group. Now tell me, would anyone of sound mind expect anyone to support a man who betrayed her? I’ll leave that to your thinking hats.”
She lets her words settle, watching their reaction before continuing.
“I advise the media to vet their sources better before contributing to the downfall of others. Words have power. If we had nothing to prove today, would our lifelong legacy have been destroyed by a lie?”
Murmurs ripple through the crowd. This is not what they expected. It is a counterattack and an attack on their integrity. Aria does not falter, her gaze unwavering. Then, with a simple shake of her head, she steps aside as our mother takes her place.
Mom’s voice is firm, unwavering. “My family has spent decades building something with integrity. That name is not something you tarnish lightly. If you thought we would let one desperate man rewrite our legacy, then you do not know the Duas.”
Laughter breaks out, sharp and unexpected. Elisa.
I turn, arching a brow at her. “What’s funny?”
The reporters in the front row glance at her, along with a few others in the crowd, curiosity flickering in their eyes. Elisa only smirks, completely unbothered by the attention.
She grins, arms crossed, and leans in slightly. “It’s just… It’s always a little entertaining seeing the entire family in full business mode.”
Lauren turns to her next. “Anything you want to add?”
“They’ve said it all,” Elisa responds, looking completely relaxed.
I shake my head with a small smile before stepping up to the podium. My family nods in quiet support, and I inhale deeply, grounding myself.
“Let’s talk legal.”
The room stills.
“Under Kentucky Revised Statutes 411.061-411.065, spreading false statements that cause financial or reputational harm is grounds for legal action. And let’s not forget New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964). If you’re going to falsely accuse a public figure, you better have proof that what you’re saying is true. Otherwise, it’s called defamation. And that is exactly what’s happening here.”
I scan the room, watching as discomfort flickers across a few faces. Good.
“The stock took a hit in the past few hours since this bad press began. Because of that, legal action will be taken against anyone who contributed to it. This includes media outlets that published false stories and individuals spreading defamatory comments online—yes, that means accounts like MaddoxForever and everyone else fueling these lies.”
I pause again, making sure they understand this is not just a threat.
“And trust me, I will make sure those consequences are enforced to serve as a deterrent to others.”
I lean forward slightly, my voice calm but cutting.
“If you’re going to mention my name or The Dua Group, be very careful about what follows. I did not earn the name Iron Fist for nothing.”
The silence is thick, but it doesn’t last long.
“With all due respect, Ms. Dua, isn’t it a little convenient that this ‘evidence’ surfaces now?” A voice cuts through the tension. A reporter from The Luxe Times, a woman with sharp eyes and an even sharper tongue. “Damage control, perhaps? You’ve been divorced for over a month, yet you decide to tell the public now—only after a scandal. How do we know this isn’t just another power play by the Duas?”
Murmurs ripple through the crowd again, this time laced with doubt.
I tighten my grip on the podium. The audacity.
I open my mouth, ready to eviscerate her with every legal clause she clearly hasn’t researched but before I can, Eddie’s voice slices through the tension.
