Chapter 18
Elisa’s lips curled into a cold smile as she spoke, her eyes glinting with a mixture of satisfaction and disdain. “No, he’ll be too busy to bother me soon,” she said, her voice low and deliberate. “Bianca, just wait for tonight’s trending headlines.”
Bianca sat in silence, the weight of Elisa’s words sinking in. They both knew that the plan was already set into motion. Elisa’s expression hardened with resolve as she turned her gaze toward the city, her mind already calculating the chaos that would
unfold.
At 6 PM, the evening rush hour was in full swing across Arlington. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting an orange glow over the bustling streets. People hurried home, eager to end their workdays. Suddenly, the large advertising screens that dotted the streets flickered to life, flashing bright, captivating images of Erick and
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Sabrina’s wedding.
The footage was flawless, the couple beaming with joy, surrounded by a luxurious setting. Passersby stopped in their tracks, drawn in by the spectacle. A few pedestrians gasped in recognition, pointing excitedly.
“Isn’t that the actress who got married to that wealthy guy? Wow, they look so happy,” one woman remarked, her voice brimming with awe.
“So sweet!” another exclaimed, grinning as she watched the display.
“Ahhh, they’re a perfect match!” a man nearby commented with a smile,
completely taken in by the glossy, fairytale- like image the screens were projecting.
Soon, people began recording the video on their phones, eager to share the perfect moment with their social media followers. It wasn’t long before the video went viral. It quickly climbed the trending list and
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今
veryone seemed caught up in the couple’s happily ever after.”
ut just as the public had begun to bask in ne sweetness of Erick and Sabrina’s love story, the screens changed again. a sharp.
rring shift that cut through the elebration. The image flickered and
stead of the happy couple, shocking hotos of Erick in bed with various women lled the screen, each image more
amning than the last.
he crowd recoiled in disbelief. The air
ew heavy with confusion and outrage as e once–loyal fans of the “perfect couple” Tact@gan to murmur in disbelief.
вос
What… what is this?” a woman ammered. her face twisted in shock.
No way,” a man muttered under his reath, shaking his head in disbelief. “He’s een cheating all along?”
thane fans, who had just been swept away by Ine idea of the perfect romance, now felt
Chapter 18
their illusions shatter. The truth, raw and unforgiving, poured into their minds. What had seemed like the picture–perfect love story now appeared as nothing more than a farce.
The floodgates opened. Social media exploded with angry posts, condemning Erick’s actions and tarnishing his image. Fans who had once adored the “romantic CEO” turned on him, calling him everything from a “cheating liar” to a “narcissistic pig.” The hashtag
#CEOofCheating shot to the top of the trending list, flooding the internet with fury and betrayal.
But that wasn’t the end of it. The large outdoor screens across the major squares changed again, this time showing Erick’s marriage certificate with Bianca, dated five years ago, followed by indisputable evidence of Sabrina’s role as the mistress who had torn apart their marriage.
The crowd’s reaction was immediate and
419
illusions shat asps of shock rippled through
jug poun, followed by a chorus of scorted like dnments. People gathered in
now appearch, shaking their heads in
- e.
hey processed the full scope of
Hapdentes ope te
loded with assigned out Sabrina’s just a home- sactions antistress,” one woman spat, her who had oested in disgust.
“urned on ind
host disgusting scandal I’ve
rything from as fi
rcissistic pig. 10
“a man murmured. his voice
ion.
ColCheating feat
ndling list, do listk. I can’t believe I ever
y and betray
mess for these two. Seducing
er’s husband–how repulsive
I that wasn’twas
another person said, her
tdoor scher scrith anger and betrayal.
anged again agai
irtage certile ce like wildfire. Sabrina’s fans
ars ago, flown for en masse, their blind idence of Sale of y shifting to condemnation. no had forthed tort deep and many voiced
ie propal’s trad’s
ever supporting the couple.
ily, Elisa’s own relatives.
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Chapter 18
stoked the flames of public outrage, revealing more details that painted Sabrina in a further negative light.
Meanwhile, the West Group’s public
relations team scrambled into action, desperately trying to contain the fallout. But it was already too late. The scandal had already gained enough traction that no amount of spin could undo the damage. The company’s reputation was in ruins and its stock price plummeted overnight, the loss of billions in market value sending shockwaves through the business world.
West Group’s executives were in disarray, their once–unshakable confidence crumbling as they frantically searched for Erick. But Erick had locked himself in his home, drowning in alcohol, mumbling Bianca’s name over and over. He was a broken man, consumed by grief and guilt.
When Erick’s father finally tracked him down, he was livid. His face contorted with fury as he stormed into the room and
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slapped Erick hard across the face, the sound echoing in the silence.
“Bastard! Get up and fix this mess!” he shouted, his voice thick with anger and frustration.
The slap snapped Erick partially back to reality, though his mind was still clouded with sorrow. He blinked rapidly, disoriented and looked up at his father, confusion and numbness clouding his expression. “Why are you all here?” he asked quietly, his voice hoarse, as though he didn’t even recognize the gravity of the situation.
“Look at what you’ve done!” his father spat, throwing a phone at him. “The company’s falling apart and you’re ready to throw it all away for a dead woman.”
Erick’s father glared at him, his words. bitter and seething. “Get up and handle this. Once this crisis is over, you can have all the women you want!” He made no effort to hide the disdain in his voice.
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Chapter 18
Erick’s expression darkened, the flicker of anger replacing his earlier numbness. He met his father’s gaze with icy contempt.
“Shut up.” Erick muttered coldly, his voice cutting through the tension in the room. “Bianca is irreplaceable.”
His father was taken aback by the intensity in Erick’s eyes. It was a look he hadn’t seen in his son in years and it sent a chill down his spine. For a moment, he faltered, instinctively taking a step back, his own rage momentarily subdued.
After a long, charged silence, Erick’s father finally spoke, his voice laced with frustration. “You ungrateful bastard! If your don’t show up soon, the shareholders who want your head will stage a coup!”
The West Group, once an empire built on Erick’s iron–fisted rule, was now on the verge of collapse. Its internal factions, once too afraid to act against him, were now moving quickly. Erick had become a
liability and they were ready to turn against
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Chapter 10
him at the first sign of weakness.
The mention of the shareholders seemed to snap Erick back into a semblance of focus. With a deep, resigned sigh, he stood up. But instead of heading to his office to salvage what remained of West Group, he summoned Bianca’s adoptive parents.
“Tomorrow,” he said, his voice firm. “For Bianca’s funeral, you’re coming with me.”
His words were final and no one dared to
argue.
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