Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Information spreads lightning fast online. Public outrage and police investigations erupted simultaneously. Gregory's social media flooded with furious comments. Evidence of his embezzlement got collected by cops, case filing underway. ["Serves him right! Embezzlers belong behind bars!"] ["Police report's out, solid proof now!"] ["Maria turning on her own fiancé? Sending him to prison?"] I stood by Perez Tower's floor-to-ceiling window, calmly scrolling my phone. After Gregory's thirty calls got rejected, he launched hysterical text bombardments: ["Maria! You're despicable! Think cheap tricks'll force my hand? Dream on!"] ["Just dipped into company funds? You're loaded, why fuss?"] ["Clear my name now or I'll never forgive you!"] I sneered, blocking him. Out of sight, out of mind. An hour later, my assistant barged in grim-faced: "Maria, check trending topics." I took her tablet. The glaring hashtag #Gregory Victim dominated the screen. "Maria, this..." Before she finished, I tapped the post. Nine carefully selected intimate photos glared from the screen, each caption piercing like knives: 0.0 % 12:31 288 Vouchers Chapter 5 ["Maria, you lunatic! Just because I don't love you, you'd destroy the Jackson family?"] ["Who does this psycho control freak think she is to talk about feelings?"] ["I swear I'll protect Ashley with everything I've got-your crazy fingers won't touch her!"] The comment section had descended into chaos: ["Shocking! The Perez heiress is an obsessive maniac?!"] ["Who'd want such a stalker? Destroy what you can't have-total psychopath!"] ["The Perezs flaunt filthy money like they own the place? Rich heiresses make me sick!"] ["Investigate Perez Group now! Any business with this madwoman must be crooked! Liquidate them!"] "Hmph." I sneered at the opportunists swarming like vultures. My director burst through the door: "Ms. Perez! It's spiraling! Top five trending topics are all scandals-stock prices plummeted!" "All partners are terminating contracts! Banks demand immediate loan repayment!" "Silence!" I smashed the tablet against the desk, its screen shattering with a loud crash. "Contact every media partner now." Rising with dark and terrifying eyes, I commanded: "Release the second wave." I grabbed my phone and unblocked Gregory's number. The call came instantly, his voice smug: "Saw the news? 31.1 % 1288 Vouchers 12:31 Chapter 5 I'm giving you one last chance." "Clarify everything publicly, then apologize to me face-to-face, and I might let this slide." "Otherwise... just wait for your company to go bankrupt!" "Gregory, you're being naive." I cut him off, my voice cold as a venom-laced dagger, "Think some photos can turn this around?" "You take the police for fools?" "You..." He choked on his words, clearly panicked. "You'd better pray there aren't more... entertaining recordings from your bedroom," I sneered, "or tomorrow all Metropolis will enjoy Patrick's performance with his mistress." "How dare you!" He shrieked. "When did you and I..." Mid-sentence, realization struck him, the words dying in his throat. Staring at me in disbelief: "You had me followed?" I murmured, sidestepping his question: "You brought this upon yourself!" "Got carried away with her behind the engagement party stage, didn't you?" "And in my car, my rooms-thought deleting security footage would cover your tracks?" Gregory instantly broke down, filthy curses pouring through the line. I hung up immediately and turned to the legal team: "The Jackson group deserves to go bankrupt!" "Also, prepare Ashley' hypocrite dossier," "I'll make sure she learns the consequences of crossing the wrong person." 64.8 % 12:31 288 Vouchers