Chapter 193: Rejecting The Offer

Inside Justin’s study.

Noah placed the file on Justin’s desk. "Mr. Harper, these are the records of your whereabouts over the past five years, along with all the supporting evidence."

Justin glanced at the file but didn’t bother opening it—he already had the answers he’d been seeking.

Noah continued, "You were in another country the entire time and haven’t been back here in the past fifteen years. On the day of Ms. Natalie’s wedding, you were indeed attending an important meeting. Here are photos and videos of your schedule during those days. You were never in this country to be able to register that marriage."

Justin sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I’d already figured as much. That man must’ve used the identity under the name ’Aiden Handrix’ to register Natalie’s marriage, presenting himself as her husband. It explains why that ID was never used again—he has a different real name. Aiden Handrix is just an alias, either his or mine."

Noah nodded thoughtfully, then added, "But how did he manage to register that marriage without her knowledge? And how did he even reach Ms. Natalie when, according to her, she was in Ivan Brown’s private estate, where no one could easily gain entry? Our investigations found no evidence that she left the office that night. Even if he did manage to reach her in that place, it would have taken serious skill to bypass all security unnoticed. This man is dangerous—and clearly resourceful."

Justin clenched his jaw, feeling an unfamiliar sense of helplessness. His lookalike was somehow staying one step ahead, holding all the answers out of reach.

"What’s our next step?" Noah asked. "He wants you to bring Ms. Natalie to him, just like her marriage was registered without her knowledge."

Justin leaned back, shutting his eyes, his brows furrowed in thought, the weight of unanswered questions pressing on him.

"I’ll get you a coffee," Noah offered, understanding that Justin needed a moment to sort through this web of complications, and left him alone with his thoughts.

—-

Victor arrived at the photoshoot location, surprised to find everyone fresh and cheerful, rather than looking like they’d been waiting for hours.

"How come you’re on time, Victor?" Theo approached him, grinning.

Victor raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn’t you be saying I’m late?"

Theo checked his watch and laughed. "Actually, you’re five minutes early."

Victor was taken aback, realizing something was off. But before he could piece it together, a stunning woman entered the studio with her assistant.

The room lit up as everyone looked on in awe, seemingly in a dream.

"Silvia!" someone cheered, and soon the entire team joined in, the place buzzing with excitement.

A beautiful, blonde woman in her mid-twenties, Silvia radiated a captivating charm. Her light blue eyes sparkled as she smiled at Victor, and her delicate lace top and mini skirt highlighted her long, elegant legs, accentuated by her heels. She walked confidently toward him, stopping just in front, and offered him a playful smile.

"You’re early," she teased. "Have you finally decided to give in and wait for me like a good boy?"

Victor frowned. He’d intended to arrive late and keep Silvia waiting, but... ’Natalie, you just wait. You’ll pay for this.’

"Are you so speechless at my beauty that you can’t even say a word?" Silvia teased, pride flashing in her eyes.

Victor’s tone dripped with sarcasm. "More like, seeing you makes me lose the will to do anything. At this rate, I might just lose the will to live."

"You won’t," she replied with a grin. "You’d never leave me alone to be bored. As long as I’m around, you’ll just have to keep on living."

He glared. "I wish lightning would strike me right now. That’s how desperate I am to get away from you."

"Then run off to Briena Ford for her new movie?" Silvia mocked. "I didn’t think your standards could sink that low."

Victor’s face hardened. Having his name linked to Briena Ford was the last thing he wanted.

"My standards are high enough that even you can’t reach them," Victor spat back.

Theo, noticing the tension, stepped in. "Alright, that’s enough. Silvia, you need to get ready."

Silvia smirked, "I was just congratulating him on working with an idiot."

"I’m already getting used to it," Victor replied coolly.

Silvia’s eyes flashed mischievously. "Then brace yourself—there’s more to come. You and I have a long way to go." With that, she turned and headed to the dressing room with her assistant.

Victor clenched his jaw. "Women can be incredibly annoying."

"I’ll be sure to let Natalie know your thoughts," Theo joked.

"She already knows—she deals with an entire family of annoying women every day," Victor shot back.

"So that makes Natalie annoying, too?"

"She’s allowed to be as annoying as she wants," Victor said, heading toward his dressing room. He turned back, warning Theo, "Just make sure this goes fast."

Theo chuckled. "Depends on how well you cooperate. This photoshoot is crucial for Natalie’s company, remember?"

"That’s the only reason I’m here," Victor replied and disappeared into the dressing room.

"As long as it’s for Natalie, he would do anything for her," Theo muttered.

----

The photoshoot wrapped up smoothly as Victor and Silvia kept things professional, making Theo’s job easier. Silvia was excited to work with Victor, while Victor was only there for Natalie, despite his dislike for the shoot.

As Victor stepped out of the studio, reporters quickly surrounded him. "Victor, are you planning to take the new project from NovaFrame Studios, the one featuring Briena Ford?"

Victor gave them an exasperated look. "Are my days really that bad that I’d have to work with random people with no credible work?"

"Does that mean you’re rejecting the offer? You’d say no to working with a giant like NovaFrame?"

"I don’t mind working with NovaFrame," Victor replied, "considering one of my most successful films was with them. But that doesn’t mean I’d accept just any project they throw my way."

"Is this rejection because of Briena Ford?" one reporter pushed further.

Victor’s expression hardened. "Do I need to repeat myself?"

"Is this decision influenced by her feud with Ms. Natalie?"

"You’re free to believe whatever suits you," he replied, walking away, showing his strong reluctance to work with Briena.

Just then, Silvia stepped out, and the reporters turned to her.

"Ms. Silvia, any thoughts on Mr. Victor rejecting the project with Ms. Briena and, by extension, NovaFrame Studios?"

"Victor has his own thoughts and the right to decide for himself," Silvia replied with a dazzling smile that left the reporters captivated. "As for working with Briena... I agree with him. After all, once you’ve worked with a refined actress like me, why would you want to work with novices who lack credibility and talent?"

Silvia, too, walked away, leaving the reporters buzzing with fresh headlines.

Victor heard what Silvia said and so did his assistant, who said, "Silvia just called herself a refined actor?"

"She is not wrong," Victor said as he sat in his car, "Though annoying, she is at least good at acting."