Charles had called the press to the Novacore meeting hall. As soon as Kairo, Sara, and Zayn entered the office building, every pair of eyes turned toward them. People whispered, stared, and tried to understand the storm walking through their corridor.
Kairo didn't let it touch him. He held Zayn securely in one arm and Sara's hand in the other, walking with calm confidence. Charles led them ahead, guiding them toward the conference room. Large LED screens on every floor were already showing the live telecast of the press conference, and the entire building watching their steps.
Once they reached the conference room, a wave of camera flashes burst in their faces. Kairo immediately shielded Zayn, turning the little boy's face into his shoulder, protecting him from the harsh light and unwanted attention. Sara stayed close beside him as they walked to the stage.
His legal team was already waiting. The three of them took their seats, Kairo in the middle, with Sara on one side, Charles on the other. Zayn sat quietly on Kairo's lap, tucked safely in his father's arms.
The lady attorney stepped forward. "Hello, everyone. Welcome to Novacore," she began, her voice crisp and steady. "As you know, this press conference has been called to address the speculations, misinformation, and misunderstandings spread about Mr. Kairo Valen and his married life. Mr. Valen will clarify the rumors circulating in the media. I request all reporters to remain respectful and avoid insensitive or hostile questions."
A reporter raised a hand immediately. "Mr. Kairo, who is the lady sitting beside you? And… is that your child?"
Kairo looked directly at the reporter, voice calm but firm. "This is my wife, Sara Valen. And this is our son, our love child, Zayn Valen."
Another reporter jumped in. "When did you marry Sara Valen? And why was it kept hidden from the public?"
Kairo answered without hesitation. "That is our personal matter. We've been together since college, and we got married last year. My wife prefers privacy, and we kept our marriage private to avoid unnecessary attention and to protect our child's safety."
"What about the accusations made by Aisha? What is your relationship with her? Did you really get her pregnant and abandon her?" another reporter fired a series of questions.
Kairo's eyes darkened. Sara immediately placed her hand over his, grounding him.
"None of the accusations made by Miss Aisha are true," Kairo said, voice controlled but sharp. "Yes, we dated in the past, but it lasted barely a month. We ended things mutually. I never got her pregnant, and I never cheated on her. In fact, I have never hurt anyone intentionally. These rumors are false, twisted, and spread without proof."
Another reporter jumped in. "What about the photos circulating online? The ones showing you doing inappropriate things in inappropriate places. How do you justify those?"
Kairo took a slow breath before answering. "First, I want to make it clear that many of those images are cropped or heavily edited to make them look scandalous. I won't pretend I was perfect. There was a time when I was young, immature, and careless while figuring out my life. But I never harmed anyone, never forced anyone, and never crossed a line without consent. Whatever happened in the past was consensual. I have learned from those mistakes, and I've worked hard to become a better, responsible human being."
"What about the rumor that you impregnated a past girlfriend and abandoned her? If it wasn't Aisha, then who was it? You admitted you were careless back then. Isn't it possible you made that mistake and ran away? And what about the rumor that you were involved with a married woman? Does your wife know about your affairs?" a reporter from the back row asked in a provoking tone.
Kairo's fist tightened instantly.
"You are asking an inappropriate question, sir. Please keep your questions respectful," the lady attorney warned sharply.
"It is not inappropriate, madam. We want answers. If he doesn't answer, then we have to believe Mr. Kairo is hiding something," the reporter shot back, pushing harder.
Kairo's glare turned cold. His patience thinned. His blood sounded like it was heating in his veins. Charles noticed. Sara noticed. Even the senior attorney leaned forward, sensing the danger in the air.
Camera flashes exploded wildly as reporters captured every shift in Kairo's expression.
"Kairo, calm down," Sara whispered to him, her hand gently curling around his arm. Charles also leaned forward, trying to steady him.
But the reporters didn't stop.
"Why aren't you answering, Mr. Kairo Valen? Is it true you abandoned a girlfriend after getting her pregnant? Maybe Miss Aisha's accusations are true," another reporter pressed loudly.
Kairo's jaw locked. He didn't respond. He couldn't. Their words were pushing him straight into the old guilt he had buried so deeply. Because somewhere… a tiny part of it was true. He had made a mistake in the past. And now that shadow was gripping him again.
The room felt like it was closing in.
Then, suddenly, Sara straightened. Her voice cut through the noise with firm clarity.
"I will answer your question, sir," she said.
"First of all," Sara began, her voice polite yet steady, "the article that started this rumor is twisted. The 'girlfriend' they mentioned is actually me. So let me clarify everything with the real facts."
Every camera in the hall turned toward her. The flashes brightened like a storm gathering around her words.
"Kairo and I have been together since college. There was a brief period when we separated. During that time, I discovered I was pregnant. But he didn't know. Later, the moment he found out I was carrying his child, he came back to me. He apologized, stood by me, and took responsibility for our baby and me. Since then, we've been together. And last year, we made our relationship legal and got married."
She paused for a second, letting the truth sink in.
"As for the rumor about him having an affair with a married woman, again, that 'woman' was me. Those blurry photos circulating online are of me and my son with him. Someone took our pictures without permission, twisted our past, and spread lies to damage my husband's name and his company's reputation."
The room fell quiet.
"So yes," she continued firmly, "the pregnant girlfriend was me. The so-called married woman was also me. And Miss Aisha has nothing to do with my husband's life. I've known him since college. Yes, he dated her briefly, and they broke up. That's where her part in his life ends. We even continued studying in the same class for a year after their breakup."
Her voice sharpened with calm authority.
"Everything she is accusing him of is false. She has no proof because none of it ever happened. She is trying to damage my family's reputation with baseless claims. And the misinformation that has spread across the media is built on twisted facts and false narratives. This has harmed Novacore and its owners."
She sat straighter, her gaze firm. "So we are going to take legal action on this."
Then she turned her eyes directly to the reporter who provoked Kairo earlier. Her tone didn't waver. "I hope that answers your question clearly, sir."
The reporter looked shaken, but he wasn't finished. "How can we trust your statements, Mrs. Valen? You're saying Miss Aisha's accusations are baseless, without proof. How are you justifying your own claims? Do you have any evidence for your story?" he asked sternly.
Kairo's glare could have cut steel. Sara simply lifted an eyebrow… then smirked.
"What proof do you want for the relationship between my husband and me, Mr.?" she asked calmly. "We already submitted our marriage certificate. Oh… do you want my child's DNA report too? Do I need to prove that I had his child?"
Charles pressed his lips together to hide a laugh. Kairo stared at her, caught between disbelief and adoration at her bratty boldness. Even the crowd burst into small, surprised laughter.
Sara continued, voice steady. "We aren't here to prove our domestic life to the world. We're here to clear false rumors and to correct misinformation, not to display our private lives like a public show. You should be asking for proof from the people spreading lies about us, not asking us to justify our actual family."
The reporter gave her a look, but she didn't blink.
"And since you're so curious," she added, "we've already submitted our marriage certificate and our child's birth certificate to the legal authorities. They'll verify everything and give an official conclusion. I hope that answers your question. Next question?"
She turned away, refusing to entertain him further.
"So you're saying Miss Aisha's accusations are false, and you're the one involved in those twisted stories?" another reporter asked.
Sara sighed softly. "Do I need to repeat myself?"
The reporter immediately sat down.
"Any more questions?" she asked, her voice firm as she surveyed the room.
There was a low murmur among the reporters, a ripple of confusion and chatter. That was when Charles stood up, his presence filling the room.
"I believe your doubts have been clarified by my son and daughter-in-law, along with proof," he said in a firm, authoritative tone. "So I expect all media houses to stop telecasting the misinformation about our family immediately.. Unless you have real evidence, do not circulate lies. Otherwise, we will have no choice but to take legal action against every individual or channel involved in harming Novacore or my family. I hope that is clear."
The room fell silent.
"Hereby, we are dismissing this press conference. Thank you for your time," Charles concluded.
Security stepped forward. Reporters shouted questions. Cameras snapped aggressively. All of them rose from their seats. The moment they began walking out, the flashes exploded again, reporters trying to capture every frame of Kairo, Sara, and Zayn together. But Kairo never gave them the chance to get anything unpleasant or invasive. He held Zayn close, shielded his little face, and kept Sara by his side, walking them out swiftly and protectively.
Meanwhile, the attorneys distributed copies of verified documents, marriage certificates, birth certificates, and supporting legal papers to the major media houses and the legal teams present, ensuring that every doubt was answered and every lie countered.