Chapter 85

When Roger saw Marilee's pale face and how quiet she was, he asked in disbelief, "Marilee, is that really you?"

Marilee quickly shook her head, her eyes welling up with tears. "No, that's not me! Alexia, how can you say that voice is mine? Watch what you say-l can sue you for slander!"

Alexia arched an eyebrow and smiled coolly. "The call came from a number tied to your real name. Still in denial? We can always let the court handle it. I've got witnesses and experts ready to confirm the voice.But maybe it won't even get that far. Once this audio goes public, I'm sure the entertainment world would love to step in and teach you a lesson. Isn't that so,superstar?"

Marilee's face turned red. "You're disgusting!"

Alexia narrowed her eyes and sneered, "Me?

Disgusting? You weren't saying that when it was you playing dirty. You just can't handle it now that the tables have turned. I won't stop until you've lost everything."

Marilee froze at the cold smirk on Alexia's face. A chill ran down her spine, and without thinking,she moved behind Roger for cover.

mf you try to destroy my name, you'll be fighting the Jenkins family and Roger too! My parents raised you,Alexia. And this is how you repay them? You're cruel and ungrateful!"

Alexia's gaze turned icy. "Still playing the victim? Not even a hint of guilt. There's no point in dragging this conversation out."

Before she could walk away, Eleanor reached for her hand. "Alexia, I understand you've been hurt. I truly do. But can we please handle this quietly? Let's not drag the Gibson family into this..."

Eleanor cared deeply about how the Gibson name was seen. Roger and Marilee's affair wasn't exactly a secret in their social circle, or even among fans, but so far, it hadn't gone public.

She and Allen had always wanted Roger to move into politics. Things hadn't gone.as planned, but if his reputation was completely ruined now, he'd never get another shot.

And since Marilee was still tied to Roger, any hit on her would end up damaging him too.

Understanding the risk, Eleanor lowered her voice and pleaded, "Please, let's settle this in private."

Her hands shook slightly as she held Alexia's,something Eleanor had rarely ever done, showing how desperate she was.

That moment stirred something deep inside Alexia.Her heart tightened with mixed emotions.

Growing up, the rest of the Jenkins family had kept their distance, but Eleanor had always shown her warmth. To Alexia, she was more of a grandmother than anyone else ever had been. It was because of Eleanor that she tried to get close to Roger back then -just so they could be friends and share happy moments.

"Eleanor, I've told you everything. If I hadn't been lucky, I wouldn't even be standing here today. I gave everything to this family after I married in. I did my part-whether it was running the house or looking after Gloria when she broke her leg. I was there, day and night, for two years. But what did I get back? A husband who cheated, a mother-in-law who never stopped criticizing me, and years of being treated like | didn't matter." While speaking, Alexia held out her hand,showing the rough calluses on her palm.

"After the divorce, I couldn't even look at my hands without wondering what kind of spell I'd been under.Why was I bending over backward for people just to be seen as a good wife? A good daughter-in-law?And then it hit me-what's the difference between that and being a maid? Except maids actually get paid."

Her words cut through the air like a blade. No one could say a word. They were stunned into silence.

Gloria, however, flushed red with shame and quickly lashed out. "Well, you only have yourself to blame for not getting pregnant! Two years have passed, and still no child. The Gibson family won't keep a woman who can't have kids. If you can't give Roger an heir,it's a disgrace to him! This marriage needs to end!"

Her harsh words made Roger, who'd stayed quiet all this time, go stiff. "Mom, this has nothing to do with Alexia."

Allen suddenly turned to Roger, eyes wide. "Are you impotent or something?"

The question made both Roger and Marilee freeze in place. Marilee knew better than anyone about Roger's capabilities.

"No. In two years of marriage, I never touched her."Roger clenched his teeth.

If he was being honest, a part of him regretted it now.

Eleanor and the others stared at him in disbelief. But it was Gloria who reacted the most-she looked as if she'd just been slapped. It didn't make any sense to her.

From the start, she'd disapproved of Alexia. The girl was just too pretty-far too noticeable. Even before marriage, Alexia had attracted the attention of countless men. There had always been buzz around her.

In Gloria's eyes, someone like that spelled trouble.

And sure, after marriage, Alexia toned herself down.She dressed modestly and acted respectfully,but Gloria never bought into it.

So she kept pushing Alexia down with insults and cold words, thinking it was the only way to keep her in check.

But now, hearing that Roger had never even touched her?

This marriage had never been real to begin with, so Alexia saw no point in pretending anymore. Roger was a fool-he had the perfect opportunity handed to him and still managed to throw it away.