Elena felt her legs weaken beneath her as she struggled to comprehend her father's motives. Why was he using her as a pawn to gain more power and fame? And why was he treating her this way, when her own mother was his first and rightful wife?
She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. Fine, her father wanted her to marry Felix? She would play along, for now.
Elena walked outside, took a deep breath, and stepped up to the podium. She picked up the microphone and began to speak, her voice steady despite her inner turmoil.
"Good day, ladies and gentlemen. I have an announcement to make. I will be accepting Felix's proposal, and I will be marrying him, the CEO of co Limited."
The room erupted into applause, with Felix himself looking surprised but pleased. Elena's eyes met her father's, and she saw a smile spread across his face, a smile that seemed to say, "I've won."
Her father stood up, clapping loudly, and the rest of the room followed suit. He mounted the podium, beaming with pride.
"My daughter has announced her engagement to Felix, and I couldn't be happier. I give them my blessings."
The room continued to applaud, with Maya shooting Elena a disgusted glance. "Bitch," she muttered under her breath.
Clara, oblivious to the true circumstances, whispered to Maya, "I guess she's not content with the one she has. She's forcing herself to marry Felix."
The scene was chaotic, with cameras clicking and reporters trying to get to Elena to ask questions. But the security guards blocked their way, shielding her from the media frenzy.
As cameras clicked away, reporters shouted out questions, and the room buzzed with excitement. Elena headed back to the podium,like she had forgot to say something,picked up the microphone again, her voice calm and steady.
"And I also have some very bad news to share," she announced, her words silencing the room.
The reporters' eyes snapped back to her, their faces filled with curiosity and concern.
Elena's father's eyes narrowed, his face darkening.
Elena stood at the microphone, her voice calm and collected. "Ladies and gentlemen, I have some sad news to share. My mother, the first wife of chairman David Montero, has passed away."
The room fell silent, with gasps and shocked murmurs spreading through the crowd. Elena's father's face turned pale, while her stepmother's eyes gleamed with a mixture of surprise and calculation.
Flashback to an earlier scene: Elena sat in the doctor's office, a determined look on her face. "I don't want anyone to know that my mother is still alive," she told the doctor. "I'll be announcing her fake death and I need your discretion."
The doctor nodded, his eyes widening as Elena handed him a bundle of cash. "I promise you, Miss Elena, I won't breathe a word. And I'll make sure my nurses keep quiet too."
Elena smiled, satisfied with the doctor's cooperation. "You can also attend the fake funeral, Doctor. Just tell anyone who asks that you did your best to save her."
Back in the present, Elena glanced at her stepmother, who was smiling smugly. Elena's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with anger and resentment. "Idiots," she muttered under her breath, her plan to protect her mother seemingly working.
Elena began to deliver a eulogy, her voice trembling as she pretended to choke back tears. "This is the least I can do for her. I have no choice but to let her go."
Some people in the audience looked genuinely sympathetic, while others seemed to be smirking, happy that Elena's mother had supposedly passed away. Little did they know, it was all a ruse.
Elena stepped down from the podium, her eyes dry despite her fake tears. Cameras clicked away as she walked, capturing her every move. Before long, the news of her mother's supposed passing had spread like wildfire online.
Elena slipped into her car, where her secretary was waiting. "Where to, ma'am?" the secretary asked.
"Take me to Super eatery," Elina replied, her voice firm. "I have a meeting with agent john."
Elena arrived at the eatery, where Agent was waiting for her. Although she had never met him before, her secretary, kristy led her to him.
As Elena approached, she couldn't help but notice how handsome Agent John was, with his black hair and chiseled features. She wondered how someone so good-looking could be an agent.
"Good day, ma'am," Agent John said, standing up to greet her. "I'm so sorry to hear about your mother's passing."
Elena was taken aback, realizing that the news had already spread. "It's okay," she replied, trying to compose herself.
They all headed to the car and,after hours, finally arriving at a secluded location. There, Elena saw a beautiful mini-house, newly built and surrounded by trees.
As they entered the house, Elena was impressed by its spaciousness and modern amenities. She turned to her secretary, kristy, and asked, "What do you think of this place?"
Kristy replied, "Ma'am, I think this place is fantastic!"
Elena nodded, satisfied. "I'm glad you like it. Agent John, thank you for showing me this place."
Agent John smiled. "It's one of my father's houses. I help him rent out his properties."
Elena raised an eyebrow. "You're an agent and a property manager?"
Agent John chuckled. "I'm a hard worker, ma'am."
**************************
Elena returned to her hotel, having secured the rent for the new place. Now, she just needed to change and head back to pick up her mother.
She opened her laptop and began browsing online. Suddenly, she came across an headline that caught her attention: "Good news and bad news: The CEO of LD Corporation has finally agreed to get married to the CEO of Co Limited,m.r Felix."
As she continued reading, she saw another article that made her roll her eyes: "Miss Elena Montero announces the passing of her mother." Elena scoffed, annoyed by the media's intrusion into her personal life.
She closed her laptop and decided to focus on more important things. She checked her stock prices and was pleased to see that they were increasing.
Feeling a bit more positive, She headed out to pick up her mother, accompanied by her secretary.
At the hospital, Elena carefully covered her mother's face with a scarf and led her out. They drove back to the hotel, where her mother would be safe and hidden from prying eyes.