Chapter 5 – War of Words
They called their press conference for ten the next morning.
Alex stood center stage, eyes red-rimmed, voice cracking on cue.
A victim betrayed by a controlling mother.
Reginald beside him, nodding solemnly.
Victor—my late husband’s brother—added fuel about “family values.”
An old secretary from twenty years ago even showed up to cry about my “cruelty.”
The room ate it up.
Cameras flashed.
Headlines wrote themselves.
I watched the live feed from my office.
Didn’t move.
Didn’t speak.
When it ended, Sophia looked at me.
“They’re coming for blood.”
I stood.
“Then let’s give them evidence instead.”
My own press conference was scheduled for three.
I walked in alone.
No tears.
No trembling voice.
Just a folder in my hand.
I laid out the timeline.
My late husband’s medical records—liver failure, long-term alcoholism.
Bank records showing money siphoned to his mistress.
Board minutes removing him as CEO for misconduct.
Share purchase agreements—every quiet acquisition that made me majority owner.
Then the trust documents for Alex.
Extensions granted because he kept failing classes.
Money sent so he could “focus on studies.”
I ended with one line.
“I protected him longer than he deserved.”
The room went quiet.
Questions exploded.
I answered none.
I simply walked out.
By six, the tide had turned.
#StandWithVictoria trended higher than Alex’s tearful face.
Shares climbed another five percent.
Sophia met me in the garage.
“You didn’t smile once,” she said.
“No need,” I replied. “The numbers did it for me.”