I was intent on it.

The scowl on Ivan's face deepened and heck, I couldn't care less.

Then I turned back to the paparazzi, gave them a small smile and then I walked past them and further into the vast hall.

I heard them scurry up to Ivan to throw questions at him but he ignored them and pushed past them to go settle himself down somewhere.

Did I win already?

Heck, I was dying to be the winner in this fight of ours. But speaking about winning, Mrs Anderson, Ivan’s mother approached me with a contempt look on her face. I had to swallow the lump at the back of my throat, in other to avoid stuttering or stammering or any of those things that will make me look stupid because she was the big fish in my fight with Ivan.

“I must admit that you look a little presentable with a little makeup on you.. but that doesn't necessarily mean that you'll get out of this unscathed. I promise you.” Mrs Anderson said to me as she looked me up and down.

“I will make sure that Ivan divorces you and you get to finally disappear from our lives.” She said quietly to my face like she didn't want anyone else to pick up on it.

But what the hell is she yapping about? I expected that she is already aware that Ivan and I have completed the divorce paperwork, but even though the proceedings have hurriedly been completed, she must have known about it but she clearly doesn't know.

What is Ivan scheming?

Why isn't his sweet mother aware of their separation? Or is this some sort of crazily distorted plan to completely destroy her?

I saw Mrs Anderson tilt her head at me. “A cat got your tongue? I'm surprised you aren't trying to beg for your stay in my son's life, or your supposed love for him have been a scandalous lie?” She asked wide-eyed, like she was brooding on the clear possibility of it.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at her. “No, Mrs Anderson. My love for your son have not been a lie and I believe that it's quite unfortunate that I still do love him even though we're not together anymore.” I said as I walked past her to sit somewhere else.

“What?” I heard her say as she scrambled to go meet Ivan.

I shook my head at her before I finally settled myself at the corner of the room to await the commencement of the interview.

When I looked down at my hands, they were all sweaty and trembling. I rubbed them together and instantly knew that I had little or no time left to remain brazen, straight faced and confident.

I glanced at the side and watched Ivan peer at me whilst speaking to his mother. I instantly looked away and bit my lip. Those demons must be plotting against me.

For a split moment, I actually thought that I would have let Chloe accompany me in order to support me but as good and satisfying as that sounds, I was going to face it all alone. Besides, I wouldn't want her to be the target of the Andersons.

Because all they want is to crush me, and me alone.

Soon, the interview started and I realized that I've been rubbing my hands against each other the whole time, now they're white.

I sighed as the podium was finally set up and the members of the Andersons family that was present, were called out on stage to take their respective seats. Including me.

I slowly grabbed my purse, swallowed the lump at the back of my throat and pinched myself hard to maintain a straight face no matter what the Andersons had up their sleeves, that will make me cry in front of the camera and in front of the thousands of people watching, including Chloe. I had a sudden urge not to disappoint her.

So here it goes…

I finally strolled confidently to take my seat and then I smiled at the paparazzi.

I tried so hard to remain levelheaded because Ivan was seated at my right and his mother on my left.

Thus, the interview began with random questions which I mostly ignored and smiled in response at.

“I know you are deliberately ignoring those questions..” Ivan spoke through his teeth beside and I didn't even bother to look at him or respond to his statement.

“Ivan mentioned to me that you two have indeed been separated but I'll have to go check those papers myself because there's definitely something fishy about it.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Why, don't you trust your son? If you say you do, why don't you believe his resolve then?” I asked confidently as her face was hard with a mix of annoyance and amusement.

“It's surprising that you've brought some cute audacious wings with you, but I'll cut them off.” She threatened as I glanced at her.

“Do as you wish.” I said as I smiled curtly at her and the scowl on her face deepened but she instantly replaced it with a smile for the camera.

I blinked back something in my eyes as Ivan Anderson decided to place his hand on my thigh and rub them. What is he doing?

I froze on my seat whilst trying to maintain the fake smile on my face.

“I must confess that you look beautiful today, confidently beautiful.” Ivan said to me as I slapped his hand away from my thighs.

“Have you forgotten so soon what I said to you earlier? It'd be to your advantage and not mine to behave..” I said through my teeth as he scrowled at me and maintained his focus on the paparazzi.

Why the hell am I in the middle of these demons anyway?

“Miss Naya…” One of the interviewers called my attention to his question.

“Yes?” I said as Ivan’s hand rested on my thighs again but this time, I decided to ignore him probably until I was finished with my response to the press.

“Mr Ivan Anderson reportedly stated to the press that you, intentionally and deliberately murdered your unborn child three months ago and as a result, becomes the reason for your divorce. Correct?” The interviewer asked with a perked eye brow.

I blinked severally at the question. They were all lies and I knew that they were trying to make me admit again to the fact that I intentionally fell down the stairs to get rid of my child and the fact that they tied the question to my earlier statement of being Ivan's ex-wife, was something I expected they'd do.

So I thought that in order to answer freely and escape the shackles of guilt that the Andersons were trying so hard to inflict on me, I have to get away from them.

“Miss Naya?” The interviewer said as I cleared my throat and leaned further into the mic.

“A moment please..” I said as I slowly stood up for the chair as Ivan’s hand dropped off my thighs.

I grabbed my purse and walked away from the midst of mother and son whilst the camera remained intent on my movement.

I walked down the small stairs and finally in front of the media and away from Ivan and his mother.

I looked up from my position at both mother and son, whose scrowl deepened by each passing moment.

Then I looked back at the media. “False. That accusation is false.” I said confidently as several cameras began to flash on my face.

“So, what you are saying to all of us today is that you deny these accusations and your husband Ivan Anderson lied against you?” The interviewer asked again.

I nodded slightly. “Ex-husband, please. And yes, I didn't intentionally harm my unborn child and it mostly certainly isn't the reason for the divorce.”

“Noted, Miss Naya. But could you tell us the reason why you divorced Mr Ivan Anderson?” The interviewer pressed as Ivan hit the table in anger.

I glanced at him and I observed the angry blaze in his eyes and I immediately confirmed that once again, and like every other time, it was so hard for him to control his wrath.

“I divorced her!” Ivan said as he left his seat and hurriedly strolled down to where I was, whilst his mother watched.

Ivan fumed in front of me as I furrowed my brows at his actions. Then I watched him face the media with contempt registered on his face.

“Mr Ivan Anderson, it's obvious you have some more claims to this matter.” The interviewer said as I pressed my lips into a thin line.

“They're not claims, they're actually facts!” Ivan blurted as he brought his gaze back on me, and the flashing of cameras continued.

“My wife here… now ex-wife, cheated on me with a freaking bodyguard!” Ivan hissed as the crowd began to mumble.

I scoffed at him. So, he's going to play that card?

“What the hell are you doing?” I whispered to him.

“Mr Ivan Anderson, are you referring to the pictures of your wife with another man that was falsely circulated on the media several days ago?” The interviewer asked Ivan and a part of me was a tad bit grateful.

“Falsely? Those are not falsified. In fact, the evidence is right here in our midst.” Ivan said as I furrowed my eyes at him.

What the heck is this bastard talking about?

I followed Ivan’s gaze to the bodyguard from the other night. He is the evidence?

What are these demons unto?

For a moment, I met the interviewer’s eyes which was filled with less hope than anything I could fathom.

I looked away and focused on the bodyguard whose face was everything but confident. Then, I was convinced that the Andersons must have done something to him. What did they do to him?

I took a couple steps towards the bodyguard whose eyes remained glued to his feet. Then the events from the other night, came flashing back.

“It's true that Miss Naya here, cheated on her husband with me while they were still married…” The bodyguard nodded in affirmation as I felt my feet wobble.

I glanced back at Ivan whose lips were curved into a shallow smirk.

‘It's all part of the plan’

‘what plan?’

I remembered the events from the other night and the news about the ridiculous affair with the bodyguard.

Those pictures of us in a compromising situation were all taken when I passed out and the whole world would believe these fuckers except I think of a way out of my situation.

But what?

I dug my fingers into my palms at the sight of the satisfaction evident on Ivan's face. No, I won't let him win.

I won't let the Andersons bring me down like this. Besides, I'm the only one permitted to shine and not let them trample on me.

“Miss Naya?” Another interviewer brought me out of my thoughts as I looked around me to see that all eyes were fixated on me.

Ivan soon came up to me and leaned in to whisper to my ears. “So, my little birdie, what are you gonna do now?”

Then he brought his eyes to meet mine but I didn't let my anxiety show. I concealed it with everything in me.

I turned to the interviewer and nodded slightly at him to go on with his question.

“Yes?” I mumbled under my breath as I mentally pleaded with myself not to lose it in front of these many people.

“Is it true that you cheated on your husband, Mr Ivan Anderson with this bodyguard, while still being married to him?” The second interviewer asked as I looked into the eyes of the people present whilst the flashing of cameras continued.

“No, it's not true.” I said confidently and glanced at Ivan who was also under the spotlight.

“Within the past months of being married to Mr Ivan Anderson here…” I gestured to him. “Even though I admit our marriage wasn't on a bed of roses, I actually did love my husband and have never done anything inappropriate to taint my feelings for him. So, I didn't cheat on Ivan Anderson like this man claims.” I pointed back to the bodyguard as I began to hear series of mumblings in the room.

“So, what about the pictures that pose as evidence against you?” The second interviewer asked as I nodded at the thought of something.

“Those are false too.” I said.

“How so?” A reporter asked as I sighed and my eyes met Mrs Anderson’s cold ones as if she was warning me to speak no further but I resolved to. Because I yearned to get over this whole mess as soon as possible.

“One night, on August 15th and on my way back home after meeting my ex-husband in one of ANDERSONs brand hotels because he didn't come home for days, the bodyguard offered to drop me off…” I trailed off as I revealed what really happened including the fact that I was drugged and kept locked up in the vehicle against my will.

“That's most definitely when those compromising pictures of me and the bodyguard were taken.” I finished as I saw Ivan from the corner of my eyes run his hand through his hair in obvious dread and frustration.

“Do you have any evidence to support these claims?” The interviewer asked as I shook my head.

“But…” I said almost immediately. “I want to clearly and without further doubt, refer to the dashcam of the vehicle as evidence. That is, if the Andersons will be willing to cooperate with further investigation.” I stated as I felt my eyes water.

No, not now. Not now, Naya…

I berated myself.

Ivan looked like he was lost in thought and his mother frowned at me.

“We'll get on it.” An ambitious looking reporter said quickly and left the room alongside his followers.

Mrs Anderson looked restless for a moment before she beckoned on her goons to probably give them certain instructions.

The thought that they would have seen it coming and must have gotten rid of the dashcam to cover up their tracks made me uncomfortable but I was glad that I'd given the press something important — a possibility to take into consideration.

But then I thought of anything else to say or do to support my claims.

“Miss Naya, do you perhaps remember the plate number of the said vehicle?” The first interviewer asked me with a glint of hope in his eyes.

Who's this person that makes me feel like he's the only one in the room that is on my side?

I furrowed my brows in thought for a moment and then I decided to disclose the plate number to the vehicle that was always designated to pick me. It was risky, but if I'm lucky, it'll be the same vehicle from the other night.

I felt it was better to bank on my intuition for a way out.

The vehicle was similar, if not the same to the one I was familiar with.

“Yes I do.” I spoke confidently. I had been too exhausted from the intimate session with Ivan and the proposal for divorce that I didn't bother to look closely. But then again, the rain had contributed to my obliviousness.

“Can you tell us?” A reporter said as I shook my head.

I silently prayed that my intuition was on a good point. So here it goes…

“RBC1254, is the plate number.” I blurted as Ivan’s guards hurriedly out as well as the reporters.

“Thank you for your response, Miss Naya. Could you all give us a moment while we look it up..”

The room became chaotic with gasps, mumblings, whispers, and side talks.

Ivan who already looked disheveled, approached me obviously trying so hard to control his nerves.

“What the fuck are you unto?” He asked as he grabbed my arm in a way that would make everyone believe his nails dug into my skin.

“You should know better, Mr Ivan Anderson. That you and your family are the worse kind of human beings that I have encountered.” I spat as his clenched his jaw and tried to stable his breathing.

“The dashcam is missing!” Someone shouted from the entrance as my head snapped to the person in surprise.

“Still got any ideas up your sleeves?” Ivan breathed out as I glared at him.

He moved away from me and I clenched my jaw.

Was I wrong? Is it another vehicle? What should I do?

“Miss Naya, the dashcam you claimed to be an evidence is missing. What do you have to say about that?” The second interviewer asked me as I swallowed the lump in my throat.

Well, I decided to use the situation to divert their attention from me.

“I understand the situation at hand, and the question is, why would the only evidence to prove my innocence be missing if there was absolutely nothing to hide? Hence, I suggest the Andersons should be investigated for confiscation of evidence.” I stated.

The cameras continued flashing in my direction.

“Miss Naya, are you implying that the Andersons are not particularly on good terms with you? Is your relationship with the Andersons strained?” A reporter said as I waved it off.

“Nonsense!” Mrs Anderson spoke as the cameras rolled to her direction. “No such thing exist between Naya and the Andersons, except for now, Naya here, is trying to go against the Andersons by making such claims.” She said as I blinked at her.

I scoffed, as expected from Mrs Anderson.

“Miss Naya?” The first interviewer called as I turned to look at him.

“Do you have something to say about that?” He asked as I rested my gaze on Ivan.

“The claims that I cheated on my husband while we were still married like I said before, is false. However, the claim of cheating also stands, except that I wasn't the one who cheated and disrespected our marriage.” I stated and glanced at the interviewer who furrowed his brows at me in question.

“It was Ivan Anderson, my ex-husband, who cheated on me with his little bimbo, Flora Michaels.” I said with a mix of amusement and nausea.

Ivan's eyes were fixated intently on me and he looked beat. His gaze questioned my resolve and I bit my lip at the turn of things.

“Mr Ivan Anderson?”

“Mr Ivan Anderson?”

The reporters called out to him severally, but he and I stood there on a stare drill and battled for dominance.