Chapter 35 Play Dirty
Jordan received the news right away that Irene was being attacked online. He immediately asked the public relations team to delete the nasty posts and freeze the trolls' accounts. However, the attack still made a huge impact.
People demanded a direct answer from Irene. David suggested that Irene could offer an explanation. But Jordan shook his head and said even he couldn't stand this kind of vicious smear, let alone a woman like Irene.
"It's better to keep Irene out of this and deal with it on our own for now."
Jordan called Kinsey, who certainly knew about these comments as well. She was having a meeting with the public relations team of the TV station, discussing how to deal with the aftermath.
During her call with Jordan, she was so indignant that she told him how Irene was abused by a ruthless mother-in-law, how her husband had an affair and impregnated his mistress, and how she was kicked ou of the house with nothing.
Jordan was astonished since he never dreamed that Irene would be bullied like this. Infuriated, he asked Kinsey for the names of the evil mother-in-law and the worthless husband.
Kinsey naturally refused. So Jordan had to give up. Nevertheless, he already had an idea of restoring Irene's reputation. On the same day, a post that clarified on Irene's behalf appeared on the internet.
The post was expressive and emotional, detailing how Irene was bullied by the evil mother-in-law, hurt by her cheating husband, and kicked out of the family without a penny.
Not only did Jordan help Irene tell the whole story, but he also ordered people to find Irene's attackers and sued them.
The websites that reposted the nasty posts about Irene received a summons from the court. The major websites and forums didn't dare to compete with Jordan. One after another, they deleted the previous attack posts and published apology statements, explaining that the posts that had been issued before were hearsay without real evidence.
The situation was reversed all of a sudden. The trolls who started the attack were scared of the police and went into hiding. Lily's plan officially failed.
The table had turned. People were furious about how Irene was treated in the past. Women, in particular, railed against the evil mother-in-law, the sh*tty husband, and the shameless homewrecker.
The public backlash surpassed what Irene went through before. Despite her thick skin, Lily became so angry upon reading the comments that she couldn't eat.
Deborah comforted her daughter, "You need to be able to move on. We will think of another way."
Lily was also tough like a cockroach. After feeling dispirited for a day, she came up with another idea.
Although she was not happy to see the tides changing, it was not necessarily bad for her. Since Irene's past was revealed to restore her reputation, countless people were cursing and shouting at the evil mother-in-law, the crappy husband, and the mistress. As the mistress in the story, Lily got over the insults from strangers.
But the crappy husband and the evil mother-in-law might not be able to handle it so well. Lily and the evil mother-in-law were guilty of Irene's past, but the husband was innocent.
Edric would lose his mind if he found out that he was being hurled at online. So would Margaret. Lily had to tell Margaret about this. With Margaret's temper, she would hate Irene immensely if she knew that she had been humiliated online.
With Margaret as the roadblock, there was no way Irene could get back with Edric.
Lily immediately complained to Margaret about how she was wronged and insulted by people online. Margaret was so angry that she almost fainted.
Margaret had always claimed to be a noble lady, surrounded by classy people who wouldn't use profanities. But people on the internet were neither gentlemen nor gentlewomen. They didn't mind swearing when they disapproved of something.
Margaret could hardly breathe after reading the vulgar curses people threw at the evil mother-in-law and sh*tty husband.
She immediately called Edric, "Edric, take a look at how people are smearing us. Tell Irene to shut up now!"
Edric had been busy with a project in another city and just returned to San Fetillo today. He certainly didn't have time to pay attention to entertainment news and gossips.
He only turned on the computer and searched online after receiving the angry phone call from his mother. His heart was filled with anger as soon as he read about it.
"Why is this woman so wicked? How can she treat me like this?" In a frenzy, Edric grabbed his jacket and rushed out of the office.
Jordan took Irene to meet with a client after work which lasted until 11 pm. Although Jordan was tipsy, he insisted on sending Irene home himself.
He called a designated driver at the hotel and dropped Irene off in front of her apartment building. Irene also drank some wine and felt a little dizzy. She watched Jordan's car driving away and turned around to go upstairs. The entrance of the building was unlighted since the streetlights were broken a long time ago. A hand suddenly reached out from the darkness and grabbed her as soon as she stepped on the shabby stairs.
Irene was startled. She opened her mouth and wanted to call for help, but a hand covered her mouth in time.
Although Irene was a little drunk, she instantly guessed the identity of the person for his familiar smell. "Edric, let me go!"
Edric had been waiting for her in high dudgeon for a few hours. He was even more incensed when he saw Jordan dropping Irene off.
While he was waiting in the car for hours, he already read online about everything that happened. It was all because Irene participated in the blind date program. Nothing would have happened if she didn't go on that d*mn show.
It was ridiculous that he had become a scumbag. He knew that his mother was a little tough on Irene when they were married, and he felt bad for her. She wouldn't be bullied if not for him. Her mother was old-fashioned. She was not an evil person, albeit her sharp tongue.
His father passed away a long time ago. His mother had a hard time managing the company and raising him at the same time. It was considered unfilial to have no offspring, especially when the Myers Family had only one son for several generations. His mother was deeply disappointed when she learned that Irene couldn't bear children. Edric knew that his mom mistreated Irene, and he felt sorry for her, but he couldn't disown his mother.
She was his mother who gave birth to him and raised him. He was put in a dilemma and couldn't possibly make a choice between his mother and his wife.
He couldn't cast off his mother. It was easier said than done. How could he turn his back on his own mother?
"Irene has every reason to hate my mother. But why did she call me a scumbag? I have never done anything wrong! Never! How could this woman be so self-righteous!" Irene was struggling when Edric dragged her outside without a word. It was dark in the alley, but Edric had been here too often and was already familiar with the path. Although Irene drank some wine, her mind was still clear. She didn't want to have anything to do with this man. So she fought desperately, grabbing and kicking. Her struggle caused Edric to bump into the walls several times. Seeing that she wouldn't cooperate, Edric picked her up and carried her out of the alley.
Edric opened the car door and pushed Irene into the car. Then he squeezed in as well.
"Myers, what's wrong with you?" Irene glared at him fiercely.
"Why did you let people smear me?"
"Smear you?" Irene was confused. When had she ever speak ill of Edric? "Are you having a fever?"
"Don't deny it! Are you really saying that you're not behind the attacks online? Edric stared at her.
Irene was rushed off her feet all day and had no time at all to read the comments online. Nonetheless, she did receive a call from Kinsey, who told her that someone was attacking her, but it had already been handled. It seemed that Kinsey was the one who posted the comments Edric was referring to.
If Kinsey did it, it might as well be Irene. Irene sneered and said, "Mr. Myers, can you make it clearer? What did I say?"
"Are you still pretending that you don't know?" Edric grabbed her shoulders forcefully. "Irene, admit it if you dared to do it. Do you need a reminder for what you have done?"
"Edric, you don't need to remind me what I have done. I have always been upright and honest. You can sue me for defamation if you think I said something wrong!"
Irene seldom saw Edric lose his temper. Judging by Edric's out-of-control look, she knew that Kinsey must have made a big move.
She couldn't let Edric know that it was Kinsey who did it. Edric was not a forgiving person and would never let Kinsey off if he knew. She had to bear all the responsibilities. "How can you be so justified?" Edric gritted his teeth and grabbed her even harder. "You're hurting me!" Irene screamed in pain, "Myers, use your words. Take your dirty hands off me!" Edric let go of her when he saw her frown. Irene touched her aching shoulders. Edric stared at her with his dark eyes. "Irene, did you go on that blind date show just to attack me?"
"Attack you?" Irene was amused, "Edric, you feel so good about yourself, don't you? Do you think that I'm not capable of moving on? Let me tell you, I have a bottom line and will never be interested in a scumbag who cheated on me and hurt me! Please rest assured!"
This was the first time she called Edric a cheater to his face. Back then, Lily had a miscarriage in the hospital, and Edric asked the lawyers to send Irene the divorce agreement. She didn't question the harsh terms and sighed it quickly. Edric thought that she never cared.
Three years later, he had a mixed feeling when he heard Irene calling him a cheater. He controlled himself and said, "Irene, I have never wronged you. I'm telling you, I didn't cheat on you. I didn't have any relationship with Lily!"
"What's the point of saying these things now?" Irene sneered. How could he say he never had any relationship with Lily when she was pregnant with his baby? Did he think she was a fool?