Chapter 43 Endure It

Before entering the office on the second floor, her phone rang three times with the label "Edwards."
Tiffany stared at her with an unhappy face, wanting to say something. Maggie hesitated whether to answer or not. Accompanying her was an old journalist who was filled with indignation, and he slammed the table, "The veil of X State, how long does the city plan to cover it up this time?" News reporters were called the uncrowned kings, opening their eyes to the darkness and speaking out in silence, most of them filled with passionate conviction.
Unlike Maggie who worked in the entertainment center, following a routine to record and broadcast programs, she guessed what Tiffany meant and declined the call. "Tiffany, are you planning to cover X State?"
"I've seen your previous programs." Tiffany tapped the edge of the table, and asked in return, "Do you know Rob, who delivered the complaint letter?"
Maggie paused. "I have met him a few times."
"Then you can contact him. I want to do an interview with him. The Governor abused his wife, causing her disability and refusing to provide medical treatment. This is attempted murder, more serious than economic crimes, and a good starting point for the news."
She hesitated, and the old journalist turned his head to assess her; she seemed to be quiet and fragile. Then doubt grew on his face. "Can you handle it?"
Tiffany looked at her, and Maggie remained calm, with clear eyes. "I'm afraid we'll have to wait two days. Not only the city station, but the city station and various TV stations will want to interview Rob. He is staying in a special care ward with his sister, guarded by plainclothes police, and no media interviews are allowed."
She took a step forward. "Once the other media's eagerness to be first has subsided, we can take action without being so aggressive."
The old reporter nodded. "Sounds reasonable."
Maggie came out of the office and called Harold back, but he was in a meeting and hung up. ... After leaving the TV station, she went to Ophelia's house, a duplex apartment near the Grand Square in the city center, covering about 2,150 square feet. Ophelia was squatting in the bathroom, washing her daughter's underwear.
Her daughter, Molly, was not even six years old, named after the homophone of "molly" for money in English.
She had conceived a child through artificial insemination, using sperm from a Russian mixed-blood exchange student, who had black hair, brown eyes, and was tall and handsome.
Her first husband lived in the southern district of San Francisco and grew up in a wealthy family, so he indulged in extravagance and developed too many bad habits, resulting in weak sperm. Men were concerned about their reputation, in terms of their private life, and he did not obey medical advice or restrain, which eventually worsened the problem into infertility.
Ophelia went through a lot to have her own child, but luckily, the little girl was healthy, with curly brown hair and a porcelain doll-like beauty.
Maggie brought along a few children's clothes and a bottle of perfume, placing them on the table. She looked into the room and asked, "Where is Molly?"
"At school," Ophelia dried her hands, opened the windows wide, and lit a ladies' cigarette, which had a very light scent. "They're in the drawer. There are videos and photos."
She flipped through a couple of photos. She had remained calm about them. They were scenes of Matt holding hands with a male model in a movie theater and being intimate at a bar.
They were taken by a private investigator from various angles, creating a suggestive atmosphere that anyone with eyes could see was not right.
Most of the scenes were in another city, covered up by their marriage. He dared to have affairs with men in the villa's parking lot. Removing that layer of cover made his mother, Mrs. Williams, very unhappy. So Matt could only secretly fool around.
"The videos are even more explosive." Ophelia had a strange expression as she held the ashtray and knocked off the ashes. "Maggie, you suffered. You never mentioned this to me for over a year, but I was ready to confront that scum sooner or later."
"I did think about it." Maggie put away the burned DVD. "But it wouldn't change the fact, even if there was bloodshed."
"Why did you dig up this information? Are you trying to blackmail the Williams family?"
She shook her head. It wasn't necessary for her to seek financial gain. Real estate disputes involved multiple lawyers and trouble-making thugs. There was a high probability that she wouldn't get a penny and would be slapped with fraud charges in return, which would be a huge problem for her.
Maggie said, "I do have a plan. Has he noticed that?"
At first, she had intended to find evidence by. She knew a few entertainment reporters, but they didn't have a deep relationship, and she was afraid of leaking her privacy. The Williams family was a well-known wealthy family in the district.
Thinking that Ophelia had a wider network and more connections, she was entrusted with this task of investigating Maggie's past while she was hosting at the Lakefront Escape Club.
"Don't worry, the private detective I hired is experienced and absolutely discreet," Ophelia waved her hand and crossed her arms. "By the way, who was the man that picked you up last time at Lakefront Escape Club?"
Maggie played dumb and picked at the apple in the fruit plate with a toothpick. She replied vaguely, "There was no man."
"Hidden relationship? Secret romance?" Ophelia chuckled meaningfully. "He seemed impressive, with a proportionate figure and a strong presence. I bet he has great performance in bed, powerful and long-lasting."
Maggie widened her eyes, her ears turning red. The words hit close to home, and she didn't deny it.
Ophelia had a gathering in the evening, so she didn't invite Maggie to dinner. Instead, she drove to pick up Molly from school and gave Maggie a lift on the way.
"Changed a new car?" Maggie looked around the interior.
"For business. I drive this old Buick. Those bosses don't pay attention to it; the car is a reflection of my reputation."
Ophelia never spoke much about her work, always mysterious, but as long as it wasn't illegal, there were no shady deals.
Her goal was to save up 10 million dollars for Molly, set up a trust fund so that she would never have to worry about her livelihood.
Ophelia was 34 this year, divorced twice, and still unmarried. For her, love spoiled, time couldn't be turned back, only money and her daughter were her goals and concerns.