Aria’s POV
I raised an eyebrow slightly and looked between them. “There will be no need. I still have things to do. You two go on.”
I didn’t wait for a response.
I left them and took a cab straight to my studio.
I opened my desktop to get to work. I rubbed my temples, a dull ache forming, but my hand dropped when the computer screen lit up.
A bold headline glared back at :
Luna Aria Hemsworth Accused of Illegally Representing in Court
My eyes narrowed slightly.
I scrolled through the comnts..
“I knew it! So what if she’s Selina? She stole trade secrets a year ago. A criminal is a criminal, new identity or not!”
“My image of Selina is shattered. Why is this Aria always involved in illegal nonsense?”
“Ever since her identity as Selina was exposed, public opinion has been against her. I never liked her. Glad everyone sees it now!”
The comnts flooded in, thousands of them...different words, sa contempt.
I read the most upvoted ones calmly, my expression unchanged.
My wolf didn’t snarl. She didn’t rage, she watched.
With a backlash this strong, releasing new designs now would be reckless. Instead of rebuilding my reputation, it would only hurt the brand.
I assessed the situation with cold clarity.
At the courthouse, plenty of people had seen the truth. I hadn’t spoken. Attorney Steohan had been the one representing Francis.
Which ant...
Worst case scenario: Sophia had either bribed witnesses or pressured them from above. Otherwise, the narrative wouldn’t be this unified, this vicious, even after all this ti.
My fingers tapped lightly against the desk.
My face remained blank, as if the hatred on the screen wasn’t aid at at all.
This was what survival had taught . It has taught resilience.
I lowered my gaze, my fingers curling slowly into a fist.
When I looked back at the screen, sothing sharp flickered in my eyes...not anger, not fear but determination.
The truth was already there. Clearing my na was only a matter of ti.
What interested far more...
was how to turn this public’s fury into a weapon and make it work for .
By evening, the discussion surrounding my so-called unlicensed court appearance had already snowballed into tens of thousands of comnts. Every ti my na, Aria, climbed the trending charts, it was followed by that blazing red “explosive” tag, like a warning flare fired into the night sky.
If it wasn’t a rumor, it was a traffic storm...If it wasn’t a storm, it was a hunt.
I narrowed my eyes, my wolf pacing restlessly at the back of my mind, when my train of thought was broken by a sharp ring. I picked up my phone and glanced at the screen.
It was Rowland.
My brows drew together. I considered ignoring it, my instincts telling to keep my distance, but before I could decide, a ssage popped up imdiately.
If you don’t pick up, I’ll co find you.
The short sentence carried his usual cold determination. I pressed my lips together and answered the call.
“Have you figured out how to deal with it?” Rowland asked. His voice lacked its usual playful arrogance. Instead, it was weighted and serious.
“Don’t worry,” I replied evenly. “I have a plan.”
There was a brief pause on the line.
“Celestyr Brand has been dragged into this too,” he said. “Jonathan should be overwheld right now. Since Francis is directly involved, the smartest move is for him to keep his distance from you. So, Aria...” His voice dipped, carrying that untad edge I knew too well. “You might want to consider .”
The mont he ntioned Celestyr Brand, my heart skipped a beat.
I quickly pulled up the latest news.
The situation was worse than I’d expected.
Netizens were calling for a boycott of Celestyr Brand because of . They demanded the removal of new designs I hadn’t even touched. So were openly declaring that if I wasn’t cut off completely, the entire brand would be blacklisted by the industry.
My heart dropped.
I had underestimated the ferocity of the public.
Scrolling through the reports, the red downward arrows on the Veridale stock charts bled into one another. Celestyr Brand’s market value was plunging fast, the numbers brutal and unforgiving.
My fingers tightened around the phone.
I bit my lip and typed a ssage to Jonathan, asking about the situation.
His reply ca quickly.
It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.
I exhaled slowly.
Rowland’s voice broke the silence, frustration edging into his tone. “Aria, are you really this resistant to ? You know I’d help you if only you..”
“No.”
I cut him off cleanly. My voice was firm, leaving no space for negotiation.
On the other end, Rowland went quiet.
“Thank you,” I continued, my tone cool, precise—almost chanical. “But I can handle it.”
He sighed softly.
“Alright,” he said at last. “But if you need anything, contact first. I’ll help you, Aria. As long as you say the word...”
His voice faded into the air.
A strange sensation tightened in my chest, sothing between gratitude and unease. My wolf stirred within . I answered Rowland with an almost inaudible, “Mm,” then ended the call.
Without hesitation, I dialed Jonathan.
He picked up quickly, surprise flickering through his voice. “What’s wrong?”
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