Alice had envisioned countless scenarios, but a sudden exodus of reporters was not one of them. It was utterly baffling. She nced at the TG PR team. Rima intercepted thest reporter Excuse me, why are your all leaving?"
The reporter, looking sheepishs, said, “Ms. Rima, it''s not personal. I got a call from above, orders to leave. Immediately”
"Can you tell me who gave you those orders?"
The reporter hesitated. Honestly, I''m as confused as you are. I''ll find out and get back to you." Then, he was gone. Thest one.
Alice sat, staring at Rima. Someone orchestrated this. But the Windhams probably don''t know. Who has that kind of power? To shut down all the media at once?"
The Windhams didn''t have that kind of clout in San Francisco, not that she knew of. Something else was at y.
Rima pondered. "There''s one person with that kind of influence: Veronica Chen, the news. Did you cross her?"
queen
of
"I don''t know her. We have no history." Even in her past life, there was no connection.
“Strange. But don''t worry, Ms. Windham. I''ll investigate.”
"Thanks, I appreciate it."
Just as Alice finished speaking, she saw Ethan Windham striding in, nked by a posse. Seeing him, she had a sinking feeling. But when did the Windhams be so powerful? Something wasn''t right.
Ethan approached Alice, sat in the chair she''d just vacated, grabbed the microphone, and announced, “Good afternoon, everyone."
Alice turned to him, her voice low."You did this?"
“Alice, you''ve deeply disappointed me. Publicly calling a press conference to expose your brother''s misdeeds, huh? Too bad, you won''t get that chance.” He tossed her meticulously prepared speech into a nearby trash can, setting it aze with a lighter. "I warned you, family matters should be handled privately. But you refused to listen."
Alice watched the mes consume her words. "I''m shocked. I didn''t realize the Windhams held this much sway in San Francisco."
Ethan dropped the microphone, his tone a threat."Alice, forget about speaking publicly. No one will believe you. Just like this. press conference-no one even showed up."
His girlfriend, Chloe, chimed in with feigned concern. “Alice, why are you fighting with your family? What good will it do to ruin your brother?"
"Shut up, Chloe. This is all your
fault!"
Alice''s meticulously nned press conference had been sabotaged. She was seeing firsthand the raw power of influence.
Chloe, deted, shut her mouth.
Ethan''s voice boomed."Alice, Chloe''s right. This is about uncovering the truth behind our parents'' deaths, the connections we were building. And you just threw it all away! Do you still
7065
think you''re right?"
Chloe''s face paled. What did that mean? Was he still investigating the car ident? Was he suspecting foul y? Or even that their father wasn''t dead?
Alice remembered her past life. Ethan hadn''t uncovered anything then. Otherwise, she would have known. This was a calcted move, using their parents'' death to control her. Alice looked at Chloe. "Mr. Windham, you''re implying foul y in the car ident, aren''t you? Which makes Chloe''s father a prime suspect.”
Chloe''s voice cracked."Alice, you''re insane! My father is dead."
Fear twisted her features. Had the Windhams discovered something? She''d always assumed she was safe; her father only contacted her. The Windhams wouldn''t know. But Ethan was secretly investigating the ident. Terror gripped her. Had he found out? Had the person who hacked her phone been Alice or Ethan? Alice''s lips curled into a smirk as she watched Chloe''s face drain of color. So the innocent flower wilted under pressure. Years of hiding her secret, and the Windhams were still investigating. Ethan frowned. "Alice, Chloe''s father is dead. He can''t be a suspect."
“If there was foul y, then ‘dead'' people might not be so dead.”
Alice locked eyes with Chloe."Wouldn''t you agree?"
Chloe''s voice trembled.“My father is dead. Alice, you''re being cruel. You''re saying this because you lost your parents. I lost my father, too. You should understand."
Chloe was trying to y the victim. She had to insist her father was dead; the Windhams only had suspicions, no proof. Tears welled in her eyes. "Brother, Alice is being so mean, bringing up my deceased father. She''s heartless."
Ethan''s heart softened at Chloe''s tears. He turned on Alice."You''re going too far. You won''t let the dead rest."
Dead?
Alice found itughable. Chloe''s father wasn''t dead.
"So, you suspect he''s alive? I wish he were. More than you do," Chloe said, a probe in her voice.
Alice''s
gaze was icy. "I do suspect it. What''s the matter?
“I''m not scared. It''s just... unbelievable. We both lost our parents.”
You''re scared."
Chloe was trying to appear strong andposed, but she was relieved. If Alice had hacked her phone and seen her conversations with her father, she would have revealed it already. Alice''s silence meant shecked evidence.
At that moment, Rima approached Alice."I found out. Mrs. Chen, the media mogul, gave the order for the reporters to leave."
Mrs. Chen? Alice remembered no connection between the Windhams and the Chens in her past life.
Ethan''s lips curled into a cold smile. “Alice, you see? I''ve been going easy on you. But if you continue down this path, don''t me me."
A chill
ran down Alice''s spine. She looked at Ethan.“But you''re so desperate to silence me...aren''t you scared?"
21:45
"Alice, how long will you keep this up? I can crush you with a snap of my fingers!" He stormed off
Chloe lingered, a smug look on her face. "Want to know about my brother''s rtionship with
Mrs. Chen?"
"I''ll find out myself."
Chloe, in a designer dress, showed off her figure.“Just ask, and I''ll tell you."
Alice sneered. In her dreams. She looked at Chloe''s ample bosom, then reached into Chloe''s dress and pulled out a breast enhancer.