CHAPTER 45
"That's absurd!" Piper snapped back. "The King family's reputation has been in shambles for ages, and her parents are practically beggars. They can barely fend for themselves, let alone come to Arianna's aid!"
After listening to Sheena, Piper's anger subsided a bit, and she snorted,
“Thankfully, you’re smart. Hurry up and settle it. Spend as much as you need. I want Arianna to be completely destroyed!”
“Alright, Piper!”
As soon as she hung up the call, Sheena sprang into action. She quickly contacted several paid commentators, laying out her request in detail.
At the same time, she wired money to them, ensuring their cooperation and urgency. Her goal was clear: control the narrative and crush Arianna's reputation beyond repair.
The paid commentators flooded GossipNet, leaving a barrage of comments designed to sway public opinion.
They were relentless, flooding every thread, every post, every discussion. The internet became a battleground, with each side fiercely defending their perspective.
The vitriol was palpable, with insults flying back and forth, and neither side willing to back down.
The relentless activity pushed GossipNet ’s servers to their limit.
The sheer volume of traffic and heated exchanges caused the platform to buckle under the pressure. In the end, Weibo's servers crashed, unable to handle the explosive surge in activity.
Amidst the chaos, Sheena kept a close eye on the unfolding drama, her mind racing with strategies to maintain control.
But deep down, she knew that this was only the beginning. The battle for Arianna's downfall was far from over, and she had to be ready for whatever came next.
Their developers grumbled as they worked tirelessly to fix the server. Finally, after three long hours of effort, GossipNet was back to normal.
But just as things seemed to settle, another bombshell dropped.
A verified GossipNet account posted,
[Arianna was indeed framed, and we have evidence!]
The post contained a phone recording between Nate and Sheena, detailing their nefarious deal, along with bank transfer records and conversation logs showing payments to the paid netizens.
The evidence was damning, and public opinion shifted once again.
The paid netizens, realizing the game was up, fell silent, while the outraged users demanded justice.
Disgusted by the deceit, the netizens flooded the police’s GossipNet page with comments, calling for Sheena’s arrest for her involvement in the crime.
The police descended upon Piper's residence with the force of a sudden storm, their presence shattering the once-peaceful atmosphere.
As she made her way down the stairs, Piper's heart raced with fear and disbelief at the scene unfolding before her—officers gripping Sheena tightly, dragging her away despite her desperate pleas.
Sheena's cries for help cut through the chaos, filled with panic and desperation.
"Piper, please help me! Don't let them take me! I can't go to jail!"
Piper's mind spun, the gravity of the situation hitting her like a ton of bricks. With the truth exposed, the consequences loomed ominously. If it came to light that Piper had orchestrated everything, her reputation would be irreparably damaged, like a fallen star from the sky.
And what of Xander? The mere thought of his judgment sent a chill down her spine. Would he still look at her with adoration, or would he turn away in disgust, discarding her like a broken toy?
In that moment, Piper realized the stakes were higher than she had ever imagined. She couldn't risk tarnishing her family's name, nor could she bear losing Xander's trust and love.
The thought of losing everything she held dear—her dreams, her hopes, her future—was unbearable.
She would never marry into the King family.
Piper's face twisted with a mixture of resentment and betrayal as she fixed Sheena with a scathing glare.
"I can't believe you'd stoop so low, Sheena. I trusted you, and this is how you repay me? I'm utterly disappointed."
Turning to the police with feigned righteousness, Piper's voice dripped with false sincerity.
"I won't interfere with your duties. Handle this as you see fit."
But Sheena's hope shattered like fragile glass as it became clear that Piper was willing to sacrifice her to save her own skin.
Enraged and desperate, Sheena's voice cracked as she unleashed her fury. "Piper, you know damn well this mess is your..."
Before Sheena could utter another word, Piper's hand lashed out with lightning speed, delivering a stinging slap across her face.
The sharp sound echoed in the room as Sheena's head snapped to the side from the force of the blow, her words silenced by the shock.
As Piper leaned in, her voice laced with venomous threats, Sheena felt a chill run down her spine.
"Keep your mouth shut! Remember who gave you everything you have. Don't you dare speak out of turn!"
Sheena's eyes burned with resentment and indignation, but she knew she had no choice but to swallow her pride.
If she dared to defy Piper, the consequences for her and her mother would be dire. After all, her mother was set to be promoted to the Schmidt family's housekeeper next month.
Sheena carefully considered her options before choosing to stay silent.
With a determined glint in her eyes, she shot a meaningful look at Piper, silently promising herself to seek revenge one day.
Piper let out a sigh of relief as the police led Sheena away.
Despite their thorough planning, Arianna appeared to come out of the situation unscathed. Not only that, but she also managed to counterattack effectively.
What was going on?
