Chapter 311 Image Completely Ruined
Upon hearing this, I touched my belly and said, "No way I can be with him."
Two years ago, I ditched Jerry once. This time, I couldn't do it again.
Elissa grabbed my hand and tried to calm me down, "You're pregnant now, and your mood can mess with the baby too. Since you decided to trust Jerry, just chill, okay? Jerry will sort it out."
I nodded like crazy.
Seeing me in a better mood, Elissa felt relieved but still a bit uneasy, "So, Cecil's been faking it all along?"
I got where she was coming from.
It was wild to think how sneaky and calculating the sweet Cecil we knew had been, pulling off such a long con.
Before I could say anything, Elissa shivered and said, "Thank God you didn't fall for his smooth talk. Guys like that usually have some serious issues, and they can be super possessive and controlling, which can easily lead to domestic violence."
"Hope, you're so gorgeous. No wonder you have so many admirers." Elissa giggled, playfully pinching my cheek.
"Cut the crap." I rolled my eyes, not amused.
"Oh, don't be like that." Elissa crossed her arms, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "But I much prefer the ones who ignore me, the ones I can't even tempt with my charms."
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you mean Francis?"
Elissa shot me a look. "Hope, you've picked up some bad habits from Jerry."
I couldn't argue with that.
Claire woke up in the evening.
Elissa had some time, so she stayed for dinner with us.
Jerry sent a message saying he'd be back late and told me not to worry, but I couldn't help it.
When I was feeling down, Elissa pulled me onto the couch after dinner and suggested, "Let's watch some TV."
Claire noticed too and agreed with Elissa, "Sounds good. I'll watch whatever you young folks like."
Elissa turned on the TV, and a variety show started playing automatically.
Seeing it was "Living Dreamscape," she immediately wanted to change the channel.
But I knew there was a regular guest on the show she liked.
"Hey, this is fine. Let's watch it," I said.
Elissa frowned. "Sarah is so gross..."
Before she could finish, Elissa got hooked by Sarah's words on the TV.
"Don't you know about ordering takeout? Fans these days are so dumb. Damn it! If you keep nagging, I'll have my mom fire you!"
Elissa clicked her tongue and laughed, "This show is pretty bold, airing stuff like this."
The TV had comments scrolling across the screen, mostly shock and insults, mixed with a few weak defenses from die-hard fans.
[The show is deliberately smearing Sarah!]
[It must be the editing's fault!]
It was normal for fans to be in denial. After all, Sarah had always had a sweet and kind image before. The way she was now, bossing people around and insulting fans, was totally different.
Elissa checked her phone and saw several topics trending in the news.
[Madison's Daughter Shows a Different Side]
[Madison's Daughter Insults Fans]
[Living Dreamscape is Bold]
Just as I was about to speak, my phone rang on the table.
Seeing the caller ID, I smiled and answered, "Hi, Mom."
"Hope, why didn't you tell me about such a big thing?" Madison's words sounded like a complaint, but they were actually filled with concern. "If Jerry hadn't told us, when were you planning to let me know?"
I wasn't too surprised hearing this.
Power dynamics ran deep in Maple Valley. Word must have gotten back to the Ortiz family about Jerry's latest move, prompting a need for Jerry to have a word with Neil.
I felt a bit guilty. "I'm sorry."
I still haven't learned to rely on Madison, so I didn't tell her about the pregnancy or Cecil's situation in time.
Looking back, I realized I hadn't been a good daughter, leaving her to rely on Jerry for updates on my life.
Madison sighed, "Silly child, why are you apologizing to me? I've been MIA from your life for too many years. If anyone should be saying sorry, it's me."
My eyes started to tear up. "No need..."
"Alright, alright." Madison chuckled, "Jerry's busy hunting for an antidote, so he probably won't have much time for you. How about I bring you and your grandma to stay at Serenity Manor?"
Hearing that, my eyes welled up even more, and my nose started to tingle.
Even though the Harris family wronged her, Madison was willing to take Claire to Serenity Manor for my sake.
And yet, I didn't even share the big news of my pregnancy with her right away.
I shook my head repeatedly. "No need, Mom. Elissa's here with me, and I don't want to bother you."
"Fine." Madison didn't push it, "Then when your grandma gets better, will you come and spend some time with me?"
I agreed right away, "Of course! I'll stay with you until you're sick of me and kick me out."
She said indulgently, "Alright."
"I promise!" I couldn't help but laugh.
The thought that I also had a mom who loved and cared for me filled me with so much joy and contentment.
Madison reminded me, "Be careful in the first three months of pregnancy. No matter what happens, you must protect yourself. If anything comes up, don't keep it to yourself. You must tell me and Neil, okay?"
"Got it!" I responded seriously, hearing her sigh of relief before she changed the subject. "By the way, Mom, have you watched 'Living Dreamscape'?"
Madison's tone turned cold. "She will pay for what she's done."
I got it right away.
No wonder the show dared to air Sarah's dirty laundry; it must have had Madison's green light.
This way, the show got the buzz and the attention. Why not?
Madison's voice softened. "Once this mess is sorted, I'll make your identity public so everyone knows who my real daughter is."
"Okay." I nodded.
After hanging up, Elissa leaned in all mysterious. "Looks like you're about to become an internet sensation?"
I gave her a light slap, smiling helplessly.
Elissa raised an eyebrow. "With your influence, ElevateJoy will definitely have more business, and going public will be possible. And I might become very wealthy by then."
I had to burst her bubble. "That money won't mean much to Francis. You probably can't win him over with it."
At a six-star hotel, the sound of things being smashed went on for a long time.
The assistant stood at the door, not daring to go in.
After the show aired, she thought Madison would handle it, and the show would come out and say it was malicious editing to clear Sarah's name, but nothing happened.
The show did nothing, Madison didn't answer calls, and even Juniper couldn't be reached.
Now the whole internet was bashing Sarah.
It was the top trending topic.
But this kind of news, which exposed Sarah's pure facade, was the last thing she wanted. She threw a fit and smashed everything she could in the hotel.
"What are you still standing there for?" Sarah, fully disguised, was ready to go out, fuming with anger.
The assistant, who had had enough of Sarah, was now her target for venting. But since Sarah was Madison's daughter, she feared that Madison might just be busy or have another plan, so she didn't dare to confront Sarah now.
The assistant said, "You'd better not go out now; there are reporters everywhere downstairs."
Sarah shouted, "Damn it, what are the security guards doing?"
In a high-end hotel like this, how could they let reporters in!
Sarah was losing it. Madison wasn't answering her calls or fixing her scandal.
If this kept blowing up, her image would be completely trashed!
The assistant muttered, "I think we should wait a bit longer. Maybe Juniper will handle it soon."
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