Chapter 168
Hannah took the tablet and compared it with the doctored video she had saved on her phone.
It was a perfect match-her face had been deepfaked onto the woman in this clip.
Just then, she received a message from her colleague, Samuel Temple. His best friend had identified the original video and the woman in it.
Hannah forwarded the information to Yves.
“The video and the actress are indeed from Kiron’s studio. My PR team has drafted a statement for you. Take a look p>
Yves, ever prepared, had already formulated a response. “Once you post this, the PR and marketing departments will support your account p>
Hannah reviewed the copy and images he sent. It was professional, clear, and compelling.
“Mr. Lancaster, thank you so much for this. Once everything is settled, let me know when you’re free. I’d like to treat you to dinner p>
“I’m free anytime,” Yves replied. He studied Hannah’s composed expression, unable to guess what she was truly thinking. “When you went home last night,” he ventured, “did Lionel say anything? Did he offer to help investigate p>
He had asked his team to suppress the online chatter the day before, only to find that someone had already beaten him to it. He assumed it was Lionel. Despite their issues, they were still husband and wife. Surely there was at least that much trust and support between them.
A humorless smile touched Hannah’s lips, a flicker of coldness in her eyes as she recalled the previous night. The memory sent a sharp pang through her chest.
“He told me,” she said evenly, “that he didn’t mind what had happened to me p>
“He what?!” Yves shot to his feet, his hands slamming onto the desk. “He said what? Is he insane? Anyone can see that video is a fake, and he said that to you p>
Seeing Yves’ fury, Hannah felt her own pain deepen. She couldn’t understand how she and Lionel had reached this point. An outsider like, Yves could recognize the setup instantly, but her own husband was completely blind to it.
Yves noticed her crestfallen expression and softened his tone. “Lionel is an idiot. Don’t waste your energy on him. You’re divorcing him anyway.” His voice trailed off at the end.
Hannah forced a smile, looking up at
him. “You’re right, Mr. Lancaster. And with you and Quennel helping me the best can hope for from tim I is that he stays out of my way never expected his help to begin with p>
“Quennel? Did you say Quennel?” Yves asked, surprised.
“Yes p>
Yves sat back down, a look of astonishment on his face. He never would have guessed that the other person suppressing the story was Quennel. What a strange turn of events.
Hannah left his office and returned to her desk following the PR team’s plan, she posted the prepared statement. The firm’s marketing department immediately went to work, deploying a legion of online
accounts to guide the conversation.
In no time, the story shot to the top of the trending lists. With the sudden reversal,
the public finally understood that Hannah had been framed.
Wow, it really was a deepfake!
This lawyer has the worst luck. Who did she piss off to deserve this?
This is sick. Is this what people are using advanced technology for now? To ruin lives?
She’s a lawyer with connections, so she can fight back. What about ordinary people? This is horrible. Find whoever posted it and throw them in jail!
This is defamation and a violation of her image rights, right? That’s jail time! I support her filing a police report.
The internet was now a storm of outrage directed at the original poster and the accounts that had spread the video.