The Way Out He Never Saw Coming - Chapter 10: Chapter 10

The scandal weighed on me like a ton of bricks, crushing me with the thought of Oliver's family legacy now under fire because of me. A cold sweat trickled down my spine as I struggled to steady my breathing, fingers shaking as I dialed Leon's number. He picked up on the first ring, his voice oozing smug satisfaction.
"Emily," he drawled like the cat who got the cream, "I warned you. Did you really think you could just walk away and play house with your little lover boy? I've been digging deep - turns out your 'husband' comes from serious money, doesn't he?"
My entire body went numb as his words faded into white noise. Oliver was beside me in an instant, watching me closely as I barely managed to choke out, "Something's happened..." before he took the phone and ended the call without ceremony.
His strong hands rubbed comforting circles on my back as his steady gaze locked with mine. "Emily, it's okay. Really. Trust me." His unshakable calm broke through my panic. The dam burst and I collapsed against his chest, sobbing into his shirt. "This is all my fault," I gasped between tears. "If I'd never gotten involved with someone like him—"
Oliver held me firmly, his voice rock-solid. "None of this is on you. We'll handle it together and come out stronger." He stayed anchored to me until my breathing evened out.
After I'd calmed, Oliver moved with quiet purpose - showering, dressing, every motion controlled and confident. He extended his hand. "Stay here, Emily. I'll take care of this."
But I shook my head, steel entering my voice. "I'm coming with you. I can face this."
The scene outside hit us like a punch to the gut. Reporters swarmed our yard, camera flashes popping like strobe lights. Leon must have sold our address. Oliver's grip tightened around mine as he guided me forward with protective determination.
With effortless authority, he addressed the media scrum: "Emily is my wife. There will be a press conference later today - you'll receive details shortly. Right now, we have private matters to attend to." His voice carried absolute conviction as he shielded me from the cameras, creating a safe path to the car.
The drive was tense but quiet until Oliver's phone rang. I recognized his father's measured tones immediately: "Oliver, I've heard. Handle this properly and protect Emily. I trust you."
Oliver chuckled confidently. "Consider it done." Without missing a beat, he made another call, all business now: "Round up the media at our Greenwoods branch. Press conference in one hour."
I blinked in surprise. "Since when does your family have an office here?"
A boyish grin broke through his professional mask. "I may have convinced them to let me handle business here. The office isn't even fully set up yet, but I had to make sure my wife had a home first, didn't I?"
The press conference venue was packed to the rafters - the Gray family rarely made headlines, and the media wasn't about to miss this. As Oliver moved toward the stage, I stopped him.
"Let me do this."
His smile held complete faith. "I know you can."
Stepping onto the stage, the sea of flashing cameras sent a jolt of nerves through me - I hadn't faced crowds like this since childhood. Then I found Oliver's steady gaze in the crowd, and his silent strength became my anchor.