CHAPTER 122: CHAPTER 122

At that moment the crowd started murmuring in the background reporters shifting in their seats, flashes from cameras filling the frame. Samuel’s jaw clenched so tightly that a muscle twitched at the side of his face.

However Cora didn’t pause. Her tone hardened, becoming sharper with every sentence.

"These rumors were not accidental," she continued, her voice echoing across the hall. "They were carefully orchestrated a manipulative ploy. And I have every reason to believe Samuel himself is behind them."

Immediately Samuel’s eye widened and his chest rose and fell faster now, each breath heavier than the last. Hearing her say it aloud, in front of the cameras, in front of the entire world, it was a direct hit to his pride.

But Cora wasn’tdone.

"Because of this unethical act, MK Entertainment is terminating its contract with Samuel effective immediately."

Immediately Samuel blinked, stunned, as though the words themselves were too outrageous to register. "Termination? In public? Right here, live on national television?"

On the screen, Cora calmly reached for a folder that sat on the table before her. She opened it deliberately, letting the cameras catch every movement, every page. Inside was the contract, the very agreement Samuel had celebrated not too long ago.

"This is Samuel’s most recent contract with MK Entertainment," she announced, holding it up for the press to see. Her voice was firm, unwavering. "With the power vested in me, I declare this contract null and void. MK Entertainment will honor the penalties for breach as stipulated, the company will pay Samuel in full. After today, there will be no ties between us."

And with that, she lowered her gaze briefly almost as if silently acknowledging the weight of what she was about to do, immediately she tore the contract sheet straight down the middle.

Which made everyone eyes widened, they couldn’t say anything but watch.

At that moment, Cora’s voice cut through the murmurs in the room, calm yet edged with steel. She scanned the crowd, her eyes locking briefly with the front-row reporters whose fingers hovered nervously above their keyboards. Flashing cameras flickered in rapid succession, but Cora’s focus never wavered.

"I am not going to repeat myself on this situation," she said, her tone sharp enough to silence the remaining whispers. "This is the last warning I will give. To every media outlet, every blog, every so-called insider who has chosen to spread these lies without so much as verifying a single fact, I will not take this lightly. Not now. Not ever."

The weight of her words hung in the air. A few reporters shifted uncomfortably in their seats, glancing at each other as if silently asking who would dare speak next. None of them did.

Cora straightened her posture, her presence radiating quiet authority. "This press conference is not just for appearances. It is my demonstration to set the record straight. Every post, every headline, every slanderous video that went up last night, I expect them to be taken down immediately. If they are not, if even one remains, I will sue. Every outlet will be forced to provide evidence of their claims, and when they cannot, they will face consequences."

Her words were deliberate, precise. The room was tense, the only sound the occasional shutter of a camera. At that moment Cora’s hands rested on the podium, fingers steady, a clear sign to anyone watching that she wasn’t bluffing.

"As of now," she continued, "consider this your official notice. My legal team has already been informed, and they are prepared to act without hesitation. If retractions and apologies are not issued, if this smear continues for even another day, I will make sure those responsible answer for it in court."

There was no trembling in her voice, no hint of uncertainty. This was not merely about clearing her name, this was about drawing a line no one should dare cross again. Then she let the silence that followed stretch for several long seconds, allowing her warning to settle in the minds of everyone present and, by extension, everyone watching live.

Then without wasting anymore time Cora’s heels clicked sharply against the polished floor as she strode out of the conference hall, her pulse still racing from the intensity of what she had just done. Malisa hurried at her side, struggling to match her pace. The hallway buzzed faintly with murmurs from staff and reporters lingering outside.

Malisa glanced at her sideways, hesitant but unable to hold her thoughts any longer. "Well... you really went hard in there, Cora. Not just on the media, but on Samuel too." Her tone carried both awe and uncertainty. "I mean, I don’t know... I just feel like maybe Samuel might actually be innocent in all of this. You know how it is with celebrities, people stalk them, follow them everywhere. Things get twisted. Maybe this whole mess is just one of those coincidences."

However Cora didn’t even slow her stride. Her face was still stern, her expression unmoving as she responded, her voice low but firm. "No. It’s not a coincidence." She didn’t look at Malisa, her gaze fixed straight ahead. "And even if it is, I don’t care anymore. I’ve made my decision, Melissa. I’ve taken my action... and I’m done."

Immediately Malisa swallowed hard at the cold finality in her tone. There was no room for argument; she could feel it.

But then, just ahead the hallway narrowed, and standing right in the middle of it was Samuel.

He was waiting.

The phone he had used to watch the livestream hung loosely in his hand, but his knuckles were white from how tightly he was gripping it. His expression was stormy, lips pressed into a thin line, brows drawn low but when he saw Cora approaching, he forced it all into a tight, practiced mask, his features twisting into something calm, almost casual.

Then Cora’s steps slowed, tension coiling instantly in her shoulders. Melissa instinctively moved closer to her, glancing uneasily between them.

At that moment Samuel began walking toward them, each step deliberate, echoing faintly through the corridor. When he finally stopped in front of Cora, the air felt heavy.

"What was that?" His voice was low but sharp, cutting straight through the quiet around them. His eyes locked onto Cora’s, unblinking. "I saw it. The press conference." Again his grip on the phone tightened as he exhaled sharply through his nose. "What the hell was that, Cora? What did you just do?"

His words came faster now, edged with barely restrained anger. "Was that your plan? To humiliate me? To drag me in front of the whole world and tear me down like that? To bring down my name for everyone to see?"