CHAPTER 177: CHAPTER 177: EXPOSED ON THE SPOT

Vera did not open the notification that contained Ian’s name.

She put her phone on silent mode and turned on the projector to watch the performances of top international ballet dancers from the past two years.

In the dim living room, the light from the projector screen illuminated her calm profile. She sat cross-legged on the carpet, the sound of her pen scratching on the notebook as she recorded each technical detail.

Meanwhile, online, following the release of Ian’s recording, the public discourse reached its climax.

"I am Ian Kane."

"All the rumors about Vera demanding exorbitant assets in our divorce case, leading to my downfall, and the speculations of her being indifferent to me after marriage, are purely fabricated."

"The truth is, I voluntarily transferred all post-marital assets under her name. This is the only insignificant compensation I could think of, nothing more."

"She has never wronged anyone. It is I who wronged her."

"Any malicious speculation and defamation against her, my legal team will continuously monitor and hold accountable to the end."

"Enough said."

In the tea restaurant, Rosalind Morgan listened to this recording, her eyes filled with complexity.

This Ian Kane, who once fell from grace and almost had nothing because of Vera, now just regained his footing, yet he did not hesitate to be caught up in public opinion again just to protect her...

Is Vera really that worthy?

Vivian Langdon was even more on edge. She never expected that Vera’s ex-mother-in-law and ex-husband would step out to speak on her behalf. This completely disrupted her plans to smear Vera further.

At this moment, the public opinion online regarding Vera had undergone a significant reversal.

Even the sharpest gossip bloggers began to switch sides: "The main characters and the ex-mother-in-law have both come out to refute the rumors, what’s left to say?"

"So it’s the ex-husband who willingly gave the asset compensation, and it’s the ex-husband who cheated, mistreating Vera, and even deliberately hurt her to put her in jail. Some people really just meddle in other people’s business for no reason."

"Those who previously insulted Vera should come out and apologize. Clearly, she got wrecked by the scumbag and was further cyber-bullied by netizens!"

Vivian saw Rosalind’s complex expression and put on a brilliant smile, "Auntie, Sis is so lucky. I’ve been worried sick for her all day, and now I’m finally relieved."

Before she could finish speaking, her manager Julie suddenly emerged from behind the screen, looking anxious: "Vivian, it’s bad! The public opinion has completely turned towards Vera, and all the marketing accounts we contacted have been sued!"

Vivian glared sharply at Julie — didn’t she see Rosalind here?

"Julie, what nonsense are you talking about?"

A cold male voice came from behind the screen: "She’s not wrong."

Vivian’s back turned cold, only to see Noah Grant slowly walking out from behind the screen.

The man was wearing a crisp dark suit, tall and slender, with clean lines on his shoulders.

His face was expressionless, his gaze as calm as water, not staying on her for even a second, as if she was merely insignificant dust.

He walked straight to Rosalind’s side, his aura cold and stern, his gaze passing over the panic-stricken Julie without a hint of warmth.

Vivian was filled with panic, suddenly realizing that Noah knew everything.

Julie was forced to come by him.

Rosalind was puzzled, and Mrs. Langdon’s face turned grim, "Vivian, what did you do?"

At this moment, Noah placed a phone playing a recording on the table in front of Rosalind.

It played a conversation between Julie and Vivian discussing how to guide public opinion and contacting whistleblowers.

The atmosphere was tense again, silence filled the surroundings.

Vivian’s hand under the table, fingers tightly pinched into her palm.

Across from her, Rosalind’s shocked gaze slowly turned into disappointment.

Rosalind’s cheeks grew subtly hot.

Just moments ago, she found this young woman to be generous and graceful, and now she was proven wrong!

She couldn’t believe that Vivian was a two-faced schemer, doing such duplicitous things right under her nose, taking her for a fool!

Facing her son Noah’s gaze, Rosalind felt even more ashamed.

Her pride and judgment of character were shattered at this moment.

Mrs. Langdon slammed the table hard, causing cups and plates to jingle, "Vivian! How could you do such things behind everyone’s back?!"

Rosalind finally spoke, her eyes fixed on Vivian’s pale face:

"The upbringing of the Langdon family, I’ve experienced it firsthand today."

With that, she picked up her bag and got up to leave.

Noah let out a barely audible snort through his nose.

Vivian hurried to her feet, stumbling to block Rosalind’s path, tears falling like broken pearls.

"Auntie, I’m sorry! I was momentarily confused by jealousy, it has nothing to do with the Langdon Family or my parents!"

Her voice choked with sobs, urgently trying to reach for Rosalind’s hand.

Rosalind coldly avoided her, her face serious.

"Auntie, I just... I just love Noah too much..." Vivian sobbed as if she had suffered a great injustice.

"Since the first time I saw him in my teens, I couldn’t think of anyone else! I worked hard in ballet, strived to make myself better, just hoping that one day I could be worthy of him..."

"But seeing how well he treats Vera, how he cares for her, it’s like a knife in my heart! I’m going mad with jealousy! Auntie, I was just momentarily blinded by jealousy, I was afraid if I didn’t do something, I would forever lose the right to stand by his side... I truly know I was wrong, I’ll never dare to do it again!"

Rosalind looked at Vivian, who was crying like she’s in a drama, with increasing disappointment in her eyes. She avoided Vivian’s outstretched hand, her voice cold and hard:

"Vivian, I don’t want to hear your excuses. As a well-bred lady, your two-faced behavior is something I despise!"

Noah had no interest in watching this drama, stepped forward, and his gaze fell on Mrs. Langdon:

"Mrs. Langdon, your daughter now has two choices: One, publicly issue a statement admitting she bought trending topics, manipulated public opinion to defame Vera, and sincerely apologizes to her."

He paused, his voice turning even colder: "Two, wait to receive Vera’s lawyer’s letter. She will formally sue Vivian for defamation. You weigh your options carefully."

With that, he turned and walked away.

Rosalind also ignored Vivian’s tearful pleas, straightened her back, and left the restaurant.

Parking lot.

Rosalind walked straight to the black Hongqi car, with Noah quickly following, his aura intimidatingly oppressive.

He stopped abruptly, his gaze piercing his mother’s stiff back, and he sarcastically said in a cold voice:

"Ms. Morgan, do you see it now? This is the well-bred lady you painstakingly chose and forced on me! This is the result of what you claim is for my own good!"

Rosalind’s footsteps paused, she turned abruptly, her face flushing between red and white, filled with shame and anger, yet still holding onto her arrogance:

"Noah Grant, don’t think that by this, I’ll settle for and accept that Vera!"

Noah’s jawline tightened, he stepped closer.

"Accept? What makes you think you have the right to accept or reject her? Ms. Morgan, don’t you understand the situation yet?"

"The source of today’s turmoil, all the slander and humiliation Vera suffered for no reason, is you!"

"It was you who repeatedly paraded Vivian around, giving her unjustified delusions and courage! It was you who pushed Vera to the forefront of the storm!"

"I haven’t even settled this score with you yet. You better pray Vera doesn’t take it to heart or else—"

As he spoke, a trace of bitterness crossed Noah’s mind as he thought of Vera’s lost expression, his heart clenched, "otherwise, we will be at odds forever!"

Rosalind clutched her handbag tightly, her lips faintly trembling with purple, glaring at his retreating back, "Noah Grant, then let’s see what you can do about your mother!"

Noah slammed the car door with a "bang."

Rosalind also straightened her back and got into the car.

Inside the car, Noah took out a packet of cigarettes, pulled one out, and held it between his lips.

With a crisp "ding," a blue flame flickered, illuminating his slightly furrowed brows and drooping eyelashes.

He took a deep drag and slowly exhaled smoke rings.

He leaned back in the seat, pinching the bridge of his nose with one hand, his Adam’s apple rolling gently.

After a while, Rosalind’s car had long gone.

Noah extinguished the cigarette butt, just about to start the car, when the car’s screen lit up, displaying an unknown number.

His gaze darkened as he picked it up.

On the other end of the line, there was a two-second silence before Ian’s deep, icy, slightly mocking voice came through:

"Noah Grant."

"This is the ’good life’ you promised her after taking her away from me?"

"Letting her be criticized online by everyone for another woman your mom favors?"

"Second Master Grant, this is all you’re capable of."