Divorced Heiress
Chapter 8

NARRATES SARAH.

I hadn't slept a wink all night, despite the banquet serving as a distraction from my problems, I couldn't help but keep thinking about the photo Rachel sent me. In the end, she had gotten her way, but in a way, I felt relieved to find out before it was too late. Now I had to focus on my baby and my new, surprising, and unexpected position as the vice president of Doinel. I didn't want to disappoint my father if he was placing all his trust in me. I just hoped this role didn't become too much for me.

I got up five minutes after tossing and turning in bed. I had to make an appearance at the company today and I wanted to look presentable. The careless and unkempt Sarah had stayed in New York, along with a failed marriage. After taking a relaxing bubble bath, I put on a navy blue executive dress and a black blazer, simple but fitting for the occasion. I was about to finish styling my hair when the door to my room opened abruptly.

"You have to see this!" Abby entered the room with a serious expression, her eyes about to spark. I looked at her confused, not knowing why she entered my room like that, so early in the morning without even saying hello. "Good morning, Abby. I slept well last night, thank you for your concern." I said without taking my eyes off her obviously displeased face with whatever she was seeing on her phone.

She approached me and hugged me for a few seconds, realizing how rude she had been.

"I'm sorry, Sarah. It's just that they're despicable. Look at the news they've come up with." Abby showed me her phone. My eyes widened, and my heart sank in my chest as I read my name in the headlines. "Sources inform us that Paul Dubois has been the reason for Sarah Petit's separation from renowned CEO Alexander Lancaster."

"Infidelity on the part of the new vice president of Doinel is said to have ended her two-year marriage with businessman Lancaster."

"Paul Dubois, Sarah Petit, Alexander Lancaster, a love triangle that ended a happy marriage."

"What the hell?" I said barely audible, not needing to read more to realize that the responsible party for the news was NY Entertainment.

They had used photos from the banquet to twist the context, and I knew exactly who did it, Alexander Lancaster.

NY Entertainment was associated with Lancaster Collection, so of course, they would use their influence to tarnish my reputation after our separation.

Moreover, no one but my family and Alexander knew about the divorce, considering that my parents were not willing to unveil their daughter's identity publicly.

I ruled them out entirely, especially since they would never do anything to harm me. Adding to that, I had no contact with NY Entertainment, leaving Alexander Lancaster as the only suspect. Why?

What did he gain by defaming me like this when he knows the true reasons for our separation?

Was I such a terrible wife to him?

I couldn't believe I was married to such a despicable man who didn't care about others' reputations, only his own. He was hitting me with this blow as if I were going to expose his infidelity.

With tears in my eyes and heavy breathing, I searched for my phone on the nightstand. I had kept it turned off all night, and when I turned it on, the notifications poured in. I was being tagged in all the news where they shamelessly changed the version. I quickly became a trending topic on social media.

"What a rage! How did the news reach NY Entertainment, being a private event, and in France! Even the local media hasn't dared to comment on it." I said, giving her a look as if the answer was obvious. Her mouth opened, understanding who was behind all the rumors.

"Oh, that son of a... How dare he? Apart from cheating on you with your ex-friend and getting you pregnant, he comes to clear his name with false accusations. I can't believe it. What kind of monster were you married to? This wouldn't have happened if you had noticed my brother. Despite the gossip about him being involved with other women, he would never do something like this. For starters, he would never neglect you as his wife."

Abby seemed more upset than me. Although I was more hurt than upset, I never imagined this from Alexander, why not leave everything behind? Why cause a scandal? Why did he want to defame me?

"If he thinks I will just sit idly by, he's very mistaken." I said, wiping away my tears and regaining my composure.

Enough of the weak Sarah that everyone trampled on whenever they pleased, she wasn't the same person who was humiliated and didn't retaliate, that ended the moment I left New York. Were you looking for the real reason for the divorce? Well, I would give it to you.

"Yes! That's it! That's my Sarah, show them who they're messing with, teach them a lesson, make them never want to slander you again! And if they do, I'll be capable of traveling to New York and punching your ex-husband. He deserves it for being an a*****e." Abby seemed ecstatic to see my sudden change in mood, she knew I was going to strike back.

I logged into my social media and looked at each photo with Alexander with a bitter taste in my mouth, and with all the pain in my soul, I deleted them one by one, leaving my profile completely empty. Alexander's profile caught my attention and I didn't hesitate to block him, I didn't want to have anything to do with him, especially after what I was about to do.

I contacted Damien, an old friend and the owner of Rousell Entertainment, the most important international celebrity magazine known for the truthfulness of its news. This wouldn't be an exception.

"Sarah? My goodness, it's been so long since I heard from you. But wait, can you explain to me what's going on? I couldn't ignore the news about your divorce." He asked as soon as I dialed my old friend's phone number.

"Damien, dear friend, why do you think I'm calling you? I'll give you the real reason for my divorce with Alexander Lancaster, you'll have my exclusive version, with evidence in hand." I said determinedly, not caring about the implications, I was going to damage Alexander's image by doing so, but he didn't care when he wanted to make me the bad one.

Abby jumped with excitement all over the room when she heard me serious and determined, without a trace of remorse on my face.

"It's an honor for me to publish your version of events, send me everything and I will make sure that article comes out as soon as possible. I knew that the Sarah they talk about is not the same one I know." I said goodbye to Damien and sent him the information along with the photo that Rachel had sent me via email.

That photo that hurt me as soon as I received it became a double-edged sword, it was the irrefutable proof that I didn't cheat on Alexander and it would refute all those notes that portrayed me in a bad light.

"You're my idol, I love you. If I were in your place, I would have deactivated my social media and disappeared from the map." Abby said after I sent the email, and I looked at her with amusement.

"Please, Abby. Lies always come to light and the public will realize that they misinterpreted the photos. Can't I hug my friends? So, the people I hug will become my lovers? I was surprised they didn't say I had a romance with Leonardo Doinel." I said calmly as I continued to fix my hair and prepare everything to go to the company.

Abby burst into laughter and sat on the bed with her legs crossed.

"Just wait until they find out you're Leonardo Doinel's daughter, they will kneel down and apologize for all the humiliations. Those witches will regret telling you over and over again that you were a nobody, when they find out you're not a Petit but a Doinel." I looked at her through the mirror, her face filled with satisfaction just by imagining it. But that wouldn't be possible.

Not until I earn everyone's respect for being Sarah Petit and not for being Leonardo Doinel's daughter.

"Sari?" My father's voice interrupted our conversation and Abby stopped laughing, her expression turning serious.

"Miss Dubois, you're here so early."

"Mr. Doinel, this is also my house, your wife has told me a hundred times."

My father looked at her with a furrowed brow, but said nothing, he knew how "funny" my friend could be.

"Sari, before going to the company, we will go for a prenatal check-up, I want to make sure everything is going well with my grandson." A shiver ran down my spine when I heard that.

My father was right, with all the divorce stuff, my return to France, my new position, the scandal of an affair, I had forgotten that I needed to check that my pregnancy was going well.

"I think that's an excellent idea, I also want to go meet my nephew." before I could respond to my father, Abby was already speaking with a bright, excited smile.

"When will you stop being so impertinent, Miss Dubois?" my father asked seriously, although it was clear he was holding back laughter.

"When you accept that you love me like a daughter." Abby responded with an innocent smile. She only needed a halo to declare that she was a fallen angel from heaven.

"I'll wait for you in the car." My father ostentatiously ignored my friend and left the room without saying anything else.

Apparently, he hadn't realized the media scandal I was involved in, and I hoped he still didn't know, at least until I could prove that I was innocent of everything that was said about me. "Your father adores me! He invited me to go with you!" Abby said excitedly, although he had always adored her, he just didn't agree with how liberal she was.

"Uh, you invited yourself, friend." I said to purposely wipe the smile off her face, but that didn't happen.

"Anyway, he's always loved you. It won't be long before he calls you his daughter."

Abby laughed at me and my phone began to ring with more notifications. I slid my finger across the screen and the notification from Rousell Entertainment caught my attention. "The real reason for Sarah Petit and Alexander Lancaster's divorce."

My skin tingled when I saw the title of the article and a smile of satisfaction appeared on my face. Abby, seeing my expression, approached me and looked at my phone screen.

"Oh my God, our dear friend is so efficient. It hasn't even been ten minutes since you sent the information." I ignored Abby's excitement and continued reading the article.

"An affair has ended Sarah Petit and Alexander Lancaster's two-year marriage, but it wasn't by Sarah's hand, it was by the renowned businessman, CEO of Lancaster Collection, Alexander Lancaster, who had a secret relationship with Sarah's best friend and former college classmate, Rachel Duncan. Want proof? We have proof!"

The photo of Rachel next to Alexander with a bare torso appeared below the text and I couldn't help but smile in victory.

Soon, social media began to explode and the criticism completely changed direction, the negative comments towards me turned into messages of encouragement.

Alexander didn't hesitate to put me in such a vulnerable position, what he didn't expect was for me to respond with the same strength as him, through reputable media outlets, wasn't it enough for him to sign the divorce without any scandals involved? He brought this upon himself and now my innocence and the true reason for our divorce were being proven.

Adultery.