Third person POV

After Alexander’s interview aired, the atmosphere online shifted almost instantly.

The comment section became flooded with a completely different crowd.

There were people who had supported Alicia from the beginning, neutral onlookers who had avoided taking sides, and even some of Alexander’s fans. Most of them now sympathized with Alicia, condemned the irresponsible media coverage and cyberbullying she had endured, and expressed support for both her and Alexander.

Comments flooded the internet nonstop:

"I always suspected Alexander and Alicia were married, but Lilian’s fans roasted me for it. Guess who looks stupid now?"

"What happened to all those people who said they’d apologize if the story turned around?"

"Alicia graduated from a top university with outstanding grades. Several major companies tried recruiting her back then. There’s no way she climbed to her position through connections alone."

"Wishing Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood a lifetime of happiness!"

"Can we also talk about how irresponsible the media was? These days, they only care about traffic and headlines."

Some comments were far harsher.

"High emotional intelligence: failed to maintain proper boundaries. Low emotional intelligence: emotionally cheating in marriage."

"Lilian hasn’t had a successful project in ages, yet scandals about her trend every day."

"I’m actually a Lilian fan, and I want to apologize to Alicia. I got swept up in public opinion and said hurtful things. I’m sorry."

That comment unexpectedly received thousands of likes.

Others quickly replied beneath it:

"If more fans were this rational, the internet would be a much better place."

"Honestly, Lilian probably knew exactly what people were saying online."

"Of course she knew. Alicia was called a mistress for so long, yet Lilian never clarified anything."

As for the accounts that had aggressively attacked Alicia before, only a small number publicly apologized. Most simply deleted their old comments and quietly disappeared.

That was how the internet worked.

One side fell silent while the other celebrated victory.

Ironically, many people who claimed to oppose cyberbullying immediately rushed to Lilian’s Twitter page to mock her the moment public opinion shifted.

The gossip-loving crowd online had never really cared about truth. They only cared about whichever side was currently winning.

Soon, attention shifted toward the entertainment studio that had previously fueled the "OTP rumors" surrounding Lilian and Alexander.

Back when the scandal first exploded, some fans had directly asked the studio’s official Twitter account whether the rumors about Lilian and Alexander were true.

The account hadn’t denied it.

Instead, they simply replied with a waving emoji.

At the time, countless fans interpreted that response as indirect confirmation. Screenshots quickly spread beneath the OTP hashtag and eventually became one of the hottest posts online.

Now, however, that same screenshot was being dragged back out by angry netizens.

People accused the studio of deliberately using the scandal for publicity while allowing Alicia to endure the online attacks alone without clarification.

In the end, someone always had to become the target of public outrage.

And many people—especially rival fan groups who already disliked Lilian’s fandom—were more than happy to add fuel to the fire.

Just as the online discussion began calming down slightly, another piece of news suddenly exploded across the internet.

Someone anonymously leaked several photos of Kendra being escorted out of a police station in handcuffs before being pushed into a police vehicle.

The accompanying caption instantly reignited public outrage:

"Fun fact: Lilian Summer’s agent has reportedly been arrested for multiple attacks targeting Alicia Sinclair.

But according to Lilian, she supposedly knew nothing about it.

How believable is that?"

The internet exploded once again.

The comment section flooded rapidly with speculation and accusations.

"Oh my God, that’s her personal agent! How could she possibly know nothing?"

"First she destroys someone’s marriage, now there are actual attacks involved? This is insane."

"I can’t believe I defended Lilian before. The agent is obviously taking the fall for her."

"Lilian is really heartless if she’s letting her own agent carry all the blame alone."

"My friend works at Blackwood Dominion Enterprises. Apparently that agent was always targeting Alicia behind the scenes. Serves her right."

The rumors spread faster and faster.

Although a handful of fans still defended Lilian desperately, public opinion had already begun tilting heavily against her.

Before long, Lilian’s name shot straight to the top of the trending list.

An hour later, Lilian’s studio finally released an official statement online.

"Miss Lilian Summer and Mr. Alexander Blackwood have always maintained a normal friendship and business relationship.

As for Miss Kendra’s situation, investigations are still ongoing. We urge everyone not to spread false information, distort facts, or maliciously slander Miss Lilian Summer."

Some loyal fans immediately rushed to support her beneath the statement.

But among the supportive comments, one sharply-worded reply quickly climbed to the top with tens of thousands of likes:

"When Alicia was being called a mistress, Lilian stayed silent.

When people spread rumors about her and Alexander, she stayed silent.

But now that Alexander personally clarified everything, suddenly she knows how to release a statement?

How shameless."

That single comment instantly ignited another wave of criticism.

Countless users agreed beneath it, and the attacks against Lilian only intensified further.

For the first time since returning to Velaridge City—

The tide of public opinion had completely turned against her.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city—

Before Alexander’s interview had even finished airing, Lilian had already lost control.

Her eyes were dark with fury as she stared at the television screen. The moment Alexander publicly acknowledged Alicia as his wife, the cup in her hand smashed violently against the floor.

Crash!

Fragments scattered everywhere.

But it still wasn’t enough to calm the rage burning inside her.

She swept the cosmetics off her vanity next, sending expensive bottles crashing onto the marble floor before grabbing the bedside lamp and hurling it across the room.

The room instantly fell into chaos.

"Alicia Sinclair!"

Lilian’s voice trembled with hatred.

"Why won’t you just die?!"

Deep down, she already understood something clearly.

The moment Alexander publicly clarified Alicia’s identity...

Her chances of reclaiming him had almost disappeared completely.

Just a few days earlier, she had deliberately faked another emotional episode to make Alexander come see her.

And he had come.

But he had brought Alicia with him.

Not only that—he hadn’t even stayed long.

At first, Lilian still believed she had a chance to win him back.

Until she saw the way Alexander looked at her.

There had been no tenderness left in his eyes anymore.

Only disappointment... and disgust.

That gaze haunted her even now.

After leaving the hospital, Alexander had Kendra arrested almost immediately.

Now Kendra was taking the fall alone while Lilian desperately tried to keep herself clean.

She understood Alexander too well.

If he ever discovered the truth, he would never spare her.

The next day, she had tried contacting the psychologist again, hoping to use her so-called "episodes" as an excuse to make Alexander visit her once more.

But the psychologist had looked terrified.

"Mr. Blackwood instructed us never to contact him about you again," he had said nervously.

That single sentence completely shattered Lilian’s composure.

It meant the sympathy she once relied on no longer worked.

And for the first time in years, fear truly began creeping into her heart...