Chapter 159
Chapter 159: He handed his phone to Belinda, his voice trailing off. “I reached out to Cathy’s agency and sent them the photo as a warning, telling them to back off or I’d expose it and let everyone know what Cathy has done. I never anticipated”¦”’ Taking the phone from Darren’s hands, Belinda’s brow furrowed as she peered into the chat box. There was no doubt about it. Darren hadn’t lied. He had indeed sent the photographs to Cathy’s studio and issued a clear warning: “I’ve discovered you’re the mastermind behind the malicious online attacks against Belinda. I urge you to cease immediately, or I’ll disclose these two photographs and reveal her as a mistress!”’ Belinda pulled out her own phone to compare the timing of Darren’s message with the inflammatory post online. The photos had been dispatched to Cathy’s studio a full hour before the internet post appeared. Thus, merely an hour after Darren’s threat, Cathy’s studio had created a new account and used those two photos of a marriage certificate to create a scandal online. “Belinda,”’ Darren called out, snapping her from her trance as she fixated on the chat box. Gazing at her with concern, he murmured softly, “I know it was a rash decision. But I couldn’t stand by while Cathy maligned you online”¦ Her followers are fervent, and with your health already fragile, I feared the cyberbullying would harm you when you read those harsh comments”¦ I worried it might be too much for you to handle. I never anticipated they would actually exploit the situation from your angle”¦ It’s senseless.”’ Having discarded the trash, Madisyn returned and heard Darren’s words, causing her brow to furrow. “Cathy’s studio just opened an account and released proof of her being a mistress. Now she’s being criticized online”¦ Does her own studio hold a grudge against her or something?”’ Belinda, browsing through the online comments, couldn’t help but sneer. “She’s trying to force Kristopher to choose between her and me.”’ She locked eyes with Madisyn, her gaze intense. “She was confident that Kristopher would take her side, and that’s why she went ahead with it.”’ Madisyn stood there, shocked, as realization slowly dawned on her. “Damn! Cathy wanted the public to scorn her first, so Kristopher would think you were behind it. She aimed to drive a wedge between you two, hoping he would side with her to defend her honor, then pin the blame directly on you?”’ gð’¶lð’ovÑlð’ .’²Ð¾m “Exactly,”’ Belinda affirmed, nodding. “Soon, I’ll be cast as the conniving ex-wife that everyone hates, and she’ll be the tragic, innocent victim who wins Kristopher’s sympathy and falls into my trap.”’ After making her point, Belinda gestured to the article published online. “Three years ago, Anthony forced me into marrying Kristopher,”’ she explained. “I always wondered why someone would post such a thing. But if Cathy’s people orchestrated this, it all starts to make sense.”’ Cathy had never hidden her displeasure with Anthony. The marriage between Belinda and Kristopher three years prior had deeply wounded her. That was why, this time, when the secrets came out, Cathy got Anthony involved. She wanted the netizens to criticize him. “What a vicious woman!”’ Madisyn exclaimed, balling his fists as he looked at Belinda with concern. “Belinda, what should we do now? We can’t just sit back and do nothing, right?”’…