Darla hesitated before dialing. This wasn't a call of power. It was a call of desperation.
Derek Adams. Her husband or whatever their cold, crumbling bond had become.
He answered on the third ring. "Darla."
"You've seen the video."
"Everyone has."
"You need to help me." Her voice cracked. "Damage control. Hire a lawyer. Speak to Alex. We can push a counter narrative. Say it was taken out of context…"
"Stop." Derek's tone wasn't cold. It was tired. "Darla, I covered for you for decades. Looked away when you manipulated everyone, alienated , broke everyone down just to control the world. And now that it backfired you call your husband for damage control? You should have taken precautions before dragging our names in mud."
He exhaled shakily. "But this… This is on you. No one edited that video. No one made you say those words."
"You're my husband!"
"I was." A long pause. "But I won't go down with you. I've lost enough already. I'm filing for a divorce."
Click.
