Chapter 69

The Internet erupted like wildfire, comment threads exploding in every direction.

Unlike the noise of nameless netizens, Lillian's words carried weight-and the evidence she dropped hit harder than anything that came before.

Her screenshots were crisp, undeniable, nothing like the blurry fabrications from the earlier smear campaign.

Netizens might be quick to gossip, but they weren't idiots.

In seconds, the crowd realized they had been manipulated.

Lainey's Twitter page was instantly swarmed.

"So we've been tricked? Turns out Lainey Todd is the real villain!"

"Unbelievable-she even faked charity donations."

"Five million magically shrank to fifty thousand? That's not charity, that's daylight robbery."

"Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if the Todd Group had a hand in this too!"

...

Lillian scrolled through the chaos, satisfaction dancing on her lips-until her expression froze mid-smile.

It was as though time itself had stopped, a chill gripping her out of nowhere.

In the very next instant, Lillian's eyes flewwide, locked on her phone as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

Her face lit with shock, the kind that made her look as though the floor had shifted beneath her feet.

She shot up from the couch, jammed her feet into her shoes, and dashed into the kitchen, nearly skidding to a stop as she shoved her phone in front of Eleanor, who was calmly stirring a pot on the stove.

One name burned on the screen-Nolan.

He had actually reposted her call-out.

And worse, he hadn't left it at that.

"Eleanor Warren treats the world with kindness, yet shows no mercy to me."

The words were followed by a sorrowful emoji, dripping with wounded self-pity.

Eleanor's hand froze on the spoon, her mind momentarily blank.

At the same time, the comments beneath Nolan's post were exploding in real time.

"Hold on-did Nolan Stewart just post?!"

"Am I hallucinating, or is that really the head of Stewart Group?"

"You're not hallucinating! I've stalked his account forever, and he's finally alive online!"

"Wait, wait, is he hinting at Eleanor? Is this some kind of confession?"

"Wow, that came out of nowhere!"

"You mean the Todd family tossed her aside, and now the head of Stewart Group is the one declaring his love?"

How reckless could Nolan be?

A private confession would have been enough, yet he had to plaster it across social media.

Did it ever cross his mind what she might feel?

Eleanor forced herself to look away, feigning composure as the glow of the screen faded from her eyes.

Still, the warmth blooming in her cheeks betrayed her attempt at calm. With a sharp snap, Lillian shut her phone and squealed.

"Eleanor! Did you see that? Nolan Stewart actually confessed to you! He's the man every single woman in Elepdon is dying to marry! Oh my God, this is legendary, and I am living for it!"

In her excitement, Lillian's earlier worries evaporated.

For once, Nolan, the man who always avoided romance, had bared his feelings to Eleanor.

It suddenly felt like nothing could stand in the way of what they had.

Differences in status? Irrelevant.

The swarm of women vying for Nolan's attention? Meaningless.

Nolan and Eleanor seemed like they were made for each other. He carried himself with a cool, refined air,while she burned with independence and fire.

Lillian's squealing grated on Eleanor until she could barely take it anymore.

With a light tap on her friend's head, Eleanor said, "Dinner's ready. Quit making a fuss and sit down to eat."

Food, however, didn't hold a candle to the unfolding gossip.

Eyes sparkling with mischief, Lillian dialed Ryland. "Hey, is Nolan with you? I've got questions, and I'm dying to get a quote from him."

On the line, Ryland nearly choked on his coffee. "Are you out of your mind, Lillian? That's his business with Eleanor. You've got no reason to stick your nose in."

For the first time ever, he hung up on his sister without hesitation.

Some things were simply too personal to be dragged into her antics.

Almost immediately after Nolan's post went live, Norwood Stewart, his grandfather, was on the phone.

Nolan answered and entered the study. Out of curiosity, Ryland approached the study, and pressed his ear against the door,trying to eavesdrop their conversation. Though he couldn't catch a word of the exchange, Ryland guessed that it wouldn't be a pleasant conversation.