?Chapter 987:


    And it wasn’t only him — Sandra, too, was following down that path. She shot back with an icy tone, “We know Maia inside and out. Mind your tongue! She carries the Morgan name.”


    Jarrod’s fury turned his face crimson. He even started shouting back, sparring with people nearby. Things almost boiled over into a fight, but the staff hurried in and broke it up before fists flew.


    The weight of their past mistakes gnawed at them. That guilt made it unbearable to hear anyone speak ill of Maia now. For them, defending her felt like the only way to make up for the wrongs they had done.<fn26bd> Content originallyes from FindN()vel</fn26bd>


    On their way to the venue, the three of them had already made a pact — if udius dared to smear Maia in front of everyone, they would rise together and shut him down!


    At the same time, chatter about the Cooper Group’s press conference had exploded online.


    Phrases like “Cooper Group’s Press Briefing,” “The Maia and udius Affair,” and “Solid Proof of Maia’s Betrayal” shot straight to the top of trending searches.


    The entire entertainment industry was watching. The fashion world, even the financial sector, had their eyes glued to this single event.


    And just then, the Queen of Pop, Brielle, dropped a lengthy post.


    “About those stories floating around concerning Maia Watson, I only wish to say this—quit dragging down a diligent young woman with groundless gossip. Has a simple work meeting now turned into proof of infidelity? If that’s how it is, then should every appointment I have with colleagues be treated as an affair too? Only sharp minds can see past lies. Don’t let schemers pull your strings.”


    The piece set off a storm of chatter online.


    Fresh updates loaded gα?ησν????s?c?m


    “Exactly right, Ms. Hinks! Maia would never behave like that.”


    “All it takes is someone to tell the truth; we can’t allow rumor-peddlers to triumph!”


    “But the footage wasn’t fake. Maia and udius slipped away to meet in secret, and someone caught it on camera…”


    “Mariana boiled with rage, even using a knife to stab Maia. Who’s to say Maia hasn’t crossed the line already?”


    The noise in the crowd rose and dipped like waves.


    “Just yesterday, she was hailed as Wront’s hero, yet today she’s dragged through the mud… Tsk! Once a woman finds fame, envy alwayses knocking.”


    “Who is Maia’s husband anyway? Howe he never shows his face?”


    “His wife got dragged into such messy scandals, yet he still stayed on the sidelines?”


    The crowd buzzed with suspicion, mockery, and a hint of glee at her misfortune.


    At that moment, udius walked into the press conference hall. He wore a ck suit, his face set in stone, and the senior managers of Cooper Group trailed close behind him.


    The stage lights slowly brightened, and in a blink, countless cameras fixed themselves on the gleaming Cooper Group emblem.


    The room’s energy shifted at once—tension mixed with unease, making the air feel heavy and alive.


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