Chapter 331
And now, she was leveraging her status as a major donor to catapult her public profile to its peak.
Even though she’d been blacklisted across the internet, a donation of a hundred million dollars was something that would be reported directly by government agencies.
After all, who would dare block a government media account?
The so-called scandals about Stella swirling online were, in the eyes of official news outlets, nothing more than petty, baseless gossip.
Donating such a massive sum was certainly something worth publicizing.
The government actively encouraged philanthropy, and Stella had become their perfect poster child.
Of course, Stella could have chosen to give anonymously. But once she put her name to the donation, she also accepted the responsibility that came with it.
A public donation was a serious matter. If she pledged a certain amount, she was obligated to follow through.
And as long as her donation was legitimate and aboveboard, no one-absolutely no one could try to take advantage of that money. Not even Stella herself.
Otherwise, it would be a crime.
Stella turned to the officers. “Excuse me, officers, may I ask-what crime am I being accused of?”
One of the officers replied, “Someone has reported you for allegedly leaking commercial secrets and making contact with a rival company. The complainant has submitted evidence of your interactions with a competitor, and given the size of the sums involved, we have to treat this matter with utmost seriousness. We ask for your cooperation in our investigation, Ms. Cameron.”
“So, to clarify,” Stella asked, “my alleged crime hasn’t actually been established, correct?”
The officer nodded. “That’s right. Nothing has been determined. But since we’ve received a report from the public, we have to look into it. We ask for your understanding, Ms. Cameron.”
Stella was perfectly cooperative. “Of course, I will cooperate fully. But before we proceed, may I say a few words?”
The officer glanced at the crowd of reporters.
Given Stella’s public status and her extraordinary donation, the police didn’t want to wrongfully accuse someone or let a genuinely good person be unjustly maligned.
He said, “While the investigation itself will not be open to the public, you’re free to address the public if you wish.”
“Thank you.” Stella offered a polite nod before turning to the reporter who had spoken up.
“The police have only asked me to cooperate with their investigation. They haven’t concluded I’ve done anything wrong. On what grounds, then, are you so certain I’m a criminal?”
All eyes fell on the reporter, who wiped beads of sweat from his forehead.
He was used to stirring up rumors and pushing whatever narrative he pleased, but with the police right there, his confidence wavered.
“W-well…the police are here for you, aren’t they? Doesn’t that mean you’re guilty of something?”
Now, even the officer seemed to lose his patience.
He spoke sternly, “Since when does being questioned by the police automatically mean someone is a criminal? We often reach out to people who provide important information or act bravely in difficult situations. Would you call them criminals as well?”
The reporter stubbornly insisted, “But she’s under suspicion. Someone filed a report against her!”
Stella met his gaze calmly. “Sir, as a member of the media, you should know that making such claims based on speculation and a lack of rigor is deeply irresponsible and reflects a serious lack of professional ethics.”
Her voice rang out, clear and steady. “Officers, I’d like to report these journalists for slander, defamation, spreading false information, and deliberately damaging my reputation. I suspect they are acting on someone else’s orders to target me specifically.
Furthermore, I intend to sue the social media platforms that unlawfully suspended my accounts. Unless these companies can provide concrete evidence of any violations on my part, I will hold them fully accountable for their actions!”