Chapter 217 Damian's Scandal Goes Public
Ashley sobered up instantly.
She frowned, eyes blazing. "Framing me? Mark risked his life to accuse me? Makes no sense!"
Honestly, if they needed a scapegoat, it should've been Lucien.
How did it end up being her?
Harold was also stressed, barely touched his breakfast, too worried about the lawsuit. "Did you offend someone? It's clear someone's using Mark to frame you. Why would Mark cling to you even in death? Someone alive must have a grudge."
Ashley nodded. "Let me think about my enemies."
At work, she only clashed with Mason, but Damian dealt with him, so he wouldn't dare retaliate.
In her personal life, Trinity was the first to dislike her.
Why were Trinity and Mark linked?
Until the truth came out, no suspicion could be dismissed. Ashley patted Harold's shoulder. "I won't let anyone ruin my reputation. We need to get to the bottom of this!"
Harold stopped her. "Where are you going? You'll get yelled at if you go out now. Also, don't let anyone know you live here. Protect yourself."
Ashley wiped her face. "I'll find a mask and hat."
Amelia chimed in, "Hey, I'm here too. Ashley, don't be impulsive. This is serious, not a joke. I may not be a legal expert, but I've watched enough TV dramas to know that without solid evidence, things can get stuck in a stalemate. Think it through before you act, don't fall into a trap."
Last night, Amelia was worried about Christian while drinking. This morning, hearing this news, she realized her issues were minor.
If Ashley didn't handle this right, she could get tangled in a murder case.
Harold tapped her head. "It's rare for you to think this way. You're right. With Mark gone, the trail is cold. It's like all leads are cut off."
Ashley's mind raced, recalling similar cases. She pressed her temples. "Since they're targeting me, they won't stop unless I'm dead. I'll be the bait to lure them out."
Amelia blinked. "Isn't that too dangerous?"
Harold thought. "Let's go back to the law firm. No, it's blocked. If we go now, we'll get beaten. I'll call Lucien and Hendrix, and we'll meet to plan."
Ashley agreed. With Sky Balance Law Firm behind her, she couldn't act recklessly. "I'll follow your lead."
Ashley's words were like needles, piercing Damian.
He recalled their moments together and realized Ashley was always resistant, rejecting, and opposing him. Despite misunderstandings and difficulties, if her heart was with him, they could overcome anything.
What shattered Damian was the indifference in her eyes. He couldn't see any love there.
That night, Damian smoked two packs by the window, eyes bloodshot.
He swept the medicine bottles off the table.
What good were these? His insomnia had worsened over three years, and his mood was terrible.
At dawn, Damian changed and ran six miles. After showering, his phone rang.
Thomas urgently said, "Mr. Hearst, there's an issue with Ashley."
At the mention of Ashley, Damian snapped back to reality. He wrapped a towel around himself, drying his hair with one hand and holding the phone with the other. "Go ahead."
Thomas continued, "Ashley's former client committed suicide and left a note mentioning her. I've sent you the image. The media's all over it, and people are protesting at her law firm."
Damian paused, his eyes narrowing. "Wait for my instructions."
After scanning the image, he let out a cold laugh. Such a clumsy framing attempt. "Contact PR and cool down the news."
Thomas asked, "Should we use some entertainment news to cover it up?"
Damian hesitated. "Entertainment news can't cover social news. Do as I say."
After hearing the Damian's instructions, Thomas was stunned. The boss personally stepping in to squash rumors?
He didn't delay and informed the PR department immediately.
Minutes later, a headline titled "KM Group President Mr. Hearst's Scandal Revealed" flooded the media.
This mysterious figure, who never showed his face, posted a back-view photo on his Facebook.
The caption read: [Meeting you at dusk]
Upon closer inspection, there was a smaller figure next to him, seemingly a woman.
Netizens speculated, "What did Mr. Hearst mean by 'meeting you at dusk'?
"Mr. Hearst revealing his relationship? Engaged to Trinity?"
"Mr. Hearst's back view is perfect. Imagine his stunning face!"
"Look at those muscles straining against the shirt. Impressive."
"What's going on? Mr. Hearst never reveals his private life. What major event caused this?"
If the netizens' speculations were wishful thinking, the subsequent interactions were the catalyst.
A social media influencer asked if the figure in the photo was Trinity.
Damian's usually inactive Facebook denied it.
This caused social media to explode.
Seeing the overwhelming reaction, Thomas realized a truth: Mr. Hearst still had deep feelings for his ex-wife.
Damian looked at the newly downloaded Facebook app on his phone, frowned, and clicked into Ashley's account.
Her profile was all about legal literacy, with no personal updates.
No response to today's news was good; otherwise, she'd become a target.
Then, Damian called Ashley, who had fiercely declared their breakup yesterday.
The call rang for a minute and ended automatically, unanswered.
Damian was stunned. Not answering his call? Was she really cutting ties with him?
Meanwhile, Ashley and the three heads of the law firm were discussing countermeasures at a coffee shop owned by Hendrix.
Lucien, still impeccably dressed in a suit and glasses, laid out all the case materials, including texts, audio, and video. "The evidence I have can prove Mark was the culprit, but it can't rule out his claim in the note that you incited him."
Ashley's head was still a bit dizzy, not fully sober. She drank half a glass of water, holding her forehead, muttering, "Who benefits the most from my ruined reputation?"
Lucien didn't hear clearly. "What did you say?"
Ashley said, "Everyone, I want to use your connections in Rochester City."
Hendrix smirked. "What for? Do you want to investigate this thoroughly? That would be too conspicuous and not good for you."
Ashley smiled. "In this situation, only by creating chaos can we find the person hiding behind the scenes."
