Filed to story: Billionaire Bride’s Revenge (Vera & Howard)
Bang!
The deafening shot sent the chaotic crowd into a panic. Faces turned pale, and without a word, they scattered in fear.
Samuel approached Vera with a respectful tone. “Rest assured, Miss Montgomery. Mr. Adams sent us to protect you.”
Vera, feeling a wave of gratitude, nodded and allowed the team to escort her upstairs. Victor must have anticipated the trouble and arranged for Samuel to intervene.
If they hadn’t arrived when they did, Vera might have been stuck dealing with the crowd for who knows how long.
After a few days of rest, Victor’s condition had noticeably improved. He sat on the sofa, the top two buttons of his hospital gown undone, revealing the edge of his bandages. When he looked at Vera, the usual coldness in his gaze softened.
Vera met his eyes, her voice full of gratitude. “Thank you for your help, Mr. Adams.”
“It’s nothing,” Victor replied as he set his phone aside.
“Do you want me to suppress the online trends as well?”
“No, that is not necessary.”
Vera had regained her composure, though her beautiful face now held a frosty demeanor. On her way upstairs, she couldn’t stop thinking about how she had been ambushed by a mob of people defending Tricia the moment she stepped out of the car.
What stuck with her most was the middle-aged woman in glasses, deliberately manipulating the crowd’s emotions.
That was when Vera realized the crowd had been planted to stir up trouble.
She unlocked her phone, a cold smirk playing on her lips. As expected, the photos from the incident outside the hospital were already dominating the top three spots on the trending list. The comments were vicious and frenzied.
Victor, watching her intently, rapped his knee with his long fingers. Despite the chaos she had faced, Vera remained composed and declined Victor’s offer of assistance. He suspected she already had a plan in mind.
He said casually, “Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.”
Vera smiled faintly. “Of course.”
At that moment, a new message popped up on her phone. Her expression grew serious. She glanced at Victor and said, “I have something urgent to handle. I will check in on you later.”
As she walked out of the ward, Vera’s determined figure slowly receded from view. Samuel, observing her departure, looked puzzled. “Why did Miss Montgomery turn down your help? With all the public blame falling on her, she needs to counter the negative press. Otherwise, the situation could spiral out of control.”
Victor’s gaze was steady, tinged with a hint of admiration.
“Reaching the peak of the storm is often necessary for a dramatic turnaround, making the eventual comeback more credible. Vera likely has concrete evidence to counteract Tricia. Let’s just wait and see.”
Meanwhile, Howard, sitting in his office, noticed the trending news and the overwhelming comments online. After a moment of deep contemplation, he picked up his phone and made a call.
Before Howard’s call could connect, there was a sharp knock at his office door.
“May I come in, Howard?”
Howard quickly ended the call and composed himself. “Come in.”
Lily entered, holding a lunch bag. Howard looked at her in puzzlement. “What brings you here, Lily?”
Lily placed the bag on his desk with a warm smile. “I was concerned you might not be eating properly these days, so I brought you your favorite soup. Please enjoy it while it’s still hot.”
She ladled out a bowl of soup and handed it to Howard.
Howard took a sip of the soup and nodded appreciatively. “Thanks, Lily. I didn’t realize you were such a skilled cook.”
Lily’s eyes brimmed with affection, but then she seemed to come to a realization, letting out a sigh.
Howard set the bowl down and regarded her with confusion. “You seem troubled. What’s wrong? You look a bit pale.”
Lily fiddled with the edge of her sleeve, uncertainty evident. She looked directly at Howard and asked softly, “Howard, have you seen the news about Vera online?”
Howard frowned slightly and nodded. “Yes. What about it?”
“I can’t believe she’s as bad as they say. There has to be more to it. I came here to ask if you could help her.”
Lily spoke with a resolve that masked her apprehension.
Howard’s irritation was visible. “Vera brought this on herself. She doesn’t deserve any sympathy. And let’s not forget, you’ve suffered because of her actions. This is just her just deserts.”
A flicker of doubt crossed Lily’s face. She hesitated and began, “But Vera is-“
She hesitated again, leaving her sentence unfinished. Annoyed, Howard slammed the bowl onto the desk.
“Lily, you’re far too generous. Why are you still concerned about Vera? When you think about being kind to her, remember everything she’s put you through. Is it worth it?”
Lily was left without words.
She pressed her lips together, on the verge of speaking but ultimately holding her tongue. Howard drew her closer, letting out a resigned sigh.
He said firmly, “I’ve been following this situation closely from the start. Vera is the primary culprit in this whole fiasco. Don’t expect me to come to her aid. She brought this upon herself.”
After a moment of hesitation, Lily reluctantly agreed with Howard.
Inside, she felt a sense of satisfaction. She knew Howard had never held any regard for Vera.
With a sigh, she expressed her hope. “I just wish Vera would learn something from all of this and make…”
Howard gently placed his hand over Lily’s, his gaze soft and affectionate. “Lily, your kindness and sensibility are truly remarkable. If only Vera had just a fraction of your admirable qualities, she wouldn’t have ended up like this.”
Lily rested her head on his shoulder, a gentle smile crossing her face. However, when Howard wasn’t paying attention, a trace of a scheming look flashed through her eyes.
She had come to Howard to gauge his intentions. Now that she was certain he wouldn’t assist Vera, she felt a sense of relief.
Tricia’s suicide was a calculated trap, and Lily was eager to see how Vera would fare in its aftermath. Even if Vera survived, her life would be in shambles. Hidden away in a quiet corner, Lily texted an unsaved number:
“I will add another $100,000. Push the story harder. Make sure it spreads across the nation.”
The reply came swiftly: “Consider it done.”
Meanwhile, after receiving the room number, Vera made her way to Tricia’s ward. Her instincts told her that Tricia’s suicide was a desperate act; there was likely more to it. Perhaps Tricia and her allies had orchestrated this performance for the media, playing the victims. Vera was certain she could discern whether Tricia’s suicide attempt was genuine or just a carefully orchestrated act when she got to confront her.
As Vera reached the 22nd floor, she stepped out of the elevator and was met with the sight of reporters clustered around the ward. In front of the cameras, Tricia’s mother wept bitterly, putting on a heart-wrenching display.
“Vera Montgomery has devastated my poor daughter beyond measure!” she cried. “I demand justice. Even if it means risking the entire Guerrero family, I will not rest until Vera pays the price.”