“That’s impossible! She wouldn’t help me!” Helen immediately refused without hesitation.
Tim threw up his hands. “Fine, I can’t do anything. This is a public scandal, it’s too huge to cover up. It’s a national stain!”
Helen was a national icon, with so many classic works. This kind of scandal, he couldn’t protect her from.
“I can’t fix this, you’ll have to figure it out yourselves,” Tim said, tossing his things aside before heading for the door.
Helen wanted to call him back, but thinking of the crowd outside made her want to cry. Her carefully done makeup was already starting to smudge.
Peter simply asked, “Is it true, Helen?”
“What’s true or not? You know about Alvin, right? I just chose to follow my dreams!”
“I’m talking about your mom’s death,” Peter said, looking at Helen. “Did you know?”
Helen bit her lip, her frustration growing. “What does it matter now? Why are you asking about this!? Shouldn’t you be more focused on how to handle today!?”
Now, her entire team had already scattered!
Peter looked at her, his disappointment evident as he ran a hand through his hair.
“I feel like I’m meeting you for the first time. How did you become so unfamiliar and terrifying?!”
“Peter! I’m your wife, what are you talking about?” Helen looked at the man in front of her in disbelief. “You should be unconditionally on my side. Have you forgotten your vows when we got married?!”
Peter took a deep breath. “Maybe I should reconsider whether coming back to your country with you was the wrong decision.”
Helen froze. “What do you mean? Are you out of your mind, Peter?!”
Peter just opened the door to the dressing room. “I think the best way to resolve this right now is for you to go out and admit it-admit that you had a marriage, admit that our so-called ‘century marriage’ was just a publicity stunt, part of the persona you built. You need to face your past.”
Helen rushed to shut the door, but reporters, already lurking nearby, were ready with their cameras and captured the whole scene of the family of three.
Helen wasn’t someone who hadn’t seen big events before. She took a deep breath and smiled. “Thank you all for your concern. I believe the people outside are also interested in this matter. How about we step outside and clarify things? Please make way.”
“Ms. Helen, was your agent’s sudden departure because you’ve hidden your past from him as well?”
“Did you have a heated argument?”
“Is this true?”
Helen kept smiling the whole time, and as she left the dressing room, she even turned to Peter and said, “Peter, you can’t abandon me now. Think about Sophia.”
Though she said that, Helen still stayed silent as she stepped outside, not daring to face the barrage of cameras directly.
But now, stepping out for the press conference and facing the skeptical eyes of the crowd, she told herself to stay calm. She had to regain control of the situation.
John rushed to the corner and saw Helen surrounded by reporters.
John anxiously gestured at Helen.
Helen shot him a glare. “What are we going to do now?”
Helen forced a smile, and John noticed that she seemed to be in a somewhat better mood, which gave him some relief. She probably had a plan.
Helen had been in the entertainment industry for so long, that she’d faced countless storms-this couldn’t be any worse than what she’d dealt with before!
The door opened.
Helen emerged, and the flashbulbs almost turned the entire venue into a spotlight.
Lillian sat in her chair, watching Helen greet the media, while the other artists who hadn’t left yet dared not leave. After all, being there gave them some exposure, and in an already struggling career, a little attention wasn’t a bad thing.
To make the event look grand and open, Helen had chosen a venue with glass walls.
People outside couldn’t hear the noise inside, but they could see everything clearly.
At that moment, Helen deeply regretted it, wishing these artists would leave with their fans and get out of there!
Her hand shook slightly as she picked up the microphone.
A person who had been in front of cameras for years now didn’t know how to address the “stains” on her reputation.
The moment she opened her mouth, she started to cry.
The flashes of cameras grew even more intense.
“I’m sorry,” Helen said, bowing to the cameras. “Today, I thought I could show everyone the best version of myself, but I never imagined it would end up like this. I’m sorry.”
Microphones were thrust toward her from all sides.
“I hope my dear friends can be discerning regarding information. Unfortunately, on such an important day for me, this matter has been exposed, and I believe this is nothing short of a huge slander.”
“So, Ms. Helen, are you saying that this whole thing is a fabrication?”
“You apologized earlier, but was it because you deceived the public, or was it because you couldn’t hold the opening ceremony as planned today?”
Helen grabbed the microphone. “Yes, because I have no idea who doctored those photos. My love life has always been very simple. At that time, it was the golden period of my career development-how could I possibly have had a child? These rumors are potentially deadly for me, and I will definitely pursue legal action against those responsible. I also hope the rumor mongers will stop misleading and deceiving the public.”
“Is that so? Then please go ahead and pursue legal action.” A cold female voice slowly rang out.
Because Helen had been speaking, the room had been quiet, with everyone trying to catch her every word.
So when Lillian’s voice suddenly cut through the silence, it was as jarring as it was unexpected.
Everyone turned to look behind them, including Helen.
In that instant, Lillian smiled at her with an incredibly bright grin.
To Helen, it felt like seeing a ghost in broad daylight!
This was no smile of kindness-it was the smile of a devil.
How could she be here?
How could she be here?!
Helen’s pupils contracted, and she desperately signaled to John, who was still standing below in shock, to quickly get this madwoman, Lillian, out of there.
“This young lady is…”
“Lillian Lewis.” Lillian looked at Helen and slowly spoke. “The Lillian in those photos. My father is Alvin, the CEO of the Lewis Family Group.”
“Lillian! She is that Lillian!”
“She’s even more beautiful than the rumors said!”
“Miss Lillian, did you come here today to have Helen admit to your identity, or to settle scores with her? Are you really mother and daughter? What’s your story?”
Helen watched as Lillian slowly walked toward her, showing no intention of avoiding the reporters. She took a step back in fear.
John snapped out of it and urgently waved for security. “What are you standing around for? Get her out of here!!”
“Move! Move! Everyone, get out!” John rushed in, flailing as he tried to get rid of the crowd.
But with the gossip unfolding right before their eyes, no reporter would leave!
John’s frantic actions only added to Helen’s discomfort.
Of course, with Andrew present, no one would be able to get near Lillian.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I came here today to accuse John and Helen of forcing their mother to death! It’s not about some mother-daughter reunion, nor is it about exposing her fake persona!”
The entire room fell silent, and then erupted in shock!
“Kill her mother?”
“Are you saying that Helen and you really are mother and daughter? And that your grandmother passed away because of Ms. Helen’s actions?”
“Miss Lillian, can your words hold up legally? Do you realize the negative impact this could have? Helen is your mother-are you sure this is the truth?”