Chapter 548 Want to Drag Her Down Too?
Thalassa was still talking when a long-distance call from Chris came in.
The sight of the caller ID made Thalassa's face fall.
Picking up, Thalassa said coldly, "I thought we'd never have any reason to contact each other in this lifetime."
"Thalassa, I've explained everything to Crystal; I have no idea why she suddenly acted out!" Chris sounded desperate. "Don't worry, I'll issue a statement. I'll tell everyone I tricked you..."
"That's enough, Chris," Thalassa cut in, out of patience. "I'll handle it from here..."
Thalassa paused. She couldn't suppress the anger welling up inside her.
"Chris, have you lost your mind? You went through all the trouble back then, even breaking up with me, just to marry Crystal. And now that you're engaged and about to get married, you've dumped Crystal? Not very clean, I guess? Is that why Crystal is furious now, taking out her anger on me? Did I owe you something in a past life or what?"
After Thalassa said that, she immediately hung up the phone.
"We can't have Chris step in right now. The online sentiment is running high, and if Chris showed up to defend you, it would only inflame things further," Fiona said sternly.
Then, Chris called again.
Fiona took the phone.
"Thalassa..."
"Stop it, Chris. Don't do anything right now. If I need you to speak up, I'll have someone contact you."
"Mrs. Fiona, I appreciate your help."
"Chris, skip the formalities with me. You'd better pray that this is the last trouble you've brought upon Thalassa. Otherwise, Kenny will definitely come after you."
Chris remained silent for a moment, then responded hoarsely.
Soon after, the Ayre family called Thalassa.
"Thalassa, you remember me, right? We met when your mother was still alive." Crystal's mother spoke with a tender and loving laugh.
"I remember," Thalassa replied promptly. "You were incredibly rude to my grandmother, I remember it well."
Crystal's mother was silent for a moment.
"Thalassa, Crystal had too much to drink last night, and that video—Crystal has already deleted it. About calling the police..."
"Ma'am." Fiona smiled as she spoke, "Sure, the video's deleted, but if Crystal hasn't cleared the rumors, what good does that do?"
"Who is this?"
"I'm Fiona Woods," Fiona answered.
Crystal's mother became frightened. "Fiona, there's no need to escalate the situation."
"Who said it's your turn to dictate if the situation escalates?" Fiona laughed as she interrupted. "Instead of harassing us, the victims, you should be hurrying to get Crystal to turn herself into the police."
"Thalassa, what if we did this? I invite you to dinner, and Crystal can apologize to you in person. As for everything else, we can sit down and discuss it further."
Thalassa looked at Fiona.
Fiona nodded.
It was better to have Crystal personally admit to making up stories than to have someone else clarify.
In the evening, Fiona accompanied Thalassa to the restaurant agreed upon with the Ayre family.
"Fiona, Thalassa, you're here!" Crystal's mother approached warmly. "It's been a while, both of you are looking even more splendid."
Crystal stood behind her mother. Despite her carefully applied makeup, it was clear that she was in poor condition. There was not a hint of apology on her face.
"Crystal, what are you standing there for? Apologize to Thalassa this instant," her father chastised in a low voice.
Crystal's hands were clenched into fists, her fingernails digging into her palms.
Fiona looked at Crystal and chuckled. "Crystal, if you don't wish to apologize, that's fine. However, Thalassa has a few questions he simply can't understand. Would you care to explain?"
Crystal glanced at Fiona.
Without waiting to see if Crystal was willing to answer, Fiona bluntly asked, "Do you know, once Thalassa found out that during the time she was dating Chris, Chris secretly had a blind date with you, she promptly broke up with him?"
"I had no idea!" Crystal knew.
Chris had explained in detail when they discussed breaking off their engagement.
"So, why on earth would Chris suddenly want to break off the engagement with you?"
"It's because of her!" Crystal pointed at Thalassa, her accusation sharp.
Thalassa frowned.
"Do you dare claim that, after Chris and I got together, there was no secret hooking up between you two?"
"Chris did indeed seek a reconciliation with me," Thalassa replied icily.
Crystal felt as though she'd been struck by lightning. So, it was true.
"But I rejected him. Such an irresponsible man, you may treasure him, but I have no need. The reason for your broken engagement has absolutely nothing to do with this." Thalassa's gaze pinned Crystal. "Do I need to call Chris now to have him clarify?"
Crystal's face turned ashen, and the emotions she'd been holding back exploded in an instant.
"Thalassa, spare me the theatrics. You knew the reason all along, didn't you?" Crystal's face twisted with rage. "Yes, it was me who gave Justin the photos of you kissing, but I had no idea he was going to show them to Kenny and Kenny’s parents!"
"You've done something wrong, yet you feel no guilt?" Fiona said with disgust.
"Thalassa is fine, isn’t she?" Crystal hissed. "Thalassa, stop playing the saint. You knew well before that Chris was going to break off our engagement, didn’t you? That's why I called you, hoping you could persuade Chris, but you didn't answer a single call! You just couldn't wait for our engagement to be called off!"
"So, you resorted to spreading rumors?" Fiona asked.
Crystal faced Fiona defiantly. "What if I did? I just wanted those praising Thalassa online to see what kind of person she really is, someone who with her own brother..."
Fiona's slap landed harshly on Crystal's cheek.
"Good heavens!"
"Fiona, how could you hit someone?" Crystal covered her cheek, utterly devastated.
"You lost control of Chris, and when he ran off, you took it out on his ex-girlfriend. Thalassa hates you, yet you've stooped so low several times to mess with her. What's wrong with you?"
Fiona's words pierced sharply with each syllable. "If you hadn't given those photos to Justin, would Chris have called off the engagement? At the end of the day, weren't you just trying to frame Thalassa and it backfired, ruining your own relationship with Chris? Now you can't stand seeing Thalassa happy and want to drag her down with you?"
"Stop talking," Crystal pleaded, covering her ears and shaking her head violently. "Please, just stop!"
It didn't take long for the footage of their confrontation to go viral online.
[So, the story's turned around now? Was it actually Thalassa who found out Chris was dating around and broke up with him, before choosing to marry Kenny? Just living a good life until Chris's crazy fiancée spread rumors?]0
The netizens were in a frenzy.
[Why is Crystal so dark-hearted? If she couldn't accept her fiancé’s past, why didn't she just move on instead of hurting innocent people?]
[I'm just saying, Fiona was being polite. So, what if the woman has a past as a mistress? Thalassa never made a fuss, so why is she causing a scene?]
[Although it's a bit unconventional to fall in love with your stepfather's son, it's not like it's a baseless rumor. Morality isn't shattered here.]
[They're not blood-related, so it's not an ethical violation, right?]
[Considering reality, blended families aren't that rare. In my opinion, as long as Thalassa doesn't hurt anyone, she's free to love whoever she wants.]
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