Public Scandal

'Have you seen this?" Claire, Louis's assistant, rushed into his office, holding a newspaper with a big headline: 'Sebastian Family Scandal: A Wedding, A Shooting, and Secrets Unveiled!" Louis barely looked up, tired from a sleepless night at the hospital. 'Claire, I don't have time for this," he said, his voice rough. The news didn't matter right now. His father was still in critical condition, and Victoria was slowly getting better. 'You need to see this," Claire insisted, putting the paper in front of him. It showed a blurry picture of the Sebastian mansion with police cars and ambulances outside. The text read: 'Family Feud or Assassination Attempt?" Louis felt angry. 'Damn it," he muttered, pushing the paper away. He glanced at the TV, which was already showing news about the incident. A group of commentators talked about it like it was a celebrity breakup. 'Do you think the shooting was linked to the marriage?" one commentator asked, looking excited for more gossip. 'It's just guesswork now," another replied, but he sounded like he enjoyed the drama. 'But you know the Sebastians—there's always more going on." Louis turned off the TV, feeling frustrated. 'Claire, call the PR team. We need to fix this now." Claire nodded and started dialing. 'It's not just about the shooting, Louis. They're looking into everything—your marriage, Victoria's past, Amaya's role. It's all coming out." Louis rubbed his temples, feeling stressed. 'How bad is it?" 'Bad," Claire said, handing him her phone. 'The investors are worried, and the board is talking about the fallout. If we don't act fast, we could lose everything." 'Great," Louis said through clenched teeth, receiving the phone. He listened as the PR director explained what they needed to do to manage the situation—statements to make, media appearances to schedule, and legal threats against any false news. 'I don't care about the rumors," Louis interrupted, cutting the director off. 'Focus on the facts. We only need to talk about the shooting. Victoria isn't at fault, and my father's health is personal. Make sure they know that." 'Got it, Mr. Sebastian," the director replied, though he sounded strained. 'But you should know—the media won't stop easily. They'll dig and find things." 'Then bury them," Louis snapped, ending the call. He dropped the phone on his desk, feeling the pressure weigh on him. His father's life was at stake, Victoria was trying to heal, and now the media frenzy threatened everything. A soft knock on the door broke his thoughts. Victoria came in, moving cautiously as if testing her strength. She looked at him, worried but determined. 'Louis, what's happening?" she asked, her voice steady but quiet. 'I've been getting calls non-stop. Reporters, friends, even people I haven't talked to in years. They're all asking about the shooting." 'It's a mess," Louis admitted, motioning for her to sit. 'The media found out about everything. They're turning it into a circus." Victoria looked at the newspaper on her desk, her eyes narrowing at the headlines. 'This is crazy. They're acting like it's a soap opera." Louis ran a hand through his hair, frustration clear in his eyes. 'I know. And it's not just about us. They're dragging my father, you, and everyone else into this." Victoria reached across the desk, placing her hand over his. 'We'll get through this, Louis. We've faced worse." Louis looked at her, feeling a little comfort from her words. 'Yeah, but this time it's public. They're not just after us—they're after everything we've worked for." A buzzing sound interrupted them. Louis's phone vibrated with a new alert from a big news outlet. He looked at the screen, his expression darkening. 'They've released a video from the night of the shooting." 'What?" Victoria said, panic in her voice. 'How did they get that?" 'Security footage," Louis guessed, opening the video. It was shaky but clear enough. There was the flash of gunfire, the chaos that followed, and a glimpse of Malcolm collapsing. The clip ends with Louis pulling Victoria to safety. 'They're going to twist this," Victoria said, fear creeping into her voice. 'They'll make it look like…" 'Like it was our fault," Louis finished, feeling defeated. He stood up, pacing the room as the weight of the situation pressed down on him. 'We need to act fast. If we don't take control of the story, they will." Victoria watched him, her own thoughts racing. 'Maybe we should make a statement. Tell the truth before they twist it more." Louis paused, thinking about her idea. 'And say what? That my father's in critical condition because of a family fight? That the woman I'm supposed to protect is being blamed for everything?" Victoria met his gaze, her expression strong. 'We tell the truth, Louis. That this was an accident, that Malcolm was trying to protect me. That you—" 'That I couldn't protect either of you," Louis said, his voice shaky. He turned away, hiding his guilt. Victoria stood and moved to his side. She placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch gentle but firm. 'Louis, you've done everything you can. We'll get through this, but we need to do it together." He nodded, feeling more determined. 'Together," he agreed. 'We'll face this together." As they stood united against the storm outside, Louis knew they had a tough road ahead. But with Victoria by his side, he felt a spark of hope, a glimmer of light in the darkness. The media frenzy wouldn't be their end. Not if they fight back with the truth.