Chapter 170
"Mom, I get it, but why my hair?" Janet kept her eyes on the strand Karen held. The strange look, the hair… it all pointed to a paternity test. Why would Karen want a paternity test? A ridiculous thought struck her: Could I not be Dad's daughter?
Karen panicked. "No! That's not—" She sputtered, scrambling for words. The anonymous comments had unnerved her. She'd snatched the hair from Janet's room, forgetting to cover her tracks. Frantically, she tossed the hair in the trash. "I saw a bug! I was trying to help."
Janet stared, speechless.
Karen shifted awkwardly. "I should go. Rest. Don't let those online comments get to you. Rebecca's nothing compared to you!" She hurried out.
Janet watched her go, then retrieved the hair from the trash. Karen's behavior was bizarre. Suddenly, their adoption of Rebecca, her parents' infertility… it all clicked. How did Mom get pregnant later? Am I not Dad's child? Guilt gnawed at her, yet a flicker of hope ignited—the thought of Rebecca's reunion with her biological parents, the affection she received… Could my biological father be even more… exceptional?
With "The Empress" exploding in popularity, the plagiarism of "Her Majesty" was exposed. Tina, the screenwriter of "Her Majesty," faced a firestorm of online criticism. The backlash intensified with each passing day, "The Empress"'s popularity fueling the flames. Soon, even Tina's closest friends and family knew. Calls flooded in from former classmates and her parents. Paralyzed by anxiety, Tina feared leaving her home, dreading judgmental stares.
Her fear fueled resentment toward Janet, the instigator. The countless online comments defending Janet, blaming Tina solely for the plagiarism, enraged her. Why should I take the fall? This was Janet's idea! If she hadn't offered me that huge sum to plagiarize, I wouldn't be in this mess!
That night, a decision formed. The situation was beyond repair. She'd use the evidence she'd painstakingly gathered to strike back. Janet, the award-winning actress; "The Empress" and "Her Majesty"—the hottest topics; all the dirt she held. Dark circles ringed her eyes, but exhaustion was replaced by a twisted thrill. If I go down, everyone goes down with me! She fired off a message to the biggest paparazzi online. A hundred thousand dollars wouldn't be too much to ask, would it?
At Carter Villa, Stacey assumed life would settle into a happy routine after adjusting to her new job. But one afternoon, as she exited her car, Jeremy ran straight into her arms. Stunned, Stacey glanced around, spotting a Hoggard family driver lurking nearby. Hesitantly, she knelt, holding Jeremy close. "Jeremy, what are you doing here? Where's your dad?"
Jeremy didn't answer. Tears welled in his bright eyes. Panic seized Stacey. Lifting him, she soothed him, "It's okay, it's okay. I'm here." Jeremy buried his face in her chest, his tears flowing freely.
Stacey, holding Jeremy, approached the driver. He bowed respectfully. "Ms. Carter."
The words died in Stacey's throat. Seeing Jeremy's distress, she held back her questions. "I'll take him inside. Why don't you come in and rest?"
The driver readily agreed. Stacey carried Jeremy into Carter Villa, the driver trailing behind. Inside, Lillian and Kevin, having waited anxiously for her return, were stunned to see Stacey with a young boy.