Chapter 17
Ryder’s casual “honey” wasn’t loud, but it hit like thunder, stunning everyone.
Reporters froze with microphones halfway raised, and even the live stream chat went momentarily silent.
The confident smile on Gemma’s face completely froze, twisting into something bizarre and disbelieving.
Her eyes bulged as she stared at the partially open black car door.
A slender, elegant hand gently settled in Ryder’s palm.
The brilliant diamond ring on the ring finger made her eyes ache.
I stepped out of the car calmly, taking my place beside Ryder and interlacing our fingers.
Then I looked down at Gemma, still sitting on the ground in shock, with an amused smile:
“Old friend, the ground is so cold! Don’t sit there–get up quickly, or people will think you’re trying to scam me!” ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ.net
The chat exploded instantly:
[Honey? Mr. Thorne called her honey? So she’s the CEO’s wife p>
[LMAO this woman’s insane! Reporting the boss’s wife to the boss p>
[Side note–this couple is gorgeous together, I’m shipping them p>
A reporter who’d worked with our company before recovered first:
“Wait–isn’t this President Rivers! I was wondering if it was just the same name! I can’t believe she was talking about you! Well, this is awkward p>
“ President… Rivers p>
Gemma looked like she’d been slapped awake. She collapsed completely, all color draining from her face, leaving only ashen bewilderment:
“What President Rivers? She’s just a procurement manager p>
I leaned down slightly, eyes full of mockery, looking down at her fear–distorted face:
“Sorry about that. I heard you’d been struggling these past years, and you’re so proud–I didn’t want to hurt your feelings, so I casually said I was a procurement manager‘ to keep things low–key while helping your business p>
I paused, scanning the stunned reporters and police officers:
“I just never expected that kindness would be taken for weakness, driving you to such extremes. You schemed so carefully to frame me—not just wanting me to lose my job, but to send me to prison p>
“What an interesting way to show gratitude p>
The reporters immediately sensed conspiracy.
Countless cameras and microphones turned toward me as flashbulbs went crazy again.
“President Rivers, what exactly is going on here? Can you explain in detail p>
“Are Ms. Knox’s accusations completely false? ”
“ Is the $500K kickback real or not p>
Facing the barrage of questions, I didn’t answer directly–just nodded slightly to my secretary.
Chapter 8
She immediately distributed pre prepared materials to everyone.
The documents clearly recorded Gemma’s Instagram posts complaining that my helping her business was “deliberate humiliation” and “showing off.” plus her asking around about how to destroy me.
They included complete chat records of her listening to online advice, proactively offering a 20% kickback, me negotiating up to 30%, and finally settling on $ 500K.
Even screenshots of online “strategists” advising her to “make the transfer memo clear,” “bring reporters and police to make a scene,” and “insist you were forced” were included, along with her public fantasies about Ryder being “interested” in her, getting caught lying about being single after claiming to have kids, then quickly deleting comments.
Looking at this comprehensive evidence chain, the reporters‘ and officers‘ expressions went from shock to horror to anger at being manipulated.
They looked down at Gemma crumpled on the ground with contempt and disgust.
The live stream chat, after brief silence, completely reversed course.
Viewers who realized they’d been used were furious:
[Holy shit! What an ungrateful bitch p>
[I actually felt sorry for her–turns out it was all an act! ]
[Old classmate helps her business, she voluntarily gives kickbacks, then tries to send them to prison? That’s some 4D chess p>
[Oops, picked the wrong target this time p>
[With that face, President Rivers is in a completely different league! And she fantasized about the CEO falling for her? ]
[Those online advisors are trash too–aiding and abetting! Get them all p>
[Officers, don’t just stand there! Arrest her! Defamation charges p>
Seeing the ironclad evidence and the flood of angry comments, Gemma trembled.
Her lips quivered as she tried to make excuses, but no words came out.
Finally, she stared at me with a hoarse voice:
“You… you knew all along! Then why did you take that money?! ”
I was surprised she’d ask such a stupid question and raised an eyebrow;
“Please. Someone was desperate to give me $500K for free–why wouldn’t I take it p>
Hearing my mocking tone, Gemma took a deep breath.
Like she’d finally found a lifeline, she turned to the reporters and police:
“You all heard that, right–she just admitted she took kickbacks p>
She turned back with a venomous glare:
“Maya Rivers! You think having the CEO as your husband makes you untouchable? Dream on! I checked–Stellaris is publicly traded! As a President, taking kickbacks using your position harms all shareholders‘ interests p>
Her voice was full of vicious threats:
“Unless you return that $500K right now! I might consider letting this slide just this once! Otherwise, enjoy prison p>
By now, she’d given up on social climbing fantasies.
Chapter 8
She regretted everything and just wanted that $500K back.
This sudden counterattack had reporters murmuring:
“She kind of has a point? Even if she’s the CEO’s wife, she can’t take kickbacks p>
“Right! We almost got sidetracked p>
“Mr. Thorne, as a public company, how does Stellaris explain this p>
Countless questioning and scrutinizing gazes focused on me and Ryder again.
Ryder held me close, his handsome face showing a casual smile, but his voice was unquestionable:
‘Don’t worry everyone–no matter how broke I get, I’d never let my wife resort to private kickbacks to make ends meet p>
le paused, his cold gaze sweeping over Gemma:
Yesterday, the moment my wife received that $500K kickback, she immediately transferred it to Stellaris Group’s corporate account p>
Impossible! You’re lying p>
Gemma let out a hysterical shriek:
You’re obviously covering for her! She spent that money on bags yesterday p>
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.