Chapter 277 Ophelia's Embarrassment
The news media was broadcasting live on the platform, reporting Ophelia's accusations against Theodore and Cecilia.
On camera, Ophelia looked utterly pitiful, breaking down in tears, berating Theodore and Cecilia for their inhumanity, claiming they kicked her out of the house and left her to starve on the streets.
Beside her was Vivienne, playing the role of the dutiful daughter-in-law.
Vivienne kept comforting Ophelia, telling her not to get too upset and harm her health. She assured Ophelia that even if Theodore didn't care about her and Vincent was in jail, she, as the daughter-in-law, would always take care of Ophelia. She promised that even if Ophelia fell seriously ill, she would look after Ophelia for the rest of her life.
The two women, under the camera, earn plenty of sympathy from the audience.
Naturally, Theodore and Cecilia become the targets of public outrage.
Naturally, Theodore and Cecilia found themselves trending on social media, condemned by the public.
Comments flooded in, criticizing Theodore and Cecilia for their lack of filial piety, no matter how capable they were. Some users even called for a boycott of the Lockhart Group, while others demanded police intervention and criminal charges against Theodore and Cecilia for elder abuse.
The entire internet was standing up for Ophelia until a video suddenly emerged.
At that time, Ophelia was still crying about how Theodore and Cecilia mistreated her, showing her most pitiful side to everyone, completely unaware that her own ugly and vicious side had already been exposed.
"Mrs. Lockhart," a reporter, having received the news, interrupted her, "You keep saying Theodore and Cecilia abuse you. How exactly do they abuse you? Do they hit you? Do they curse at you? Or did you make some unreasonable demands that they refused, causing conflict?"
Ophelia replied, "I would never make unreasonable demands. I've always been tolerant towards them and never made things difficult for them. Now, just because Vincent is in trouble and I didn't unconditionally believe Theodore when he was in trouble, they are deliberately picking on me and making my life difficult. If I weren't truly pushed to the brink by them, I wouldn't be using this method to accuse them. I wouldn't make everyone so uncomfortable, after all, we are family..."
"Mrs. Lockhart, it seems this isn't the first time you've accused Theodore and Cecilia in the media," the reporter interrupted her again.
The reporter's attitude toward her was noticeably colder than before.
Ophelia was stunned for a second and quickly explained, "It's all because they pushed me to the extreme. I've silently sacrificed for the family and for my children and grandchildren all my life. Isn't everything Theodore has now because of me, his mother? After all my sacrifices, to be treated so ungratefully—it's a bitter pill to swallow."
"Mrs. Lockhart, you said you never made unreasonable demands of Theodore?" the reporter asked, "Is asking for two million dollars not an unreasonable demand to you, Mrs. Lockhart?"
Ophelia was taken aback.
"And asking your grandson to hit your granddaughter, is that not an unreasonable demand?" the reporter continued.
Ophelia's expression shifted from one of pitiable despair to sharp anger.
Her voice turned harsh as she snapped, "Who told you that?! Don't slander me here. I'll take you to court for this!"
"Mrs. Lockhart, a video of you causing a scene in Theodore's office just got leaked," the reporter said, pulling out her phone and playing the footage right in front of Ophelia. There was a distinct note of sarcasm in her tone. "Didn't you claim to be in bad health? At this rate, Mrs. Lockhart, you should live to be a hundred."
Ophelia's eyes widened as she watched the screen.
Suddenly, the mask of composure fell from her face.
Vivienne, who had just caught sight of the video, too couldn't keep her facade intact.
The sight of them, both looking utterly ridiculous on camera, brought a twisted sense of satisfaction to everyone watching.
Ophelia never imagined she would be so publicly humiliated, nor did she expect Cecilia to have plotted this against her.
"Mrs. Lockhart, at your age, you should accumulate some virtue for yourself," the reporter, feeling deceived by Ophelia, couldn't control his emotion.
"Mrs. Lockhart, you are really setting Theodore up for disaster! If the video hadn't been exposed, Theodore and Cecilia would have been left in a truly dire situation because of you!"
"Come on, hasn't Vincent's fate clued you in yet to reality?"
The reporter and crew were mercilessly digging into Ophelia, something that had never happened in the history of the Yakurosean Empire.
Just imagine the public outrage that had built up against her.
On that day, Ophelia and Vivienne dashed away from the cameras, their attempts to maintain dignity utterly failing.
From that moment forward, it seemed there would be no one left who would take Ophelia seriously again.
It was a neat little resolution to one of Cecilia's headaches.
After all, in her new life, she hadn't planned to waste time on insignificant people.
Truth be told, it felt liberating to finally vent her anger and to expose Ophelia's true colors.
Cecilia checked the time, It was 6 P.M..
With work now running smoothly, Cecilia no longer felt the need to stay late every night.
She got into Augustus's car to go home.
When she arrived at the Alaric's mansion, Alaric hadn't returned yet.
Ever since the last time Alaric helped her with her lawsuit, Alaric seemed to have been busy, going out early and coming home late.
"Mrs. Whitaker, dinner is ready," George respectfully stepped forward and said.
Cecilia checked the time, and she said, "Let's wait for Alaric."
"Mr. Whitaker has been quite busy lately and usually comes back late," George explained.
"It's okay, I'm not very hungry anyway," Cecilia sat on the sofa, picked up the remote, and turned on the TV, "I'll watch some shows to relax."
"Alright," George responded respectfully.
As he walked away, a small smile touched his lips. He had once thought Alaric's feelings were one-sided, but it was clear now that Cecilia cared deeply for Alaric.
He thought, 'Alaric's mother has always worried that Alaric might end up alone. Now, it seems she could rest easy.'
Cecilia waited until just past 9 PM before she finally saw Alaric striding into the foyer in his sharp suit.
He looked surprised to find her still on the sofa. Usually, she would have retreated to her room by now. He thought, 'Is she still awake for me?'
"Mr. Whitaker," George said quickly, "Mrs. Whitaker has been waiting to have dinner with you."
Alaric froze, his gaze fixed on Cecilia.
The intensity of his stare made Cecilia shift uncomfortably.
She said, "I actually have something to discuss with you. I wasn't waiting just for dinner."
"Is that so?" Alaric's lips curled into a teasing smile.
Cecilia thought, 'Damn it, when he smiles like that, he is irresistibly handsome.'
He took a few strides toward her, his handsome face inching closer. His eyes bore into hers as he asked, "Are you sure it's not because you missed me and were waiting just for me?"
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