Lillie was also panicking. She had worked incredibly hard to become a Level One trainee at the Research Institute. Now, this exposé dragged her into such a scandalous affair. Even if she passed her assessments, she wouldn't clear the Institute's background check. The Institute wouldn't accept people with stains on their record.
"Nelson, what do we do now? It's just rumors for now, and all the elite families in Graham City know it's us. If this continues, Janelle will ruin our futures!" Lillie was genuinely terrified. She had struggled so hard to get to this point. The Research Institute! It was her lifelong dream. Once she entered, Janelle would spend her life looking up to her.
Nelson was furious. He had contacted the Hills' PR department, demanding they handle the messy rumors. Yet, the entire department was working overtime and couldn't keep up. The posts were impossible to delete completely.
The situation alarmed Mrs. Hill.
Mrs. Hill arrived at the hospital and slapped Nelson hard across the face.
"Nelson! What on earth have you been doing?! You personally resorted to violence and let someone get evidence against you!" Mrs. Hill was livid. She had painstakingly molded him into what he was today. He was so close to entering the Research Institute. She had to make that man see that her son was superior in every way. That it was his lack of vision not to love her. Her son surpassed Madalyn's daughter in every aspect. Madalyn couldn't compare to her!
And now? On the verge of success, he had managed to ruin it all.
"Mom, I..." Nelson truly had nothing to say.
"Enough! This must be contained. The Hills are currently negotiating a major project. If this blows up and gets confirmed, the Hills will suffer massive losses."
"Auntie, what should we do now?" Lillie asked, implying Nelson needed to apologize. The video of him driving into someone was still in Janelle's hands. If it leaked, she and Nelson were truly finished.
"Go apologize first. Placate her. Once we get the video from her hands, then we deal with her." The Hills had power and influence, but some things couldn't be handled openly.
"Make me apologize to Janelle?" Nelson felt deeply humiliated. He refused.
"Nelson, be sensible! Do you really not want to enter the Research Institute anymore?"
"Nelson, for our future's sake, you have to compromise this time."
"Janelle hates us so much. She just wants to destroy us!" Lillie poured all the blame onto Janelle. She saw no fault in their own actions.
Mentioning Janelle made Mrs. Hill want to tear her apart. "Nelson, you need to understand. Only Lillie truly loves you. Janelle? She only wants to ruin you."
Why were men always like this? Couldn't he see who truly loved him? Why was he just like his father?
Janelle and Madalyn were both vixens, specifically sent to seduce her husband and her son.
Janelle had been busy at the company all day. The project was progressing smoothly. After several days of adjustment, every member of the project team had adapted to her working rhythm. After just a few meetings, they already recognized the young mistress's capabilities.
Linda confirmed the next day's arrangements and left.
Just then, Janelle's phone rang. It was Sara.
[Janelle, are you off work? I'm waiting for you downstairs.] Sara sounded extremely excited.
Erik had called her, asking her to take Janelle somewhere. At first, she was reluctant. While she thought Erik was a good man, if Janelle didn't like him, she wouldn't play matchmaker. Janelle's feelings mattered most. However, upon learning what Erik planned to do, she immediately changed her mind. She'd long despised Nelson and Lillie. Seeing them apologize to Janelle publicly? She was all for it.
Janelle, engrossed in work, was completely unaware of the firestorm online. Thinking she hadn't seen Sara for two days, she agreed to have dinner with her.
As she stepped out of her office, she ran into Westin, who had come looking for her. Westin was also there because of the online chaos. The rumors were gaining more and more traction, topping the trending charts. If this continued, it would expose the Hills and the Rovellas. He absolutely couldn't allow anyone to damage the Rovellas' interests.
Seeing him, Janelle couldn't be bothered to acknowledge him, acting as if he were invisible.
"Janelle, it's been a long time since we father and daughter had a proper meal together. Let's have dinner out tonight!" Westin felt uncomfortable but kept his tone soothing to resolve the issue.
"No time," Janelle refused outright.
"Janelle, I know you blame me for what happened between me and your mother, but what did I do wrong? Back then, it was your mother who—"
"Don't mention my mother. Otherwise, I won't hesitate to commit patricide." He had no right to mention her mother!
Westin was genuinely frightened by the ferocity in Janelle's eyes. Just five years ago, she was a soft, sweet girl who would snuggle in his arms. How had she become this unrecognizable stranger in less than five years?
"Janelle, no matter what, Nelson is your sister's fiancé. They are both Level One trainees at the Research Institute now. They can get in! You can't destroy them like this."
"How am I destroying them? Didn't they try to run me over?" Janelle found it laughable. So, no matter what Nelson and Lillie did, he always thought it was her fault?
"Janelle, I'm begging you, as your father. Please, let them go."
"Impossible. I can tell you right now, I will never forgive. Not them, and not you. I won't forgive any of you." She would never pardon any of the crimes they had committed. She would make them pay tenfold.
"How did you become like this? Lillie is your sister! What good does ruining her do you? Or... do you still like Nelson?" He was truly hurt that she wouldn't even give her own father face.
"Honestly, I think I'm fine the way I am now. At least no one dares to bully me like this." Janelle's lips curled into a smile. "And all of you will be kneeling, begging for mercy."
The smile sent a fresh wave of terror through Westin.
Janelle stopped listening to his nonsense and went straight to find Sara.
Amber, seeing Westin return empty-handed, was deeply displeased. If only they had let Janelle die at the border. None of this mess would be happening now.
"What do we do now? Make Nelson apologize? How could a young master like him endure such humiliation?"