Netizens were buzzing with debates. Many members of the “wealthy wives” fanbase disapproved. Some online trolls took the opportunity to attack Livinus, accusing him of being immoral. However, a small portion of people actually supported the relationship.
—From the woman’s perspective, she was betrayed by a cheating husband and kicked out by his mistress. Now, she’s getting her revenge by ending up with a powerful CEO? This sounds like the ultimate underdog comeback story! Honestly, if this is true, I kind of like it. And anyway, they’re not even blood-related. Where’s the scandal?
—I like this too! Does anyone have a photo of the ex-wife?
—As a looks-obsessed fan, I say beauty is justice! As long as she’s pretty, I don’t care if she marries a pig!
Entertainment reporters camped outside the Scott residence, waiting for updates.
At first, it seemed like an accidental leak, but now, it was obvious that someone had planned this attack.
“Scott CEO?”
Joanna looked worried. Ever since Livinus had entered the room, he hadn’t said a word.
“Tell the PR department to get ready.”
“Yes, sir!”
Livinus sneered.
It seemed people had forgotten what kind of man he was just because he hadn’t taken action in a while.
They could try to target him—but if anyone dared to harm Sophia, that was something he would never tolerate.
The controversy surrounding Livinus and Sophia caused an uproar online. Coupled with the impact of the Scott Corporation’s Aged tangerine peel scandal, the company was suddenly thrust into the eye of the storm.
If the negative news about Richard and Henry was just tabloid gossip, then the personal affairs of the usually reserved and upright Livinus sparked even greater public curiosity. While many criticized his poor taste in women, they were also intrigued—what kind of woman could catch Livinus’s eye?
“Dad, I’ve done as you instructed,” Henry said. “The online trolls have been hired, spreading the news everywhere. There’s no way Livinus can win this battle!”
Thinking about this, Henry felt delighted. Livinus had stolen his woman, making him a laughingstock. But fortunately, the tables had turned quickly. The situation was now overwhelmingly against him.
The old master was bedridden, and the will was in Richard’s hands. Even if the will’s validity wasn’t guaranteed in court, under the country’s legal framework, if Livinus was ousted from the board, the only person left to take over as CEO would be Richard.
And once Richard controlled the company, his own status would rise as well.
“Hmm. And you! As a man, you let your woman be taken away by your uncle? That’s truly pathetic!” Richard scowled. No matter how he thought about it, the situation was infuriating. His own daughter-in-law had suddenly become his sister-in-law—what kind of nonsense was that?
Fortunately, by making the scandal public, they had destroyed Livinus’s reputation. With public opinion overwhelmingly against him, even if he held influence within the Scott Corporation, the board of directors would not stand by him.
Henry felt annoyed but said nothing.
The online trolls he hired were working effectively. By the next day, they had flooded the internet with nasty comments under posts about Livinus’s scandal. They even accused him of incest, trying to stick him with that label.
At the same time, they spread rumors that Scott Corporation’s Aged tangerine peel was counterfeit, reinforcing a negative perception among the public.
As a result, the company’s sales plummeted, and its stock prices nearly hit rock bottom. The Scott Corporation was in a dire situation.
“Dad, at this rate, we’re not far from victory.”
Richard lit a cigarette and smirked. “The board of directors is preparing to challenge Livinus. The key issue is that he can’t deny that the Aged tangerine peel scandal happened under his leadership. Now, we just have to wait for the official investigation results.”
The day the results were announced, Livinus was in a meeting at the Scott Corporation headquarters.
Richard walked into the room and immediately saw that, despite his predicament, Livinus still looked composed, just as he always had. There wasn’t a trace of distress on his face.
This made Richard uneasy.
Clearly, Livinus’s situation was dire, yet he showed no signs of panic. Was he just thick-skinned, or was he incredibly good at hiding his emotions?
With a smirk, Richard stepped forward.
“Livinus, when did you get out? You didn’t even let your big brother know—I could have come to pick you up.”
Livinus’s gaze remained indifferent. “You’re busy, Brother. No need to trouble yourself.”
“Nonsense! You had to go to the police station, and I was worried. If I didn’t pick you up, I would have felt guilty,” Richard said with fake concern.
Livinus didn’t even bother to respond. Instead, he addressed the room, “Let’s begin the meeting.”
Richard had more to say, but nobody paid him any attention. The other executives simply gathered their documents and took their seats, leaving only him standing there awkwardly.
“Hmph.” Richard scoffed and sat down with a disgruntled expression.
“Today, the police will announce the investigation results,” Livinus said. “The Scott Corporation stands by its claim that our products are not faulty. Therefore, I’ve already scheduled a press conference.
“As soon as the results are announced, we will livestream the response across all platforms. The public relations department must be fully prepared for this event.”
Public Relations Director: “Yes, sir!”