I Married My Ex's Billionaire Father
Chapter 209: That Drunked Night Was Back To Haunt Him

Chapter 209: That Drunked Night Was Back To Haunt Him

The room spun. Lyse felt a wave of dizziness wash over her, the reporter’s words echoing in her ears. Another man...intimate...photographs... She could not breathe. She didn’t understand, why were they attacking her with this?

Suddenly, a strong arm wrapped around her, pulling her away from the throng of reporters. Joel, her ever-present bodyguard, his face a mask of concern, was ushering her towards the exit. "Mrs. Van Doren, we need to get you out of here," he murmured, his voice urgent

.

Lyse stumbled, her legs feeling weak and unsteady. She allowed Joel to guide her through the crowd, the flashing cameras and shouted questions fading into a distant hum. She felt disoriented, confused, her mind struggling to grasp the situation.

They reached the waiting car, and Joel quickly ushered her inside. He climbed into the passenger seat and they sped away, leaving the chaos of the press conference behind. Lyse sat in the back, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and fear.

When they arrived at the apartment, Joel escorted her inside, his protective presence a small comfort in the midst of the turmoil. She sank onto the sofa, her body trembling. She felt numb, disconnected, as if she were watching her life unfold from a distance.

Almost immediately, the front door opened, and Levi rushed in, his face etched with worry. He had heard about what happened at the press conference, the rumors, the accusations. He had come as quickly as he could.

The moment Lyse saw him, the carefully constructed wall of composure she had built around herself crumbled. Tears streamed down her face, her body shaking with sobs. She reached out to him, her voice choked with emotion.

"Levi," she cried, "I...I don’t know how to explain it all to you. They found the pictures, they know I was married to someone else. Someone I don’t even know... I know you must be mad but I did not know how to tell..."

Levi rushed to her side and interrupted her, pulling her into a tight embrace. "It’s okay, love," he murmured, his voice soothing. "It’s okay. I’m here and you don’t need to explain anything."

He held her close, letting her cry, letting her release the fear and confusion that had been building inside her. He knew what had happened. He knew about the drunken night in Vegas, the impulsive marriage. Because he had been there. He was the man she had married.

But he could not tell her yet. Not now. She was too fragile, too shaken. He needed to comfort her, to reassure her, to give her the strength to face the truth. He felt mad at himself for not dealing with the situation immediately, things would not have devolved into the point of chaos they were at currently.

"I...I think I need to rest," she murmured, her voice weak.

Levi nodded. "Of course, love," he said gently. "I will take you to bed."

He helped her up, his arm supporting her as they walked to the bedroom. He tucked her into bed, kissing her forehead. "I’ll be right here," he whispered. "Just close your eyes and rest, okay."

Lyse nodded, her eyes already fluttering closed. She was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. She drifted off to sleep almost immediately, her mind still swirling with unanswered questions.

Levi watched her sleep, his face etched with concern. He knew he had to tell her the truth, but he did not know how. How could he explain that he was the man she had married that drunken night, the man she had no memory of? How could he tell her that their marriage was not just a business arrangement, but a real, legal marriage?

He quietly left the room, closing the door behind him. He walked into the living room, where Ethan, was waiting.

"The news is all over the internet," Ethan said, his expression grim. "There is also this picture of Mrs Van Doren."

He handed Levi the tablet and he ran his hand through his hair as he looked at the image of Lyse feeling the hotel after that night.

"Ethan," he said, his voice firm, "I am going to need you to do something for me. I want you to make sure that all those stories about Lyse, the ones circulating online, are cleared up. I want them taken down. All of them."

Ethan nodded. "Of course, Mr. Van Doren," he said. "I will take care of it immediately."

"And," Levi added, his voice low and serious, "I want you to find out who leaked those photographs to the press. I want to know exactly who is behind this."

Ethan nodded again. "Consider it done, Mr. Van Doren."

He turned and left, leaving Levi alone in the living room. He paced back and forth, his mind racing. He knew he had to tell Lyse the truth, but he didn’t know how to do it without hurting her, without shattering the trust she had in him.

He thought back to that night, the drunken haze, the impulsive decision to get married. He had been drawn to her, captivated by her beauty and her spirit. He had known, even then, that she was special. But it had been a passing phase in his mind until he realized he did not want to lose her. He had never intended to keep the marriage a secret. He had planned to tell her the truth, to explain everything, to give her the choice to stay with him or walk away.

Now, that drunken night was back to haunt him.

But then, the press conference had happened, the rumors, the accusations. He had panicked, afraid that she would reject him, that she would never forgive him for keeping the truth from her.

Now, he had no choice. He had to tell her. But how? How could he break the news to her without causing her even more pain? How could he explain that the man she was afraid of, the man she had no memory of, was him?

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. He didn’t know the answer. He just knew that he had to do it. He owed her the truth. He owed it to himself. And he owed it to the love he felt for her, a love that had started with a drunken night and had grown into something real, something deep, something that he would fight to protect, no matter the cost.