Divorced Heiress
Chapter 65

Julian, who seemed to be in his element and handled the interview with ease.

The press conference started off well, we explained the vision and strategies of the collaboration project, as well as the release dates for each season's collection. The journalists started asking questions and we provided direct and satisfactory answers, especially As I glanced at the audience, I saw my parents, Vincent, Jack, and the Dubois family. It made me a little uncomfortable, remembering my conversation with Vincent about my best friend's family. However, I continued answering the journalists' questions. Suddenly, the direction of the questions changed drastically, deviating from the main topic and making me even more uncomfortable.

-Mr. Lancaster, your family has been sued by your ex-wife for defamation, can this affect the collaboration in any way? What is your opinion on this?- One of the journalists asked. My body tensed and my neck automatically straightened upon hearing the question. This question was directed towards Alexander, so I couldn't intervene without being rude. Alexander seemed calm as he heard the question and briefly glanced at me before turning his attention back to the journalist and answering serenely. It was as if she had asked any other question, not such an uncomfortable and out-of-place one.

-Thank you for your question. Family matters have nothing to do with our work. I am sure this will not affect the collaboration in any way. If you ask for my opinion, I will simply say that every action has its consequences, and I will always stand on the side of what is right. In this case, those who have been sued have gotten what they deserve, and I hope they have learned their lesson.- Alexander responded, serious and composed, as if it were just one of the questions about the collaboration.

I have to admit, his answer surprised me. After all, we were talking about his mother and his spoilt sister, disregarding the seriousness of Rachel's case. With this, he made it clear that he agreed with my decision to sue them, regardless of their familial ties. Some journalists started whispering to each other after receiving Alexander's clear and concise response, without any hesitation. Although I was confused by the situation, I remained serious, waiting for the next questions regarding the collaboration. However, the inappropriate questions continued.

-Mr. Lancaster, it seems like you have a good relationship with your ex-wife, but hasn't this situation affected your company's actions?- Once again, I felt compelled to remain silent and wait for Alexander to respond.

I intertwined my fingers on the table, trying to contain this strange feeling in my chest that made me feel like a villain trying to discredit the Lancaster company. All I could do was wait for the man by my side to answer.

-The lawsuit has had a certain negative impact on the company, but it is nothing that cannot be resolved. Lancaster Collection remains one of the most solid fashion companies. He said. Upon hearing that, I felt a twinge of guilt in my chest, realizing that I was responsible for that negative impact on his company, of which I had just become aware.

After all, I put myself in his shoes. Being one of the heads of an important company, it would be frustrating to suffer losses due to a celebrity scandal.

-This question is for Ms. Doinel. After more than three years since the scandal of your divorce with Mr. Lancaster, you find yourselves working together again, not to mention that you have been introduced as Leonardo Doinel's daughter, whom nobody knew about. Do you think that your shared past could affect the collaboration project in the future?- A journalist asked, and my head started to ache. This was spiraling out of control, and I couldn't think of a way to end it without sounding impolite.

Alexander leaned in close to me, close enough to whisper without anyone else hearing. -You are not obligated to answer this question if it is too uncomfortable for you.-

I shifted in my seat and Alexander regained his composure. Although it was a very uncomfortable question, I could answer it just like I had answered the previous ones. I lowered my hands to my thighs before speaking.

-As Mr. Lancaster already mentioned, our personal lives will not have any influence on the collaboration project. We are purely a professional team, and our primary focus is to successfully launch the collaborative collections. I replied firmly, hoping they wouldn't ask more questions related to our divorce.

They were disregarding Julian, who was also a key player in the press conference. Did they want to create headlines with our names again?

After finishing my response, I felt Alexander's warm hand grip mine under the table, making me even more uncomfortable, if that were possible. I discreetly broke free with obvious annoyance and placed my hands back on the table, intertwining my fingers, trying to distance myself from any contact with that man.

Just when I thought the uncomfortable questions wouldn't come up again, the journalist who started with the uncomfortable questions asked on behalf of both of us.

-Taking into account that you are both divorced, have you considered getting married again in the future?- Her question hit me like a bucket of cold water, and my eyes widened before giving a direct response. -No.-

-Yes.- Alexander responded at the same time. I didn't even look at him, but I could feel his gaze on me.

-If there are no more questions related to the collaboration, we can conclude the press conference. If you want to know about my personal life, we can save it for a private interview. I hurriedly added before they could ask another senseless question. Obviously, I wouldn't give any of them the opportunity to interview me about my life, especially if they were going to ask about my failed marriage.

Apparently, the journalists had run out of questions, so I ended the press conference. After saying goodbye and thanking the journalists, I stood up from my chair. To my surprise, Julian chivalrously moved it aside to make it easier for me to stand up. I gave him a grateful smile, and when I least expected it, he offered his arm for me to hold, just as Alexander had done before accompanying me to the table.

-Thank you very much, Julian.- I hooked my arm with his, and when I raised my gaze, I met Alexander's furrowed brow, staring at Julian as if he wanted him to disappear. I ignored him completely and walked past him alongside Julian until I reached my parents and Vincent, who were waiting with smiles, ready to leave the room and go to the Villa to celebrate the success of the press conference. Although their faces showed concern about the uncomfortable questions.

Before I could greet them, the Dubois arrived. Abby was the first to approach and hugged me, which managed to break Julian's hold. On the other hand, Paul waited for Abby to let go before enveloping me in his arms as if we hadn't seen each other in years. -You handled it very well.- Paul said before letting go. I looked at him expressionlessly, and just as I was about to respond unenthusiastically, my father spoke, and Vincent came to my side, placing his hand protectively on my waist as if he didn't want me near Paul and his bad intentions.

-Daughter, you were brilliant, everyone was. It's time to return to the Villa. I have prepared the best bottle of Champagne to toast the beginning of this project.- My father took my mother by the waist and walked towards the exit, expecting everyone to follow suit and go their separate ways. Before walking alongside Vincent, Alexander joined me when most of them had already left with my parents.

-Mr. Lefevbre, would you mind if I go to the Villa with Sarah? I looked at Alexander, who still had a slight furrowed brow, seemingly annoyed with the world. Vincent looked at me questioningly, waiting for me to make the decision of whether to accept such a thing or go back with him, however, I gave Vincent a warm smile and let go of his arm.

Whatever Alexander had in mind, I wasn't going to like it, considering that in the past few days he had been behaving in a way that puzzled me, I was going to take the opportunity to bring him back down to earth once and for all.

-Vin, you can go with Jack, I'll be there soon.- I said, looking at him with distrust, but he ended up nodding before giving me a kiss on the cheek, and I knew it was an excuse to whisper in my ear.

-I agree because I know you can take care of yourself, but if you need me, it won't be difficult to call my number.- He winked at me as he pulled away, and I nodded in response. -See you in a while, princess, we have some unfinished business, don't forget.- He said before walking away where everyone had gone, and I knew he was referring to the visit from the private investigator.

Without giving me time to react, Alexander placed his warm hand on my waist as Vincent had done before, and I took a step back before removing his hand from my body and simply taking his arm as the only contact I could stand from him.

-Mr. Lancaster, I haven't given you that much trust.- I said without looking at him before walking towards the exit. I heard a slight laugh from him and held back rolling my eyes at this moment when the journalists were capturing every move with photographs. -I apologize, Ms. Doinel, it wasn't my intention to abuse your trust.- His playful and dramatic tone made me laugh so much that I had to suppress it.

When we reached his Range Rover, he helped me get in by taking my hand. I let out the breath I had been unconsciously holding seconds before he got in beside me.

The driver started the car, and I stayed silent throughout the journey as I looked through the polarized window, hoping that Alexander would say something out of the ordinary to put him in his place immediately. Although we were immersed in a grave silence, the atmosphere was less tense, at least for me.

Just when I thought he wouldn't say a single word, I heard his voice ruining the harmonious moment. -Sarah, you must stay away from Paul.- He said coldly, and I silently looked at him for a few seconds.

I didn't understand why he mentioned Paul, because even though he continued to try to get close to me, ever since I overheard that conversation, I had kept myself away and alert. Him saying it in that way made me discard the idea that this was a scene of jealousy. After pondering it for a moment, I realized that Alexander knew more than I did about Paul.

But who was he to tell me how to handle the matter?

-Are you telling me what I should do?- I asked playfully, and Alexander slightly shook his head.

-I have never told you what you should do, you are free to do anything, I have my reasons for telling you that he is not the person you think... Sarah, can you stop being so distant?- I swallowed the laughter that wanted to escape while I looked away to the window, the moment he changed the subject dramatically, looking frustrated by the way I was speaking to him.

-So, Paul is not the person I believe he is, what do you mean by that?- I looked at him with a serious expression when I addressed him formally again and raised an eyebrow before correcting myself. -Sorry, what do you mean?-

-For now, I can't give you more details, but you'll be the first to know when everything is in order.- With that, he confirmed that he knew something I didn't or maybe he knew the same thing I did and was using his contacts to get to the truth of it all.

-Of course, Mr. Lancaster must have everything under control.- My sarcastic tone came out without me being able to prevent it, and his honey-colored eyes locked onto mine for longer than they should have. Suddenly, I felt the atmosphere becoming suffocating. I couldn't see his intention to speak, in fact, it seemed like he wouldn't stop observing me until his eyes got tired. I cleared my throat and shifted in my seat.

-Why are you doing this?-Silence reigned for a moment, a gleam appeared in his eyes that puzzled me, and I regretted asking that question. Alexander settled into his seat and spoke softly, close to my face, as if he didn't want the driver to hear.

-I want to protect you and our son as I should have done from the beginning. I made mistakes in the past that I deeply regret. I won't make the same mistakes again, and I only hope that one day you can forgive me for what I did and didn't do. We both made mistakes; I secretly forgave you for hiding our son from me for so many years. I could have gotten angry and fought for custody of Tristan, but I didn't because we both have a right to him. I know you love him as much as I have come to love him since the moment I met him. I won't make another mistake that hurts the people I love the most because I learned the hard way that you don't hurt those you love. I owe you everything, Sarah. I don't care what I have to do to make sure you're okay, to keep you safe.- My pulse accelerated as he spoke more, and I was annoyed with myself for almost being moved by a bunch of words that were nothing more than that, words.

He was very mistaken if he thought that words would thaw my heart, especially if he talked about Tristan.

-Shut up.- I said quietly in the same way he did.

I held his gaze to let him know that not a single word that came out of his mouth pleased me, to let him know that he hadn't managed to move even the slightest fiber of my being.

-Silence me.- He responded without breaking our eye contact, and of all the ways that crossed my mind to silence him, none came even remotely close to what he did.

His hand landed on my chin, while at the same time he closed the few inches that separated his lips from mine.

He fell silent with a kiss.