Chapter 227: So Stubborn
As expected, the reporter who had just spewed swear words couldn't help asking, "Cacia bribed you?"
Oakley grabbed the microphone nervously.
Licking his dry lips, he tightened his grip on the microphone.
"Yes, it was her! She gave me some money and said that as long as I followed her instructions, there would be a lot more.I just
got divorced recently, and I don't have any assets to my name.I couldn't resist the temptation, so I agreed."
"So you're saying that Cacia hired you to slander Wendy on the show?"
"Yes.She said that the Octavia Show had a very high audience rating, and that it was broadcasted live, so whatever I exposed
here would cause a sensation immediately."
"According to what you've said, you received the money already, right? Then why are you speaking out against Cacia now? Is it
because of your guilty conscience? Or did Wendy offer you a higher price?"
These were the questions that were on everyone's mind at the moment.The reporters aimed their cameras at Oakley, eagerly
waiting for his answer.
"That woman lied to me from the beginning! At first, she promised to pay me 400, 000 dollars, and gave me half that sum as an
advance.
But when I finished my task, she tried to throw me under the bus after seeing that things had gone out of control!"
Oakley's eyes turned red with anger as he spoke.
"She broke her word, and didn't want to pay up the remaining 200, 000.How could I let it go just like that? I didn't want to give in,
so I went to ask her for the money.But she threatened me by saying that if I dared to speak out the truth, she would take my
daughter's life! I only have a daughter.I've been living in worry these days.I'm afraid that that woman would hurt my
daughter.After thinking about it for a long time, I decided to tell the truth! This is the only way to make sure that my daughter is
safe!"
Standing in the corner, Cacia was so angry that her hands trembled.
‘Bastard! What nonsense! I have never threatened him with his daughter's life.What's more, I only offered him 200, 000 in total,
and I already paid.How could he claim that the amount was 400, 000? It's just utter nonsense!’ "Calm down.These are just
Oakley's words.The reporters won't buy his story so easily,"
Reuben whispered.
Hearing that, Cacia took a deep breath and nodded.She was always careful not to leave any evidence.
‘No matter how many lies Oakley spewed, no one would believe him.Wendy and the others wouldn't be able to do anything
without solid evidence, ' she thought.
The reporters were shocked by Oakley's words.
Judging by Oakley's words, it seemed that Cacia wanted to ruin Wendy.
And both Ruben and Eris were her accomplices.
The reporter continued, "Oakley, do you have any evidence? You have to provide us with evidence, or no one will believe you!"
"Evidence?"
Oakley echoed in a daze.
Panic began to creep into his mind.
"If there is no evidence, you can't accuse Cacia like this.In fact, this incident only makes us suspect that Wendy gave you a high
price to frame Cacia!"
The reporter's words were reasonable.
Cold sweat beaded on Oakley's forehead as he searched his mind for any trace of evidence that he might have.
He realized now that Cacia had been very cautious.
She had even paid him in cash.
For a long while, he couldn't grasp even a single shred of evidence.
The reporters shifted around impatiently, annoyed by his silence.
All of a sudden, Oakley's eyes lit up.
"I just remembered something! Cacia called me with her phone.I can call her now."
As he spoke, he excitedly fumbled around his pocket for his phone.
In order to prove that he wasn't lying, he dialed the number.
There was dead silence in the hall as all the reporters waited with bated breath for the call to be answered.
However, none of them were prepared for what came next.
Ring! The sound of a phone ringing came from a corner of the hall.
Several heads simultaneously turned towards the source of the sound, and they all saw Cacia and Ruben standing huddled in
the corner.
Cacia was anxiously fidgeting with her phone, trying to turn it off in a hurry.
However, it was too late.
A reporter recognized Cacia and Ruben at once.
"Cacia and Ruben?"
Seeing the two of them, Oakley pointed at Cacia excitedly.
"It's her! She's the one! She gave me money and asked me to frame Wendy!"
Cacia's eyes flashed with anger.
She had been waiting to see how Wendy's reputation would be ruined, but she hadn't expected the tables to be turned.
Before she or Reuben could react, the reporters swarmed over and gathered around them.
"Ruben, Cacia, what are you doing here?"
"Did you hear Mr.Oakley's accusation? Do you have anything to say about it?"
"Cacia, did you really give Oakley money to slander Wendy? Why did you do that? Were you just pretending to be a caring
stepmother all the time?"
One after another, the reporters fired questions at Cacia, leaving her speechless.
Fortunately, both Cacia and Reuben were experienced and reacted swiftly.
Noticing the microphone in front of them, she pinched her thigh hard, causing tears to spring to her eyes.
Instead of answering the reporters’ questions, she looked straight at Wendy, who was on the stage, and said with tears in her
eyes, "Wendy! Your father and I were worried about you, so we came here.How can you confuse right and wrong like this?
Wendy, it's not too late to fix things.Don’t make any more mistakes!"
Her eyes were full of concern, as if she was really worried about Wendy.
"Cacia, can you come to the stage to make things clear?"
Hearing that, Cacia and Ruben were in a dilemma.
If they didn't agree to go on stage now, the reporters would think that they had something to hide, and would definitely believe
whatever Wendy said.
As soon as the two of them stepped onto the stage, Oakley pointed at Cacia and shouted, "It's her! She's the one who asked me
to do it.It has nothing to do with me."
Ruben swallowed nervously, but Cacia remained calm.
"What nonsense are you talking about? When did I ask you to do such things?" she snapped.
"It's obviously you.Why are you still trying to hide it?"
"Nonsense! I think you are crazy about money!" Cacia said sharply.
Then, she turned to look at Wendy with tears in her eyes.
"Wendy, even if you don't want to admit what really happened, you can't frame me and your father.You're the one who gave my
phone number to this guy, right? Is this your way of trying to prove yourself innocent?"
As soon as she finished her words, she burst into tears and walked over to hold Wendy's hand, but Wendy dodged in disgust.
Seeing that, Cacia began sobbing even harder.
"Wendy, I know you're angry with me and your father for speaking ill of you in front of the media, but we're only doing this for
your own good.You are still so young.It’s not too late to change now.You can still live a good life as long as you turn over a new
leaf," Cacia said, looking distressed.
At this moment, in a luxury car outside the hotel, Ryan and Luke were sitting in the back seat, holding an iPad.
They were watching the live broadcast of the press conference together.
Upon hearing Cacia's words, Luke lost his temper.
"Ugh, this woman is despicable! How can she lie so shamelessly? She's so damn stubborn!"
Ryan narrowed his eyes and said, "Inform Roger to carry out the second step."