Chereads / The Billionaire's Contract Bride / Chapter 23 - Chapter 23

Chapter 23 - Chapter 23

The following morning, Xavier and Elizabeth woke to chaos. The sharp ring of Xavier's phone pulled him from a restless sleep, his hand fumbling for the device on the bedside table.

"Xavier Cole," he answered, his voice groggy but alert.

On the other end of the line, Victoria's voice was urgent. "We've got a problem. Turn on the news."

Xavier sat up, his movements brisk now. "What happened?"

"They released it," Victoria said, her tone clipped. "The story about Elizabeth. It's everywhere."

Xavier didn't need to ask who "they" were. He ended the call and reached for the remote, switching on the television mounted on the opposite wall.

Elizabeth stirred beside him, her eyes fluttering open. "What's going on?"

Before Xavier could answer, the morning news anchor's voice filled the room.

"—questions about Elizabeth Cole's intentions in her whirlwind romance with billionaire Xavier Cole. Sources allege that Elizabeth has a troubled past, including associations with questionable figures and accusations of opportunistic behavior."

Elizabeth sat up, her heart pounding as images of her and Xavier flashed on the screen. Then came the real dagger—a photo of her and Mario from years ago, the caption insinuating far more than the truth.

"This is unbelievable," she whispered, her voice shaking.

Xavier's jaw tightened, his hand clenching the remote. "This is Thomas. He's using your past to create a spectacle."

Elizabeth swallowed hard, the humiliation and fear swirling inside her. "What do we do now?"

Xavier turned to her, his gaze steady. "We fight back. But first, we need to get ahead of this."

By midday, Xavier had summoned his legal team, PR experts, and Victoria to the penthouse. The atmosphere in the conference room was tense as everyone reviewed the damage.

"This isn't just a smear campaign," Clara said, her voice sharp. "This is a calculated attack. They've planted just enough truth to make the lies believable."

Victoria nodded. "Thomas knows exactly what he's doing. He's banking on the public eating this up and pressuring Xavier to cut ties with you."

Elizabeth sat quietly, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. She felt exposed, as though the entire world had been given a front-row seat to her most vulnerable moments.

Xavier placed a reassuring hand on hers. "We're not letting him win. Clara, what's our move?"

Clara glanced at her notes. "We need to control the narrative. Release a statement addressing the claims head-on. If we can provide a credible counter-story, we might be able to turn public opinion in our favor."

"And Mario?" Xavier asked. "His involvement makes this more complicated."

Victoria smirked. "I've already taken care of that. Mario is willing to go on record to discredit Thomas's story. With a little incentive, of course."

Elizabeth looked at her sharply. "He'll speak out?"

Victoria nodded. "He's scared, but he's more afraid of what will happen if Thomas wins. He knows he's a pawn in this game, and he doesn't want to be collateral damage."

Xavier's eyes gleamed with determination. "Good. Let's coordinate with him. The sooner we dismantle Thomas's story, the better."

That evening, Xavier and Elizabeth recorded a joint statement from the penthouse. Clara had scripted their responses, but Xavier insisted on speaking candidly.

As the cameras rolled, Xavier began.

"This morning, false and malicious claims about my wife, Elizabeth, were released to the media. These claims are not only baseless but are a transparent attempt to undermine us both."

He turned to Eliminate, his expression softening. "Elizabeth is one of the strongest, most compassionate people I've ever known. Her past is a testament to her resilience and character—not something to be weaponized by those who seek to harm us."

Elizabeth took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she addressed the camera.

"I won't deny that my past isn't perfect," she said. "Like many people, I've faced challenges and made mistakes. But those experiences shaped who I am today. They don't define me, and they certainly don't diminish my love for Xavier or my commitment to building a future with him."

She paused, her voice steadying. "To those who are spreading these lies, I have one message: You will not break me. And you will not break us."

Xavier's hand found hers as they finished, their united front unshakable.

Across the city, Thomas watched the broadcast with a smirk.

"Predictable," he muttered, swirling his glass of whiskey.

His assistant entered the room, a nervous energy about him. "Mr. Cole, should we proceed with the next phase?"

Thomas leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing. "Not yet. Let them think they've won this round. It'll make the next blow hit even harder."

The public response to Xavier and Elizabeth's statement was mixed. Support poured in from those who admired their honesty and solidarity, but the tabloids continued to sensationalize the story.

 

Elizabeth tried to focus on the positives, but the strain was beginning to show. That night, as she stood on the penthouse balcony, staring out at the glittering city below, Xavier joined her.

"Penny for your thoughts?" he asked, wrapping an arm around her waist.

She leaned into him, her voice soft. "I'm tired, Xavier. Tired of fighting, tired of proving myself to people who don't even know me."

Xavier tilted her chin up, his gaze unwavering. "You don't have to prove anything to anyone. Not to me, not to them. Thomas wants you to doubt yourself because he knows that's the only way he can win. Don't give him that power."

Elizabeth  nodded, her resolve hardening once more. "You're right. We've come this far—I'm not giving up now."

Xavier smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "That's my wife."

But even as they found comfort in each other, the storm clouds continued to gather. Thomas wasn't finished yet—and his next move would test them in ways they never imagined.