Chapter Fourteen

"Atticus, what is the press conference about?"

Atticus, who had returned to change into another suit, was welcomed by his grandpa's question.

Even though he has his own house, his grandfather forbids him from leaving the mansion with his luggage. Mr. Sawyer knew that if that happens, Atticus would distance himself from his half-sibling.

"Grandpa, I have everything under control," he replied, trying to calm down.

"You have everything under control, or are you trying to get things out of control?" Mr. Sawyer asked coldly. "Cancel the press conference. You don't have to clarify anything — rumors die faster when no one react to it"

"I am sorry, grandpa, I think I would have to disobey you this time," his voice echoed before the sound of his footsteps trailed off.

After walking into his room, he took a quick shower before changing into the suit his grandpa gifted him during his 25th birthday.

He hesitated before heading out of his room after he was done dressing up. He got into his car, and without hesitating, he drove off to the conference center.

Given the number of cars in the garage, he knew the hall would be crowded with reporters.

He exhaled sharply before getting out of the car. He forced a smile to brighten the pale look on his face before entering the hall.

With the security men next to him, he was able to reach the podium without an issue.

He leaned closer to the microphone, his gaze concentrated on the reporters present. "I am here to inform everyone that the news circulating about my wife is true. She used to work as a stripper, but there is a story behind that."

"And what story could be behind the daughter of a wealthy family working as a stripper?" One of the reporters' questions echoed.

"She used to work as a stripper to aid Kieran Holdings behind shadows. She is Kieran family's cash cow," Atticus replied calmly, going on a brief pause as he exhaled slowly. "Since she wasn't complying with Kieran family's desire to sell her off to an ex-convict with three rape rows, Mr. Kieran decided to expose my wife's occupation."

"How can that be true?" Another reporter asked.

"It is the truth because the reporter who dropped an article about it a few minutes ago informed me about everything," he replied calmly.

He took his gaze off the reporters before concluding his press conference. "To everyone, my wife Sabrina no longer works as a stripper. I don't care what kind of work she does, I love her unconditionally. All I care about is Sabrina being my wife. My woman."

His words left everyone stunned.

Atticus did not wait for the reporters to throw more questions at him before heading out.

***

Sabrina, who was sleeping peacefully, not wanting to wake up after the stress she went through in the morning, was woken up by her friend's voice.

She had been sleeping since she woke up to this moment. It was already 5 pm, the time she usually grabbed lunch, but she didn't feel hungry. What she felt was pure rage.

"Gabby, I want to sleep, please," Sabrina frowned, trying to avoid eye contact with Gabriella.

"If you don't get your ass down so I could feed you, you won't like me. You have been sleeping from 12 pm to 5 pm, and you expect me to just leave after an empty threat from you?" From Gabriella's voice, Sabrina knew she meant no joke.

She sat up, finally looking at Gabriella. "Fine, but I am not hungry. I might throw up if I eat something. The poison is still—"

"Oh, I forgot to ask; why the hell didn't you inform me you were poisoned? What if the poison eventually killed you?"

Sabrina bit her lips as she listened to Gabriella. Seeing Gabriella here, she knew she was going to receive quite the yells.

"Gabriella, it is a test poison. And besides, you said 'what if'," she tried to act cute to quench down Gabriella's anger. "I won't die now, so don't be afraid of losing a friend too soon."

"Geez, you know how to kill my anger. I came here prepared to input sense into your brainless skull, but you end up—"

"Gabby, I am sorry, uh?" Sabrina apologized, tickling Gabriella.

After a while of tickling, Sabrina finally stopped, hoping Gabriella wouldn't talk about it anymore.

"Sabby," Gabriella called out calmly. "Your father exposed your occupation as a stripper to the media—"

"Gabriella, is that going to affect the Sawyer family in any way? I knew this would happen when they opposed my marriage. Cheap fools!" Sabrina's question silenced her friend.

Gabriella hesitated before replying, "It should, but Atticus's press conference turned the table. He used the victim card and God, you wouldn't want to miss out watching his speech."

Her eyes widened at her friend's words. Curiosity crept into her, urging her to ask for the video.

Unable to deny her curiosity anymore, she finally begged, "Gabby, please can you give me the—"

"No need to beg, you can watch it by just requesting. After all, he is your husband," Gabriella said before handing over her phone to Sabrina.

Sabrina's heart skipped as she watched the video. Many questions clouded her mind after she was done watching the video.

Starting from how he defended her, and the look on his face when he said those words, Sabrina found it hard to believe it was fake.

"Sabrina, Atticus is here," Gabriella's voice made her snap out of her thoughts.

"Gabby, can you please excuse us," Sabrina requested.

"Sure," With that, Gabriella left with her food flask.

Sabrina waited for a few minutes to make sure Gabriella had left before she walked up to Atticus, who was standing like a frame, watching what she was up to.

"Why did you defend me out there? Also, must you say things you really didn't mean?" Sabrina asked, her voice barely above whispers and her sapphire eyes piercing through Atticus's golden crystal eyes.

"Can't I defend my wife? Have you forgotten the reason why we got married?" He asked, forcing her to remember her own term. "I am going to be that man who would protect you and avenge for you."

"Why do you have to be that man? Aren't you making up excuses because you like me?" She asked, finally letting off the question she had been hiding for a while now.

Atticus burst into laughter at her question before throwing his. "Am I not permitted to like you?"