14 Confronting the Past and Present

14 Confronting the Past and Present After ending the call with Bella, Alex felt a mix of frustration and resignation. He had pledged to handle her latest scandal, but her history of controversies made his efforts seem like a futile attempt at constant damage control. The public was growing weary of the ongoing dramas, and Alex knew that Bella's reputation was hanging by a thread. The thought of dealing with the aftermath of this scandal gave him a migraine. Sitting in his car, lost in thought, his chauffeur interrupted, asking whether to head to his apartment or the marital home. The marital home, now a reminder of his life with Emma, made Alex feel uneasy, so he decided on the apartment. His phone rang, displaying his mother's number. Reluctantly, he answered, bracing himself for her usual barrage of complaints. As expected, the matriarch was furious, accusing Emma of taking back the gifts she had given her and Lillian. Alex listened wearily, his mother's anger over materi