novelraw Chapter 171: Why Should I Believe You
Chapter 171: Why Should I Believe You
Chapter 171: Why Should I Believe You Lyse folded her arms and turned to Levi with a scornful smile. "So I am supposed to believe that Sutton and Anya did all of this?" She demanded, "how convenient, why should I believe you?"
Levi looked at her wordlessly and put on the television. The flickering television screen cast an eerie glow on Lyse’s face, her eyes wide with a mixture of disbelief and curiosity at the sight that was playing out.
Anya, her voice trembling slightly, was addressing the cameras, her carefully crafted facade of innocence crumbling before the world.
"I lied," Anya confessed, her gaze fixed on the camera, a chilling sincerity in her voice. "I fabricated the entire story about Levi having an affair with me. I was jealous, consumed by bitterness after he left me for Lyse Spade. I wanted to hurt him, to destroy his happiness and relationship. I just never imagined it would escalate to this point."
Lyse felt a wave of nausea wash over her. The truth, so brutally and publicly exposed, felt like a physical blow. Levi had been right all along. Anya, had actually orchestrated this entire charade, painting him as a unrepentant playboy.
"I am truly sorry for the pain and suffering I have caused," Anya continued, her voice cracking. "I understand that my actions have had devastating consequences. I take full responsibility for my lies and all the damage they have inflicted."
After a long pause, she swallowed and continued. "I most especially want to apologize to Levi and his lovely wife, I wish you both a lot of happiness."
The camera zoomed in on Anya’s face, capturing the raw emotion, the remorse etched on her features. It was impossible to deny the sincerity of her apology. Yet, a nagging doubt lingered in Lyse’s mind. Was this genuine remorse, or was it merely an act, a carefully calculated performance designed to salvage her reputation?
Meanwhile, at an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city, Anya hobbled along the road, tired and sweaty, her designer heels in her hands while she hoped that someone would go by and give her a ride. She did not have her phone so she could not call a taxi service and Levi had ensured that there was no one to take her back.
Everyone had gotten into buses, leaving her behind. She had failed and screamed to no avail, and when she realized that they were really not returning for her, she had started to walk.
Fortunately for her, a car came passing by and she was able to make her way back into the city, to her hotel room. There she sat slumped on the sofa, her face pale and drawn. The television, muted, displayed her tearful confession to the world. She had never felt so humiliated, so utterly defeated.
After Levi had taken her to that warehouse, she had feared that she would be killed. Levi however, had given her two choices: confess publicly and apologize to Lyse, or face the consequences. The consequences, he had implied, would be dire. His guards, ever vigilant, had been watching her every move. Escape was impossible. She had no choice but to comply.
He might as well just killed her.
She was ushered into a room where a make up artist waited to touch her face up and next it was the wardrobe department where she was given a suit to wear. As she was moved from place to place, Anya could not help but marvel at Levi’s effectiveness.
She had never seen him put such an effort into trying to convince a woman, he must really love Lyse. At that thought, she ground her teeth in frustration. She could not even understand what Levi saw in her.
After that, she was informed that all the words that she would say were on a teleprompter. And the next thing she knew, she was pushed through the curtains where a fairly large number of reporters waited. Anya’s eyes widened at the realization of what was happening but it was too late, the only thing she could do was act as she had been instructed to.
She hated Sutton for forcing her hand in the first place, If Sutton had not manipulated the jealousy that Anya had been feeling, she would not have been used. But Anya had stupidly fallen into that pit and she had been forced to run away while Sutton remained and now that Anya had been forced to take all the blame, Sutton still remained without a blemish to her name.
But she hated herself even more, if she had not allowed herself be used as a pawn in Sutton’s game, she would still be okay. She had brought all that was happening upon herself, with her jealousy, her bitterness, her reckless pursuit of revenge. If she had just left Levi alone she would not be dealing with everything that she was forced to deal with.
As she watched the news reports flashing across the screen, her name plastered across the headlines, she knew her life would never be the same. The world had seen her for who she truly was: a liar, a manipulator, a woman consumed by her own desires.
Her phone rang and she glanced af it half heartedly, her heart skipping when she saw that it was her publicist on the phone. She could not bear the thought of having to explain to anyone anything, so she just ignored the call and sank deeper into the armchair.
She had lost everything. Her reputation, her freedom, and most importantly, her self-respect. She was a broken woman, shattered by her own deceit.
The humiliation was almost unbearable. But as she stared at the television screen, a flicker of defiance ignited within her. She would not let Levi break her. She would find a way to reclaim her life, to rebuild her shattered reputation.
And she would make him pay for what he had done to her. She would not rest until his precious wife face the same humiliation that Levi had forced her to endure.