Revenge amnesia upgraded to his brother novel Chapter 49

**The Goodbye That Never Reached You and My Life Chasing 49**

**Chapter 49**

**Norah’s POV**

The studio dressing room was a cacophony of bright lights, their intensity almost overwhelming. I found myself transfixed by my own reflection in the mirror—my makeup was impeccable, my eyes steady and resolute.

Irina reclined on the sofa behind me, her gaze fixed on the show’s run sheet. “Just breathe, Norah,” she said, her voice calm and unwavering as she continued to scan the pages. “You’re not stepping into this arena to be judged; you’re here to declare your war.”

I felt a knot form in my stomach at her words. “But Elise, the host—she’s notorious for her sharp, incisive questions. Every one of them feels like a trap set for me. What if I stumble?”

Irina glanced up, her expression unwavering. “You don’t have to answer every question. Just speak your truth, and let your story unfold.”

As the red ON AIR light blinked ominously, I inhaled deeply, mentally preparing myself.

Norah, your war begins now.

With determination, I stepped toward the stage, feeling the weight of the moment settle on my shoulders. Irina took her place in the front row, her presence a silent support.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Focus Dialogue! Tonight, we have a remarkable guest—she’s the woman at the heart of a national debate, the founder of Thornbird, and the sole heir to Madame Clémentine, the most talked-about designer in Paris—please welcome Norah Hawthorne!”

The applause erupted as I walked into the spotlight, the warmth of the audience washing over me.

“Welcome, Norah,” Elise greeted me, her smile polished to perfection.

“Thank you,” I replied, shaking her hand firmly before taking my seat across from her.

“Norah,” she began smoothly, her tone deceptively soft, “rumors have been swirling that you’ve had relationships with both Constantine brothers. Is there any truth to that?”

In an instant, every camera in the studio was trained on me, their lenses eager for my response.

“Yes,” I stated, my voice steady and clear.

A collective gasp rippled through the audience, and I caught a flicker of surprise in Elise’s eyes—she hadn’t anticipated my candid admission.

“I was engaged to Damian Constantine,” I continued, my heart pounding in my chest. “We were together for two years—five if you count the time before our engagement. It was a relationship I once cherished deeply.”

“But when I came to realize that my love was merely an option to him, I had to end it.”

“I couldn’t remain in a relationship where I was fighting for our future while he was sharing our bed with others.”

Elise leaned in, her curiosity piqued. “And what about Lucien?”

I hesitated, the memories flooding back to me. “Lucien entered my life during a time of chaos. He was the only one who stood by me when everything was crumbling around us. I will always be grateful for that.”

“So, you’re admitting to an inappropriate relationship with Mr. Lucien?” she pressed, her eyes narrowing slightly.

“No,” I countered, shaking my head firmly. “What I’m saying is that after experiencing betrayal, a woman has every right to start anew—to embrace something genuine. That’s not betrayal; it’s survival.”

Elise tilted her head, intrigued yet skeptical. “And what about your career? Some claim that your success is merely a result of the powerful men who support you. How do you respond to that?”

“Let me turn the question back on you, Elise,” I said, locking eyes with her—and the cameras. “Why is it that when a woman achieves success through sheer hard work, people assume she must have traded something for it?”

“They label me with names like ‘whore’ and ‘slut,’ as if those words could erase the empire I’ve built. To them, a young woman doesn’t deserve success unless a man has gifted it to her.”

“They wanted to see me fail. They wished for Thornbird to crumble. But I’ve disappointed them.”

“I took the red paint that once symbolized my pain and transformed it into a Thornbird rising from the ashes. I wanted them to understand that their shame doesn’t break me; it defines me. Their cruelty only serves to make me stronger.”

“This isn’t just about my journey. It’s for every woman who has been underestimated, dismissed, or crushed by the weight of judgment.”

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