CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 36: HOMEWRECKER, GET OFF THE STAGE

A few seconds later, the crowd erupted in disbelief.

The media was the first to react, flashlights going off wildly, the sound of camera clicks blending into one.

President Fordham is married?

Then what’s Best Actress Kensington doing on the stage?

The other woman?

"Oh my god! President Fordham is married?! His wife is named Stella Grant!"

"Then Corinne Kensington is undeniably the other woman!"

"My god, what a shocking revelation! Turns out the wife of The Fordham Group’s president was already established long ago."

"Corinne Kensington is the third party, how dare she flaunt her love with President Fordham so openly?"

"I don’t want to believe our Eliana has become the other woman?"

"Boohoo, Eliana is not the other woman, how did she fall into such a position?"

...

The entire venue was in complete chaos.

"Homewrecker! Get off the stage!"

No one knew who shouted first.

"She’s the homewrecker!"

"Shameless! Seducing a married man!"

"And she still dares to hold a fan meet? So flamboyant!"

"Unfollow! Unfollow!"

Angry fans hurled their glow sticks, gifts, and water bottles recklessly towards the stage.

"Liar! Get off the stage!"

"Bitch!"

The scene instantly spiraled out of control, screams, angry curses, and cries blending together.

Security tried to maintain order, but it was futile.

On stage, Corinne Kensington’s smile froze completely.

She looked at the marriage certificate on the screen, at the chaotic crowd below, her mind a blank.

How could this happen?

Impossible!

This must be fake!

She opened her mouth, wanting to defend herself, but couldn’t utter a sound.

It was as if all the blood in her body had frozen.

Reporters swarmed to the edge of the stage, thrusting microphones and cameras towards her.

"Miss Kensington, did you know President Fordham is married?"

"What is your relationship with President Fordham? Is it an affair?"

"Is it true that you interfered in someone else’s marriage? Will the Fordham Family accept you?"

"Please respond!"

Corinne Kensington had become the laughing stock of the city and even the country.

Her number of social media followers plummeted drastically, losing millions in just minutes.

The comment sections were overrun by furious netizens, filled with unspeakable insults.

The goddess image she built over years collapsed in an instant.

An unprecedented crisis of credibility dragged her into an abyss.

Her assistant and manager rushed onto the stage, escorting the devastated Corinne Kensington out through a side door.

Behind her was the still chaotic venue and her utterly destroyed career.

At the same time, The Fordham Group’s official website was also besieged by angry netizens.

They directly condemned Aiden Fordham as a scumbag, abandoning his wife and having an affair with Corinne Kensington, claiming Aiden Fordham is unworthy of being Meritopia’s richest man.

Everyone collectively boycotted The Fordham Group’s products.

This clearly seemed like the work of a competitor!

The Fordham Group’s stock plummeted like it fell off a cliff, and the attacks from netizens were like an unstoppable tide.

Aiden Fordham stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, a slender finger holding a cigarette, his narrow, cold eyes fixed on the apartment not far away, on the balcony surrounded by greenery...

At that moment, Keegan Lindsey knocked and entered, holding a folder.

"President Fordham, the management team is all here, should you head to the meeting room now?"

"Also, Miss Kensington has been trying to contact us repeatedly, blowing up my phone, do we need to initiate emergency public relations for her? But given the current situation of the group, if we stand up for her now..."

Keegan suddenly fell silent.

"Let Ezra chair the meeting."

Aiden Fordham left just one sentence before grabbing his coat and heading out.

His eyes burned with anger; at the moment, he needed answers.

Fifteen minutes later, Aiden Fordham arrived at Stella Grant’s apartment door.

"Ding dong ding dong ding dong!"

The doorbell rang urgently, revealing Aiden Fordham’s impatience.

Stella Grant opened her sleepy eyes, feeling a wave of dizziness, realizing she had fallen asleep on the couch last night.

She patted her head, still dizzy.

The doorbell kept ringing, and she weakly leaned against the door as she opened it.

The man outside had a handsome face so cold it seemed like water could drip from it.

Aiden Fordham looked at her weary complexion; had she just woken up?

Her eyes were badly swollen; her bare face surprisingly showed some redness.

"Stella Grant, was all of this your doing?"

Aiden Fordham stormed in with a chill, his handsome face covered in a layer of frost, a restrained fury in his eyes.

He opened his mouth to question her.

Stella Grant leaned her weary head against the door, her head pounding, his out-of-context questions adding to her annoyance.

She thought he was talking about burning down Coregarde last night; didn’t he say he gave it to her?

Does she still need to report on how she handles it?

Did he come all the way just to hold her accountable?

The fire wasn’t large, but it caused quite a stir.

She tugged at the corner of her mouth, her eyes exhausted, too tired to argue.

"Yes, I did it."

"You knew all along, didn’t you?"

"With so many eyes watching, I can’t deny it."

Her tone was flat, devoid of emotion, as if discussing something unrelated to her.

Aiden Fordham’s chest heaved violently, his anger instantly hitting its peak.

"Stella Grant!"

He growled, veins bulging on his forehead, "Do you hate me that much? So much that you want to destroy everything between Corinne and me?"

Stella Grant was stunned!

He finally admitted that The Lily Garden was built for Corinne Kensington.

And yet he still gave it to her?

Does he want to disgust someone?

Any person with some decency wouldn’t do such a thing... bastard!

Stella Grant’s ears buzzed from his yelling, and she rubbed her temples.

She laughed, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes, carrying a hint of mockery and detachment.

"Does it hurt your heart?"

"Aiden Fordham, don’t you think you’re a joke?"

She turned her face away, her voice weak, "Just go, I’m dizzy, I don’t want to argue with you."

But Aiden Fordham refused to leave; he took a step closer, his tall frame bearing down with strong pressure.

"Stella Grant, I really underestimated you!"

"I thought when you signed the divorce papers so readily, you’d truly let go, wouldn’t cling on!"

He gritted his teeth, "Turns out, you were just waiting for this!"

"You just want to ruin Corinne, want to see me suffer, want to make me pay, don’t you?"

Stella Grant’s head became even more chaotic, buzzing; she couldn’t understand what he was saying.

Would burning down The Lily Garden make him suffer?

Damn... it’s too late for that!

She firmly held onto the edge of the couch, trying to stand steadily.

"Aiden Fordham, what’s this madness you’re doing here?"

"Get out!"

"Whatever goes on between you and Corinne Kensington, getting married or having children, it’s none of my business!"

"None of your business?" Aiden Fordham laughed coldly, his eyes as sharp as blades, "Stella Grant, you act so well!"

"Stella Grant, your methods are truly despicable!"

"Using such underhanded tactics for revenge, do you find it amusing?"

"I’m telling you, it’s not that easy to destroy Corinne!"

Every word was like a poisoned ice pick, stabbing hard into Stella Grant’s heart.

Stella Grant looked at his handsome face, which became somewhat blurry.

"Do what you want, now... please... leave."

She pointed towards the door.

Aiden Fordham looked at her unconcerned demeanor, grabbing her wrist in anger.

"Stella Grant, you..."

His words abruptly stopped.

The skin he touched was scorching hot.

Was she sick?

Stella Grant was in pain from his grip, combined with her physical discomfort, causing her emotions to collapse instantly.

She forcefully shook off his hand, her body swaying.

"Aiden Fordham, it’s over."

Her voice was hoarse, mixed with tears, shouting at him with all her strength:

"I don’t love you anymore!"

"Honestly, not anymore!"

"Twelve years, it’s been long enough!"

"Now, get out of here!"

Before the words were even finished, everything went black before her eyes, and she collapsed softly to the ground.