Chapter 84

Chapter 84

Max’s Point of View

The morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows of my office, filling the room with a soft, golden glow. My desk was neatly organized, but the cup of coffee sitting beside me remained untouched, the steam long gone. I hadn't even noticed how cold it had become. My focus was locked on the tablet in my hands, my fingers gripping it tightly as I scrolled through the screen.

I reread the headline again, my stomach sinking. The words felt like a slap across my face, each one sharper than the last. I couldn’t believe it. How had it come to this? My hands trembled slightly as I clicked on the article, my heart pounding in my chest.

Leaning back in my chair, I tried to steady myself, but the article’s contents were even worse than the headline. They had gone too far this time, dragging her name through the mud without a second thought. My jaw tightened as I skimmed the paragraphs, each one filled with assumptions and lies. How could they write something like this? Did the truth mean nothing anymore?

“Sara Brown: Hollywood’s New Villain.”

“From Starlet to Scandal.”

Every headline felt like a slap in the face. I clenched the tablet tighter, scrolling through the vile words written about Sara. Each sentence felt like it had been dipped in poison, aimed to tear her apart.

“How can they write this garbage?” I muttered under my breath, the anger bubbling up inside me.

The knock on the door barely registered. My secretary, Liam, stepped in, a cautious look on his face. “Sir, the media is going crazy with these stories. They’ve been publishing nonstop since last night.”

“I can see that,” I snapped, tossing the tablet onto the desk with more force than I intended. It skidded to the edge, almost falling off.

Liam hesitated before continuing, his tone careful. “Should I prepare a statement? Maybe something to counter....”

“No,” I interrupted, pinching the bridge of my nose. My head was pounding, a mix of exhaustion and frustration. “No statements. This isn’t a PR issue it’s an attack.”

I leaned back in my chair, running a hand through my hair. “Find out who wrote this article. I want names, Liam. And I want them today.”

He nodded quickly. “I’ll get on it immediately.”

As Liam turned to leave, I called out, “And make sure those articles disappear. I don’t care what it takes.”

His footsteps faltered. He glanced back at me, his expression uncertain. “Sir, we’ve already tried. The articles are everywhere. Even if we take one down, three more pop up.”

I slammed my fist against the desk, the sound echoing in the room. “Then try harder! I don’t care if you have to buy out every publication in the city just fix it!”

Liam flinched at my outburst but didn’t argue. He left quietly, closing the door behind him.

The silence that followed was deafening. My eyes drifted back to the tablet, its screen now dark. Sara’s face flashed in my mind, her confident smile from the red carpets, the way she commanded attention wherever she went. She was a force, a star that outshone everyone around her. And now… now they were trying to destroy her.

I couldn’t sit still. Standing abruptly, I paced the length of my office, my hands clenched into fists. How had it come to this? Sara didn’t deserve this. She might have made mistakes who hasn’t? But the world was treating her like a villain in their twisted story.

A part of me wanted to call her, to hear her voice and reassure her that this storm would pass. But I hesitated. What would I even say?

As I paced, memories of Sara flooded my mind. She had always been there for me. When I was at my lowest, when the weight of my responsibilities threatened to crush me, Sara had been my rock. She’d stood by me, even when I didn’t deserve it.

I remembered the nights I’d lashed out at her, pushing her away because I couldn’t bear to let anyone see my cracks. But Sara never left. She never gave up on me.

“She saved me,” I whispered, the words hanging heavy in the air.

It wasn’t just about the articles or the media frenzy. This was about Sara the woman who had been my constant, my anchor. And now, she needed me. She was drowning in this storm, and I couldn’t just stand by and watch.

Grabbing my phone, I dialed the number of one of the biggest media executives in the city. The call connected after a few rings.

“Maximilian,” came the smooth voice on the other end. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I need a favor,” I said curtly, not in the mood for pleasantries. “The articles about Sara Brown get rid of them. All of them.”

There was a pause before the executive spoke, his tone measured. “Max, you know how the media works. Once something like this gets out, it’s nearly impossible to contain.”

“Don’t give me excuses,” I growled. “You have influence. Use it.”

He sighed. “I’ll see what I can do, but no promises. This story is hot right now. Every outlet is running with it.”

“Then make them stop,” I said coldly before ending the call.

Throwing the phone onto the couch, I leaned against the window, staring out at the bustling city below. It felt like the world was spinning out of control, and for once, I couldn’t do anything to stop it.

My phone buzzed again, a notification lighting up the screen. Another article. Another jab at Sara’s character.

I picked up the phone and stared at it for a moment before hurling it across the room. It hit the wall with a satisfying crack, pieces scattering across the floor.

Breathing heavily, I pressed my palms against the window, the cool glass grounding me. I couldn’t sit here and watch this happen. I had to do something.

Grabbing my coat, I strode out of the office, ignoring Liam’s questioning look as I passed his desk.

“Cancel my meetings,” I said without breaking stride.

“But, sir....”

“Just do it,” I barked, slamming the elevator button.

The ride down felt agonizingly slow. My mind raced with thoughts of Sara what she must be feeling, how she must be drowning in this chaos. She’d always put on a brave face, but I knew her better than that. She wasn’t as unshakable as she pretended to be.

When the elevator doors finally opened, I pushed through the lobby, ignoring the stares of employees and clients. My driver was waiting at the entrance, the car already running.

“Take me to Sara’s house,” I said, sliding into the backseat.

The driver hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Yes, sir.”

As the car pulled into traffic, I stared out the window, my jaw clenched. I didn’t know what I would say to her when I got there, but I knew one thing for certain I wouldn’t let her face this alone.

She had saved me once, in more ways than one. She had stood by me when I was too blind to see her worth. And now, it was my turn.

No matter what it took, I would protect Sara.

Even if I had to burn the world down to do it.