CHAPTER 121: CHAPTER 121

At that moment, Lisa couldn’t help but smile warmly. Seeing Oliver back again brought back so many emotions she had carefully buried deep inside her heart. She had missed him tremendously. When Oliver had initially announced his decision to leave behind the mafia life, to return to his biological family and pursue a peaceful existence, Lisa had felt a deep pang of sadness. Yet, she had managed to conceal her sorrow, offering him only encouragement and her best wishes, hoping he would find the happiness he longed for.

Now, witnessing him standing before her once more, acknowledging that his venture hadn’t turned out the way he’d hoped, she felt immense relief and joy surge within her. Oliver’s return wasn’t merely about reclaiming his position; it was also about regaining the part of herself that she had lost when he left.

Before Oliver opened the car door, he turned back towards Lisa, his expression serious and determined. "Lisa," he said, his voice steady but firm, "please keep me informed. Any news at all, if Cora debunks this rumor, or Samuel says anything to confirm or deny it, let me know immediately."

Lisa nodded swiftly, her eyes shining with sincere dedication. "Of course, Oliver. You can count on me."

With one final, reassuring glance toward her, Oliver entered the car, started the engine, and began driving away. As the distance increased, his face darkened with a fierce anger brewing silently inside him. Deep in his heart, Oliver knew precisely who was behind this scandal. It was Samuel’s doing. This realization only fueled his determination not to stand idly by while someone took advantage of Cora in such a disgraceful manner.

Memories of Cora’s painful past flashed through his mind, images of her struggling and suffering at the hands of James, her former husband. He clenched the steering wheel tighter, feeling a protective rage rise within him. There was no way he would allow Samuel, or anyone else, to manipulate or harm Cora again. He resolved in that very moment, if Cora made the effort to publicly deny the rumors, and Samuel dared to continue pressing the issue, Oliver wouldn’t hesitate to unleash his ruthlessness. Samuel would pay a heavy price.

Yet, even amidst his fury, Oliver knew he had to proceed carefully. He couldn’t risk revealing his true nature to Cora. She knew him only as the disregarded last son of the Victor family, someone whom others mocked and disrespected openly, a young man overlooked and treated poorly by his so-called family. But this public image of him didn’t even scratch the surface of his true identity.

Oliver’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully The reality was far more complex; he was the heir to the Zakaria family, a powerful and ruthless mafia lineage. If Cora ever discovered this truth, it would devastate her. It might shatter their friendship permanently. That thought filled Oliver with deep apprehension. Above everything, he valued his bond with Cora, a bond built on trust and genuine care. He wasn’t willing to jeopardize that connection.

Therefore, despite his powerful status and hidden strength, Oliver knew he needed to tread carefully. He must continue concealing this side of himself, maintaining the façade of harmlessness and vulnerability to protect what he treasured most, his friendship with Cora.

**

Samuel sat comfortably in his luxurious car, with a wide, confident smile playing on his lips as the sleek vehicle navigated smoothly toward MK Entertainment. The news he had received earlier that morning had delighted him immensely. Cora was holding a press conference at MK Entertainment. He chuckled softly to himself, amused by her predictable response.

Of course, Samuel knew exactly what Cora intended to do, she would undoubtedly try to debunk the rumors, vehemently deny the relationship, and attempt to restore her tarnished reputation. But he had carefully calculated every move, and he felt sure that the public wouldn’t easily believe her denials. Scandals of this nature always favored the celebrity; fans adored romantic intrigue and rarely accepted straightforward denials.

At that moment Samuel’s fingers tapped lightly on his knee, his mind racing with plans. His strategy was straightforward yet ruthlessly effective. He would continue pressing gently yet persistently, feeding the narrative just enough to leave Cora with no option but to yield eventually. He intended to corner her so thoroughly that she would willingly comply with the original pretense he had suggested that they were genuinely dating.

As Samuel indulged in these self-assured thoughts, his smile widened further.

Samuel felt invincible, convinced that Cora’s resistance was futile.

Suddenly, the comfortable silence within the vehicle shattered as his assistant manager, who had been scrolling nervously through his phone, let out a shocked gasp. Samuel’s smile faltered slightly, annoyance flickering briefly across his handsome features. Turning slowly, he eyed his assistant manager sharply.

"What’s the matter now?"

Hearing what Samuel just said, the assistant manager swallowed hard, visibly distressed. "Sir, you, you won’t believe this. You really need to see what’s happening. Cora...she’s actually doing this press conference live right now. It’s being broadcast everywhere, and...and the things she’s saying—"

Upon hearing what his manager just said, Samuel’s expression immediately shifted. His relaxed posture stiffened as he snatched the phone from his assistant with a sudden sharpness.

Without uttering another word, Samuel’s eyes locked on the screen as the live broadcast of the press conference played before him.

At first, he assumed it was what he expected the typical celebrity denial, the kind of public statement that would lightly brush off the rumors and let the noise die down on its own. But as the seconds ticked by and Cora’s clear, firm voice filled the air, the realization hit him like a storm crashing against an unprepared shore.

He couldn’t believe what he was hearing, this wasn’t just about debunking rumors.

Cora wasn’t merely clarifying the scandal. She was taking a sledgehammer to everything, the narrative, the rumors, and, most importantly, him.

Then Samuel’s grip on the phone tightened, knuckles whitening as he leaned forward, his sharp gaze narrowing at the sight of Cora standing at the podium. She looked calm, composed, yet her eyes carried that unmistakable edge of authority that Samuel had foolishly underestimated.

Her words cut like blades.

"This press conference is not to address speculation or entertain gossip. It is to tell the truth. There is absolutely nothing between Samuel and myself, no relationship, no connection outside of business. And even that business connection ends today."