Chapter 97 He Was the One Who Cheated
"Look, I get it might be hard to believe, but I gotta set the record straight: why would I waste my time on a guy who'd kick his wife out for his mistress?" Rachel shot back with a cold sneer, her eyes narrowing.
Mandy frowned, clearly confused. He felt a pit in his stomach, sensing something bad was coming. What was Rachel getting at?
The reporters, sensing more drama, quickly jumped in, "Ms. Williams, can you elaborate?"
"Sure thing." Rachel's eyes flashed coldly as she started, "There's been a lot of talk online about me cheating and causing our divorce. Well, today I'm telling you, the real cheater here is Mr. Smith."
All she wanted was a peaceful life and to do her best for Skyline Corporation, which Henry had worked hard to build, but the Smith family, Mandy, and others kept dragging her into their mess. So why should she play nice?
The place went nuts. Michael cheated? No way!
Joseph shot Michael a knowing look. "Michael, looks like Monica really ticked Rachel off this time."
Michael's face darkened, the air around him growing tense. He cheated? Wasn't it her? Thinking about the guys around Rachel, he felt a mix of emotions.
"Ms. Williams, is this true?" The reporter's hand shook with excitement. Michael cheating was headline gold, enough to keep the gossip mills running for weeks.
"Absolutely." Rachel nodded firmly. "Michael hadn't even divorced me yet but was already sneaking around with Mandy, even making me move out of Smith Manor just for her."
The crowd was stunned. "Is that true?"
Joseph looked at Michael, surprised. "Michael, did you really do that?"
Michael's lips twitched, but he couldn't argue.
Joseph's expression was a mix of disbelief and frustration. "Michael, what were you thinking? Even if you were dying to be with Mandy, you didn't have to kick Rachel out of Smith Manor; there are plenty of empty rooms there."
Michael's eyelids drooped, his voice rough as he replied, "Mandy didn't want to see Rachel."
Joseph laughed in exasperation, shaking his head. "Even if Mandy didn't want to see her, you could've put Mandy up somewhere else. Why bring her into Smith Manor?"
Michael's Adam's apple bobbed, but he stayed silent. He knew it was wrong. But back then, Mandy had just woken up; how could he let her down?
Rachel took a deep breath, her eyes sweeping over the crowd before she spoke. "Some might say Mr. Smith and Miss Brown were in love, and while their actions were out of line, they were understandable. But let me be clear, Mr. Smith and I were still married, and what they did crossed a moral line."
The crowd went quiet, taking in her words. No matter how much Michael and Mandy loved each other, what they did was just plain wrong.
Mandy's face turned red with anger, her hands balling into fists. Rachel's words hit hard, making it sound like she and Michael were morally bankrupt. Even though she and Michael hadn't done anything physical, emotional cheating was still a betrayal. She could feel the judgment settling over her like a dark cloud; even if she married Michael, she knew she'd get no blessings, just criticism and ridicule. Rachel's message was crystal clear.
Michael also understood these, but he didn't feel any anger.
Rachel took a deep breath, her voice steady and clear. "Alright, I've said my piece. I didn't come between Mr. Smith and Miss Brown, and I sure as hell didn't cling to Mr. Smith. Let's put an end to these rumors."
Her eyes sharpened as she shifted her tone. "Monica, the one who started all this, has seriously damaged my reputation and Skyline Corporation's. I'm suing her, along with twenty marketing accounts and three hundred trolls."
The crowd gasped, shocked by the sheer number of people involved. Rachel's decisiveness left them in awe.
A reporter, sensing the gravity of the situation, stepped forward and asked, "Ms. Williams, are you really going to sue them? Aren't you afraid of public backlash?"
Rachel's face remained calm, her gaze steady. "I've made my decision, and I'm not afraid. I'm just defending my rights. And let this be a warning: the internet isn't a free-for-all; people need to follow the rules."
With that, she put down the microphone and walked out of the conference room with crutches, Lily right behind her. John stayed back to wrap things up.
The streaming audience was stunned by Rachel's actions; no one expected her to take legal steps. Many netizens quickly deleted their nasty comments, scared they might end up in court.
Monica was in a panic, quickly dialing Mandy's number.
"Hello, Mandy." Monica's voice was shaky. "What do I do? Rachel's going to sue me."
Mandy was just as surprised and didn't know what to say. She tried to comfort her, "Monica, don't freak out. We'll figure this out."
"How can I not freak out?" Monica was frantic. "If she wins, my reputation is toast. How will high society see me?"
Who would want a bride with a scandal hanging over her? If she couldn't marry into high society, the Turner family's business would suffer, and her dad would be even more disappointed, maybe even bringing the illegitimate daughter back home.
Fear and anxiety gripped Monica as she clutched her phone. She pleaded, "Mandy, you have to help me. I did all this for you."
Mandy pursed her lips, feeling a mix of emotions. What did Monica mean by doing it for her? She had only hinted for Monica to deal with Rachel, never expecting such extreme measures.
Despite the turmoil inside, Mandy's tone remained calm. "Don't worry, I'll think of something."
"That's great, that's great." Monica managed a smile through her tears, then asked, "By the way, Mandy, didn't you say you'd talk to Mr. Smith for me? If he steps in, Rachel won't stand a chance."
Mandy started, "I know, but Michael didn't agree last time, this time..."
"Mandy, you have to talk to Mr. Smith again. He likes you so much; he'll definitely agree," Monica quickly interrupted, desperate for a positive answer.
A flash of annoyance crossed Mandy's eyes but she hid it quickly. She was about to argue, "But..."
"Mandy, you promised to save me." Monica interrupted again.
Though Mandy was irritated, she still agreed. "Alright, I'll try again."
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