"What!"
The statement immediately caused an uproar at the press conference.
Just hours earlier, the internet had exploded with news that Damian Xavier and Aria Sterling had been in a secret relationship for three years and that he had even moved her into his mansion.
At first, no one believed it. After all, Damian Xavier had been utterly devoted to Mya Walsh for years. How could he possibly be with Aria Sterling, someone completely out of his orbit?
It wasn't until the original poster released photos and videos of Damian Xavier and Aria Sterling entering and exiting a villa on Riverisle that the public was forced to accept the truth.
Everyone had thought that was explosive enough, and Damian Xavier's initial denial had led them to believe he was about to debunk the rumors. But who could have expected the man himself to drop an even bigger bombshell?
The reporters, sensing the scoop of a lifetime, scrambled to shove their microphones in Damian Xavier's face, hoping he would answer their questions.
But Damian Xavier left, flanked by his bodyguards and assistant, and the video cut off abruptly.
Aria Sterling felt as if a thunderclap had exploded in her head, leaving her stunned and disoriented.
She gripped her phone. 'Son of a bitch!'
'What in the world did I ever do to Damian Xavier for him to screw me over like this? Was he so determined to ruin me that he'd reveal the marriage we hid for three years?'
Seeing that she hadn't said a word for a long time, Julian Grant assumed she was overwhelmed with worry. "Don't worry too much," he said, trying to reassure her. "I'll help you handle this. My PR team is more than capable."
Aria Sterling's grip on her phone tightened, and she practically spoke through clenched teeth.
"Can you do me a favor?"
Julian Grant replied without a second thought.
"Of course. Just name it."
"Send a few guys to beat Damian Xavier to death!"
She practically roared the words out, her fury so intense she could have killed someone.
Aria Sterling wasn't the only one shocked by Damian Xavier. Mya Walsh was, too.
As she watched various platforms race to report the news, she couldn't believe that Damian Xavier himself had been the one to say it.
She picked up her phone to call Damian Xavier. It rang for a long time, and just as it was about to go to voicemail, his clear, pleasant voice finally came through.
"Mya, what's wrong?"
Mya Walsh, who had been seething with rage, forced herself to calm down slightly upon hearing his voice.
"Why did you go public about your marriage to Aria Sterling?"
Damian Xavier's voice was calm, betraying no emotion.
"It's the truth. Why couldn't I say it?"
Mya Walsh was speechless for a moment. She could only stammer after a few seconds of stunned silence.
"I... I just think this will cause a lot of unnecessary trouble."
"It won't. I have my own plans."
Mya Walsh's mind raced.
'Plans?'
'What kind of plans?'
'Could he be planning to get back together with Aria Sterling?'
She gritted her teeth and said,
"But—"
But before she could finish her sentence, Damian Xavier cut in.
"If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up."
Mya Walsh's voice was laced with grievance. "Damian, can you please stay away from Aria Sterling? I get jealous, you know."
Damian Xavier frowned. "Don't let your imagination run wild. I have a meeting to get to."
The line went dead.
CRASH!
The next second, her phone hit the ground, shattering into pieces.
"Bitch! You bitch! I hope you die a miserable death!"
Mya Walsh shrieked with abandon, her face twisted in rage.
...
Aria Sterling received a call from her grandfather, who was also asking about the marriage.
"Aria, what on earth is going on between you and Damian Xavier?"
"I went to see Damian Xavier today to discuss a partnership, but things didn't go well. That's why he's deliberately retaliating against me."
Miles Sterling's tone grew more serious.
"Then give me a straight answer. Is what the news is reporting true?"
Aria Sterling's voice was barely a whisper.
"Grandpa, it's... complicated. I'll explain everything when I get back."
Miles Sterling sighed. "I'm just worried you'll get hurt. Damian Xavier is not a simple man. In any relationship with him, you're the one who will end up losing."
"Grandpa, I'm not getting hurt..."
Miles Sterling's voice instantly rose.
"And you say you're not? If I recall correctly, you only returned to the Sterling family after your divorce from Damian Xavier. How long has it been? Days? And he already has another woman by his side. How well could a man like that possibly treat you?"
At this, Miles Sterling seemed to realize he had been too harsh, and his tone softened as he continued.
"Aria, your parents passed away when you were young, and you had no one to look after you for so many years. It was my fault. I wronged your family and caused you to drift all alone out there. I've always felt so guilty about it. But I truly want my precious granddaughter to find happiness. Divorcing Damian Xavier early was a good thing. He isn't the right man for you. You'll find someone who is. As for Damian Xavier... if he dares to hurt my granddaughter, I'll make him pay."
"Thank you, Grandpa."
Aria Sterling hung up and drove straight home.
On the way, she stopped to buy some tea cakes from Yi Garden—Old Master Sterling's favorite dessert.
The moment she stepped through the door, Freya Langdon's sharp, passive-aggressive voice cut through the air.
"Well, well. Look who it is. The 'young mistress' has returned."
Aria Sterling sneered.
"You have a problem?"
Freya Langdon shot her a disdainful sideways glance.
"So that's why you suddenly came back to the Sterling family. You came crawling back after being thrown out by a man. Just another used-up toy a man got tired of! With this scandal making headlines, how do you still have the nerve to show your face in public? You're going to disgrace the entire Sterling family!"
Aria Sterling's anger flared.
"Freya Langdon!"
But Freya Langdon's expression remained just as provocative.
"What? Did I strike a nerve?"
Aria Sterling advanced on Freya Langdon, step by step. Her eyes were ice-cold, but a smile played on her lips.
"My relationship with Damian Xavier is none of your business. I don't have to explain a thing to you. You'd do well to remember your place."
Furious, Freya Langdon raised her hand to slap her, but Aria caught her wrist in a vise-grip the moment it moved. Her voice was sharp.
"Don't push it."
Freya Langdon's voice rose to a shriek. "Aria Sterling, are you insane? How dare you speak to me like that! Don't you forget, I am your elder!"
"Oh? Really? So you *do* remember you're my elder?"
Aria Sterling's smile was icy, her expression frosted over.
"I've never met an 'elder' who speaks the way you do."
"Was I wrong? Your little family betrayed the Sterlings and got kicked out. Your parents died. You sold yourself to seduce Damian Xavier into taking you in. And now that he's tired of you and has thrown you away, you come crawling back to the Sterling family, wagging your tail and begging..."
SLAP—
Freya Langdon couldn't finish her sentence before Aria slapped her hard across the face. Her left cheek immediately turned red and began to swell.
"You dare hit me! You little bitch!"
Aria Sterling shoved her to the ground and loomed over her.
"Hitting you is getting off light. A filthy mouth like yours needs to be cleaned out. My parents may be gone, but I'm here to teach you the lesson they can't!"