Mr. Villain's Lovely Wife

Lovely wife 224

Tomatoes and Eggs

The murmurs started in waves. Phones lit up. Thumbs moved fast. Maria could see it before she even heard it-a change in the room's atmosphere. The press row on the left turned into a sea of whispering mouths and shifting glances.

Then someone shouted, "Is it true?"

Another voice broke in, louder, more desperate. "Sarano's been hospitalized?"

"What happened?"

"Was it an overdose?"

The word stuck like a blade. Maria's stomach dropped. Her fingers went numb around the folder in her hand. Cassandra Sarano was in the hospital?

Almost immediately, the moderator stepped forward, lifting his mic. "Please-

"Sleeping pills," someone said. "It's trending already. Multiple sources say she took an entire bottle-

"-found unconscious in her penthouse. It's confirmed!"

The press went into a frenzy.

"Ms. Alcaraz! Did you know she was in this state?"

"Was this triggered by your lawsuit?"

"Isabella Rossi pushed her too far-is that your position?"

Maria tried to raise her voice. "No statement-please, we will confirm details once verified-

"Are you saying this isn't real?"

A flash from the left. A reporter's mic was thrust toward her. Another camera followed, nearly hitting her shoulder Then a woman from the back screamed, "You people drove her to this!"

Security immediately shifted forward, but they weren't fast enough. The back barrier collapsed.

Five-no, six individuals in fan gear pushed into the conference area. Shirts with Cassandra's name. Bracelets. Phone cameras are already recording. The first one hurled a tomato that burst against Nolan Reeve's chest. He jerked back, stunned.

Then another came flying. It hit Maria square on the side. Her blazer instantly soaked with thick, acidic pulp. "Stop!" the moderator yelled. "Security!"

Eggs came next. One splattered on the table beside the podium. Another struck a Horvath junior counsel in the cheek. He went down hard.

"You think we're stupid?!" one of the intruders yelled. "You silence her, then throw lawsuits at her?!"

was crying

sharp sting cut through

heard the smack of a chair falling. Tripods clattered. A

climbed onto the low

of you!" one of them

Chaos immediately broke out.

tackled two intruders. Others slipped free. One fan lunged for the

cracked through it: "You're going to pay for

threw a phone. It hit a spotlight and shattered the bulb. Sparks snapped as the metal rig

by Nolan. Her shoes slid on

the curtain.

egg exploded against her back just before she

his own suit covered in red

wall, breath heavy,

Sleeping pills. Cassandra Sarano

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Tomairing anal Co

Her eyes narrowed.

had always

And this?

like another

corridor. Their footsteps echoed against the concrete floor Behind them the holes from the press room was sill erupting-shooting objects

corner, only to find another hallway filled with people. Cameramen Reporters. Some wore badges. Others didn't. A

deny pushing

say about

she not strong enough to face the

legal retaliation

stepped in front of

However, no one moved

pressed in closer. Several microphones were shoved toward her chest. A boom mic bumped her shoulder. Maria tried to push past but was blocked by a woman waving a phone in her

Alcaraz, how do you

aware Cassandra was mentally

your legal team continue the filing

pushed forward, shouting. "This was planned, wasn't it? You

the floor beside

could. Two junior associates flanked them, trying to widen the path. It didn't help. Phones hovered inches away from Maria's face. Some people were filming vertically. Others live-streaming. She could hear their viewers in

"She's here. That's her."

the woman

shove a tablet at her. It showed a picture of Cassandra's smiling face-one of the press kit images from

else grabbed Maria's elbow. "Why won't