After Divorce

Chapter 13 Video Disclose

Glowering at the news, Cyril didn’t even dare open the video. Just reading the director’s words felt like a joke making his efforts seem laughable.

Claiming harassment left him no choice but to speak out after resisting it initially to avoid ugliness. But with people insisting on smearing him, he had to defend himself even at the cost of his reputation. All so the public wouldn’t be deceived and he could clear his name.

His earnest words roused curiosity over what he would reveal. But few expected much from it, more interested in the promised video itself.

Leaving the banquet, Cyril brooded silently in his car before finally clicking the clip with gritted teeth. It showed a naked entwined couple passionately embracing. From the familiarity displayed, their relationship was clearly intimate. Caroline’s face was visible throughout while only the director’s voice could be heard, his form always off camera.

Cyril didn’t know how he sat through the entire explicit video, Caroline’s intermingled noises of pain and pleasure still echoing in his mind. He had assumed her innocence before. Now he realized the truly innocent party was someone else all along.

After ending the video, Cyril sat numbly, lost for words. With no censorship, Caroline would instantly become tabloid fodder.

Commentators focused either on assessing authenticity or critiquing Caroline’s figure. The increasingly vulgar discussions disgusted Cyril. He couldn’t believe people found entertainment in such things. But regardless of his distaste, he had to see this through.

Before he could collect himself, his phone suddenly rang. Caroline no doubt, having seen the news herself. Suppressing his anger, Cyril answered.

“Cyril, have you seen what they’re saying about me? It’s all fake, I swear! Please, you have to believe me, my voice was dubbed in…” Caroline pleaded desperately, insisting it wasn’t her and she was innocent. Terrified he would believe the video and abandon her.

But Cyril wasn’t a fool, quite adept at judging truth from lies.

“Do you

coldly.

take me for an idiot, unable to tell whether videos are authentic?” he retorted

Panicking at his frigid tone, Caroline hastened to explain.

“I was helpless, forced into it! Back then I was a nobody. After getting the lead role, so many people watched my every move! I had no choice, no way out…”

Chapter 13 Video Disclose

“You did have a choice. You could have called me instead of insisting on relying solely on yourself. If this is your capability, I’ve got nothing more to say.”

Cyril’s voice remained glacial. He no longer wanted anything to do with Caroline after this, much less hear more excuses.

Sobbing now, Caroline kept insisting her innocence and helplessness against the director too strong for her to resist.

Listening to her cry, Cyril’s stance softened slightly. From the video, she did seem overpowered. But the public saw only what they wanted, ignoring subtleties of consent. Unwilling to watch it again, Cyril’s thoughts drifted unexpectedly to Sylvia’s long ago discovery of photos between himself and Caroline. She had said perceptions of truth and lies depended on personal beliefs – even with proof, denial could twist truths into falsehoods. He hadn’t taken her words seriously back then but they now struck him as meaningful wisdom. If he refused to acknowledge the authenticity here, then it simply couldn’t be genuine. Not that he personally believed them fakes, but that he MUST believe them false, by self–delusion if necessary.

“Don’t cry. Whether you did this willingly or not, I will handle it. But we should refrain from contacting each other as much going forward.”

Cyril felt strangely weary, the constant Caroline drama lately exhausting him mentally. Just when he thought matters resolved, this new bombshell derailed everything.

Hearing Cyril’s words, Caroline immediately ceased sobbing despite still dry–eyed.

“W–why? You really think I did this voluntarily?”

“Whether it was willingness or coercion, you know the truth. And I’ve always been aware of those photos you sent to lawyers previously despite staying silent until now.”