"How did you get in here? You're trespassing, barging into someone's home without an invitation. That's illegal!" Julie didn't expect such a turn of events. She panicked and shouted, looking utterly disheveled, all of which was caught by the reporters' cameras.
"Ms. Julie, did you interfere with William's marriage back then? There are rumors that you abused Ms. Mia—how true is that?"
"William, did you set up your own daughter to take the fall for QIY? Was it Ms. Julie who persuaded you to do this, or was it your idea?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? I get it now, you've paid Mia to slander me!" William took two steps back, linking arms with Julie, looking all affectionate as if nothing was wrong.
"Am I really your biological daughter?" Mia seized the opportunity, her voice soft and pitiful, looking up at William with teary eyes, seeming so vulnerable it almost broke hearts.
"You're not my daughter at all. Your mother had you with someone else, you're nothing but a bastard!" William denied vehemently, completely changing his demeanor. He glared at Mia, as if he wanted to strangle her.
"You really are beyond redemption, Gene." Mia continued her act, calling for her assistant.
Gene walked over, helping Mia up from the couch. Her cheek was flushed, as if she had been slapped hard.
William and Julie were both stunned. Just as they were about to explain, the recording on Gene's phone began playing—it was William admitting his mistakes and acknowledging Mia's identity.
"Well, Mia, you set me up," William suddenly realized he'd been tricked, his anger flaring. He charged towards Mia, seething with rage.
Julie couldn't hold him back. It was the flash of reporters' cameras that made him calm down. He quickly switched back to his fake gentleman persona and hurriedly said,"Let me explain. It's not what you think."
"Gene, let's go," Mia covered her face, allowing Gene to support her out of the Garcia Family.
The reporters disappeared in an instant, as if they had never been there.
"What is this?" William shoved Julie away, demanding,"Is this your great plan? Do you want Mia's reputation to be ruined, or mine? How am I supposed to explain this to the public?"
"Calm down, there will be a way. After all, she's your own daughter. She won't…"
"Won't what? What else would she do? If that recording gets out, I'm finished! You better find a way to contact those reporters and make them destroy the recording, no matter the cost!" William was desperate, pointing his finger at Julie and yelling at her.
Julie didn't expect things to turn out this way. She was stunned by William's outburst, nodding in agreement,"I'll take care of it right away."
The original recording was in Gene's hands, and no amount of money could make her erase the evidence.
"Damn daughter, this damn daughter! She's driving me crazy!" William clutched his chest, trembling as he collapsed onto the couch.
Julie decided to act first. She posted photos of Lambert and Tiffany in the hospital online, paid for a bunch of trending topics, and managed to suppress the news for a while.
But strangely enough, there was no trace of tonight's commotion on the internet.
The silence lasted for a week until Tiffany was discharged from the hospital.
Tiffany called Lambert a day earlier to make sure he would pick her up from the hospital.
Lambert, owing her a life debt, tolerated Tiffany's every whim. As long as she didn't cross his line, he would do anything for her.
Tiffany pretended to be weak, clinging to Lambert's arm as they walked out of the hospital, her whole body hanging on him. But her face was flushed, and she was full of energy.
Only Lambert, the blind fool, couldn't tell she was faking it.
"Mia?" As soon as they stepped outside, they ran into Mia. Tiffany's face changed dramatically, and she instinctively tightened her grip on Lambert's arm.
"Mia," Lambert called out, instinctively pushing Tiffany away.
But Tiffany held on tighter, refusing to let go.
"Why? Is it such a surprise to see me? I came here specifically to talk to you." Mia smiled innocently.
Damn it, her voice was so soothing, like a gentle breeze brushing the willows when she was soft, and like a sharp blade when she was cutting to the point. Mia was such a devil, Tiffany cursed her with her eyes countless times.
"What do you want?" Tiffany asked, trembling with fear, not daring to approach Mia.
"What do you think?" Mia gave Tiffany a meaningful look.
Tiffany immediately let go of Lambert and followed Mia into the hospital. When she saw Lambert turning to follow them, Tiffany hurriedly stopped him,"Lambert, wait outside for me, I'll be right back."
Lambert didn't stop, but Mia suddenly turned and shot him a cold, piercing glare, making him freeze in place.
The two of them disappeared down the corridor. They entered an empty ward, and after Tiffany locked the door, she asked,"What do you want?"
"There's another project being developed by Wenshte Group's development department. Unfortunately, Martha is working on the same project. One of us has to lose, and I can't afford to lose. So I need you to help me out."
"You want me to betray Lambert and steal information for you?" Tiffany leaned against the door,"That's impossible. Business competition is always fair. He trusts me, and I won't betray him."
"Think carefully before you answer. If you don't want Lambert to see your video from that wild night, you better help me this time. Don't worry, I'm more trustworthy than you. If you do it, I'll destroy the video." Mia's voice was gentle, almost comforting.
"How can I trust you?" Tiffany hesitated. She wanted to remain Lambert's shining moonlight forever.
"When the time comes, you'll hand over the materials and the video. What's there to be afraid of? Oh, and don't let Lambert get suspicious. Remember to keep up the act when you go out later." Mia said, pushing Tiffany aside as she left the room.
Tiffany gritted her teeth. She had no choice but to follow Mia's instructions. She turned and ran out of the ward, shouting,"Mia, why does everything have to be taken from me the moment you show up? Isn't taking my project enough? Now you want me to quit Gu Group? I'm telling you, that will never happen."
Tiffany was acting, and to make it convincing, she had to go all out.
She rushed to Mia and grabbed her shoulder, raising her hand to slap her.
"Stop!" A furious voice rang in Tiffany's ear, and her wrist was grabbed, the force so strong it felt like her bones might break.