Later, Ste paid the girl off in private, and only then did she finally leave.


    "If this gets out, it''ll just look like we gave her money to sweep things under the rug."


    Ste had been through online witch hunts before. She knew that when everyone had already made up their mind, no amount of exnation would help unless you had irond proof.


    Antoney slumped onto the couch, defeated, not saying a word.


    Ste and Abby exchanged a nce.


    It was hard not to feel crushed by something like this.


    They had done the right thing, and yet there was no reward-only more trouble.


    Abby nced at Antoney and murmured, "That family''s been ckmailing Antoney for ages now, alwaysing up with new excuses."


    "And this time, even after taking his money, they didn''t just walk away-they went public with everything."


    She hesitated, then added, "Honestly, I think this was all nned from the start. Someone''s clearly got it out for Antoney."


    Ste''sshes fluttered as a familiar face shed in her mind.


    "It might be Haynes." Her voice was icy, cold as running water.


    "At Mr. Walden''s seminarst month, he said some strange things to Antoney."


    Ste turned to Antoney. "Is this what you''ve been hiding from me all this time?"


    Antoney kept his head down, his long bangs falling over his eyes, making it impossible to read his expression.


    He mumbled a vague confirmation.


    Ste clenched her fists. "What a snake."


    Abby cursed Haynes under her breath, then said, "We can''t just stay silent. If we don''t speak up, peoplez will assume it''s true. If this spirals out of control, not only will your concert be affected, Antoney, but you might even get cklisted."


    Antoney''s voice was hoarse. "Maybe I should just drop out of the concert. I don''t want to drag you all down with me."


    Ste tried to reassure him. "Don''t lose hope, Antoney. We''re not out of options yet."


    She turned to Abby. "If that woman is so sure the child is Antoney''s, why not agree to a paternity test? Make it public-prove he''s innocent."


    Abby''s eyes lit up. "That''s brilliant! Once the results are out, they won''t be able to smear Antoney anymore."


    Ste thought for a moment, then


    added, "Antoney''s a public figure, so


    he can''t get into a mudslinging match online. Abby, you should make an ount and take the fight to them yourself. If they want to y dirty, we can y just as hard." Cóntent


    A slow smile spread across Abby''s face. "Star, you''ve got a n, don''t you?"


    Ste nodded slightly. "Let that video go viral. Let the whole world believe Antoney has a child he''s refusing to acknowledge. The bigger the ssh, the better."


    Abby caught on immediately. "I get it-when the paternity test resultse out, the whole story will copse!"


    Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Star, you''re a genius! No time to waste-I''ll go set up that ount right now."


    Abby grabbed her phone, quickly creating a profile, but then she paused as another thought hit her.


    "Wait, Star whatever you do, don''t speak out for Antoney yourself. I Haynes really is behind this, he''s probably waiting for you to jump right into his trap and drag your own reputation down."


    Just then, Antoney lifted his head for the first time.


    His eyes burned with determination. "Abby''s right. Please, Ste, don''t say a word


    for me."


    Ste was about to respond when Abby''s phone suddenly rang.


    "Ms. Murphy, I''m sorry, but due to Mr. Watson''s recent scandal, he''s now considered a persona non grata. We''ve just received notice the concert has been postponed indefinitely."