If her instincts were correct, he had terminated the live broadcast they were all watching. Whatever bombshell she intended to drop today would never leave these four walls.

It would simply become another hollow press conference—all spectacle, no substance—leaving the public feeling duped.

Alexander could still spin this entire narrative in Victoria's favor, deploying every public relations maneuver in existence. He might even use Amy as collateral damage in his schemes. The man had no boundaries when it came to ruthlessness.

...

In the dimly lit backstage lounge, Amy studied Alexander with guarded eyes. "Mr. Blackwood, what exactly do you wish to discuss with me?"

His voice was glacial, devoid of warmth. "I'll manage the online backlash and media fallout for you—"

Before he could finish, she cut in softly, "If your solution is to forcibly suppress the truth, I can't accept that. Even if you erase every post and article, the stain of being labeled a murderer will linger in people's minds."

Amy held his gaze, a faint, knowing smile playing on her lips.

"I might just incite more outrage and end up with an angry mob at my doorstep."

Alexander's eyes flickered to the barely visible scar on her forehead—healed but still a reminder. His expression darkened. "I'll clear your name."

"Clear my name?" Amy let out a bitter laugh. "After all this time, Mr. Blackwood, you suddenly decide to clear my name?"

He met her eyes, his tone measured. "Name your price. Whatever you want."

A glint of steel flashed in her gaze. "Two conditions," she stated.

Without hesitation, he agreed. "Fine."

Amy's voice turned icy. "Perhaps you should hear them first before agreeing so readily."

"Go on."

"First," she said, lifting a finger, "I want one hundred million dollars."

Alexander's expression hardened. A hundred million was no small sum. "What do you intend to do with that kind of money?" Suspicion laced his words.

Amy shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Consider it compensation for defamation and emotional distress. After weeks of being dragged through the mud, do you really think Victoria's half-hearted apology is enough?"

A tense silence stretched between them before he finally relented. "Fine."

Cold amusement curled in her chest. He didn’t even blink before agreeing—all for Victoria’s sake.

Then he spoke again, his voice low. "Is this your endgame?"

She tilted her head. "Meaning?"

"Did you orchestrate all of this just to extort money from me?"

Amy's expression frosted over. She couldn’t be bothered to defend herself. "If that’s what you believe, then sure."

His piercing gaze bore into hers, dark and fathomless, like a midnight abyss.

"This footage was from your car’s dashcam. You had this evidence all along but chose not to hand it over to the authorities. Amy, you planned this deliberately, didn’t you?"

"Yes." Her smile was sharp, devoid of warmth. "If I’d revealed it earlier, how could I demand a hundred million from you now? Besides..."

"I wanted to see what Victoria would do without proof—and just how much trust you’d place in me."

"Everything unfolded exactly as I expected."

There was no sorrow in her tone, no disappointment—just detached observation, as if discussing someone else’s life.

Alexander’s jaw tightened. "For money, you were willing to endure public vilification and physical harm. Amy, is money truly that important to you?"