Chapter 195
Chapter 195:
Betsey watched Helena’s misfortune with such fixed attention that she didn’t pick up on anything strange about Dominick or Dario.
Helena let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. But once her eyes returned to the stream of hateful comments, the same heavy darkness crept back over her.
Within the hour, the station’s lines were jammed. Caller after caller demanded that the Nine O’clock News female anchor be replaced immediately.
A handful took it a step further. They were demanding Helena be fired on the spot.
Lucas couldn’t ignore the backlash. He reassigned her segment for now, then sent word for Helena to meet him in his office.
“Helena, you’ve seen the chaos. This isn’t just about your name. Nexus TV is on the edge of a boycott. You still speak to Mr. Wilson, don’t you? Maybe you could reach out to him and see if he might be able to secure some new sponsorships for our station? Considering this all spiraled because of him, it’s only fair he helps clean it up p>
Helena didn’t answer right away. Her lips parted, but no words came out.
Lucas had had enough. His voice cut sharper than before as he said, “Helena, your continued presence at Nexus TV is dragging the station through the mud. I’ve already taken multiple calls from sponsors today. They’re not just backing out. Some of them are threatening legal action for breach of contract because of all the bad press p>
A guilty look crossed Helena’s face, but she stood her ground. “Mr. Wright, the whole reason people are this upset is that they’ve seen me with Mr. Wilson too much already. If I meet with him again and it gets out, things will only get worse—for both me and the station p>
Her logic was hard to argue with, and Lucas knew it.
He stared for a few seconds, then waved her off with a sigh. “Fine. Go abroad. Stay out of sight for a week. Do a fluff interview or two if you have to.” Helena gave a small nod and stepped out.
Once in the hallway, Helena pressed her back against the wall and exhaled slowly, like she was trying to steady herself.
A voice came from her side not long after. It was Dario. “Alden is a magnet for disasters. He brings trouble for you all the time. I’m going with you on this trip, just in case he brings you more trouble p>
1Ɫ∆ŦE$† ₡Ḥ S 1₦ gɑl𝑛οvєlѕ.сo𝓂
Helena had never blamed Alden for her problems before. But with the way things had unfolded lately, some part of her started to feel bitter.
That night, after she walked through her front door, the weight of the day hadn’t left her.
Alden noticed. He asked what was bothering her more than once, but she stayed quiet. When she didn’t respond, he changed the topic. “I got a new place. I’m moving my grandma in and hiring a proper care team. She’s been talking about Shelley a lot lately too. The new place has more than enough space for her p>
“Sure,” said Helena with a smile so thin it barely touched her lips or voice.
From the center of the living room, she let her gaze sweep across the walls, then gave a small sigh. “This place is cramped. And honestly, the location’s never been great. You’ve gone all this time pretending to be poor, which couldn’t have been easy on you. That must’ve been exhausting. But now, you don’t have to pretend anymore. Move your grandmother somewhere that actually fits your lifestyle p>
“Helena, hold on p>
Alden had picked up on the shift in her voice and tried to respond, but she interjected with a strained smile, “As for me, I’ll be living with my dad later.” While her eyes moved over every familiar corner, something in her chest pulled tight. “It won’t be long before this place is empty, huh p>
“Helena, why are you suddenly saying all this?” Alden’s brows furrowed. He gently took her hand and searched her eyes for answers. “You still haven’t told me where your dad’s staying. What hospital is he in p>
Helena’s lips pressed into a firm line. She gave him no answer.
That silence chipped away at his patience. The memory of Dario handling her father’s transfer flickered through his mind. “You think Dario picked a decent hospital? Helena, he’s not what he looks like. There’s way more to him than you think p>
He held out a file, one that spoke volumes.
Helena glanced at it like it was nothing new.
That reaction stopped Alden cold. “You knew? You already knew everything about him p>
Her silence told him everything, and the realization knocked the air out of him. “So you’d rather keep trusting a guy like that… than let me in p>
There was nothing in Helena’s face—just distance. And it scared him more than rage ever could.
That moment was the first time Alden felt like he had no idea how to reach her. He used to be the one hiding things. Now she was the mystery he couldn’t solve.
Just then, her loosely hung bag slipped off the coatrack and hit the floor with a soft thud.
He moved quickly to pick it up, but before he could get to it, a document slid across the floor.
The bold letters on the front stopped him cold—Divorce Agreement.