Chapter 53
“Let’s do a live interview,” Alex suggested, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms.
His voice was calm, but his sharp gaze swept across the room, lingering on Adam.
“That’s not enough,” Sophie countered immediately, her tone firm but thoughtful. She looked at him, her arms crossed. “We need more evidence to back Adam’s claim before releasing any interview.”
Alex raised an eyebrow. “What kind of evidence are we talking about?”
Sophie straightened. “There’s a high possibility that Brenda’s child isn’t Adam’s. If we can prove that, Adam won’t just win the public’s trust—he’ll win the entire case.”
Emilia, who had been quietly observing, nodded. “I agree with Sophie. It’s not just about clearing Adam’s name; it’s about shutting Brenda down completely. We need to take away the foundation of her lies.”
“And how exactly do we do that?” Alex asked, leaning forward.
“Start the interview,” Sophie said confidently. “We’ll let Adam tell his story while we work on getting Brenda to cooperate with a paternity test. Even if she tries to refuse, the public will demand answers.”
Alex hesitated, clearly unhappy with the idea, but Emilia placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “We can do this, Alex. Trust us.”
Adam, who had been quiet until now, nodded. “I’ll do it. I’ll tell the truth—everything. I have nothing to hide.”
Alex sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. “Fine. But if this backfires, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Within an hour, the setup was ready.
Cameras were positioned, lights adjusted, and a polished female anchor sat across from Adam, her clipboard in hand. Sophie, Alex, and Emilia stood off to the side, watching intently.
The interview began with a warm introduction, but it didn’t take long for the anchor to dive into the hard questions.
“Adam,” she started, her voice smooth yet firm, “the allegations against you are serious. Let’s begin with the most pressing question: what exactly happened the night Brenda claimed you fathered her child?”
Adam took a deep breath, his hands clasped tightly in his lap. “That night, I was working late. Brenda brought me coffee—something she had always done before. But after drinking it, I started feeling strange. My head was spinning, and I could barely keep my eyes open. The next thing I remember is waking up in the middle of the night… and she was in my arms.”
The anchor’s expression remained neutral, but her pen moved swiftly across her clipboard. “Are you saying you were drugged?”
“Yes,” Adam said firmly. “I didn’t realize it at first, but now I’m certain. I would never willingly betray my wife like that.”
“And yet,” the anchor pressed, “you didn’t tell your wife about what happened. Why?”
Adam glanced at Sophie, his voice softening. “I was scared. I knew how it would look. Sophie was already upset about my late nights at work. I thought if I told her, I’d lose her.”
Sophie bit her lip, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Alex noticed and shot Adam a cold glare.
“You thought lying was the better option?” the anchor asked, her tone laced with skepticism.
Adam nodded slowly. “At the time, I thought I was protecting her. But now I see I only made things worse.”
The anchor leaned forward, her eyes narrowing slightly. “If you were so afraid of losing your wife, why did you continue to interact with Brenda?”
“I felt guilty,” Adam admitted, his voice breaking slightly. “She kept reminding me of what happened, and I thought I owed her something. She made me believe I was responsible for everything, and I didn’t know how to fight back.”
The room was silent for a moment before the anchor spoke again. “You mentioned earlier that you suspect the child isn’t yours. Why do you believe that?”
Adam sat up straighter. “Brenda has refused every request for a paternity test. If she had nothing to hide, why would she refuse?”
“Interesting point,” the anchor said, jotting down notes. She looked up, her gaze piercing. “But what if you’re lying, Adam? What evidence do you have to prove any of this is true?”
Alex, who had been silent until now, stepped forward. “Exactly. What if this is just another story to save face?”
Adam turned to Alex, his jaw tightening. “I have no reason to lie.”
“You have every reason to lie,” Alex shot back. “You’ve already admitted to keeping secrets from Sophie. Why should anyone believe you now?”
“Alex, stop!” Sophie interjected, stepping between them. She turned to Adam, her voice trembling. “Adam, I need you to be completely honest with me. Is there anything else you haven’t told me?”
Adam shook his head. “No, Sophie. That night… it was the only time anything like this ever happened. I swear to you, I’ve told you everything.”
Sophie studied him, her emotions warring on her face. Finally, she turned back to the anchor. “Can we take a break?”
The anchor nodded, signaling for the cameras to cut.
