Sham Marriage Quit Real Heiress Strikes Back novel Chapter 63

"Then why is every outlet reporting it that way?"

"For clicks," the nurse replied. "These days some of those trashy sites will twist anything just to drive traffic."

She had not noticed Elena and Sophia standing nearby. Their voices faded down the hallway.

Sophia's face darkened. "Those vultures."

Elena was not surprised. She had been in media long enough to know the industry was not what it used to be. Engagement often mattered more than accuracy.

"So what do we do now?" Sophia asked, completely at a loss.

Elena let out a quiet breath. "We wait."

The hospital room door was slightly open. Inside, the woman sat alone on the bed, wiping her tears. An IV drip was still hooked to her arm. Elena remained seated outside, watching.

The woman slowly got out of bed and reached for the IV stand. One arm was injured, and her movements were clumsy. She tried several times to unhook the drip herself, standing on her toes despite the pain, but she could not manage it.

She winced, clearly hurting, and was about to press the call button when a hand reached out and unhooked the IV bag for her.

"Do you need the restroom?" Elena asked gently. "I'll help you."

The woman looked up and recognized her as the reporter who had tried to interview her earlier.

Her instinct was to refuse, but urgency won. "Thank you," she said stiffly.

Elena held the IV bag and walked her to the restroom. She waited outside the door, holding the line steady until the woman came out.

Back in the room, the woman sat on the bed again. Her tone was still cold. "I won't accept your interview. Right now I hate reporters more than anyone."

"I understand how you feel," Elena said calmly.

Seeing that her attitude had softened slightly, Elena pulled a chair closer and sat across from her.

"I was at the scene yesterday. I saw your husband's injuries."

At the mention of her husband, tears spilled down the woman's face.

"If I were like the other reporters rushing to break the story first, I wouldn't be here today," Elena continued. "I came because I want the truth. And I believe your husband is a good man. Otherwise he wouldn't have risked his life to protect you and your child."

The woman covered her face and sobbed. "The people online don't even know him. How can they just believe rumors and tear him apart like that?"

"If you don't speak up, the harassment won't stop," Elena said evenly. "I know you don't trust our profession, but right now I can help you."

Sophia was waiting outside when her phone rang. She answered, hurried downstairs, and returned less than five minutes later. By then, Elena had already stepped out of the room.

"Do you really think this story is going to generate buzz?" she asked coolly, leaning back in her chair.

"I think the truth matters more than buzz," Elena replied.

Stories about domestic violence and gender conflict spread faster and stirred emotion easily, but that was not what happened.

Her professional ethics told her accuracy came first.

"Are you questioning my judgment?" Lydia's tone sharpened.

Just then, the office door swung open. Luna walked in holding a stack of documents, smiling brightly. "Lydia, I've organized the interview you assigned me. Oh, and I heard Mr. Kingsley is coming by today. Aren't you going to see him?"

Mr. Kingsley? Elena's brows lifted almost imperceptibly.

Does she mean Alexander? Is there some connection between Lydia and Alexander?

"Stop it. Get back to work," Lydia said, shooting Luna a warning glance.

Luna refused to leave. "Why so shy? Everyone here knows you and Mr. Kingsley went to the same university. Didn't you turn down a high-paying job overseas because of him and choose Velmora instead?"

Elena had no interest in gossip, even when it involved her future husband.