Chapter 39

Dad insisted on handling the situation. I quickly pushed him back onto the couch, standing before him and Mom.

“Both of you stay here. Don’t worry. I’ll handle this myself!” I said firmly.

Seeing my resolve, they reluctantly agreed, reminding me to keep my temper in check and avoid escalating the situation.

I acknowledged their advice. My gaze flickered to Elsa. A plan formed.

Quinton was a man of his word. That afternoon, he released a recording of his conversation with Elsa, revealing news of my supposed infidelity and pregnancy.

In the recording, Elsa confidently claimed I’d been in a relationship with Eric for some time and was at least a month pregnant.

I did a quick calculation; the timeline seemed to match. Who knew Elsa would remember it more clearly than me? She’d given Quinton every detail of my interactions with Eric, leaving no stone unturned. Clearly, this wasn’t accidental.

If Jack heard this, he’d probably regret trusting Elsa so much.

The Cornells hired online trolls, and within half an hour, the news trended. The comments exploded.

“Didn’t Eric clarify things recently? How is she pregnant with his baby so quickly?”

“Eric just issued a statement! He clarified nothing! There was no proof!”

“Ilmph! Jane’s sister spilled the beans! This time, the news must be true!”

“Of course, it’s true! If Jane hadn’t crossed the line, the Cornells wouldn’t have gotten involved!”

“Jane’s definitely not faithful! She’s got quite the talent for seducing men!”

The comments grew increasingly ridiculous. I scrolled through them, a blank look on my face.

The comment section of any gossip news involving public figures was bound to be ugly. While not completely indifferent, the comments didn’t stir strong emotions.

The online vitriol was evenly divided between Eric and me. Then, I saw a comment by Eric responding to hateful comments directed at me.

I froze, blinking and leaning closer to ensure it was him.

Eric, using his real account, had engaged in a verbal spat with netizens. I was bewildered. This was surreal. He didn’t need to go this far, did he?

Another trending topic appeared: “Eric Flint Personally Joins in to Defend Jane Brown.”

Composing myself, I looked up at my computer screen, showing Flint Group’s plummeting share prices. I frowned. This shouldn’t have involved Eric.

The online discussion had reached a fever pitch. It was time to clarify things quickly.

I messaged Eric, requesting evidence.

His affirmative reply came swiftly. Soon, a video appeared on his account. It was from the previous day, when we watched surveillance footage at the restaurant. In the video, Elsa mentioned my pregnancy, and I repeatedly denied it.

He posted: “Here’s the latest test report! Who said I was pregnant? What a filthy mouth! How could I not know that I’m pregnant?”

It was short and concise, but it hit hard. I also posted a photo of my test results from the hospital.

The report clearly stated I wasn’t pregnant. The test was taken two hours prior. This was solid evidence!

Once posted, it spread like wildfire, along with Eric’s post.

Public opinion shifted instantly. Netizens began combing through the details.