Chapter 13%
As soon as we left the party, I turned to Taurus, letting out a small sigh. “Thanks for stepping in back there,” I said, my voice laced with genuine appreciation.
He smirked, adjusting the cuffs of his suit. “Anytime, Cressida.” His eyes gleamed with amusement. “Although, I have to say, I enjoyed watching you toy with him.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “Lothario used to be my dog, but I don’t need a pet anymore.”
Taurus let out a low laugh. “Savage.”
I smiled but didn’t respond. He didn’t need to know that despite my icy facade, there was still a small part of me that ached when I saw Lothario breaking. A part of me that remembered the man he used to be before his greed consumed him.
“By the way.” Taurus continued, studying me with sharp eyes, “I know your father asked me to act as your boyfriend for now, but I hope you know I’m enjoying this a little too much.”
I raised a brow “Oh?”
He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping just enough to send a shiver down my spine. “You’re fascinating, Pearl. It’s been a while since I’ve been this entertained.”
I smirked, stepping away. “Careful, Sullivan, I don’t do distractions.”
He chuckled. “Then I guess I’ll just have to make myself impossible to ignore.
I rolled my eyes but didn’t argue. Taurus was a dangerous game, but for now, he was a useful ally.
The next morning, I received an interesting call from one of my sources.
“Alessia’s losing it,” the voice on the other end reported. “She’s been hiring investigators, digging into your past like a madwoman.“%
I hummed in amusement. “And?“%
“She found out the truth.”
I paused. “Which truth?”
“That you’re Alexander Anderson’s biological daughter.”
I grinned. So, the idiot finally figured it out.
Alessia must’ve been furious. She had spent all this time parading around as Alexander Anderson’s “long–lost daughter,” only to find out that the real heiress was the woman she hated most. It was poetic.
And predictable.
“Let me guess,” I said, crossing my legs as I leaned back in my chair. “She panicked and leaked something to the press, hoping to ruin me?“!
There was a beat of silence before my source hesitated. “…Not exactly.”
I frowned. “What did she do?“%
“She leaked that you are Alexander’s daughter-“”
I smirked. “Well, that’s hardly a scandal.”
“-but she twisted it,” they continued. “She claimed you’re actually just an escort that Alexander keeps around. She spread rumors that you seduced him for wealth and power,”
For a moment, I just sat there.
Then, I laughed. A real, genuine, deep laugh.
“Oh, Alessia,” I murmured, wiping an amused tear from my eye. “You just made the biggest mistake of your life.”
Then came a call from my father.
I answered, already knowing he wouldn’t be calling unless it was important. “Yes, Dad?“M
“Turn on the news”
His tone was clipped, serious. That was all I needed to hear before I grabbed my phone and pulled up the latest headlines My lips curled as I read them
BREAKING NEWS: The Mysterious Cressida Lancaster–Not Alexander Anderson’s Daughter, But His Escort?!
I didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh at the sheer stupidity of it all. Alessia really thought she could turn the world against me with something this weak?
Taurus leaned over to glance at my screen. “Wow,” he muttered, unimpressed. “That’s creative. Escort, huh?”
I exhaled through my nose, unimpressed. “Pathetic ”
“She’s desperate, my father said over the phone. “But she just handed us exactly what we needed.”
11:33 AM c
I smirked. “Let me guess. You want a press conference?“}
“Immediately.”
I pushed off the railing, my heels clicking against the marble floor as I walked back inside. “Then let’s give them a show.”
The conference was set up within hours, my father’s team working like a well–oiled machine. By the time I arrived at Anderson Corporation’s headquarters, the media was already swarming like vultures.
I stepped out of the sleek black car, ignoring the flashing cameras and the reporters shouting my name. Taurus was right behind me, a silent but intimidating presence as we entered the building.
Inside, my father stood at the podium, his presence commanding, his gaze steely. He didn’t need to demand attention–it was simply given to him.
He cleared his throat, silencing the room. Then, in a voice that left no room for doubt, he said, “The woman you all know as Cressida Lancaster is not an escort. SHE IS MY DAUGHTER.“”
Gasps rippled through the crowd, but my father wasn’t finished.
“Her real name is Pearl Anderson. My only daughter. The rightful heiress to Anderson Corporation.“!
The cameras flashed, reporters scrambled to ask questions, and social media exploded.
I finally stepped forward, taking my place beside my father. I met the cameras head–on, my lips curving into a smirk.
“Next time someone wants to spread rumors about me,” I said coolly, “make sure they have the power to handle the consequences.”
Somewhere out there, I knew Alessia was watching. And I knew she was choking on her own downfall.
As for Lothario? I hoped he was paying attention. Because the woman he threw away was no longer someone he could ignore.
I had become untouchable.
