Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
People were more interested in useless celebrity gossip than actual news in this era.
Suddenly, a reporter bravely shoved a microphone in Sophia’s face and confronted her, asking, “Mrs. Walsh, have you abused your maids like what Ms. Alyssa said? Was Nina Carle a subject of your abuse?”
Sophia was astonished that the media she invited to the funeral had turned against her.
Jeremy held Alyssa’s hand tight. He complimented her. “Lyse, you’re awesome. You’re way better than me. I can never be as good as you
Staring at her, he smiled bitterly. “I feel like I’m out of your league
Then, he tenderly whispered, “You had pursued me in the last 13 years. From now on, I will be the one to do the pursuing.”
Touched by his words, she wrapped her fingers against his.
The other reporters flocked to question Sophia and Betty. The two women, sweating profusely, argued, “No, that’s not the truth! You shouldn’t listen to Alyssa Taylor’s nonsense!”
“Madam Sophia, you cannot get out of this,” a familiar voice boomed with indignation.
Shocked, Alyssa and Jeremy spun around to find Rosie storming toward them.
“Mrs. Rosie!” they exclaimed.
Rosie greeted them, “Ms. Alyssa, Mr. Walsh, sorry for showing up against your wish. I know you hid the truth from me because you didn’t want to upset me, but I was the one who raised Nina. She was like a daughter to me.”
Then, she choked on her tears and grieved. “I can’t send her off after all the time I spent with her.”
“Mrs. Rosie, I’m sorry,” Jeremy apologized and sighed, feeling guilty for hiding the truth from her.
Alyssa gave Rosie a hug and a pat on the back without any word.
After the short exchange, Rosie pulled herself together and glared at Sophia. “Ms. Alyssa is right. Many maids, including Nina, have been abused by Madam Sophia. I have worked for them for 30 years and know more than Ms. Alyssa. I swear to God that Ms. Alyssa spoke. the truth.”
“Mrs. Rosie, have you gone mad? Did Alyssa pay you to slander us?” Sophia pointed a finger at Rosie. “You’re a longtime employee. We gave you the best treatment a maid could receive in Solana City. How could you turn against your benefactors and spew nonsense about us just because someone paid you to? Where’s your conscience?” “If I did not have a conscience, I wouldn’t have shown up.”
Rosie chuckled. “Some are here to pay their last respects, but some, like you, are here to capitalize on others’ death!”
“Mrs. Rosie, that’s too much!”
Rosie added, “You shouldn’t take credit for my treatment in the family. I only have Mr. Javier and Madam Anne to thank. Besides, it is Mr. Javier who pays me, not you! I have nothing to do with you.”
In the heat of the moment, Rosie spat in front of Sophia while the onlookers were still reeling from the shock of the drama of a maid speaking out against Sophia.
At that moment, some level-headed reporters said, “She’s not wrong. A funeral for a victim of sudden death should be kept low-profile. Because of that, Ms. Alyssa and Mr. Walsh have not invited the media to the funeral. They care about sending off the victim more than shaping their image.”
“True. I have never seen anyone in Solana City who’s more attention- seeking than Mrs. Walsh.”
“Mrs. Rosie is right. Mrs. Walsh is capitalizing on the victim’s death.”
Sophia fumed when she realized the public opinion had turned against her, but she had to keep her cool in front of the reporters. She decided to keep up the act, playing the victim.
Turning white, she pressed against her chest, looking like she was about to faint. She accused Alyssa, “How could you judge me unfairly? Ms. Alyssa, we did not get along when you were married to Jeremy. I admit that we ran into conflicts, but it’s all in the past because you divorced Jeremy. Why would you do whatever it takes to at back at me?”
Alyssa’s expression hardened when Sophia brought up the divorce again. Similarly, Jeremy’s blood boiled at Sophia’s remark.
Eyes gleaming with malice, Sophia looked close to tears. She added, ” You knew Jeremy was into Liana. They couldn’t marry because his grandpa disapproved of their relationship. Even then, you chose to marry Jeremy.
“Alyssa, the divorce was a matter of time, especially because you insisted on getting married. How could you blame that on me? You’re a bully!”
Sophia attempted to create falsehoods to divert attention from herself. What a crafty woman!
The reporters were continuously surprised by the revelation of the Walsh’s’ private lives. They had their doubts, wondering if Sophia was unfairly blamed because Alyssa wanted revenge.
Silas and Cyrus could not hold back. Even Axel, who was hiding in a corner, was ready to make a move on Sophia.
Silas offered, “Jonah, I’ll send some men to shoo the reporters. We can’t let this happen. There will be rumors about Lyse and Jeremy’s divorce.”
Jonah stopped him when he was about to leave. “Silas, you can’t.”
Silas and Cyrus were puzzled. “Why not?”
“It’s too late to stop the media from reporting. I bet some of them are hosting live streams. If we forcefully kick them out, we will only make Lyse appear guilty of the accusation and fall into Sophia’s trap.”
Jonah took a deep breath and explained sternly, “Sophia is setting Lyse up. If we mishandle the situation, we would appear to be sitting to Sophia’s accusations.”
Silas and Cyrus clenched their fists in a fit of anger. They were willing to risk their careers and beat up Sophia at that moment
“How shameless of you to speak about Alyssa as her ex-mother-in- law!” Jeremy finally stepped forward without hesitation and mocked Sophia, “You’re Dad’s second wife, and I’m not your son. You do not have the right to claim you were Lyse’s mother-in-law.
“Still, Lyse respected you and tried her best to fulfill your unreasonable demands when she was married to me. She endured you and Betty’s bullying. Why did you skip that part?”
Alyssa felt a lump in her throat and wiggled her finger as she was reminded of the bitter past. Jeremy did not need to look at her to empathize. He gripped her hand firmly and declared, “Lyse married me because she loved me. Is love a sin?
“I was the one to blame for the divorce. I did not see through Liana’s true colors and continued flirting with her after I was married. I unknowingly hurt Alyssa, not realizing that all the while, she was the one I loved.”
The cameras flashed again in a frenzy to capture Jeremy’s act of protecting his ex-wife and his confession about his extramarital affair.
Sophia’s expression crumbled. Betty stared agape at Jeremy’s explosive statement. They never expected him to give up everything- his status and reputation-for Alyssa.
They underestimated his feelings for Alyssa. He’d rather sacrifice himself to protect Alyssa. He would rather suffer a blow in his reputation to uphold her innocence.
Trembling, Alyssa watched as Jeremy stood firmly in front of her. She choked on her tears, touched by his empathy, which meant more to her than his declaration of “I love you”.
Jeremy scanned Sophia and Betty’s faces before turning to the crowd. “I will make this clear for the last time-I was the one at fault in our divorce. Alyssa was not to be blamed. I will take legal action against any media who wrote a single article demeaning her. Those who start rumors will pay a huge price for doing so.”
His words came as a huge shock. Shuddering, Sophia and Betty stumbled backward and gave up on confronting Alyssa.
Cyrus, admiring Jeremy’s courage, clapped his hands with respect.” That was cool.”
Jonah and Silas nodded in approval. Axel, who hid in a corner, smiled with satisfaction as he placed a cigarette between his lips, mumbling, “Not bad. You act more like my brother-in-law now.”
A reporter suddenly came forward and questioned loudly, “Mr. Walsh, why do you frequently meet up with Ms. Alyssa if you’re divorced? I have been following your updates. Whenever Ms. Alyssa gets into trouble, you will show up to help. Are you nice to her because she was your ex-wife, or do you still have feelings for her?”
The other reporters chimed in, “Mr. Walsh, what is your current relationship with Ms. Alyssa?”
Feeling helpless in the onslaught of questions, Alyssa heard Jeremy reply, “She was my ex-wife. Now, I’m her man.”
While speaking, he looked at her. They both teared up when their eyes met.
Alyssa did not shy away from Jeremy’s passionate gaze this time. She melted inside, wondering how deep his love for her was, seeing how he was close to tears when he looked at her.
Meanwhile, Sophia and Betty were in hot water because they had nowhere to escape. Alyssa stood in their way, and the reporters swarmed behind them.
At that moment, Rosie played a recording on her phone in front of the crowds. Amid the hushed silence, they were shocked to hear Sophia cursing her maids from the recording..
The reporters gasped, “Oh, my God! Quick! Get that on video!”
Another questioned, “Is that how a woman in her position should behave? Even the market vendor I know has better manners!”
“If we air this, we might have to censor it from the beginning till the end!”
All color drained from Betty’s face. She had her fair share of abusing maids at home and worried that Rosie would play a recording of her actions.
Rosie lifted her phone high and yelled, “Look! This is how much Mrs. Walsh cares for her maids!”
“How dare you do this to me, you old bitch! Stop playing it!” Fuming, Sophia charged at Rosie to snatch the phone, but the Taylor family’s bodyguards stopped her from getting any closer to Rosie.
The media recorded the scene, showing Sophia comically clawing at the air when the bodyguards held her back.
Rosie taunted, “Oh, Mrs. Walsh, are you triggered by just one the tip of the iceberg of your abusive behavior over the years.”
With that, Rosie played another recording. Everyone instantly heard a sound that resembled a slap in the face.
In the recording, Sophia shrieked in an abrasive voice, saying, “Nina Carle, are you dumb? How could you mess this up? We’re not going to keep useless people around!”
Sophia paled and started trembling when she heard the recording. In the recording, Nina replied in a pain-filled voice, much to the dismay of the people at the funeral. “I-I’m sorry, Madam Sophia. I’ll clean it up now. Ah-“
Betty’s voice emerged, and she sounded as horrible as her mother. Nina, did you not hear me? You need to get your ears checked!”
