Chapter 142

Melanie turned toward the room and faced the sea of expectant faces. For a moment, she said nothing. The silence stretched and then, she sent a look at where Adam was seated and slowly began,” Not many people know of Adam Collins, the blacksheep of the Collins’ family. Just now, Sir Collins told you of how he cannot be bothered with the public opinion of him. It is indeed true. They say who can know Adam better than the man who helped raise him?”
“I have not known Adam for long. He came into my life… when I was at the lowest and we quickly fell in love. But love, as I’ve come to understand, isn’t always enough to hold two people together. Not when the two people do not know each other well enough. Like it happened with us.”
Adam felt his stomach drop. It seemed that Melanie really did believe the lies that they had spouted and now, she was going to be the one to reveal them to the world. He sighed and even as his eyes hardened, he was ready to leave. If Melanie would not give him a chance to explain then…
Meanwhile, Robert Collins exchanged a look with Saira, feeling triumphant. This would be even more perfect. If Melanie was going to be the one to announce everything then it would be even more believable.
All the reporters straightened and almost simultaneously leaned forward, sensing a scoop.
Melanie continued,” Today, I learnt that the carefree man I have come to know in the last few months is not real. And it was none other than Sir collins’ who made me realise it.”
Adam stood up halfway, ready to leave when Melanie continued,” Today, he gave a new aspect to our relationship. Trust.”
Adam froze, mid-motion. Slowly, as if drawn back by an invisible thread, he turned his head to look at her. His eyes searched her face, trying to read the change. Behind him, a reporter whispered something—likely telling him to sit. And he did, sinking back into his seat with a soft, uncertain thump.
“When the news broke out about Adam’s apparent cheating on me, I was at a loss. Then, Sir Collins invited me to the Collins’ mansion and said a few things that made me realize that I trust my husband.”
A ripple passed through the crowd at her words and she continuned, “Saira and Adam are childhood friends. They grew up together and slowly fell in love with each other. However, their relationship soured a little while after they started dating. Naturally, because she had grown up with the family, Sir Collins took her under her wing, treating her like his family. Because their paths never crossed after that, there were still a lot of unresolved feelings between the two people.”
Sir Robert allowed himself a slow, measured breath. His fingers unclenched on the armrest of his chair. For the first time that day, a flicker of smug satisfaction settled over his face. He glanced toward Saira, who kept her eyes downcast, looking the epitome of a victimized innocent who had been wrongly accused. Melanie was finally going to confirm what he wanted her to. And coming from her, it would be much more believable and damning.
Just then, Melanie pressed a button on a small remote and behind them a large screen came to life.
It started quietly—a blurry black-and-white video began to play. One of the reporters noticed it first. His eyes widened, and he quickly pulled out his camera to start recording. Soon, more reporters followed, leaning forward with interest as a buzz spread through the room.
The first video started.
It showed a small, dim wine cellar. In the footage, Saira walked quickly toward Adam and threw herself at him. She put her arms around his waist, her head on his chest, just like in the photo that had been shown to everyone before and shared on the social media. But the video revealed something the photo didn’t.
Adam didn’t hug her back. He didn’t even move. He stood stiffly, and didn’t even lift his arms to hug her back.
Whispers began to ripple through the crowd, louder this time and all the cameras flashed. Pens scribbled. Sir Robert frowned at the sudden energy in the room, and turned his head to look where everyone’s attention was focused.
And then the second video clip began to play. The one with the picture in the conference room where once again, it was clear that Saira was the one who approached him, tried to initiate a kiss while Adam was the one who stepped away. Gasps echoed from the reporters’ row.
It was clear from both the videos that the photos shared on social media had been deliberately edited to look as if Adam and Saira were close while the video showed a completely different truth.
Sir Robert had frozen in disbelief when he saw the clips playing on the screen. He turned back toward the podium, wanting to stop it, but knew it was too late. The damage had been done.
“When Saira, who was still in love with Adam, tried—and failed—to get close to him, she made a choice. A desperate one. She decided that if she couldn’t win him back with affection, then she would do it with scandal. She wanted to create a situation so damning, so public, that Adam would have no choice but to return to her.”
“And thanks to her, I realized that though Adam Collins cannot care about public opinion, his love for me is true.”
Before Melanie could say anything more, the room erupted.
Reporters shot up from their chairs, voices overlapping as they shouted over each other.
“Mrs. Collins, when did you first get suspicious?”
“Who gave you the videos?”
“Does Adam know you had these clips?”
“Are you saying the entire scandal was fake?”
The flashes from cameras were blinding now, and the noise swelled like a wave crashing over her as Melanie tried to get everyone to calm down.