Chapter 64
Rachel wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes. “I heard from Jasper that Ms. Cameron’s been acting odd lately. Instead of looking after Keen, she sneaked to the bar to have fun with male models.”
“I thought I’d try to provoke Ms. Cameron a bit. That way, I might get her to pay more attention to Haynie and stop all this nonsense.”
Jasper chimed in, “Stella’s crossed the line this time. She should’ve thought about you and Keen, not just herself!”
“The whole thing’s blown up online now, and everyone knows you guys aren’t on good terms. Even the O’Brien Group’s stock has taken a hit.”
“That woman’s up to no good!”
Haynes paused, then turned to Rachel. “You focus on getting better. I’ll take care of everything online.”
…
The impact of Stella’s video was far bigger than any previous news. Although Haynes had suppressed the online buzz in just a day, savvy netizens had saved copies of the photos and videos, sharing them privately with enthusiasm.
Many of Haynes’ business partners subtly brought up the issue, curious about what was happening. Even some small-time gossip accounts online picked up the story, and despite being quickly shut down, the buzz was comparable to that of A- list celebrities.
Who was Haynes? A renowned business mogul in Novaris. Young, handsome, and far beyond the league of any entertainment industry heartthrob, he was the dream of countless women.
People had painted him as a saint, halo and all, but the cracks in his image were beginning to show, threatening his reputation. Even the usually unshakable O’Brien Group felt the ground shift beneath them.
The members of the O’Brien family, who had remained silent for so long, finally couldn’t sit still again. That night, Stella received a call from Deanna.
“Stella, what on earth do you think you’re doing with all this online exposure? Are you trying to ruin the O’Brien Group?”
“You’d better return to the O’Brien Mansion right now! I’ve arranged for a press conference. You must clarify that you made all this up to get Haynie’s attention.”
“Back then, you shamelessly clung to my son to climb the social ladder! And after marrying him, you didn’t work, just spent his money, and now, you’re stabbing Haynie in the back!”
“I’m telling you. I’ll kick you out of the family if the O’Brien Group suffers even a bit because of you!”
Stella listened to the call with a blank expression. Deanna had never liked her, thinking she used underhanded tactics to marry into the family.
Deanna had told her more than once that if it weren’t for her, Haynes would have married the heiress she had handpicked a well-educated woman from a prestigious background who would have been a perfect match for the O’Brien family and could have significantly bolstered the O’Brien Group, unlike Stella, who, in Deanna’s eyes, had nothing to offer but a pretty face.
With Rachel in the picture, Deanna hadn’t bothered to warn or guide Haynes. Instead, she mocked Stella for being unable to keep her husband’s heart, saying she deserved to be abandoned.
Throughout their five-year marriage, Stella endured Deanna’s constant challenges and pressure. The worst was right after the wedding when Deanna summoned her to the O’Brien Mansion daily to “learn the ropes.”
Deanna insisted she do the laundry, cook, and clean, claiming she was a woman and didn’t belong at the O’Brien family’s dinner table.