CHAPTER 53: CHAPTER 53: HE SAID HE’S ONLY INTERESTED IN ME

When I finished speaking, I already knew the answer.

I won’t kill my own child.

Since fate has brought him back to me, I will do my utmost to protect him.

For now, I’ll calmly wait until eight weeks to have the ultrasound.

If the baby is developing normally, then I’ll take him as a gift from heaven.

...

The next day, when I arrived at the office, I found Victoria Monroe was there too.

I went into the office with her and whispered, "Are you crazy? You just had surgery two days ago, and now you’re daring to come to work?"

Victoria Monroe said wistfully, "All I have left now is work. Besides, this thing with Miles Sawyer is related to the Xavier Group. It’s a tough piece of news. If I don’t come back, I’m afraid you won’t be able to handle it alone."

"But your health..."

I sighed and said, "You really don’t need to push yourself so hard."

Victoria Monroe’s eyes turned red, and she choked out, "I saw how The Sawyers were giving you a hard time yesterday. I’m sorry, I... I shouldn’t have treated you like that before..."

"It’s all in the past."

I patted her shoulder and said, "Since you’re back, guard your territory well. Even though your judgment on men is off, your eye for news is still sharp."

Victoria Monroe broke into a reluctant smile and said, "This applies to you too!"

Just then, the phone on Victoria Monroe’s desk rang.

After answering, her expression became increasingly serious, until she gloomily agreed, "Okay, I got it."

After she hung up, I asked in confusion, "What’s wrong?"

Victoria Monroe said helplessly, "Your husband has talked to several of our company’s investors, and now they’re collectively withdrawing their investments. The higher-ups said if our news department can’t secure fifty million in investment within three days, they’ll make us stop chasing the news about Miles Sawyer immediately."

I said resentfully, "It’s the same old trick again!"

Victoria Monroe shook her head, looking quite despondent, "The power of capital is too strong, which is why my dream is to climb over these barriers."

Although the company’s higher-ups were constantly putting pressure on us.

Victoria Monroe and I didn’t want to give up.

After thinking for a long time, I decided, "Let’s keep going! We’ll dig deep into this news, and I’ll find a way to secure the investment!"

"You?"

Victoria Monroe asked incredulously, "Your husband has already stepped in, do you really have a way?"

I nodded, "Yeah, I’ll do my best to secure the investment within three days."

So, Victoria Monroe outwardly agreed to stop pursuing news about Miles Sawyer and Xavier Group equipment, but secretly continued to gather material.

I, on the other hand, went to find Ethan Xavier and arranged to meet him at seven in the evening.

At the time, Ethan Xavier was in a club, but he said he was just negotiating business, which is why he had several women accompanying him.

"Zoe, please don’t misunderstand. I’m just putting on a show with them; my true feelings are for you!"

Having said this, he waved his hand and dismissed the women.

I gave him a look and said, "Cut it out! That’s so cheesy!"

Ethan Xavier’s almond-shaped eyes twinkled with a joyful smile, "It’s the first time in your life you’ve sought me out, isn’t it for romance?"

With a serious expression, I told him about securing investment for our company.

Ethan Xavier was a bit disappointed when he realized it was about work.

He shook his head and said, "Honestly, I don’t know much about the media industry, nor am I interested in your news department. I’m only interested in you..."

I replied, full of exasperation, "I wouldn’t go as far as offering myself just to secure investment for the company. If you don’t want to, then forget it. I’ll find another way. Anyway, there’s Jenna Sutton, and The Ellison Family, I’ll approach them one by one!"

After speaking, I stood up to leave.

Ethan Xavier hurriedly caught up with me, saying, "How can you just leave like this? If it’s about investment, I’m the client, right? Is this how you treat the client?"

My eyes lit up as I took the opportunity to ask, "Does that mean you’re agreeing?"

Ethan Xavier smiled and said, "Although I’m not interested in your industry, I am quite interested in opposing Timothy Xavier!"

Although his motives weren’t pure, at least he was willing to invest, which was the most beneficial outcome for us.

I was rather moved. During such a tense situation, there was still someone willing to help me.

After discussing the investment details with Ethan Xavier, he decided to visit our company the next morning.

At that time, I’ll have Victoria Monroe liaise with him personally.

"Alright, now that we’re done with the investment talk, how about grabbing a meal?"

Ethan Xavier winked expectantly for my consent.

Someone’s willing to invest fifty million to help me through a crisis, so agreeing to a meal isn’t a problem.

I nodded and said, "Let’s go! I’ll treat you."

Ethan Xavier smiled cheekily and eagerly followed me.

However, just as we reached the elevator, Timothy Xavier and a well-known director happened to be waiting too.

Timothy Xavier immediately noticed Ethan Xavier and me laughing and talking, and his stern face darkened, his sharp gaze fixing on us.

I continued chatting with Ethan Xavier as if I didn’t recognize him.

When the elevator doors opened, Ethan Xavier and I stepped inside, followed by him and the director.

Their conversation was audible to us.

"President Xavier, there’s too much negative news about Miss Sawyer’s brother, which has also entangled Miss Sawyer herself. We’re... really hesitant to cast her!"

Timothy Xavier said, "If this film loses money, count it on me, but Serena must be the lead actress."

The director sighed, "President Xavier, having you backing her up is truly Miss Sawyer’s blessing! I wonder if President Xavier and Miss Sawyer are on the verge of good news? If Miss Sawyer becomes Mrs. Xavier, you might even feel too protective of her when she goes out to act."

Something seemed to cut my heart.

It felt quite ironic.

Timothy Xavier teamed up with other investors to cut off our company’s investment, yet he was willing to meet with a director personally and spend lavishly so Serena Sawyer could be the lead actress.

Having someone to fall back on is really nice!

At this moment, Ethan Xavier leaned down next to my ear and whispered in a voice only we could hear, "Don’t envy them. Serena Sawyer has Timothy Xavier, but you have me! Isn’t it just about investment?"

He made me burst into laughter; the gloom on my face finally lifted.

Meanwhile, Timothy Xavier’s dark, intense gaze remained fixed on me, making me feel prickly.

The elevator finally reached the first floor.

The doors opened, and I was the first to walk out, with Ethan Xavier following closely behind.

He said with unwillingness, "If you ask me, you should’ve just hugged me, kissed me fiercely, pissed him off!"

"Ethan Xavier."

I stopped in my tracks, earnestly looked at him, and said, "I don’t want to use you."

If I did as he suggested, I would despise myself.

Ethan Xavier’s expression gradually softened, as if he understood, yet he seriously said, "I’m willing to be used by you."

I quickly lowered my head, afraid that another glance at him would make him misunderstand that I was responding.

...

The next day, Ethan Xavier came to our company, and under my introduction, completed the connection and contract signing with Victoria Monroe.

After Ethan Xavier left, Victoria Monroe sighed, "Wow, it’s like a dream. Just one day, and you secured a fifty million investment?"

"Now, we can continue doing what we’ve always wanted to do."

I breathed a sigh of relief.

Timothy Xavier wants to knock me down, but I will stand up and show him!

Victoria Monroe, with the tenacity of someone during end-of-term exams, said, "We definitely need to make good news out of this, strive for every issue to go viral. By then, even the client will feel investing in us is worth it."

"Mm."

I’m thinking the same as Victoria Monroe, even though Ethan Xavier is not short of money, no one’s money is earned without effort.

If we can, through our news, help Ethan Xavier earn a fortune this time, it won’t be in vain for him to lend a hand.

Just then, the door to Victoria Monroe’s office was knocked on.

The colleague couldn’t even wait for Victoria Monroe to say ’come in’ and had already pushed the door open.

"Director, something’s happened! Downstairs, a large crowd of Serena Sawyer’s fans are gathered, saying they want Zoe Ellison. I think they’re up to no good!"

At this moment, Victoria Monroe’s computer also began to emit beeping sounds indicating new web information.

She looked at it, and her expression instantly became grave.

Victoria Monroe scrolled through the webpage with resentment as she said, "Enough is enough! These scumbags, turning black and white upside down!"

I sensed trouble and quickly leaned over.

Unexpectedly, pictures of me entering The Xavier Manor, and yesterday’s pictures of Timothy Xavier forcing me into the car, had all been posted online.

My image was taken clearly, along with Timothy Xavier’s.

The text accompanying the photos was strikingly large: "Serena Sawyer and Xavier Group’s CEO facing relationship crisis! Suspected mistress involved!"

Soon, a large number of internet trolls began manipulating the comments:

"This mistress is the reporter writing about Serena’s brother! No wonder such a great scientific expert like Miles Sawyer was suddenly discredited!"

"This shameless mistress not only stole Serena’s fiancé but also took revenge publicly, slandering her brother. It’s disgusting! It’s despicable!"

"Serena’s brother is likely innocent. It’s all because our Serena is too kind-hearted that her whole family is being bullied by the mistress!"

"..."

I kept taking deep breaths, suppressing the fury that was about to erupt from my heart.

I can’t be angry, can’t get agitated, there’s a baby in my belly.

Victoria Monroe said, "This is clearly the Sawyers’ revenge against you! Serena Sawyer has reached the point of desperation!"

"I know."

I replied in a low voice, my brain quickly spinning, thinking how to break this situation.

Victoria Monroe said, "Zoe, show your marriage certificate! Since this woman doesn’t leave you any way out, don’t give her face! If you don’t use the marriage certificate to slap her in the face, she really thinks she’s Mrs. Xavier!"

I certainly understand that the marriage certificate is the most powerful evidence.

Once I show the marriage certificate, Timothy Xavier and Serena Sawyer will be immediately nailed to the pillars of moral and public disgrace.

But it simultaneously means completely tearing the relationship apart with Timothy Xavier.

The consequence of tearing apart is that he will stop my mother’s cardiopulmonary support device, dragging my mom to die together with him and his mistress’s reputation!

Victoria Monroe anxiously asked, "Why aren’t you saying anything? Showing the marriage certificate is the simplest and most effective counterattack, isn’t it?"

I shared my difficulties with Victoria Monroe.

She suddenly looked at me sympathetically, saying, "So, you have it tough too... I always thought, you’re a wealthy socialite, what troubles could there be besides an unsatisfactory marriage?"

I walked to the window, saw the downstairs filled with Serena Sawyer’s fans collectively shouting to hand me over!

My photo was even pasted on big character posters with words like ’Zoe Ellison, mistress! Entire family perish!’ written on them.

Victoria Monroe walked to my side, saw the situation downstairs, and said, "They’re blocking here because they want you to go down. Serena Sawyer doesn’t want to leave you any way out, this is very much in line with her style. Before, she did all sorts of extreme things to keep me from getting in the house."

At this moment, a few fans took out loudspeakers and shouted in the direction of our office, "If you don’t hand over Zoe Ellison today, the mistress, we’ll stay here constantly, coming every day! What kind of lousy company employs mistresses!"

I took out my phone and called the police.

I’ve witnessed the crazy brainlessness of Serena Sawyer’s fans before, so the best way is to let the police protect me as I leave.

"Where’s our high definition camera used for news reporting?"

My sudden question surprised Victoria Monroe.

As she went to help me find it, she asked, "What do you need it for?"

"To film the evidence of their slandering and defaming me! These fans are Serena Sawyer’s arrangements or orders. If they get sued later, they might expose Serena Sawyer the mastermind behind this."

Victoria Monroe found the camera and handed it to me. After receiving it, I aimed it at Serena Sawyer’s fans downstairs, especially the leader.

I called the police, citing Serena Sawyer’s fans’ harassment and defamation, and possible violence against me.

While waiting for the police, I also called Attorney Quincy to file a lawsuit against those defaming me.

Every single one!

Hannah Quincy also saw those online rumors and comforted me, "Miss Ellison, the innocent will be proven innocent, stay calm. If I hadn’t accepted your case, I wouldn’t see Serena Sawyer seemingly so pure yet so vile."

"Attorney Quincy, I leave it to you. Also, the major accounts with high repost volumes online, I want to sue them too."

After finishing my call with Attorney Quincy, the police arrived.

Those fans clearly didn’t anticipate me calling the police, and had not yet cleaned up those big character posters with insulting language.

Some of them, lacking courage, ran away directly, leaving a few leaders who were put in police cars.

As the one who made the call, I also went to the police station to give a statement.

Before leaving, Victoria Monroe said to me, "You shouldn’t come to the company these days."

As if afraid I’d misunderstand that she was firing me, she quickly added, "Work from home, I’ll send it to you via email. Don’t be lazy!"

I nodded and said, "She made all those messes, attempting to get me fired, stop exposing her brother, and conveniently turn me into public enemy number one. But I won’t let her succeed! Her brother’s news, I will handle to the end!"