The green room of *The Morning Show* was freezing. William stood in the corner, arms crossed, still angry about Dominic, but unwilling to let Victoria face the cameras alone.
“You don’t have to do this,” William muttered. “We can issue a written statement.”
“A statement is weak,” Victoria said, checking her microphone. “The Lioness roars, William. She doesn’t write letters.”
She walked onto the stage. The applause was polite but skeptical. The host, a woman known for hardball questions, wasted no time.
“Victoria, the photos released this week show a very different side of you. Some shareholders are concerned that the Croft legacy is in the hands of… well, ‘Luna’.”
Victoria sat up straighter. She looked directly into the camera.
“Luna was a survivor,” Victoria said, her voice clear and strong. “She worked three jobs to support her family. She fought for her identity. And frankly, I am proud of her.”
The audience murmured.
“But let’s talk about why those photos are surfacing now,” Victoria continued, going off-script. “They are being weaponized by corporate bullies who think that shaming a woman is a valid business strategy. They think if they attack my character, they can steal my husband’s company.”
She leaned forward. “To the men hiding in the shadows, buying our stock and paying for hit pieces: You are not attacking a victim. You are attacking a mother. And I will protect my family, and Croft Enterprises, with everything I have.”
The studio went silent, then erupted into thunderous cheers.
Backstage, William watched the monitor. He saw the fire in her eyes. He realized she wasn’t just defending herself; she was declaring war on Arthur Sterling. The anger about Dominic faded, replaced by a fierce, overwhelming pride. She was right. She wasn’t a damsel. She was the Queen.