Billionaire Lawyer's Secretary - Chapter 88: Chapter 88

Elara was utterly stunned when she heard the recording. The voice was unmistakably hers, but she didn't remember she had ever uttered those words—let alone to Alex. 'This recording must be fake,' she thought.
Elara glared at Nancy. "Nancy, how dare you fabricate audio evidence? I'm suing you!"
Nancy scoffed, "Sue me? You talked tough, but you won't even admit what you said. This is exactly what you said during your late-night call to Alex."
"No, I didn't. If you don't believe me, ask Alex." Elara forced down the rage bubbling inside her, though the words rang hollow even to herself.
As expected, Alex remained silent.
Nancy seized the chance to mock Elara, sneering, "Look at you, going after Adrian and trying to cause trouble for the Hartley family. Who do you think you are?
"Just because Alex dumped you, you have to disgust us like this?
"Girl, you're dreaming if you think you can marry into our family and sit at our table. You're just some pretty face with no cash or real ties. Who told you it was that easy to get into high society?
"Adrian's fiancée is Josie, the heiress of the Heaton family. Why don't you take a good look in the mirror and tell me where you even begin to compare to her?"
At these words, the well-dressed ladies and tycoons around erupted into a flurry of whispers.
"Isn't that the girl Adrian had with him at the legal seminar the other day? What's she doing at the Hartley family's engagement party now?"
"Oh, it's her! I knew she looked familiar. She's probably just here to flaunt it—she and Adrian were all over the trending topics a few days ago."
"Girls like her should just stick to being Adrian's side piece. Thinking she can marry into the Hartleys? She's totally out of her mind."
"She probably wants to pull a Cinderella too, just like Alex—hoping to turn from nobody into somebody overnight."
"Adrian hasn't even bothered to show up. He's probably already dumped her."
"Adrian could have any woman he wants—looks are secondary; obedience is what really matters."
The whole room was talking trash about Elara, and she could feel every pair of eyes judging her. But she just didn't have it in her to fight back.
Just as Elara pulled out her phone to call the police, a security guard swiftly snatched it from her hand.
"Give me back my phone!" Elara demanded.
Nancy scoffed, "Trying to call for backup? Hoping Adrian will come save you? Dream on."
"You're just scared, aren't you? Go ahead, keep picking on me today. But sooner or later, Adrian's gonna make you pay." Elara couldn't do much, so all she could do was fire back with words.
Lauren, never missing a chance for drama, jumped in. "So this is what you're really like, Elara? No shame at all, just clawing your way up by hanging all over Mr. Hartley. And I actually thought you were better than that."
"Lauren, are you bored or what? This is none of your damn business. Believe it or not, I'll have Adrian fire you someday," Elara shot back.
"Who the hell do you think you are to have me fired?" Lauren asked.
"Just you wait," Elara hissed through clenched teeth.
Nancy lunged forward, swinging a slap at Elara, but Elara dodged swiftly and stepped on the hem of Nancy's gown. The sudden tug made Nancy stagger, nearly falling.
There was a sharp crack in the air. Elara had dodged Nancy's swing, but Lauren's slap hit dead on. Elara's sensitive skin was burning red in seconds.
Elara knew there was no way they'd let her go until they'd had their fun humiliating her. She spotted Alex blending into the background again and let out a bitter laugh. "Alex, you're just standing there and letting this happen, aren't you?"
That was when it hit her—when he told her not to act rashly before they walked in, he really just wanted her to suck it up and take whatever came her way. He knew this setup was coming.
After a long silence, Alex finally spoke. "Elara, this recording is real. Just admit it."
Elara felt her last bit of hope just vanish. Now even Alex was against her, talking crap. 'Whatever,' she thought bitterly, 'maybe it's better to just let everything end now. I'm so over this.'
Elara said, "Just tell me—what will it take for you to vent your anger today? As long as you let Ruby and Julian go, I'll do whatever you want."
Nancy pointed a finger at Elara. "I want all three of you to stay away from Alex for good—cut ties with him completely."
Elara gave a weary shrug. "Cutting ties? Whatever, it's no big deal. I'll agree. But I can't decide for the other two—where are Ruby and Julian?"
"Tonight, in front of everyone, you must admit to everything you said in that recording, offer us a formal apology, and swear you'll never contact Alex again," Nancy added.
"So you'll let Ruby and Julian go after that, right?" Elara asked.
"Yes," Nancy replied curtly.
"And why should I trust you?" Elara demanded.
"Elara," Alex said. "You have no other choice but to trust her. But I promise you this—do exactly as she says, and Ruby and Julian will walk away unharmed."
Elara stood there and let out a dry laugh. "You know what, Alex? I already gave you more respect than you deserved, but you just had to go and mess up whatever we had left."
"My apologies," Alex replied. "But I just want to make my fiancée happy, that's all."
Elara went along with what Nancy wanted. 'Whatever,' she thought bitterly. 'People like them don't care about the truth—they just use their power to get their way.
'If they want to drag my name through the mud in front of a bunch of strangers, fine. Let them have their little victory.'
"Fine," Elara said, her voice icy. "If letting them go means we're cutting ties, then whatever. Just remember, Alex—this is on you. You're the one walking away from us. After I say sorry today, we're done. You and the three of us."
Alex stood rooted to the spot, his silence deafening.
As Elara moved toward the stage, Yann stepped in front of her, blocking her path. "Need me to reach out to Adrian for you?" he asked quietly.
Yann's power didn't go beyond Marisiton. With Joseph turning a blind eye to Nancy's bullying just now, Yann couldn't step in directly, but he could at least help by reaching out to Adrian.
Elara gave a faint smile and shook her head. "No, but thank you."
With quiet composure, Elara took the microphone and faced the assembled guests.
"Hi, everyone," Elara began, "I'm Elara Langton—Alex's neighbor and childhood friend. We've known each other for twenty years now.
"I'll be honest, I liked him for a long time. I really thought he'd always be there, that he'd never leave me or end up with anyone else.
"We've shared everything—food, coffee, an umbrella, and even a blanket. Back when we were studying abroad for four years, we were together all the time.
"Those were some of the happiest days I can remember. Sure, we were never officially dating, but honestly, I was happy enough just being with him.
"Yeah, it stung when I found out about Nancy, not gonna lie. But you know what? Life goes on. I got over that crush a while ago. Now, all I feel toward Alex is gratitude.
"He picked me up when I was lost in rebellious high school years and put me back on track. And I've been trying to stay on that path ever since. He's moving on now, building his own family.
"I know it makes sense if Nancy's a little worried about me being in the picture. So today, with all of you here, I just want to put it all to rest. Whatever was between me and Alex is truly over."
Elara walked down a few steps, grabbed a glass of wine from a waiter's tray, and lifted it. "Dylan, Alex, thanks for always having my back all these years.
"Here's to you both—congrats on your happy news. From here on out, let's just go our separate ways. Alex, I hope you have an amazing engagement and a great future ahead."
She knocked back the wine in one go and set the glass back on the tray. She usually cried at the drop of a hat, but not a single tear came when Nancy went after her earlier.
The only person who really broke her—the one who finally made her lose it—was Alex, the person she'd once been closest to.
She vowed this would be the last time she ever shed tears for him. With her voice choked with sobs, she forced out her final apology.
"Today, before you all, I want to apologize for my failed attempt to seduce Alex, and for my delusional fantasy of marrying into the Hartley family—"
"Elara!" Suddenly, she heard Ruby calling out to her from nearby, freezing her.
Ruby rushed onto the stage and snatched the microphone from Elara's hand. "Elara, don't apologize. Don't! This isn't your fault."
Spotting Ruby's split lip and the bruise on Julian's face, Elara broke down. "But they just wouldn't let you go," she sobbed, her words coming out shaky.
Ruby tossed the microphone aside and pulled the sobbing Elara into a tight embrace. "It's okay now," she whispered. "Victor's here. He'll have our backs. We'll get out of here safely."