Chapter 724
Charles took a deep breath. Felicia was shameless. “The company’s already given up on me, hasn’t it?” he asked.
Freddie felt a pang of sympathy. He glanced away before saying, “I’ll keep negotiating. You’ve worked too hard to let this go to waste because of someone else’s scheming. Besides, I should have seen this coming. I should have known she had bad intentions. If I’d stopped you from meeting her, the worst would have been offending her or Mr. Madron. But now, we’re stuck with this so-called scandal they’ve created to ruin you.”
The more Freddie considered it, the more he regretted their naiveté. They hadn’t anticipated being set up, leaving them defenseless. One blow had rendered them powerless.
Charles was silent for a moment, then his expression turned grim. “I’m unlikely to get out of this. We’re too new in this industry, and no one will vouch for me. As for Felicia, don’t expect any help from her.”
Freddie’s eyes welled, but he fought back tears, unwilling to break down in front of Charles. He walked to the window, pulling back the curtain slightly to peer outside. He hoped the crowd downstairs would disperse, or that someone would believe in Charles and defend him.
Suddenly, Freddie pointed to a figure below. “Wait, isn’t that your sister? She looks just like her. Could she have heard about this and come to check on you?”
“She should be at work. She wouldn’t have time to check her phone, so she probably doesn’t know,” Charles replied.
Despite this, he joined Freddie at the window. When he saw who it was, his words caught in his throat. Standing among the reporters and paparazzi was Skylar. He’d turned off his phone due to the incessant calls and hadn’t managed to contact her. He’d assumed she was at work and that Steven would have told her not to worry. He hadn’t expected her to find out so quickly and come.
Dealing with his own problems left Charles relatively indifferent. He’d faced numerous setbacks growing up, so starting over was a challenge he was prepared for. But when his problems affected his family, it was different. It hurt deeply.
“Find a way to get her up here,” Charles said.
Freddie nodded. “I’ll find a way.”
Among the crowd, Skylar looked up at Charles’ apartment. The curtains were tightly drawn, obscuring any view even with telescopic lenses. She clenched her fists, listening to the reporters discuss Charles and their attempts to discredit him. Many were trying to get in, but security guards had blocked them off. Skylar didn’t rush.
One reporter, Alaric Newton, mistook her for a colleague. He approached, saying, “None of us can get in. It’s sunny; you shouldn’t stand here. Let’s exchange WhatsApp contacts. If I get a photo, I’ll send it to you.”
Skylar remained silent, giving him a cold glance. Embarrassed, he added, “I’ve been in this industry a long time. Maybe I can give you some guidance. Let’s have a meal sometime.”
“Move aside,” Skylar said, clearly irritated. She had little patience for those who prioritized sensationalism over truth and harassed others for headlines.