Married On Paper To The Billionaire
Chapter 41: Two Can Play That Game

"These aren't even new photos. Has she been stalking us?"

"Looks like it but she denied having anything to do with this."

"Please, don't tell me you believe her, Matt. Who else has an axe to grind with you aside from Molly?"

"But I wasn't dating her when these photos were taken. These were from the time we used to go to Lake Victoria for picnics. Your grandmother was even alive then." "Yes. That was about two years ago but don't forget that Molly has had a crush on you since high school. She may have been stalking you the whole time." "Come on, Emilia. Molly's not that crazy. Besides, she's too busy with her work as the supervisor of the farmer's market for her to go trotting in the woods, stalking us." "I know you think Molly is an angel, but I know she did this. This is her way of getting back at me for being with her man.'

"But I'm not hers anymore now, am I?" Matt asked softly and leaned towards Emilia at the dining table.

"

She wasn't amused. She pushed his face away and drew her sleeping robe close above her bosom. Matt sighed and moved away.

"It's only a matter of time before my phone starts buzzing with phone calls from everyone and anyone who knows me personally," she complained. As if on cue, her mother called. Emilia sighed and answered the call.

"What on earth is going on with you and Kane, Emilia? Are you two trying to outdo each other in a competition of 'The Most Scandalous Spouse?""

"I'm sorry, Mom, but it's not what you think. Those photos are old images taken two years ago when Kane and I first broke up."

"And those ones with him and his lovers flying around social media?"

"I don't know about that but I heard they've been deleted off the internet."

"Then make them delete yours too!"

"I'll see what I can do about that."

"So, who's the guy in the photos?"

"His name is Matt. He lives here in Wyoming."

"Oh, I see. I thought he looked familiar. Was he at my mother's funeral?"

"Yes. He was there with his fiancee. I mean, his ex-fiancee."

"Ex? When did they break up?"

Emilia paused before responding. "Yesterday."

"Why?" Her mother asked suspiciously.

"It's a long story, Mom, but the point is, they're not together anymore and I suspect she's the one behind the leaked photos."

"Emilia... are you romantically involved with that Matt fellow?"

"Mom, I'm getting another call right now. Why don't I call you back later?"

"Emilia!"

"Bye, Mom!"

She hung up quickly and exhaled deeply. "Shit!"

"And so it begins..." Matt said ominously.

"Yeah. I'm officially in trouble."

The next person to call her was Kane. As she expected, he was furious with her.

"What kind of dumb stunt are you pulling, Emilia?"

"Says the man who let his pregnant live-in lover leak explicit photos to the press. You're not qualified to judge me, Kane. And for your information, those photos are old."

"How old?"

"Two years. That was when you and I got separated after Kendra framed me. Seems like history just keeps repeating itself where we're concerned."

"If you didn't release those photos, who did and why?"

"I don't know." "Liar."

"Don't call me a liar. You're the liar. You're the one who swore to me that what happened between you and Serena wasn't consensual but you're the one parading her around as a member of your family and sleeping with her right under my nose!"

"I never touched her again after that night in my study."

"Stop lying, Kane. Have you forgotten that I caught you coming out of her bedroom the night before I finally left?"

"So? I only went there to check how she was doing. She'd sent me a text earlier that she was experiencing cramps in her lower abdomen."

"And she couldn't just go to the hospital like every other pregnant woman. I didn't know you also earned a degree in obstetrics!"

"Is that why you left? Because you thought I was sleeping with her again?"

"Yes, and you did nothing to convince me that you weren't. That was all I wanted you to say. I wanted you to assure me that you were still on my side even though Serena is about to have your baby."

He sighed. "Listen, I was in a bad mood from work that evening and after going to see Serena and getting jumped by her, I wasn't in the mood to be interrogated by you. That was why I was snippy with you that night."

"She tried to seduce you?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"So you can barge into her bedroom and beat her to death?"

"You know I wouldn't do that."

"Well..."

"Can I ask you for a favor?"

"What?"

"I need those leaked pictures deleted from the internet, just like yours."

"You still haven't told me who that guy is."

"Does it matter? I told you the photos are old."

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"It matters, Emilia. You're still in Wyoming and I am aware that Travis isn't there with you. So, are you alone or are you with that guy?"

"Does Serena still live in the mansion?"

"What has she got to do with this?"

"Everything, Kane. I'm not in the mansion with you and her, so how do I know that you two haven't rekindled your non-consensual affair?"

"I see... so, you're with him, aren't you?"

She was silent.

"Answer me!"

"Don't yell at me. I don't owe you any explanation about what I'm doing here or who I'm with. We're separated, remember?"

"Is that so?"

"Yes, Kane. Two can play that game."

"We'll see about that," he growled and hung up.

Emilia released the breath she didn't know she was holding. She knew she'd just pissed off her husband and there was no telling what he would do to get back at her for that. Matt reached towards her and rubbed her shoulder gently. "Is he annoyed?"

"Very."

"Good. He should get a taste of his own medicine. You've suffered enough humiliation at his hands. Let him experience some embarrassment too."

She chuckled. "You don't like my husband very much, do you?"

"I despise him," he joked. "is he going to delete the photos for you?"

"I doubt it but I don't care. He's just as guilty as I am."

"It's a tit-for-tat season," Matt laughed and checked his wristwatch. "I better get going. Molly's father is already threatening to fire me because I broke his daughter's heart." "Poor guy."

"More like, selfish guy. The only reason I still have my job is that he knows nobody else can work hard as I do on that ranch."

"Tread lightly, Matt. Nobody is indispensable."

"Maybe. See you later?"

"Sure. I'll be here, I've got nowhere else to go.

"Great," he said and leaned forward to kiss her. She allowed him this time and it almost developed into a full-blown smooch. "Go away!" She laughed and playfully pushed him away.

"You don't even understand how I feel about you, Emilia," he said softly. "You're my dream woman. I hope I won't lose you again." His serious tone made her sober. He sounded as if he was falling in love with her and that bothered her a little.

"I'll walk you to the door," she said and got to her feet. He followed her cue and stood up too.

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When they got to the front door, he opened it and then turned towards her for a goodbye hug. As he squished her against his chest, she heard loud clicks going off repeatedly and she immediately stepped away from him. She looked in the direction of the sounds and was mortified to see three paparazzi standing near the low picket fence with their long-range lenses pointing at her and Matt, taking photos of them. "Holy crap!" She exclaimed and hurried back into the house before slamming the door shut.

"Get lost!" Matt yelled at them outside as he walked towards his truck that was parked in the driveway.

They ignored his outbursts and continued taking photos of him as he got into the truck and zoomed off. Emilia stood beside a window and peeped at the photographers through the curtains. They were now circling the house and taking more photos. Emilia knew that it was only a matter of time before more paparazzi showed up to join these.

"I'm not safe here anymore," she whispered to herself.

She and Matt agreed to stay away from each other for the time being until the paparazzi got bored and left. One week passed but they refused to leave. Instead, more showed up.

Meanwhile, Lillian and Samuel were interviewed by a couple's magazine doing a feature on their vow renewal. They were asked about the unpalatable drama going on between Emilia and Kane, and Lillian was quoted as saying, "Haven't you

all wondered why all these embarrassing photo leaks suddenly started happening after Emilia Taylor joined our family? We're not tacky like that. We fight our battles subtly without raising dust."

Emilia was not the only one who felt insulted by that remark. Her family urged her to return to California and beat the Beaumonts at their own game.

"What would I do?" She asked.

"Hire a competent PR company to release a counter statement and fix your image," her mother replied. "You can't keep allowing those people to drag your name through the mud every time. Enough is enough!"

She took her mother's advice and returned to the city. It was a struggle to get past the crowd of paparazzi who were determined to get as many photos of her as they can manage.

She moved into her parents' home and was more than happy to be reunited with her son. She told them about her exploits in Norwalk and everyone consoled her when she broke down as she relieved the experience. "Now dear, it's time for you to stop being a victim and take charge of your story," said Lara. "This is your time to reclaim your life and show those Beaumonts that you're no pushover."

Emilia agreed. She was tired of being used and abused by Kane and his family. She reached out to a top PR firm in the city and they were more than happy to work with her.

After three days of intensive planning and reviews, her official statement was finally released and it turned out to be the bombshell she expected it to be.

"A riveting press statement released by Emilia Beaumont's PR team has got the whole nation talking," said a news anchor on TV during the 9 p.m. news broadcast. It was the celebrity segment and the press release was the biggest story on their hot topics list.

"In the 7-page statement, Mrs Beaumont reveals that she and her husband have been separated for a while now on account of alleged infidelity. The socialite claims that her husband, Kane Beaumont, has been having an illicit affair with his late brother's pregnant lover, Serena Filipe, who currently lives in the family mansion."

The newscaster paused meaningfully before continuing her report. "Mrs Beaumont further claims that the toxicity of her marriage forced her to leave the Beaumont mansion with her little son. According to her, Mr Beaumont had ceased all efforts to find their missing daughter who was kidnapped from their home nearly a year ago, because Miss Filipe is about to produce a replacement for him with his family's blessing."

That final part of the statement raised speculations about the paternity of Serena's baby. Emilia was approached by various news outlets for exclusive interviews but she turned them down.

She wasn't interested in sensationalizing this issue, she just wanted to drag Kane and his family for filth as they'd done to her and hers.

"Do you realize what you've done?" Kane confronted her on the phone the next day.

"Yes, Kane. I simply took charge of the narrative and beat you at your own game. I'm done with playing the victim. I'm taking control of my life and my story."

"By disgracing my family?"

"Have you read Lillian's interview? Did you see what she said about my family?"

"This isn't a family war, Emilia. This should've just been between me and you."

"Well, it has gone beyond that now, hasn't it? Anyway, you asked who Matt was the other day. Here's your answer, he's my lover."

"What!"

"That's right, Kane. I'm not that timid girl you married anymore. I'm now a woman who's in charge of her life and her public image. I will not be humiliated by you again. That era is officially over!"