Cristelle blinked. Was Drew playing dumb right now? No… He might be a bit flirty, but he was never a dishonest man.
“You’re dating Cindy, right?” Cristelle asked directly.
“Hell no!” Drew’s widened, “She’s just a friend. How would I date her?”
“But I saw you having dinner with her in that restaurant.” Cristelle looked a bit panicked.
Drew looked utterly confused, but he soon made a face of realization, “Oh! You mean that day?”
He actually took a glance at Linford and Cristelle at the other table that day. He thought they were on a private date, so he didn’t go to interrupt them.
“It was not a date, Cristelle.” Drew didn’t know if he should cry or laugh. “It was Cindy’s treat. She wanted to thank me by buying me a meal because I helped her to overcome her sadness. God! I can’t even remember what I helped her with, I’m just doing my job. That girl is a demonstration of a damsel in distress, I’m telling you. She always needs my help. But I guess I’m the only one she can turn to since she has lost her sister.”
The doctor’s voice tailed off as he mentioned Cindy’s sister. He still felt bad for Cindy.
Cristelle’s mouth fell open. Jeez, she was wrongly concluded against Drew.
She thought Drew was dating Cindy.
Cristelle suddenly realized that she had just made a huge mistake.
****
The situation got even worse. No one knew who leaked the news, but the information about the murderer’s death was everywhere on the internet.
Countless condemns and criticisms came after the Daicom Corporation. Things unfolded just as Linford expected.
The scandal about the delay of the publishing of the case procedure made the public think the Daicom Corporation had been bribing the police.
They didn’t even think about the Daicom Corporation’s motivation for doing this. They only needed to take their rage out on someone. The comments flooded tremendously.
“Being rich is splendid. Linford Bradley doesn’t care about the death of innocent people. He’s busy impressing his chick by flying around in that military jet.”
“They said laws are supposed to restrain rich people. But it seems like laws just give them more freedom.”
“Don’t forget that ‘chick’ you’ve been talking about is the daughter of an ex-mayor. Bradley really has no fear of marrying a daughter of a corrupt politician. I guess Linford Bradley thinks of himself as the lord of the nation.”
“I want to throw up when I see that hypocritical piece of shit!”
The PR department of the company was working their asses off. But the comments only got worse. Some journalists even came to Linford’s company and house to harass Cristelle and the twins.
“That Miles Johnson has a death wish!” Drew slammed the table, clenching his teeth, “I’ll kill him!”
“Calm down, Drew,” Linford didn’t look as angry as he should be, “Losing your temper is not helpful.”
Cristelle came into Linford’s study room, carrying a bowl of soup she had just made.
She wanted to say something to make Linford feel better. But Linford took the bowl and drank up the soup she made for him.
And then, he put down the bowl and pulled her in, “I’m fine. I don’t want you to be worried about anything, okay?”
Cristelle bit her bottom lip and nodded. There was nothing she could help with. If Linford’s wish were to make her less worried, she would do that for him, “I’ll be fine. I’m stronger than you think.”
Linford smiled at his wife, “I know, honey.”
He thought for a second and added, “And… Because I know how strong you are, I actually want you to help me this time.”
“Really?” Cristelle’s eyes lit up. She was thrilled that Linford wanted her to help, “What do you want me to do? You know there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”
Linford smiled and leaned forward, whispering a name in Cristelle’s ear.
Cristelle looked genuinely surprised as she heard that name, her eyes widening, “You want me to contact that woman?”
Cristelle was still quite confused as she dialed the number. That woman went silent for a second on the other side of the phone as she heard Cristelle’s voice, and then, she just agreed with Cristelle’s request to meet up.
Cristelle didn’t know why she would agree to that. And then, she just remembered that that woman didn’t like to be challenged.
The woman she was about to meet was called Melody Wilson. She used to work in a strip club before meeting Cristelle’s Dad, Isaac Friesley.
They had had an affair, and Melody even gave Isaac two children. They had started a family.
It had been so cruel and unfair to Cristelle’s mother. And the scandal was quite ugly. However, Cristelle still decided to bring the babies with her today, knowing she didn’t have any right to hide the truth from the twins since they often asked about their grandfather and grandmother.
****
Melody had a cold sneer when she held the door open for Cristelle and Claire.
Her eyes lingered shortly on Claire’s face, letting out a cold smile, “Oh, you came here as well. I didn’t expect to see you, Claire. It must feel shitty to hide around like a rat.”
“You’re saying I’m like a rat?” Claire snapped back, “You’re the third wheel who destroyed other people’s families. You have the gall to call other people rats.”
“Ugh! Shut up already!” Melody rolled her eyes, “It’s not like your family is a saint. Your father is a corrupt old piece of shit, and your sister is whore who got herself pregnant to get married into a wealthy family.”
Melody flew her eyes toward Cristelle, “How does it feel, Cristelle? I bet being a wealthy Bradley housewife is amazing. I would have been as smug and proud as you if I was half as cunning as you when I was young-getting Linford Bradley’s seeds and blackmailing him with his children? Hmm! That definitely sounds like something a saint would do.”
“Close your filthy mouth, Melody,” Cristelle pulled the babies back. Cody had covered Candace’s ears, so Cristelle covered his.
“The twins are still here. Aren’t you ashamed to mention those things?” Cristelle pulled a face. She only wanted the babies to know the truth. She didn’t expect this woman to be so shameless.