?Chapter 242:


    Marc nodded, confidence blooming in his chest. “I’m sure of it, Mom. No one else will treat her the way I do.”


    He watched the screen again as the camera zoomed in on Ste’s face. There she was. His wife. He wanted her back.


    When the broadcast ended, Marc stood from the couch, went upstairs, changed quickly, and headed out the door.


    But just as he slid into his car and was about to drive, someone appeared right by the driver’s side window.


    As Marc rolled down the car window, he was surprised to see Beatrice standing there.


    “Beatrice? What brings you here?”


    She didn’t waste time.


    Her tone was calm but firm, her eyes sharp with determination. “I need you to make things clear—for Haley’s sake,” she said. “Tell the media, tell everyone online—Haley wasn’t the third party in your marriage. You were the one who stopped loving Ste first. Haley just got caught in the middle.”


    Beatrice had been trying to manage the PR nightmare, but her reach only went so far.


    Her influence was strong in Achury, where her name carried real weight—but Choria was different territory. And so, she came to Marc.


    They’d been engaged. The least he could do was defend Haley, right?


    She had every right to ask.


    Marc’s expression turned cold. “Sorry, Beatrice. That engagement party didn’t go through, remember? We’re not engaged anymore. And I have no intention of marrying Haley. Her issues aren’t my responsibility.”


    Beatrice stared at him, stunned.


    “You’re serious?” she asked, her voice low. “What about everything you promised us? What about saving yourpany?” Her tone sharpened, the warmth draining from her face.


    Marc shrugged. “Haley and I were business associates—nothing more. She’s the one who got things twisted. She interfered with my marriage and wrecked it. I’ve been polite enough not to hold it against you.”


    Now, he was tossing all the me onto Haley, like she’d been some lovestruck fool.


    “You ungrateful bastard,” Beatrice snapped. “If it weren’t for my support, yourpany would’ve folded ages ago!”


    Marc let out a bitterugh. “Come on, Beatrice. You and I both know your influence doesn’t go far in Choria. As for Haley? I never loved her. Not once. Compared to Stel, she’s nothing.”


    Beatrice’s breath caught in her throat. She never imagined her daughter—the daughter she adored—would be belittled like that.


    Her hands trembled as she clutched her chest, her voice cracking. “You’re a jerk, Marc. Haley must’ve been blind to fall for someone like you.”


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