Chapter 127

When Darwin heard this, he instinctively turned to Nicolas. He coughed lightly and said, "Ms. Ralap, what happened? Please don't be anxious; speak slowly. Mr. Hendrix is in a meeting and can't answer the phone."

Stephanie sobbed uncontrollably. The line was noisy, and indistinct insults could be heard. Someone nearby explained, "It's the family of the disfigured actress. Seeing Ms. Ralap got the role, they're causing trouble. They have weapons, some even carrying sulfuric acid. They're going to—" Nicolas signaled Darwin to hang up. With a cold expression, he said, "Go check the situation immediately."

After a few days of silence, Thea returned to Avon Ventures. Madelyn was absent, and Jake was likely still at the hospital. The office felt noticeably fresher without them.

During her lunch break, she daydreamed in the pantry, replaying Taylor's words. She'd never doubted Emmalie's identity; a DNA test had been conducted, and the trafficker had only abducted Emmalie that year. There was no mistake.

Lost in thought, she overheard a conversation:

"Hendrix Group is in a PR nightmare. I never expected this. Mr. Hendrix is getting absolutely roasted. I've never seen so much criticism."

"What happened?"

"Don't you know? Actress Stephanie, recently back in the country, competed with another actress for a role. The other actress was inexplicably disfigured. The director had already chosen her. Stephanie is Mr. Hendrix's former first love. They dated overseas, but he broke up with her to protect her career. The truth is, they were deeply in love for—"

"Today, the disfigured actress's family found evidence and confronted Stephanie. A fight broke out, and Nicolas punched the actress's brother. It's trending."

Thea stared, dropping her cup. The crash drew attention. Their expressions turned awkward upon seeing her dejected face.

"Ms. Rowland, we didn't mean to eavesdrop. We were just chatting."

"We didn't intend to badmouth Mr. Hendrix. We—"

Thea calmed herself. "It's fine. Everyone's discussing it online. It's natural you'd talk about it. But you're Avon Ventures employees. If Hendrix Group falls, you'll be unemployed. Don't spread rumors online."

They nodded quickly. After cleaning up the broken glass, Thea checked her phone. The trending topics had exploded. Nicolas was accused of bullying his first love.

The actress's family's situation was heartbreaking: disabled parents, and only a healthy brother who'd dropped out of school to support her. Their good fortune was short-lived. Coincidentally, after the disfigurement, major brands immediately terminated contracts and demanded compensation. Thea found this odd. "Aren't these brands afraid of the actress's fans?"

She realized someone was behind it all, orchestrating the attack on the actress. The actress's brother was likely provoked into confronting Stephanie, and encountering Nicolas escalated the situation.

"But Nicolas is calm. Why would he hit someone?" Uneasy, Thea left Avon Ventures. Her intuition urged her to talk to Nicolas, but it was a matter between him and Stephanie. She decided to pretend it hadn't happened.

Hesitating, her phone rang—the Hendrix mansion butler.

"Mrs. Hendrix," he said quietly, his helplessness evident. "You've seen the news. Even Mr. Stefan Hendrix has heard the rumors. Nicolas isn't contacting anyone. Perhaps you should speak with him. We need to resolve this."

Thea understood. "I know. This will affect Hendrix Group. I'll contact him."

The butler coughed. "Mr. Stefan Hendrix's concern isn't just the incident. He's upset about Nicolas's involvement with another woman. The assault might be false; his anger stems from Nicolas's entanglement with others despite being married."

Thea could have hidden it from Stefan for Nicolas's sake, but she was also angry. They were technically separated but not yet divorced. If she were involved with Jake, Nicolas would question her, yet he didn't consider her feelings.

She replied coldly, "I don't know the details. I only saw online that she was his first love. I need to ask him."

After hanging up, the butler looked at Stefan. Stefan slammed his cane. "Nicolas is a fool! He owes Stephanie's brother, but this doesn't justify ruining his own life."

The butler sighed. "Mr. Hendrix, you don't know Nicolas. He's cold, but loyal to his friends. I don't believe the online stories. It's been so long; if Nicolas had feelings, they'd be together." Stefan changed the subject. "You spoke with Thea. Did she know about Stephanie and Nicolas?"

"Mrs. Hendrix doesn't seem angry. She likely knows," the butler replied.

Stefan snorted. "Maybe not. They're both stubborn. Let's take it one step at a time."

The butler was confused. "Mr. Hendrix, you didn't stop her when she mentioned divorce."

Stefan smiled, a glint in his eye. "Didn't you hear her last words? She still cares about Nicolas. Otherwise, she wouldn't be jealous."