Gladstone Mansion
"Still no news?" Mrs Gladstone asked, her husband had ordered to look for Loretta in the morning, the Sun was almost down but she had not heard anything.
"No," Mr Gladstone shook his head. He had not anticipated her running away so there was no measure put in place.
All airlines has been checked, Loretta did not go to the airport. If they were driving it would be more difficult to trace. The crazy part was that they had no idea what car she drove, as her car was still parked in the apartment building.
The complex had stict rules and would not let them view the surveillance footage. The police would not put on a missing person picture, after all, she had left on her own and she was an adult.
"Then, what should we do?" Mrs Gladstone was worried about the marriage while get husband was worried about the company.
If the marriage did not hold, then it effect on the company would be great.
"What else can we do? The wedding is less than three months, find her before then," Mr Gladstone said.
Mrs Gladstone was about to say something when Isabella knocked on the door and walked in.
She was looking pale, "why are you here?" Mrs Gladstone frowned. 'You should be resting in your room," she said.
"How can I rest, given this situation of our family..." Isabella started to cry. "This is all my fault, if I had not gotten drunk and had that accident all this would not have happened," the more she spoke the more She cried.
"How is this your fault? If that ungrateful girl did not act wild none of this would have happened," Mrs Gladstone said. Although the entire situation started with Isabella, she still felt Loretta was at fault.
"Yes, your mother is right," Mr Gladstone also comforter.
"Then.. what should we do? Are we going to tell Mr Goodman te truth?" She asked.
"No,' Mr Gladstone assured her that his men would definitely find Loretta before the wedding.
Hearing this Isabella gave a greatful smile then clean her tears.
"You should go to your room and rest," Mrs Gladstone advice. Isabella nodded and turned to leave obediently.
Mrs. Gladstone paced slowly, her fingers clenched tightly at her side. Mr. Gladstone remained seated, his gaze fixed on the reports before him, though he was clearly no longer reading them.
Isabella stopped by the door, hesitant.
Like she had something to say—but was holding it back.
Mrs. Gladstone noticed. "What is it?" she asked, her tone filled with concern. "If you have something bothering you just say it"
Isabella lowered her head.
"I… I don't know if I should…"
"Speak," Mrs. Gladstone pressed, impatience slipping into her voice.
Isabella bit her lip, as if struggling.
"There might be… a way," she said softly.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone looked at her.
"What way?" Mr. Gladstone asked.
Isabella hesitated again, her fingers tightening together.
"We could…" she paused, then continued carefully, "release a statement to the media."
Mrs. Gladstone frowned. "What kind of statement?" it is not that she had not thought of it, but she knew the media was a double edged sword, without Loretta presence things might only end up worse.
Isabella lifted her eyes slightly.
"We could say… that Loretta has always been… difficult," she said. "That she is a spoiled heiress. That she went to the party on her own… drank too much… and caused the accident herself."
She swallowed.
"And that the marriage… was not something the family arranged. It was… a consequence of her actions."
The idea settled in the room.
Mrs. Gladstone's eyes flickered.
Mr. Gladstone leaned back slightly, thinking.
Isabella quickly shook her head, as if realizing something.
"No… no, that's wrong," she added hurriedly. "I shouldn't have said that."
Her voice softened, almost trembling.
"That would ruin her reputation completely… I was the one who caused the accident. I shouldn't push everything onto her…"
She lowered her head again.
"I'm sorry… I shouldn't have suggested it."
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then—
Mrs. Gladstone let out a cold laugh.
"Ruin her reputation?" she repeated.
Her expression hardened.
"She did that herself the moment she liked that article."
Isabella looked up, startled.
"Mother…"
Mrs. Gladstone turned to her fully.
"If she had stayed quiet, none of this would have escalated," she said. "But no she chose to embarrass this family in public."
Her eyes darkened.
"So whatever comes next… she can only blame herself."
Mr. Gladstone did not interrupt.
He simply tapped his fingers lightly against the table. Thinking carefully about Isabella's suggestions.
"Go back to your room, I will discuss it with the Company's PR team, you don't have to worry about it," he said
Hearing her father said so, she nodded obediently and left the room.
Outside the worry in her face disappeared. Her father's men had not found even the smallest clue since Loretta left, she was worried that they would be unable to find her.
The reason she suggested making the accident public was because of Kevin. She hoped that with the news he would remain fix on marry Loretta and not want a substitute bride like in the movies.
Inside the room Mr Gladstone wasted no time, if the statement was well delivered, although they might be unable to recover the lost so far, at the very least it can help find stability.
The PR team had a meeting for two hours, they had to be careful, after all they were making up things and couldn't afford to make a mistake.
The next morning the Gladstone Company released a statement.
It was short. Clean. Carefully worded.
—
Official Statement Gladstone Group
"Recent rumors surrounding Miss Loretta Gladstone and Gladstone family have been greatly exaggerated and misrepresented.
Miss Loretta has always been a strong-willed individual who values her independence. The incident that led to her engagement was the result of her personal decisions during a private event.
The Gladstone family did not arrange or force this marriage. It was agreed upon as a responsible resolution following the incident.
As a family, we have always respected her choices and supported her path.
We kindly ask the public to refrain from spreading false narratives that may harm those involved."
Those who read this frowned their brows, doubt here and there but soon some bloggers began to give more details.
Somehow someone had a picture of Loretta at the strip club the last time.
This picture became a single evidence of her wild life.
From a pited adopted daughter, people began to speculate that she was a spoiled rich brat.
The Gladstone family carefully controlled the conversation from behind the scene.
The post began to trend and some people even began to feel sorry for the Gladstone family for adopting such a daughter.
Although some people still had doubts after all, their daughter was sick in the hospital and they had gone on a vacation instead but the situation was more on their favor.