Letting them sit around all day, making up stories just for a quick buck-no wonder the tabloids are always so full of nonsense.


    Once the entertainment reporters were invited in for a "friendly chat" with the authorities, the whole scene outside calmed down considerably.


    Ste needed to cooperate with the investigation. After giving a brief nod to the radio journalists lingering around, she headed back inside the station.


    But the radio reporters weren''t about to go anywhere. They waited outside the precinct doors, eager to snag thetest scoop as soon as it broke.


    For them, camping out for a story-be it a day or a night-was just part of the job. This was nothing; they could hold out as long as it took.


    This time, the police treated Ste much more courteously than before.


    She exined her side of Jasper''s usations.


    "Here''s what really happened: at the time, Haynes and I were still married," she began. “I visited his department store to study thepetition, not to secretly leak any trade secrets. There was nothing shady about it."


    "Every item I bought there, I paid for in full. If you don''t believe me, check Haynes''s bank records. All the payments should havee directly from his ount."


    The officers listened and immediately asked a colleague to look into it.


    It didn''t take long before the colleague returned, handing over a file.


    "Ms. Cameron''s story checks out," the officer reported. "Every purchase was paid for, and all the money came from Mr. Haynes''s ount."


    Ste added, “Haynes was just here. If you still have doubts, bring him in. He handled the payments; he knows exactly where the money went."


    The officer considered for a moment, then told someone to check if Haynes was still outside.


    Once they got confirmation, they sent for him.


    ...


    Meanwhile, outside the police station:


    Jasper and Rachel, having finally pieced together what had happened, looked absolutely stricken-like they''d just swallowed something vile.


    "Ste actually donated all the money and the auction items? What on earth is she up to?" Rachel muttered.


    But Jasper didn''t have time to puzzle it out-his phone suddenly rang.


    It was his assistant on the line.


    "Mr. Wilkinson, was it your directive to rehabilitate Ms. Cameron''s image and promote her as someone bold enough to stand up to big business?"


    Jasper exploded. "Rehabilitate Ste? Turn her into some kind of hero? Are you all out of your minds? If I wanted to build her up, why would I cklist her in the first ce?"


    The assistant stammered, "It''s just... since Ste''s donations started trending, we haven''t been able to suppress the story. Public opinion is overwhelmingly in her favor now, and the ban against her is causing a huge bacsh..."


    Jasper was livid. "Didn''t I make myself clear? Any positive news about Ste, any attempt to salvage her reputation-delete it all, immediately! Not a single word about her is to go public. How hard is that to understand?"


    The assistant sounded close to tears. "B-but... we can''t control official government ounts. And now, all of Ste''s social media profiles have been restored, and the PR department is pushing out positive campaigns about her."


    "All the big news outlets and influencers are ready to go. They''re just waiting on your final approval to release the stories."


    Jasper scowled. "Waiting on me? For what? I told you to dig up dirt on Ste, not promote her! Who said anything about a PR blitz?"


    The assistant replied, "The PR team said those were your orders-and they even tried to confirm with you earlier. I only just found out, and it seemed off, so I called to double-check."