Everyone in the Ford family was utterly enraged when they read the article.
Even Daniel smashed his phone the first time he read the articles and comments
Meanwhile in Barnesville, Lyla was pacing furiously,
"Relax mom, dad is taking care of it." Isobelle tried to calm her, however she was rattled too.
"How am I supposed to relax?" She spat out loud.
"We'll find who is behind this soon." Isobelle was determined.
Ricky felt disgusted by the way the article was written and the manner in which it portrayed El and Daniel's relationship.
Both Ricky and Daniel used their resources to take down the rumours separately.
Meanwhile when Alec reached Alwils Villa, he saw Ricky waiting for him.
Ricky hurried to him, "I read the article, it's all fake, how can they make such statements about our El. Even the picture is photoshopped, I've checked it." Ricky lied in a jittery manner.
Alec coldly looked at him, he got irked when Ricky said 'our El',
"Don't tell me that you believe that nonsense."
"I don't."
Ricky sighed in relief.
"But there are certain things I can't ignore."
Ricky's face stiffened, "like what?"
"Why did Daniel Ford bid so high, only for gifting the necklace to El?"
"Why is she so rude to him and yet he doesn't mind?"
"Give her a break Alec, she is just a child."
'She is just a child' Ricky was the second person to say so.
'Why do people keep referring to her as a child?' Alec thought.
"Why are you always so defensive towards El?"
Ricky felt uncomfortable under his questioning, he cleared his throat and replied
"Why won't I be, she is my friend and also innocent. So could you please not confront her about this?"
"Fine," Alec replied reluctantly.
He was still perplexed with Daniel Ford's affinity towards his wife. He trusted her, but the recent change in her behaviour bothered him.
Meanwhile at NF&D, El read the article and rolled her eyes at it. People's opinion didn't bother her, she read the comments- "El Wilson is well apt at seducing men to get what she wants"
Letting out a smirk she continued, "she is also 'apt' at not giving any fucks."
She tactfully ignored all the glares and comments her colleagues were passing on.
Dealing with them wasn't as hard for El today, what was actually painstakingly hard was dealing with Mark at the gym.
"Aaw! Easy Mark," Michelle exclaimed with pain.
"We don't have time to go easy." Mark seathed.
"Why?"
"Focus and stop asking questions." Mark was being very tough on her training today.
Once she reached Alwils Villa, she went straight to her room and drowned herself into the bed out of sheer exhaustion.
Alec followed behind her, without saying anything he got on top of her and started taking off her clothes as he kissed and sucked her neck.
"Alec, no, please…" she pleaded.
"Why?" Alec's expression darkened.
"Am I not your husband?"
"Alec please, I'm really tired." Her voice expressed her exhaustion.
"Why don't you have time for me huh.? You haven't even bothered yourself to explain anything to me about the rumours this morning." El snapped out of her sleepy daze when he asked about the rumour.
"It's all fake, Alec."
He had so many other doubts about the relationship Daniel and El shared, although the rumours were fake, a lot many unusual encounters occurred between both of them in front of his own eyes and he couldn't bring himself to unsee it.
He was also irked by her unwillingness to explain herself.
"Is that all you have to say?" He asked sternly.
El laid silently beneath him, what could she even say?
That Daniel Ford is her father and her identity is fake.
Her lies burdened her. 'Should I tell him the truth? I owe it to him.'
She realised she won't be able to keep her true identity a secret from him for long. Now that she has reconciled with Daniel, things might get even more complicated in the future if she doesn't tell him the truth.
However, she deeply feared that Alec might leave her knowing that she lied to him all this while.
Yet again her fear stopped her from revealing her truth.
On the other hand, Alec's mind was occupied with Daniel's and Ricky's words suggesting he should not confront El about the rumours.
Burying his doubts within him, he tried to reduce the distance he was feeling with El recently, by the means of physical intimacy.
Although she was exhausted, she didn't resist his advances towards her.
Just like Alec, even El resorted to sexual intimacy to lessen the differences between them.
But, Alec's doubts made him go rough on her.
El screamed hard, her loud cries echoed through the villa, yet she didn't resist him.
Everyone inside Alwils Villa could hear her screaming including Dwane.
The article was taken down before Dwane could read it. However, he managed to find the overall contents of it.
He viewed El as someone who fell prey to the malicious intent of someone who wished to squander the image of Daniel Ford. He pitied her.
The affectionate couple was indeed a sour sight to him, therefore naturally, he revered their differences.
But El's loud cries made his heart wrench.
He couldn't bear to hear them.
'Does he intend to kill that poor woman?' he thought with concern which was unlike him to his surprise.
Her cries and his reaction towards her, the feeling of affinity and concern irked Dwane to his wits end. He hadn't felt like this towards someone for a long time.
"Aahh"
He heard her cry again. He went to his room and Locked the door to block the voice but he could still hear faint noises of her screaming in pain.