The Billionaire's Temptation: Love, Family and Revenge-Chapter 81: The Press Conference (I)

"Let’s go. This doesn’t concern us. We have more important things to do," Kelvin snapped, his voice sharp and full of anger. He turned on his heels and started walking away, the detective following closely behind him without a word. His tone left no room for argument, and the frustration in his voice made it clear that he expected complete obedience.

Daniel stood frozen for a moment, rubbing the back of his head as he glanced toward the busy conference ground. His eyes darted between the crowded scene and the direction Kelvin had gone.

His mind was racing, full of thoughts and questions. There was something about the situation that didn’t sit right with him. He had his own suspicions and a strong desire to stay behind and figure things out. A part of him considered disobeying Kelvin’s order, planning to explain himself and apologize later.

But deep down, he knew that going against Kelvin, especially in front of others, would only make Ford see him as disrespectful and rebellious. He couldn’t risk damaging the trust they had worked so hard to build.

Letting out a heavy sigh, Daniel finally turned toward the path Kelvin had taken. His lips moved in a soft whisper only meant for himself. "What is this fool up to again?" His curiosity gnawed at him, but he knew he couldn’t afford to be left behind. After one last reluctant look at the conference ground, he broke into a jog, chasing after Kelvin. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

When he reached the car, it was already about to drive off. Without wasting another second, Daniel quickly grabbed the handle and pulled open the front door. He slipped into the passenger seat, trying to catch his breath. His eyes met the detective behind the wheel, and he gave him a small, awkward smile. Then, turning toward Kelvin, who sat in the back seat with his arms crossed and an expression of clear disgust, Daniel bowed his head slightly.

"Sorry for being late, sir," he said politely, his voice soft and respectful.

Kelvin didn’t bother to reply. He simply looked away from Daniel, shifting his cold gaze toward the small television screen mounted on the dashboard. He sat there silently, waiting for Ford to appear and speak on the broadcast. Daniel, sensing the tension, also fixed his eyes on the screen. Whatever was about to be said, he knew it would be important, and he couldn’t afford to miss a single word.

Meanwhile, in another room, Ford was pacing back and forth inside his spacious fitting room. His nerves were clearly showing. He had checked his reflection in the mirror so many times that he had lost count , it must have been the hundredth time already. His hands trembled slightly, not out of fear of speaking in public, but because he was afraid of slipping up and saying the wrong thing. One wrong word could damage his reputation, and worse, harm his relationship with Elena , something he wasn’t willing to risk.

Looking himself dead in the eyes through the mirror, Ford tried to gather courage. He spoke out loud, almost like giving himself instructions. "Ford Lugard, you can do this. Don’t answer any questions that don’t matter. Stay focused. Clear Elena’s name and leave." His voice was steady, but the seriousness on his face showed how important this moment was to him.

He straightened his suit one last time, standing tall and confident, determined to protect the person he cared about the most.

A soft knock echoed against the wooden door, pulling Ford out of his thoughts. A calm but firm voice followed from the other side. "Sir, it’s time," the man announced politely.

Ford stood still for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves. He knew the moment he had been preparing for was finally here. It was either now or never. His heart thudded in his chest, but he pushed the feeling aside and reached for the glass of water sitting on the table. Lifting it to his lips, he slowly drank every last drop, letting the cool liquid soothe his dry throat. After setting the empty glass down, he straightened his suit, adjusted his tie, and walked calmly toward the door.

As the large doors to the conference room swung open, the bright lights flickered for a second, drawing the attention of everyone inside. The chatter and murmuring that had filled the room just moments before died down, replaced by an almost heavy silence. All eyes turned toward the entrance, waiting for him to appear on the stage.

Ford stepped out gracefully, his posture tall and commanding, with two sharply dressed security men flanking him on both sides. Every step he took was steady and composed, and the aura he carried was impossible to ignore. His presence alone seemed to change the entire mood of the room, drawing a mixture of admiration and curiosity from the crowd.

The audience, made up of journalists, guests, and even some curious onlookers, stared at him with wide eyes. His handsome face, sharp jawline, and confident expression left many in silent awe. Some whispered softly among themselves, barely able to believe how one man could have it all , good looks, impressive height, and unimaginable wealth. It almost felt unfair to the world. He wasn’t just rich and powerful, he looked like he had stepped straight out of a magazine cover.

______

Jane stood in front of the full-length mirror in her cozy bedroom. She had spent quite some time getting ready, carefully picking out the perfect dress for the afternoon outing. She turned slightly to her side, admiring the way the dress fit her, and gently brushed a few loose strands of hair away from her face. With a playful twirl, the fabric of the dress swirled around her, making her smile with satisfaction.

Feeling pleased with her look, she called out to her mother. "Mom, I’m done!" she announced happily, stepping out of her room and walking into the living room.

Her mother was sitting on the old but comfortable couch, holding the TV remote loosely in her hand, her attention completely glued to the screen. The television was showing a live broadcast, and the familiar sight of Ford standing at the podium appeared on the screen.

Jane stopped in front of her, waiting for her mother’s reaction. "So, Mom, how do I look?" she asked with excitement.

But her mother didn’t reply right away. She seemed too deep in concentration, her eyes never leaving the screen. After a few seconds, she finally spoke, her voice soft but serious. "Oh, Jane, why don’t you wait a moment and watch this with me? Ford is holding a press conference, and I think we should listen to what he has to say. It’s important."

Jane let out a long, frustrated sigh, her lips pressing into a thin line as she stared at her mother. She felt completely brushed aside, as if her plans didn’t matter. "Oh, Mom, I really have to go. I’m already running late for the birthday party," she said, her voice carrying the clear sound of impatience.

She slung her purse over her shoulder and headed quickly toward the door, her heels clicking softly against the tiled floor with each determined step.

But just as her fingers wrapped around the cold metal doorknob, a new sound caught her attention , a sudden wave of applause coming from the television speakers. The sharp, cheerful sound made her pause mid-motion. Something about it tugged at her curiosity, pulling her back even though she had been so eager to leave just a second ago.

Turning her head slightly, Jane glanced over her shoulder at the TV screen. There he was , Ford. The camera captured him as he confidently walked onto the stage, calm and composed, every bit the powerful public figure he was known to be. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored dark suit, the sharp cut of the fabric hugging his broad shoulders and tall frame like it had been made for no one else but him. His crisp white shirt and neatly knotted tie added to his polished appearance, while his expression stayed cool and unreadable, the face of a man used to standing in the spotlight.

The moment he appeared on stage, the entire crowd in the conference room rose to their feet. The audience, made up of important guests and sharp-eyed journalists, offered polite bows as a gesture of respect. There was a stillness in the air, the kind that only came when someone important had stepped into the room. As Ford took his place behind the microphone, the room fell silent, everyone waiting to hear what he had to say.

Jane’s mother, who had been watching the broadcast from the start, noticed her daughter’s sudden interest. She let out a light, knowing chuckle and glanced at Jane from the corner of her eye. "Oh, now you’re not in such a rush anymore?" she teased with a playful smile, shaking her head slightly. "I thought you were already late."

Jane couldn’t help the small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Slowly, she let go of the doorknob and walked back to the couch, lowering herself onto the soft cushion beside her mother. Her eyes stayed fixed on the television screen. "It’s been a long time since I saw him," she admitted in a quiet voice, her earlier frustration forgotten.

Both mother and daughter sat there, side by side, their eyes glued to the screen as they waited for Ford to begin speaking. The room was quiet except for the faint buzz of the TV. They were both curious, wondering what kind of important announcement Ford was about to make.

Meanwhile, at Ford’s house, Elena slowly descended the wide staircase, her bare feet making soft sounds against the smooth wooden steps. She held a book close to her chest, one she had just finished reading. The story had left her feeling thoughtful, her mind still lingering on the last Chapter. The quiet stillness of the house wrapped around her like a warm blanket, and for a moment, she simply enjoyed the peace.

Looking around she felt bored still, finally deciding to put on the television.