Chapter 4

My refusal to back down completely enraged Julian and Chloe.

The next morning, chaos broke out in front of the office building.

A middle-aged couple dressed in cheap clothes was kneeling on the plaza near the side entrance, crying hysterically. They were holding a massive banner with bold, black letters:

"EVIL CEO AUDREY BENNETT IS JEALOUS OF INNOCENT EMPLOYEE. FRAMING AND OPPRESSING HER FOR NO REASON!"

Chloe's parents wept loudly in front of the gathering crowd and local reporters.

"Please, someone help us! Our Chloe is a good, honest girl! Just because she's pretty, this evil female boss is jealous of her!"

"She made Chloe's life miserable at work, and now she's accusing her of being a homewrecker and demanding eight million dollars! We can't pay that even if we sell our organs!"

"She threatened to put our baby girl in jail if we don't pay! This isn't a company, it's a criminal gang!"

Chloe hid behind her parents, her hair messy, looking like a victim of a tragedy.

Julian stood nearby, looking like a righteous protector.

"As the Vice President, I cannot stay silent anymore. Mrs. Bennett is letting her personal insecurities affect her professional decisions, targeting a star employee. This is disgusting!"

"Even though I am her husband, I must stand on the side of justice! I am going to expose her!"

The news spread like wildfire.

A TikTok livestream of the protest instantly attracted hundreds of thousands of viewers.

"Oh my god, this CEO is pure evil. How insecure can she be?"

"Even her own husband is calling her out. Imagine how toxic she is behind closed doors!"

"I feel so bad for the girl. Is being pretty a crime now? Boycott Bennett Enterprise!"

The internet was flooded with hate comments directed at me.

My phone blew up with death threats and photoshopped hate mail.

Some trolls even threw trash and splashed red paint at the company entrance.

My assistant rushed into my office, sweating profusely.

"Audrey! This is bad! There are hundreds of people outside, and several TikTok influencers are broadcasting live, trashing you!"

"PR can't contain it, and our stock price is plummeting! We need to do something!"

A cold smirk played on my lips.

I checked my watch.

2:00 PM.

The sun was at its brightest.

And it was Julian's usual "afternoon nap" hour.

"Let's go," I stood up, grabbing my phone.

"Get security. We are going downstairs to meet our guests."

When we reached the lobby, the scene was even wilder than I expected.

Seeing me walk out, Chloe's parents wailed harder. They lunged forward, trying to claw at my face.

"You evil woman! How dare you show your face! Give our daughter justice!"

Camera flashes went off blindingly, and microphones were shoved into my face.

"Mrs. Bennett, why are you targeting Miss Miller?"

"You claimed she is a homewrecker. Do you have actual proof?"

"Is it true you're trying to bankrupt her family?"

Facing the hostile crowd, my face remained perfectly calm.

"Do you all want to know the truth?" I asked, taking a microphone from a livestreamer. My voice was crystal clear.

"Because I am also very curious to know if these parents, who claim their daughter is an innocent girl, actually know where she is and what she is doing right now."

Chloe's father shouted back, "My daughter was framed by you! She is terrified and hiding at home!"

"Oh? Is she?"

I raised an eyebrow and looked around the crowd.

"Since everyone wants proof, I will give you proof."

I raised my hand and pointed toward the side of the corporate building.

"Instead of listening to my words, why don't you all follow me to the side of the building?"

"Take a look up, and you'll see exactly who is lying and who has no shame."

The crowd murmured.

"Let's go! Let's see what kind of game she's playing!"

"Keep the cameras on her! Don't let her run!"

The massive crowd, armed with heavy cameras and smartphones, followed me to the grassy courtyard beside the building.

I stopped and turned around, pointing up to a massive floor-to-ceiling glass window on the second floor.

"Everyone, look up."

"That office belongs to Vice President Julian Carter."

"As for what is happening inside... I won't say a word. See for yourselves."

The crowd instinctively looked up.

In the next second, they fell into a dead silence.

Right behind that massive glass window...