Chapter 30

So, when the Golden Birch Group andI the Williams Group were having their third new product launch,things went south.

A hashtag blew up: #Williams Group Designer Emily Neglects Parents.

People started sharing how awful Emily's parents' lives were.

They were living in poverty. Her dad was disabled and only got the bare minimum from the government each month. Meanwhile, Emily looked all glammed up.

With this trending, everyone started hating on Emily. The internet was buzzing with discussions. The criticism was brutal.

Emily had no clue about any of this untiI the end of the event when Ryan approached her seriously. "Ms. Johnson,there's a situation."

Emily was confused.

He whispered, "You should check out the Twitter trends."

Emily opened Twitter and was bombarded with nasty comments.

[She doesn't even care for her own parents. That's disgusting.]

[There must be a reason she's not taking care of them. We shouldn't jump to conclusions.]

[People have confirmed Emily is their daughter, and some of you are still defending her. Unbelievable.]

[Emily,take care of your parents.]

Emily's face turned cold.

Her colleagues crowded around her, asking, "Ms. Johnson, is what's online true?"

"Do you really not take care of your parents?"

"Shouldn't you clear this up quickly?"

They all thought it was fake because Emily and Veda were sisters. Their parents shouldn't be struggling like that.

Ryan whispered, "Ms. Johnson, the reporters outside probably know about this and want to interview you, but they won't dare at the Golden Birch Group. Let me take you out the back."

Emily nodded. She couldn't face the reporters right now.

But Emily's bad press was affecting the collaboration with the Golden Birch Group.

Many thought she should be blacklisted and her work shouldn't be promoted. The online uproar was intense, putting pressure on the Golden Birch Group.

On her way back to the office, Emily kept reading the comments. She felt down, and her assistant next to her stayed silent.

As soon as she got back to the office, Veda came in, looking worried."Emily, are you okay? Don't listen to those online comments."

With her head in her hands, Emily said in front of everyone, "They're not my biologieal parents, so it's not my responsibility to take care of them,right?"

Veda smiled awkwardly. "How could you say that? They raised you. You owe them."

"Don't play that game. You know they're your parents. I never thought you'd use this to target ine. Do you think I'm easy to push around?"

Veda's expression changed, realizing Emily wasn't the naive girl who had just come back from the countryside.

When Emily threatened her, every word hit hard,leaving Veda speechless.

Veda finally said, "I'm the daughter of the Johnson family. Dad and Mom raised me. Besides, your parents don't even acknowledge me as their child.

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Emily shrugged, "Doesn't matter if they don't acknowledge you. The DNA test at the hospital does, and you can't argue with that, right?"

Veda's face fell. She glanced around, noticing a crowd gathering outside.She wished she could vanish, speaking pitifully, "Sis, have you misunderstood? I didn't dothis. Why are you threatening me like this?"

Emily looked at her quietly, feeling nothing but disgust.

Emily stood up, raised her hand, and slapped her hard.

Seeing Veda's shocked expression, she said, "I can't deal with any nonsense right now. We've had our differences for a long time,so don't act all pitiful in front of me."

Emily wasn't afraid of online bullying!

She continued, "I warned you before, my parents never had another daughter besides me, so I'm not your sis. And, it's best to address me as

Ms. Johnson in the company."

Emily looked at her standing there on the verge of tears, narrowed her eyes slightly, and sneered. "Are you waiting for me to force you to leave?"

After work, Emily returned to Crystal Valley Manor.

She was in a good mood and saw the light on in James' study, so she went in directly.

He was sitting at the desk, already showered and wearing dark gray pajamas.

Without looking up when Emily entered, his gaze fell on the computer screen.

Emily didn't look at his computer, sat down beside him, and asked softly,"Are you working?"

James gestured for her to come over. His slender fingers exuded an elegance and allure that made her heart skip a beat at a glance.

Emily moved closer to him and noticed he was looking at today's trending.

She chuckled softly. "I didn't expect you, who is always busy,to have time to look at news about me?"

James naturally extended his arms, pulled her onto his lap, and sat down.

Emily found a comfortable position leaning against him, as relaxed as a cat.

He said, "I see you're in a good mood."

It seemed like she wasn't affected by the online situation at all.

Emily nodded. "Of course, I'm in a good mood. Veda exposed her own parents, not mine. She 'll have to face the consequences."

Emily had never seen someone so foolish. She wrapped her arms around James'neck, lightly bit his Adam's apple, and kissed him.

James' Adam's apple bobbed up and down, his eyes slightly deepened.He closed the computer, staring at Emily. "You're seducing me."

Thinking about how rough their lovemaking had been the night before, he had intended to spare her today, but she took the initiative and approached him instead.

James just held her gently and asked, "Are you really not affected at all?"

Emily vaguely sensed that he might find out something with his capabilities.

She furrowed her brows suddenly. "James, do I have no secrets in front of you?"

James opened his mouth."You still have secrets."

Emily squinted, her hands touching his body, and her red lips slightly parted."What?"

"I wouldn't know your secrets." James was sincere, not joking.

Emily didn't dwell on it. Seeing that he still wasn't interested, she withdrew her hands.

James asked her, "Do you want me to help?"

Emily replied. "No, I know who leaked this information."

James raised an eyebrow, looking at her.

Emily calmly said. "It was Nora, a former colleague from the Design Department. She has always been sucking up to Veda, and this time she was fired by the Williams Group, so she's holding a grudge."