Free Web NovelChapter 551: I Owe Michael And Wendy An Apology
The press conference would begin at 10 the next morning.
Wendy and Michael would want to be present personally.
They would want to see Christian ruin his own reputation before their very eyes.
After Michael and Wendy sent the twins to kindergarten in the morning, they headed to the press conference venue.
By the time they arrived, it was 10 minutes to 10.
Many reporters were present by then.
Wendy looked at the reporters and whispered to Michael, "Christian is going pretty big with this. He didn’t just invite reporters from minor media outlets to merely get over and done with matters."
"As long as one reporter is present, all Christian’s releases will make headlines. By the next day, everyone is bound to know," Michael whispered in response to Wendy.
"Moreover, with Clement in my hands, playing such dirty tricks isn’t going to work.
"If I were dissatisfied by this and refused to release Clement, what could Christian do?"
"That’s true." Wendy nodded, agreeing with Michael’s words.
Clement was still in their hands, indeed.
If Christian were unwilling to agree to their terms, he could have refused the day before.
To have agreed to the terms and then to play dirty tricks would be unnecessary.
The reporters around soon noticed Wendy and Michael, and promptly crowded around them.
"Mr. and Mrs. Lucas, why are you at the press conference venue? Aren’t you both rivals with Mr. Christian Lucas?"
"Mr. Lucas, do you happen to know the purpose for Mr. Christian Lucas to hold this press conference? Can you reveal some of what you know?"
"Can you verify whether the rumors surrounding Mrs. Lucas true? Is the child that Mrs. Lucas carrying really yours, Mr. Lucas?"
"Mr. Lucas, what are your views about what has been released by the tabloids?"
"Mrs. Lucas, can you verify who’s the father of your unborn child?"
"Mrs. Lucas, while you were in Rheinsville City, how many men were you romantically involved with? Are you still in contact with Mr. Todd Lewis? Does he know about your pregnancy?"
.
The more Michael heard the reporters’ questions, the angrier he became.
There was no need for him to respond to any of these queries.
After all, Christian would rectify them shortly.
"Sorry, we would not be accepting interviews today," Michael responded as he held out a protective hand around Wendy and pushed the reporters aside with his other hand, making way for Wendy to walk through.
With that, he found an inconspicuous corner for Wendy to be seated at.
While the reporters were dying to hear from the couple, Michael had been clear with his stand... they would not give any statement.
Even the reporters feared that approaching them might incur Michael’s wrath.
Moreover, it was Christian who was hosting the press conference that day.
There would likely be a major announcement coming up, and there was no need to be impatient by trying to snag an interview with Michael Lucas.
Time ticked by.
It was soon 10 o’clock.
Christian entered in a suit and leather dress shoes.
Once he entered, all cameras were directed at him.
He took his place centerstage and wore an icy expression on his face.
He scanned the audience below, and as he had expected, he noticed Wendy and Michael seated among the crowd of reporters.
At such a time, they would be personally present.
"Greetings, I am Christian Lucas.
"I’d like to extend my gratitude towards each of you present.
"Thank you for taking precious time out to be in attendance at this press conference," Christian spoke in a glacial tone and gave a simple and straightforward opening.
Michael, who was in the crowd, held tightly onto Wendy’s hand.
Turning, he smiled warmly at her.
They were both awaiting what Christian had to say next.
Cameras were flashing wildly at this point.
The atmosphere was thick in anticipation as the reporters were also aware that big news awaited them.
For someone like Christian to hold a press conference, it had to be a major announcement.
...
Christian’s gaze shot past the crowd of reporters and fell on Wendy and Michael.
His posture was upright, and his hands initially hung by his sides.
At the sight of the couple, his fists were quickly balled up.
Christian closed his eyes for a moment.
When he opened them again, he announced, "I have invited all of you here to clarify something..."
Christian paused.
That got all the reporters to their feet.
"A few days ago, there were tabloid news relating to Wendy Stewart. I released them all," Christian continued.
At this, Michaels’ grip on Wendy’s hand tightened further.
His wife should not be subject to such defamation.
How Christian had slandered Wendy, he had to do likewise to clarify matters.
And at this mere line, reporters were all thrown into a flurry.
"Mr. Christian Lucas, what do you mean when you say that you released them all?"
"Did you slander Ms. Wendy Stewart on purpose?"
"What motivated you to make such a broadcast about Ms. Wendy Stewart? Was it due to personal vendetta or business competition?"
"Why did you intentionally ruin Ms. Wendy Stewart’s reputation? What was your purpose? Did you want to create a rift between Mr. Michael Lucas and Ms. Wendy Stewart and cause them to divorce?"
"Is your intention to cause Mr. Michael Lucas to lose his focus at work over personal matters so that you can strengthen your business standing in Lake City?"
"Mr. Christian Lucas, since you released these tabloid news articles, why are you clarifying this right now? What caused you to hold today’s press conference?"
"There were many negative press releases about you in the past. Were those also a result of business rivalry? Did you release news to defame Wendy Stewart and to direct the attention of critics to her, and then reduce the majority’s focus on you?"
"All the past articles about you, are they true? Did you really hit Ms. Zen Tanner?
She was pregnant with your child, and you forced her to work. Is that true as well?"
.
A mere sentence from Christian had triggered numerous questions from the reporters.
Moreover, each question hit Christian where it hurt most.
Taking a deep breath, Christian kept his eyes on Michael. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
Seeing the smile that stretched from ear to ear over his face, Christian shook in anger.
He had been extreme in his tactics to force Christian to ruin his reputation by his own hands.
"Mr. Christian Lucas, can you respond to our questions directly?"
"May we know why you are clarifying these today? You do know the impact of today’s press conference on you, don’t you?"
"Are you being blackmailed or are you speaking out of a guilty conscience?"
"Mr. Lucas, please respond to our questions."
.
.
.
"I’m sorry, the press conference ends here for today. I will not be elaborating further on this." Christian then stepped off the stage.
The reporters would not let him go so easily and had all huddled around him.
Anticipating the chaos during the event, Christian had called on several bodyguards on standby.
These bodyguards held the thronging reporters back.
Walking past Michael, Christian gritted his teeth and in a hushed tone, spoke, "Well played, Michael."
Michael merely smiled slightly in response.
The slight angle of Michael’s lips was especially repulsive to Christian.
The eager reporters watched helplessly as Christian had left under heavy protection of his bodyguards, unable to get an interview with him.
Nonetheless, the single sentence that Christian had uttered was enough to make headlines.
...
In no time, the press conference was fleshed out in the headlines across several major news outlets.
Within a mere hour, it topped search engines.
Wendy and Michael kept their eyes on the tabloid news articles that were released.
After all, this was an important matter concerning Wendy’s reputation.
Only after seeing the tables turn in their favor across comments on the internet were they put at ease.
The headlines that Wendy read was, ’DR Group’s Christian Lucas Admits Defaming Wendy Stewart’.
That headline caught Wendy’s attention, and she tapped on it without a second thought.
Most articles had similar content, since Christian had only said a few words.
The news had transcribed Christian’s speech and included a snippet of it into their lineup.
The video snippet was only a few seconds long.
However, the last line he said had been sufficient.
The comments kept pouring in.
"Gosh, did the tables turn again? Well, this matter isn’t something you should pick sides over. It’s a good thing I didn’t follow the crowd to criticize Wendy. Otherwise, I’d be beating myself up!"
"What is this? Christian acknowledges responsibility for releasing those news articles? Isn’t that the same as telling everyone that he slandered Wendy Stewart?"
"Ahhhhhh! I’m sorry, Wendy, I almost believed all those words on the net. I even joined in to criticize you. Let me give you my deepest bow in apology, sorry!"
"I knew that Wendy can’t be someone like that! For someone to be able to come up with such great designs, how can she have a poor character? I support you, Wendy! ƒrēewebnovel.com
Keep it up!"
"This Christian Lucas is too much. What a gossip-generating pair of lips, running to the ends of the earth with fake news. Wendy is pregnant and still has to suffer criticism from keyboard warriors. What a pitiful soul. Now with one word, does he think he can really clarify matters and let bygones be bygones?"
"Exactly. Watching the entire snippet, there wasn’t even an apology. He slandered another individual. Shouldn’t he sincerely say ’sorry’? This Christian Lucas is too rude."
"Am I the only one who’s a conspiracy theorist? Has anyone thought about why Christian released the news and chose to only own up to it now? He can’t be ruining his own reputation with no rhyme or reason, can he?"
"You with that comment above must be sick somewhere. Are you making a victim out of him? When those articles were released, they were so dodgy. Regardless of what kind of person Wendy Stewart is, those articles had never produced any shred of evidence. The only thing that was published was a photograph of Wendy Stewart and Todd Lewis. At that point, they were in a relationship. Wasn’t it normal for them to have a photograph together? Moreover, in that photograph, Todd Lewis’s arm was only placed on Wendy Stewart’s shoulder. Other than that, there was nothing. So I never found the claims in those articles believable."
"As for whatever the speculations are, isn’t that just trying to say that Michael Lucas did something underhanded to force Christian Lucas to come out and admit his doing? This was always Christian Lucas’s fault. Can’t Michael Lucas and Wendy Stewart do something to fight back?"
"I too found it hard to believe then! There wasn’t anything convincing to hold against Wendy Stewart. While Christian Lucas has a ton of evidence against him. The clip is clear enough, yet there’s some naive person here trying to whitewash Christian Lucas."
"Oh no, I liked Christian Lucas for so long. I’m in deep regret. How did I ever fall for a lowlife like that? This is horrible!"
"I owe Wendy and Mr. Lucas an apology. I sincerely would like to say, ’sorry’. And on a final note, Christian Lucas, you scum!"
