Chapter 42

Hugo, furious at his failure to gain the upper hand, immediately went to Wilson with the news.

Wilson, maintaining his poker face, said from behind his desk, "I expected as much."

"What do you mean, you expected it?" Hugo asked, surprised.

Wilson leaned back, exhaustion evident in his posture. "She's always been like this. Even if it means losing herself, she won't let anyone else gain an advantage. She even wrecked my house once, so giving up an endorsement fee is nothing compared to that."

Before Hugo could finish asking what they should do, Yvonne burst in tearfully.

"Will, Daphne has… she has sued over a dozen of my top fan club members! The news is trending everywhere!" Yvonne sobbed.

Wilson's face showed displeasure. "Why didn't you knock before entering my office?"

Yvonne froze, then apologized nervously. "I'm sorry, I—I forgot. Didn't you say I could come to you anytime?"

Wilson watched her tears. Remembering that he had given such instructions to his staff, his expression softened slightly. He gestured to Hugo. "That'll be all. Go back to your office, and I'll let you know our next steps."

Hugo, perceptive, left.

Yvonne approached, pouting. "Will, can't you talk to Daphne and ask her to drop the lawsuit? This is really damaging to my reputation…"

"What exactly happened?" One minute, he and Hugo were suing Daphne; the next, Daphne was suing Yvonne's fans.

Wilson clicked on the trending topic and read carefully. The whole thing started when Daphne, increasingly angry after returning the endorsement fee, saw the deal she had in hand slip away because of Wilson and Yvonne's actions.

Since Wilson was so keen on protecting Yvonne, Daphne decided to strike where it would hurt him most. She hadn't forgotten being cornered and pelted with rotten eggs outside the courthouse.

Many bystanders had recorded the incident, and she easily found several clips online. After an investigation, she discovered these people were devoted members of Yvonne's fan club.

Believing no wrongdoing should go unpunished, Daphne took legal action immediately. She sued them all, demanding public apologies and compensation.

Though her legal action targeted the fans, in the entertainment world, fans' behavior often reflects directly on the celebrity they support. The backlash was swift; social media erupted. Soon, Yvonne's fanbase was being criticized as toxic and vile.

Meanwhile, Daphne waited patiently at home, expecting Wilson's call. She had even unblocked his number.

Sure enough, Wilson didn't disappoint. When it came to defending Yvonne, he never wasted time.

When her phone buzzed, Daphne answered leisurely, not giving him a chance to speak before stating her terms: "If you want me to drop the lawsuit, Farrell Group needs to terminate Yvonne's contract for Story. Otherwise, don't bother."

She was giving them a taste of their own medicine. Since she had taken a major loss with the Turner Group endorsement, neither Wilson nor Yvonne should expect to get off easy.