After Divorce

Chapter 41 Continued Smears

“When you’ve played yourself, don’t come crying to me,” Cyril dismissed without even looking up from his work. “Now if that’s all, get out and stop bothering me.”

Jonathon had reached his limit. Since Cyril refused to help, he’d take matters into his own

hands.

“Just you wait and see. I’ll turn this around and unlike you, I’ve got nothing to hide all these years. I’ll dig up dirt on you!” Jonathon declared as he stormed off, determined to uncover Cyril’s supposed misdeeds.

But Cyril made no attempt to stop him, confident of his spotless history with Sylvia over their years of marriage. Her divorce request had shocked him enough without Jonathon’s

antics.

That afternoon, Jonathon issued a public statement stubbornly refusing to apologize and accusing Sylvia of equally shady behavior–how else could she have obtained so much evidence against him?

The absurd excuse earned him another barrage of outrage. People now attacked both Jonathon and his company without restraint. Conscious consumers even boycotted his products.

Still undeterred, Jonathon hired a private investigator to tail Sylvia. But after considerable pressure and expense, the detective only confirmed her routine of home, work and occasional mundane errands these past years, devoid of any scandalous entertainment.

Jonathon was baffled. How could someone live such an abnormally uneventful personal life?

Just then, he received an unexpected call from Bonnie. “I can help get what you want on Sylvia if you’re behind those online posts. Want to hear my idea?”

Jonathon nearly dismissed Cyril’s sister given her dodgy track record abroad that he’d tactfully overlooked out of brotherly loyalty. However, Bonnie clearly shared his resentment of Sylvia. With no dirt from the investigator, perhaps she could provide ammunition against his sister–in–law. Jonathon recorded the call just in case before responding.

“What have you got? Cyril wants me to apologize to Sylvia after the fallout, but I’ve endured public outrage these past days tailing his wife only to find she’s led an utterly dull life centered around him. Yet you want to target her? Quite interesting given she’s treated you well enough.”

Bonnie scoffed as though he’d said something ridiculous. “Treated me well? If so, she

Chapter 41 Continued Smears

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wouldn’t have exposed me and earned Cyril’s rebuke. I’m offering to help since I know you have evidence too. But if not, no need to continue this chat.” 

Jonathon itched to play Bonnie’s words for Cyril. If he heard his own sister, he’d surely flip the table in outrage. How could siblings of the same family differ so drastically? Cyril built his career while the only notable thing about his sister was her lack of any redeeming quality.

“Using your brother’s gun I see. But I understand your implication dear sister, no need to speak in riddles. I’m not stupid to miss your meaning.” Jonathon lazily rebutted.

Flustered at being seen through, Bonnie gritted her teeth. “So do you want the evidence or not? I’ll give it to someone else if not.

Eager to cut to the chase, she pressed Jonathon for a clear answer. Either he wanted her ammunition against Sylvia or they had nothing more to discuss.

“Show me first. If it’s useful I’ll take it, otherwise don’t blame me for not warning you. Digging up dirt on Sylvia is pointless once she gets pregnant. Don’t drag me into your schemes.” Jonathon cautioned.

Bonnie scoffed again at his cowardice before hanging up and sending over a file of photos. But Jonathon’s brows furrowed when he opened it. His intelligence felt insulted.

The images only showed Sylvia chatting innocuously with strangers in public, likely staged. Nothing remotely scandalous. Were all the brains in the family inherited by Cyril while Bonnie got only an empty shell?

Jonathon swiftly deleted the useless pictures. But first he could show them to Cyril.