Chapter 68

The morning of the ribbon-cutting ceremony dawned clear, sunlight pouring down like a blessing.

Everything unfolded without a hitch.

Myah beamed as she and the children stepped into their new home, their laughter filling the air with warmth.

Yet, while joy spread in one place, bitterness brewed elsewhere. Inside the Todd family's vila, Lainey's mood soured with every passing minute.

Her glare fixed on the television, teeth grinding as Eleanor's face filled the screen.

There she was-standing among children, her smile poised, her presence effortlessly radiant.

But why?

What gave Eleanor the right to stand there looking so polished, so untouchable?

Lainey's eyes narrowed at the dress draped elegantly over Eleanor's figure. Wasn't that an Enigma design?

Driven by suspicion, she pulled up Enigma's website on her tablet, scrolling through the latest collection.

She hadn't expected much-certainly not confirmation.

But there it was. The very same dress, listed as this season's release, carried a price tag of no less than five million.

Eleanor had been cast out of the Todd family. Where in the world had she found the means to afford something like that?

Lainey racked her brain, circling the question again and again, but no matter how long she stewed, no answer came.

One conclusion settled firmly in Lainey's mind-Eleanor's wealth couldn't be clean. Her gaze lingered on the television screen, and a twisted idea began to sprout, spreading like wildfire in her thoughts.

If Eleanor insisted on making life difficult for her, then she would return the favor tenfold. Eleanor would know no peace.

By that afternoon, her scheme was already in motion. An anonymous post exploded onto the trending charts, its headline crafted to ignite fury."Hope House ribbon-cutting? Orphans' donations funneled into private pockets?"

The post featured a glossy photo of Eleanor at the ceremony, her designer dress front and center as if it were Exhibit A.

Attached beneath were a string of grainy screenshots, allegedly showing Hope House's expense records,with a suspiciously large amount of money unaccounted for.

The reaction was immediate. The Internet boiled over with anger.

"Who is this woman? How shameless must she be to steal from an orphanage?"

"Absolutely disgusting-this is evil, plain and simnple!"

"People like her shouldn't just be exposed; they should be thrown straight into prison!"

Many netizens wasted no time digging into Eleanor's background, piecing together fragments until her past stood exposed for all to see.

"Wait-she grew up in the orphanage herself? She, of all people, should understand how vital those donations are. For her to take from the children is beyond cruel!"

"No wonder Jonny Todd got rid of her! If he'd stayed married, the entire Todd Group would've been dragged straight into scandal.".

···

The comments piled on endlessly, each more vicious than the last, drowning the feeds in venom. Lillian's blood boiled as she scrolled. Every word felt like a slap.

Did these people seriously believe Eleanor would stoop so low as to steal scraps from the very place she supported with her own money?

She couldn't contain herself any longer. Her fingers flew over the keyboard.

"Utter lies! Eleanor donates tothe orphanage-she doesn't take from it! Why would she bother embezzling when she gives her own money? Stop spreading garbage!"

But her defense barely made a ripple. Within minutes, her comment was buried under a wave of fresh attacks, the trolls multiplying like someone had deliberately thrown fuel on the fire.

Clearly, this wasn't just gossip spiraling-it was orchestrated. Someone was pulling strings.

Lillian didn't waste a second before firing off a message to Ryland's assistant. "Trace the IP of whoever posted this filth. I want to know exactly who's behind it."

Her jaw tightened. Whoever dared to smear Eleanor like this wouldn't get away with it.

While waiting for a response, she kept refreshing the thread, scrolling furiously through the comments.

Not a single person defended Eleanor. Not one.

What was wrong with these people?

Were they all blind-or just plain stupid?

She was seconds away from unleashing her own tirade when a new notification appeared. Someone had finally spoken up.

The name stopped her cold-Besty.

From Enigma's verified account, a bold statement appeared. "The gown worn by Miss Warren at the ribbon-cutting was an exclusive sponsorship from Enigma Group. Miss Warren has dedicated herself to Hope House for years, volunteering weekly and donating substantial funds. She is an example-to be admired,not slandered." Attached to the post were detailed records-receipts of Eleanor's donations, logs of her volunteer hours,proof stacked neatly for all to see.

Netizens might scoff at rumors, but no one dared question the authority of Enigma.

Their word carried weight, and their brand left no room for doubt.

Within minutes, the storm of insults flipped on its head. The comment section overflowed with praise, the hate drowned out by admiration.

Relief finally loosened Lillian's chest.

Watching Eleanor's name dragged through the mud had felt worse than being attacked herself.

Eleanor had been right to trust Besty-when the situation turned dire, Besty knew exactly how to strike back.

Just as Lillian allowed herself a brief breath, a new message pinged on her screen. "Miss Brooks, we've traced the source. The IP behind the original post-and several troll accounts stirring the comments-all lead back to the Todd family's villa. Also, you'll want to see this. Attachments included."

Lillian tapped the files open. Her lips curled into a sly grin as the images came into focus.

Perfect ammunition.

Without hesitation, she uploaded the screenshots and crafted her own post, each word aimed like a blade.

"Funny how some people love preaching about charity. Remember that wedding pledge-$5 million promised for poor children, but only $3, 000 delivered? Was that just sloppy bookkeeping... or a deliberate scam? Lainey Gilbert, would you like to clear this up?"

But Lillian wasn't done. Her fingers flew over the keyboard as she fired off another comment beneath the post.

"A little advice for whoever's been hiding behind screens and buying trolls-maybe clean up your own dirty laundry before smearing someone else. By the way, the legal notice is already on its way. Do check your mailbox." For good measure, she attached the traced IP address, leaving no room for denial.

There was no way Lainey could defend herself.