CHAPTER 175: CHAPTER 175: TRUE COLORS

In the side hall, the three people were stunned, their eyes falling on the TV not far away.

"... Vera showed extreme decisiveness in the divorce case, and according to insiders, she did not fulfill the duties and obligations of a wife during the marriage. Instead, she took all the post-marital assets, causing her ex-husband Ian Kane’s career to once fall into a trough!"

Rosalind’s brow furrowed tightly, her expression complex, not knowing whether to feel satisfied or to pity her son.

"Mom, what do you call this... I’m not looking at her through colored glasses, these are all facts." She looked at Old Madam Grant, appearing quite helpless.

Old Madam Grant’s face sank, clutching her phone tightly, "These media are simply talking nonsense!"

The old woman’s booming voice almost echoed in the Chinese-styled living room.

"It’s that Ian Kane who wronged Vera. He willingly left clean-handed! Besides, can one choose their background? The mother made mistakes and was punished, what’s it got to do with the child!"

"Julian Grant, you’re the judge, you say!" The old lady said, not too kindly.

Julian went over to serve her tea, "Yes, the sins of the parents should not affect the children."

"Please calm down."

"However, Old Madam, Rosalind’s concerns are never unfounded."

"If Vera were not emotionally entangled with Noah, our Grant Family would naturally be willing to sympathize with her and take care of her. After all, she is the sister-in-law’s beloved student and your friend across generations."

The implication is that Vera is innocent, but her upbringing doesn’t match the Grant Family.

Old Madam Grant didn’t argue further with them, supported by her dragon-headed cane, she stood up and walked away.

Rosalind picked up the teacup, took a sip, "What’s innocent about Vera, Ian Kane was wrecked by her, Noah got his lawyer’s license revoked because of her... Julian, as a mother, who would want to accept such a daughter-in-law."

Julian lit a cigarette, bowed his head in thought without speaking.

He knew well, it wasn’t about whether Vera matched up, the problem lay with their obstinate son.

The men of the Grant Family all share the same disposition, once they’ve decided on someone, "letting go" is not in their vocabulary.

...

Vera was eating a sirloin steak cooked by Noah Grant when she saw the obviously slandering news about her, with no emotional ripple.

Mother’s past is her own life, the price she paid was heavy enough, and it shouldn’t become anyone’s after-dinner gossip.

As for the latter part concerning the divorce, it’s purely for slander’s sake. Ian Kane’s statement from two years ago is still online, plainly written in black and white, expressing his remorse and compensation.

The main point is, who is behind the slander against her?

Vera picked up her phone, heated by countless media calls, just about to call her agent when Noah Grant came out from the study.

His phone pressed to his ear, "Legal letters are too slow. Collect evidence and file a defamation lawsuit against the leading accounts."

The man’s tone was cold and unquestionable.

Vera put down her phone.

Noah walked over, continuing on the phone, "Investigate the source of funds for the leak and hot search purchase. I want to know who’s slandering Vera. Also, have a word with the heads of the two platforms, I don’t want to see any related topics on the hot search list."

On the other end of the line, assistant Micah quickly agreed.

Noah hung up the phone and gently stroked Vera’s nape, his voice warm, "Don’t take it to heart, I’ll handle it cleanly."

Vera leaned back into the chair, looking up at him with a calm smile, "Old grievances can’t hurt me at all."

"I’m just a little curious who’s eagerly wanting to see me fall..." One moment being praised across the internet, and now being slandered...

Their eyes met, Noah’s gaze held her, silent for a moment, he assured:

"Vera, I promise you, it’s not the Grant Family."

Even Ms. Morgan wouldn’t stoop to such low means.

She would only apply pressure openly.

Silence hung in the air for a moment.

Their eyes met again, each recalling the same person in their minds: Vivian Langdon.

And at this moment, Vivian just updated a tweet: "Please everyone remain rational. My sister is an artist who emerged unstained. She is a mentor to us all in the dance troupe. She is truly wonderful, do pay attention to her work."

The tweet quickly had a comment liked to the top:

"Vivian is truly noble and upright, her family background is clean! To still speak kindly about the rival at this time, truly magnanimous!"

Noah picked up the phone and dialed Micah again, "Let the bullet fly for a while, don’t suppress the heat, keep an eye on Vivian and the people around her, whether they’ve bought marketing."

He wanted Ms. Morgan to see clearly the hypocrisy of the "daughter-in-law" she favored.

Micah, "Understood."

Vera looked at Vivian’s tweet, a trace of a cold smile on her lips.

Vivian’s actions were nothing more than another reminder to Rosalind of Vera’s "blemished" family background and her marriage, using this seemingly magnanimous gesture to highlight Vivian’s noble roots...

Noah hung up the call, turned around, and saw Vera staring lost at a certain point, a touch of bitterness hidden in her brow.

"Vera?"

His deep voice interrupted her thoughts.

Vera suddenly came back to her senses, all emotions quickly retracted, leaving only a serene clarity.

Noah, "You—"

"I need to tidy up and go downstairs." Vera pushed herself up from the table.

"Hiss..." The fiery pain in her leg made her gasp, her brow tightly knitted.

Noah’s gaze swept over her shirt hem, supporting her waist, eyelids lowered, his eyes burning, his voice slightly hoarse, "Does it still hurt?"

Vera’s ears burned, "No..."

It was too embarrassing.

Noah, ignoring her protests, pulled her effortlessly into the bathroom.

The man whispered huskily at her ear, "Let me see."

...

Vera sat on the cold marble countertop, turning away, fists hitting his solid shoulders, struggling saying "I don’t want to..."

He didn’t comply.

In the mirror, the man dressed impeccably in a suit, tie knot crisp, noble and restrained, said hoarsely, "A bit swollen."

Raising his eyes, they met hers, biting her lower lip as she rolled her eyes at him, flashes of last night’s passion crossed his mind, and the next second, he held her chin and fiercely kissed her.

...

After a deep kiss, he looked at her flushed face, the corners of his lips slightly curved, "I’ll go get the ointment."

Vera’s delicate foot weakly kicked at his suit pants, glaring at him, yet her heart felt hooked, flutteringly expectant...

...

In the villa, inside the room.

Vivian Langdon sprawled in a soft European-style single sofa, with one foot resting on the velvet footstool, slightly hunching forward.

The scarlet brush meticulously swept over her white nails, leaving a full, vibrant color.

The voice on the Bluetooth earphones, she chuckled lightly, nonchalantly saying, "Netizens seem quite tolerant of her family’s mess... Now they’re more focused on digging into her and Ian Kane’s issues, keep buying hot searches..."

"Also, doesn’t Vera’s ex-mother-in-law hate her to death? If she speaks up, it outweighs anything, netizens and Aunt Grant would be more convinced."