Chapter 17 - The Press ConferenceThe flashbulbs blinded Marcus as he stepped up to the podium. Microphones from every major news network crowded the brass stand. The internet had dubbed the scandal “The Maid’s Revenge,” and millions of viewers were tuned into the live streams.
Marcus swallowed hard, his throat dry as sandpaper. He looked down at the speech prepared by Elena’s legal team. Every word was an indictment of his own past blindness, his elitism, and his explosive temper.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Marcus began, his voice echoing through the massive auditorium. "Two weeks ago, an innocent woman was struck in my home, accused of a crime she did not commit, while a monster I trusted tried to murder a child."
A murmur rippled through the press corps.
May you like
"I failed as a leader, I failed as a father, and I failed as a human being," Marcus continued, looking directly into the camera lens that he knew Elena and his son were watching from. "Today, I am stepping down as CEO of Vance Enterprises. I am transferring controlling shares to the Rostova Foundation, and I am dedicating the rest of my life to earning back a fraction of the dignity that true justice demands."
As he stepped away from the podium under a barrage of shouted questions, Marcus felt an odd sensation—not victory, but a strange, heavy weight lifting from his shoulders.
