Chapter Twenty -Four
Lawliss
I sigh, picking up my phone. The way Lauren looks at me—tight-lipped, arms crossed like she is bracing for impact—tells me everything I need to know.
This is bad.
Everything has been going too well. Too easy. Too perfect. A small voice in the back of my mind whispers that it is only a matter of time.
I brace myself and there it is.
Another Dua Gone Wrong
Lawliss Dua Attacks Husband After Being Caught Cheating
Acclaimed Lawyer Caught Cheating on Her Husband
My stomach tightens as I click the first link.
Trouble in Paradise. A world-renowned lawyer was spotted with the same built man on multiple occasions in compromising situations.
I barely register the words before my gaze locks on the photos.
One is from the night at the bar. The other is from this morning. All with Eddie.
My chest tightens.
I have been too relaxed. Too caught up in my own world to realize I was being followed. But it is not the invasion of privacy that makes my blood run cold. It is the video staring back at me. My face is plastered across the thumbnail.
Exclusive Interview with Derrick Maddox, Husband to Lawliss Dua.
I scoff. Husband. What a joke.
I click play, and Derrick’s face appears on the screen. His lip is swollen, a bruise darkening his cheekbone.
“She never wanted to take my name,” he says, voice thick with fake sorrow. “I really did love her, but now she has taken the building and prevented me from working for months. I have lost all my contracts. And now she is openly cheating on me.”
His voice cracks. His lips tremble just enough to look convincing.
Liar.
I slam the phone down.
The room goes silent.
I inhale through my nose, steady and controlled. I force myself to pick the phone back up and scroll down to the comments.
@MaddoxForever: Wow. I always knew she was too cold to be faithful. Poor Derrick.
@RealTeaSpill: Why do all these powerful women cheat? First that actress, then the athlete, and now this?
@Pretty_Jeanee: She stole his building, his career, and now this? Manipulative AF.
@myfriendlawyer: Did y’all notice she never took his last name? She never planned to stay loyal.
@rri_yya: This is what happens when women get too much power.
I tighten my grip on the phone. My pulse is hammering.
Then another wave of comments comes in.
@TeamLawliss : Y’all are so quick to believe a man’s sob story. She hasn’t even said her side yet.
@semidiva.lisa: Where’s the timestamp, though? Where’s the evidence? I’ll wait.
@FreeThinker89_Dzifa: Is Derrick Maddox really out here giving interviews? Be fcking for real.
@love_esqdua: Lawliss built herself WITHOUT that man. The Duas have been in existence for ages. Let’s not act like he made her.
I let out a slow breath, my jaw clenched. My name is in their mouths, being tossed around like a game, like I am not even a person.
I look up, my voice sharp. “Remind me again why the press release of my divorce never went out?”
Lauren shoots to her feet instantly, panic flashing in her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Law. I’ll work on the situation now. I am so sorry.”
Before she can move, Adam, our head of security, steps in, his expression grim.
“The house is surrounded by paparazzi.”
Great. Just fucking great.
I exhale through my nose, but my body betrays me. I start to shake. Derrick’s betrayal had been a wound I blurred at the edges, something I never wanted to pick apart or turn into a battle. I know I don’t love him now but I did at one point in my life so I didn’t want to destroy him. But now?
Now I will.
I hear a voice, deep and steady. “Breathe.”
Eddie.
I do as I’m told, inhaling slow, steady breaths until my pulse evens out. When I finally look up, everyone is watching me, their faces tight with concern.
“Are you okay?” Eddie asks and I nod, squeezing his hands to reassure him.
“Now, what’s next?” I direct my question to Lauren.
“I’ve called my team. They are on their way and will be here in five minutes to set up for a press conference.”
I nod, grounding myself. “And the press release? What the hell happened there?” My voice is calmer now, but I still need answers.
“There was an embargo on it. It was supposed to be lifted before you resumed work, but there was a mix-up with the date,” Lauren explains.
I massage my temple, processing and thinking. Alright. Fixable.
“What’s our biggest challenge?” I ask.
“The photos of you and Eddie.” She hesitates before continuing, clearly weighing her words. “It may seem... too soon for you to move on. But more than that, when the media finds out you knew each other before, disproving the cheating claims will be harder.”
I narrow my eyes. Unbelievable.
“Who the hell was it that told me to move on? To get back out there? That there was no such thing as ‘too soon’ or ‘too late’ when it came to moving on?” I ask, not directing the question at anyone in particular.
My sisters lower their heads, suddenly very interested in anything but my gaze.
I exhale through my nose, sharp and deliberate. “Well, if they want a show, then play the damn video of Derrick with his lover.”
Lauren blinks, “Are you sure?” She asks as if testing whether I really mean it.
“There’s a timestamp on it; we can get the CCTV or photos with the timestamp of the photos circulating for proof,” I add, my voice cold. She nods but doesn’t move. There’s something else.
“What?” I press.
She hesitates. “Do you want your relationship status exposed? I mean, it wouldn’t look great for you, media-wise, but... Eddie’s status could help us spin it in your favor.”
“No offense, Eddie,” she adds and I roll my eyes.
“None taken.” His replies, his voice is smooth, unreadable.
“Since when do we need someone’s status to tell the truth as it is?” My mother interjects, her tone laced with irritation.
Eddie’s voice cuts through the tension. “Would it be okay if I use this press conference as an opportunity to introduce myself?”
I turn to him, narrowing my eyes. His voice is steady, but I sense it—the darkness creeping in.
“What are you planning?” I ask carefully.
He smiles, but there’s something behind it. “Don’t worry, Empress. You clear your name, do your thing… and I’ll do mine. Okay?” The way he says it calmly and assuredly sends a shiver down my spine. Whatever he’s planning, I know it won’t be pretty.
"Sure,” Lauren responds. Before I can say anything, he steps forward, cups my face, and kisses me—soft, deliberate, grounding. I melt into it, realizing just how much I need his comfort right now.
“It’ll be fine. I promise,” he murmurs against my lips.
Then, just as quickly, he steps away, turning toward the door leading outside, then calls out, “Josh.” His voice is cool and detached, and I know he’s already setting something in motion.
I shift my attention back to my family. We strategize, planning how to handle the press together.
“Wait… So you’re all speaking?” I ask, shocked.
The last time my entire family stood together at a press conference was when we announced Aria’s pregnancy. Since then, we’ve done everything to keep Janette out of the media. And now, they’re doing the same for me. Standing beside me. Shielding me.
I glance at the wall, at the familiar calligraphy hanging there—a simple phrase that has always felt like the foundation of our home:
My family eats, laughs, cries, sings, and dances together.
And right now, I know they’re about to fight for me, too.
***
We step out onto the balcony and into the compound, where everything is set. The night air hums with an edge of tension. Janette is asleep inside, blissfully unaware of the chaos brewing outside these walls. The rest of us, however, are ready for war.
Lauren I must say she has done a good job of setting everything up for the press conference in less than 30 minutes. If I weren’t in a bad mood, I would have commended her.
Eddie, though…
I thought he’d keep his distance, but he hasn’t left my side. Instead, he stays close, offering quiet reassurances.
“You don’t have to say a word at this press conference,” Eddie murmurs against my ear, his arms tightening around me from behind. “I’ll take care of it.”
I turn in his hold, my fingers brushing against his jaw. His expression is unreadable, but there’s something dangerous behind his eyes.
“And what exactly does ‘take care of it’ mean?” I ask, searching his face.
He doesn’t answer. Just smirks.
“Ready?” Lauren’s voice cuts through the moment.
I nod. Eddie and I step forward, joining my family as we walk toward the setup.
Lauren steps up to the podium, tapping the microphone once before speaking.
“I wish I could greet you all with a ‘good evening,’ but it is not a good one. It was, until you all barged in here without fact-checking.”
I chuckle under my breath. Only Lauren would open a press conference like this. She is known for being an unfiltered PR bulldog, and her background as a journalist only makes her sharper. According to her, she has the privilege of talking like this.
“Now, what you are labeling a scandal is not. You have only heard one side of the story.” She lets out a short chuckle, shaking her head. “Funny how a man caught on camera with his mistress is somehow still the victim, while a woman simply existing near another man is labeled a cheater.”
A few gasps ripple through the crowd.
A reporter from KL Media steps forward, voice sharp. “So, you’re claiming Mr. Maddox is the one who cheated. Do you have any proof to back that up?”
Lauren scoffs, tilting her head. “You must be new.” She gives him a once-over before continuing. “If you weren’t, you’d know we don’t make claims without receipts.”
She picks up the remote and presses play.
My stomach tightens. The screen flickers to life, and there I am—smiling, glowing, oblivious. Setting up the anniversary surprise with excitement practically radiating off me.
I sucked in a breath.
Eddie’s hand finds my shoulder, his grip firm, grounding me. I asked them to play this; I remind myself. The editing is sharp, with the timeline clear, but I was not prepared to see myself like this. To see what I looked like before it all fell apart.
The video ends with the weight in the room shifting.
Then, more evidence appears. Documents, timestamps, and a witness statement I did not even know existed.
Lauren delivers the final blow.
“If you came here looking for salacious gossip, I suggest you find it elsewhere.” The reporters are stunned. Some shift uncomfortably. No one dares to interrupt. She steps aside, and Aria steps up next, her presence commanding as she faces the now-mellowed crowd.
“Thank you, Lauren,” she begins, then turns back to the reporters gathered. “Let’s talk facts. Derrick Maddox is a failed businessman whose biggest asset was the Dua Group. Now tell me, would anyone of sound mind expect anyone to support a man who betrayed her? I’ll leave that to your thinking hats.”
She lets her words settle, watching their reaction before continuing.
“I advise the media to vet their sources better before contributing to the downfall of others. Words have power. If we had nothing to prove today, would our lifelong legacy have been destroyed by a lie?”
Murmurs ripple through the crowd. This is not what they expected. It is a counterattack and an attack on their integrity. Aria does not falter, her gaze unwavering. Then, with a simple shake of her head, she steps aside as our mother takes her place.
Mom’s voice is firm, unwavering. “My family has spent decades building something with integrity. That name is not something you tarnish lightly. If you thought we would let one desperate man rewrite our legacy, then you do not know the Duas.”
Laughter breaks out, sharp and unexpected. Elisa.
I turn, arching a brow at her. “What’s funny?”
The reporters in the front row glance at her, along with a few others in the crowd, curiosity flickering in their eyes. Elisa only smirks, completely unbothered by the attention.
She grins, arms crossed, and leans in slightly. “It’s just… It’s always a little entertaining seeing the entire family in full business mode.”
Lauren turns to her next. “Anything you want to add?”
“They’ve said it all,” Elisa responds, looking completely relaxed.
I shake my head with a small smile before stepping up to the podium. My family nods in quiet support, and I inhale deeply, grounding myself.
“Let’s talk legal.”
The room stills.
“Under Kentucky Revised Statutes 411.061-411.065, spreading false statements that cause financial or reputational harm is grounds for legal action. And let’s not forget New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964). If you’re going to falsely accuse a public figure, you better have proof that what you’re saying is true. Otherwise, it’s called defamation. And that is exactly what’s happening here.”
I scan the room, watching as discomfort flickers across a few faces. Good.
“The stock took a hit in the past few hours since this bad press began. Because of that, legal action will be taken against anyone who contributed to it. This includes media outlets that published false stories and individuals spreading defamatory comments online—yes, that means accounts like MaddoxForever and everyone else fueling these lies.”
I pause again, making sure they understand this is not just a threat.
“And trust me, I will make sure those consequences are enforced to serve as a deterrent to others.”
I lean forward slightly, my voice calm but cutting.
“If you’re going to mention my name or The Dua Group, be very careful about what follows. I did not earn the name Iron Fist for nothing.”
The silence is thick, but it doesn’t last long.
“With all due respect, Ms. Dua, isn’t it a little convenient that this ‘evidence’ surfaces now?” A voice cuts through the tension. A reporter from The Luxe Times, a woman with sharp eyes and an even sharper tongue. “Damage control, perhaps? You’ve been divorced for over a month, yet you decide to tell the public now—only after a scandal. How do we know this isn’t just another power play by the Duas?”
Murmurs ripple through the crowd again, this time laced with doubt.
I tighten my grip on the podium. The audacity.
I open my mouth, ready to eviscerate her with every legal clause she clearly hasn’t researched but before I can, Eddie’s voice slices through the tension.
“That’s enough.”
His voice is calm yet commanding. A slow chill spreads through my body as I turn, finding him already making his way toward the podium, his expression unreadable.
My stomach flips.
Oh no. They just unleashed him.