My CEO Ex: Let Me Go.-Chapter 62

Isabella gazed at me expectantly.

At first, Isabella was enough to disgust me. But after hearing what Alexander said, I felt a wave of nausea hit me.

She had always played the “good one,” trying to make up for everything.

It was laughable.

To call Isabella “good” was an insult to the very meaning of the word.

Seeing me remain silent, Isabella pressed on. “Vivienne, I know you’re still upset with me... If you don’t want it, just give it back. I’ll throw it away.”

With that, she reached for the paper bag in my hands.

“Fine, I’ll keep it. You go rehearse,” I said flatly.

There were not only Alexander and a few staff members around but also security cameras. If I refused outright, it could make a scene.

Before I knew it, the footage might be posted online, and I’d be accused of bullying Isabella.

Isabella smiled in relief. “Thank you, Vivienne.”

“Alexander, I’ll head to rehearsal now. Don’t forget to make sure Vivienne eats the cake,” she added with a smile, before following her assistant out of the room.

I casually placed the cake on the table, about to leave, when Alexander called out to me.

“You’ve been busy for a while. Why don’t you sit down and take a break? Have some cake while you’re at it?”

Saying that, he carefully pulled the cake box from the paper bag, opened it gently, inserted a fork, and pushed it toward me.

He was really just doing what Isabella had asked him to do.

Whatever Isabella wanted, he did without question.

“You used to love this cake,” Alexander said, noticing my hesitation. “Is it because you’re upset with Isabella?”

I took a deep breath and grabbed the fork. I poked a piece of cake, lifting it to my mouth.

For some reason, even though the taste was exactly the same as before, something about it made my stomach churn.

“Ugh—”

I covered my mouth and hurried to the trash can by the door, bending over and dry-heaving.

Alexander immediately followed, gently patting my back, his brow furrowed. “Are you okay? Is your stomach acting up again?”

I wiped my mouth with a tissue. “Don’t buy this for me again. I don’t like it.”

“Why don’t you like it suddenly?” he asked, puzzled.

He remembered how Vivienne had always loved this cake. Isabella liked it too. After his argument with Isabella that time, he’d given Vivienne the cake, and later, he’d seen her buy Black Forest cake a few more times, even feeling pleased that he’d chosen the right gift for her.

“Tastes change,” I replied quietly. “I just don’t like it anymore. Anyway, I need to get going. Can you throw the cake away for me?”

Isabella had definitely achieved her goal of making me disgusted.

After the rehearsal, when Isabella saw Alexander sitting in the audience, she walked over and asked, “Alexander, did Vivienne eat the cake?”

Alexander glanced up at her briefly.

Isabella bit her lip. “I know I’ve wronged her. I just want to make her happy.”

“She doesn’t like it. Don’t send it again. Stay away from her,” Alexander said, his voice flat.

“Alexander, are you blaming me too?” Isabella asked, her voice trembling slightly.

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I just think you should know—she doesn’t like you. If you stay away from her, she’ll be happier.”

At 2:50 in the afternoon, the live-stream countdown began, and the buzz on social media skyrocketed.

At 3:00, the press conference officially started.

The large LED screen began playing the opening promotional video.

The camera panned to the audience. The venue wasn’t large but was simple and elegant. Guests sat in the front, with media personnel behind them. There weren’t many outsiders present.

After the opening video, the host took the stage to announce the start of the conference and introduced the guests.

Every time the host read a guest’s name, the camera focused on them.

The first guest introduced was naturally Alexander Hawthorne, CEO of Vanguard Global Enterprises.

The camera cut to him. He was intently focused on the stage, his handsome face, sharp profile, and commanding presence in his tailored suit drawing all eyes. He exuded an air of elite confidence, instantly captivating many of the online viewers.

The comments section on various platforms exploded.

Some viewers wrote, “I have to admit, Alexander Hawthorne is really handsome.”

Others wrote, “Jerk.”

After Alexander came several senior executives from Vanguard Global Enterprises, followed by Vivienne Sinclair.

The most widely circulated video of Vivienne online was one where she was ambushed by the media near a hospital. The camera, poorly focused, captured her tired expression, and the pixelated footage made her barely recognizable. The video was then used as a “reverse comparison” to Isabella’s beauty in the headlines.

Now, Vivienne was officially facing the media.

She was next to take the stage as the brand ambassador to introduce the products and interact with the guests. With her carefully crafted look and makeup, she remained composed and graceful under the camera’s gaze, her expression calm and distant.

From the moment Vivienne appeared, the live-stream comment section exploded into chaos. Some praised her, others criticized, and a few even got into heated arguments. Fans were baffled—why was Vivienne chosen to go before Isabella?

Despite the turmoil, the buzz surrounding the event only grew, with the comments flooding in non-stop.

The chaos continued until the camera finally shifted to Isabella. As the spotlight turned to her, the supportive comments gained momentum, and an influx of fans began to shower her with compliments.

The first two segments were speeches, with Alexander taking the stage to deliver his address.

“Next, let’s welcome Mr. Alexander Hawthorne, CEO of Vanguard Global Enterprises, to the stage.”

The camera cut to Alexander as he straightened his collar, stood tall, and walked up to the podium, his suit impeccably tailored.

He took the microphone from the host and began speaking off-script.

“Ladies and gentlemen, honored guests, good afternoon. I’m Alexander. It’s a pleasure to be here with all of you today to witness the launch of Vanguard Global Enterprises’ fall/winter collection for our brand, V&R. On behalf of all of our employees...”

His voice was steady, measured, and calm, carrying a commanding presence that seemed to make the spotlight shine brighter on him, drawing everyone’s attention in an almost magnetic way.

For him, speeches like this were second nature.

It had been a similar speech on Wall Street in New York that had first thrust him into the limelight, where his identity was revealed and a massive fanbase followed.

Once his speech ended, Alexander gave a brief bow and stepped down from the stage.

The host then took over to introduce the next segment: Vivienne Sinclair would now formally introduce the products. After the product presentation, two interactive events with the guests were scheduled.

Amidst the applause, I stood up and made my way to the stage, walking at a relaxed pace as I collaborated with the media staff to introduce the products.

I had been deeply involved in every aspect of the new V&R collection, from design to production, and I knew the products inside and out.

Standing on stage, my eyes conveyed confidence as I smoothly shared the journey of V&R’s evolution.

As I took the stage, the comment section erupted into chaos again, though a few comments did praise my professionalism.

After presenting the products, it was time for the interactive segment, where the guest participants would be selected through a random draw.

I knew exactly what the audience was hoping for.

Since it had already been decided to stir up excitement with my connection to Alexander and Isabella, why not take full advantage of it?

Thus, the guests for the interactive segment were pre-determined.

No matter how the draw went, Alexander and Isabella were going to be chosen.

As the drawing took place, the comments flooded in.

Some speculated, “Could it be Alexander Hawthorne or Isabella Blackwood?”

Fans were eager for any bit of drama, and the names “Alexander” and “Isabella” dominated the comment section.

“Now, let’s reveal the first guest for the interaction.”

The host glanced at the big screen.

At that moment, the rolling display suddenly stopped, and the name “Alexander Hawthorne” appeared in bold letters.