Sophia organized the photos on her phone. Early the next morning, she used her Facebook alias to send them to a reporter named Jones.
Jones was the chief reporter for Trust Express. His reputation in the industry was terrible because he had no boundaries in reporting. He would often camp outside celebrities’ homes for days, capturing explosive news.
One day it would be a top actress and a male actor at a spa; the next day, a renowned actor dating a young fan; and the day after, a famous actor involved in group drug use.
In short, Jones had captured countless sensational news stories and frequently teased upcoming scoops on Facebook, urging everyone to “stay tuned for Monday.”
His Facebook page was widely known, and fans often tipped him off.
After Sophia finished sending the photos, she double-checked to ensure the alias’s verification details were correct before proceeding.
On the other side, Jones nearly choked on his drink when he received the photos and the tip-off.
“Are you still there? How did you know about this?”
“Are you sure this tip is credible?”
“Do you have any more information?”
However, no matter how much he asked, there was no response. Realizing it was an alias, Jones quickly decided to release the story.
Jones posted:
“A source revealed that Olivia’s boyfriend, Scott Henry’s future father-in-law, is having an affair with a woman 30 years younger than him, leading to a ‘grandfather-granddaughter romance’! This woman is said to be his assistant and currently holds an important position at Scott Corporation. Could infidelity be hereditary? The son is cheating with a celebrity, while the father is involved with someone even younger. Truly impressed by the Scott family duo! At this rate, Scott Corporation might be doomed in their hands!”
Not long after the post went live, Scott Livinus received an internal alert.
“Mr. Livinus, should we intervene and stop this? If this escalates, it will certainly affect the stock.”
Scott Livinus frowned, leaning back in his chair. After a moment, he responded, “Leave it for now.”
“But if we wait any longer, public opinion will worsen, and it might be too late to manage the damage later.”
“Act as though you don’t know about this. Do nothing for now.”
The subordinate hesitated, unsure of Scott Livinus’s intentions. Could this be his way of teaching Scott Richard and Scott Henry a lesson by letting the news spread? That seemed unlikely. No matter how bad things got, they were still his brother and son. Besides, their infidelity didn’t directly impact him. Allowing the stock to fall over such matters seemed unwise.
“Mr. Livinus,” Felix mused, “could this have been orchestrated by Miss Sophia?”
Scott Livinus remained silent, hands clasped together, his expression indifferent.
“Perhaps.”
“That night at the bar, we interrogated the student named Nathan and the man. You guessed right—it was Andrea behind it. She wanted to blackmail Miss Sophia with explicit photos to force her to hand over the formula. She’s ruthless! Any woman in such a situation would have no choice but to comply. Just one photo could haunt someone for life. Why does Andrea, as a mother-in-law, harbor such hatred for Miss Sophia?”
Scott Livinus’s face darkened as he replied coldly:
“If that’s the case, let the issue escalate. Andrea is too idle these days; it’s time to give her something to focus on!”
Felix nodded and, upon leaving, shared the situation with Joanna. Joanna’s face was filled with shock.
“Is Mr. Livinus playing the hero for Miss Sophia? But doing it so discreetly, Miss Sophia won’t even know.”
“Do you think Miss Sophia is clueless? Some men boast about doing the bare minimum, while others, like Mr. Livinus, do everything without saying a word. That’s the kind of man worth trusting!”
Joanna thought of Scott Livinus’s actions and sighed enviously:
“How is Miss Sophia so lucky? She hasn’t even divorced yet, and she already has someone as handsome and wealthy as Mr. Livinus waiting for her! If she marries him, she’ll become one of the wealthiest women in the country. Everyone will envy her!”
“Oh?” Felix raised an eyebrow at Joanna, who was always dressed extravagantly and obsessed with gossip and dramas. “You sound jealous.”
“Of course I’m jealous! Where else would you find a man like Mr. Livinus?” Joanna exclaimed, suddenly asking, “Wait! If they do get together, what would Miss Sophia call Andrea? Wouldn’t the mother-in-law become a sister-in-law, the husband turn into a nephew, and the grandfather into a father? Oh my! Just imagining their reactions is thrilling!”
Felix rolled his eyes in exasperation.
Women and their bizarre sense of humor!
That evening, when Andrea saw the news, she fainted from rage.
When she woke up, the internet was flooded with headlines about Scott Richard’s affair.
Every media outlet seemed to have coordinated, as the headlines all included the phrase “grandfather-granddaughter romance.” Knowing how curious netizens were, such a headline was irresistible. Coupled with Scott Richard’s prominent status and Scott Henry’s affair with Olivia, the rumors quickly topped trending searches.
Worse, clear photos circulated online showing Scott Richard holding hands with the young assistant, sharing candlelit dinners, putting a ring on her finger, and working out together.
Andrea felt as though her heart had been stabbed repeatedly.
Scott Richard always claimed he was busy with work, but in reality, he was busy falling in love!
All her efforts—sacrificing her morals and running herself ragged for her family—meant nothing.
And now, at over 50 years old, Scott Richard had turned her into a laughingstock!
How could she ever step outside again? How could she face the scrutiny of other wealthy women or hold her head high?
Enraged, Andrea wrecked the house. Lizzy, the housekeeper, tried to console her:
“Madam, don’t let this ruin your health and give the mistress the satisfaction! Men are like that. If anything happens to you, he’ll marry her in no time. Don’t do anything foolish!”
Trembling with anger, Andrea realized Lizzy was right. She had worked her entire life to protect the family assets. The Scotts hadn’t divided the inheritance yet. If her son were implicated now, they wouldn’t get their fair share, and her entire life’s work would go to waste!
With determination, Andrea called Scott Richard.
