Half-Hearted: Mr. Sinclair, Stop the Act!-Chapter 141: Familiar Face

On the day of Audrey and Faye Irving’s joint exhibition, Imperial City remained sunny.

Around seven-thirty in the morning, Caleb Sinclair, as promised the day before, drove to accompany Sienna Monroe to the art museum.

Upon arrival, Sienna first gathered all the staff for a brief meeting.

Then she led several senior managers on a tour to ensure that the venue, guest reception, and media were all in order.

The opening ceremony was scheduled for ten fifteen, with the entire process taking about an hour.

At noon, there would be a cocktail party set up in the rest area behind the exhibition hall.

Around nine o’clock, the photographers were in place, and shortly after, Audrey and Faye Irving arrived.

After completing the registration and having their pictures taken at the registration desk, Sienna personally escorted them to the lounge on the second floor.

Coming down from upstairs, she saw an unexpected figure in the hall.

Ivy.

Today, she was still wearing a new-style Chinese qipao dress, with her originally shoulder-length black hair now pinned up with a white magnolia clip.

Her pretty, soft face had a hint of makeup, and her elegant, tranquil eyes carried a slight smile.

Seeing her, she gently nodded in greeting, "Director Monroe."

Sienna walked over to her, "Miss Ivy, when did you arrive?"

"Just arrived." Ivy’s voice was gentle and soft, "I came without informing you, I’m really sorry. Blame it on my recent return to the country and not being thoroughly informed.

I only learned this morning that today is the opening ceremony of Teacher Audrey and Teacher Faye Irving’s joint exhibition. I sent you a message on WeChat, but didn’t receive your reply, so I came over shamelessly."

Sienna smiled at her words, "I was too busy this morning and left my phone in the office. By saying so, I am the one being remiss for not inviting you despite being busy, my apologies."

"It’s all right, Director Monroe, you’re being too polite."

Ivy glanced at the man beside her, straight in his suit, handsome in appearance, with gold-rimmed glasses on his nose, and slightly hesitated, "And this is..."

Sienna introduced, "My husband. This is Ivy, the artist collaborating with our art museum."

"Hello." Caleb Sinclair nodded politely to her.

"Hello." Ivy restrained her surprise and responded, then looked at Sienna again, "I didn’t expect Director Monroe to be married at such a young age."

Sienna nodded slightly, not discussing this matter further, "People from The National Arts Association and The Arts and Letters Federation will arrive soon, Miss Ivy, please move to the lounge on the second floor first.

There will be many journalists today; I would not recommend exposing yourself to the public eye right now, so that you will be stunning enough when your exhibition starts."

Ivy nodded, "I understand, today I’m just an audience member here to see the exhibit."

Sienna smiled and called Nora Joyce to lead Ivy upstairs.

"She..."

Caleb Sinclair eyed her back, slightly frowned, pondering.

Sienna was stunned, her heart tightened slightly, and she turned her head to look at him, "Do you know her?"

Caleb withdrew his gaze, seriously pondered for a moment, then shook his head, "Just feel she looks a bit familiar, but can’t quite recall."

For Caleb Sinclair to find someone familiar...

That likely means this Ivy is from the elite circle of Imperial City.

Yet even so, it still could not answer the doubts in her heart.

Sienna pursed her lips.

Just then, leaders from The National Arts Association, The Arts and Letters Federation, and the Cultural Broadcasting New Bureau arrived, so she had to suppress her thoughts and went over to greet them.

After they all went upstairs, Sienna checked the time; less than half an hour remained until the opening ceremony.

She had only taken a few steps when seven or eight journalists suddenly rushed towards her.

Surprised, her heart skipped a beat at their aggressive demeanor, and she instinctively took two steps back.

Sure enough, although the public opinion from the day before had not affected the art exhibition’s opening ceremony, these journalists would not miss this opportunity to interview.

Soon, she was surrounded by a group of journalists.

Three or four microphones were thrust directly to her mouth.

"Director Monroe, do you think today’s art exhibition opening ceremony will go smoothly?"

This question was fairly normal, and Sienna clenched her fists and calmly expressed her views.

But as soon as she finished speaking, the other journalists began to ask questions aggressively.

"Miss Morgan, the owner of Radiance Beauty Spa is your mother-in-law; what do you think about her arrest?"

"Director Monroe, is what is said online true that you are a shareholder and legal representative of the closed Radiance Beauty Spa?"

"Director Monroe, do you have any explanation for the trending topic about you being the legal representative of Radiance Beauty Spa from the other day?"

"Did you really receive dividends from Radiance Beauty Spa?"

"Why haven’t the police investigated you?"

"... ..."

One question after another made it impossible for Sienna to get a word in.

As their microphones got closer, she was forced to step back, but as she retreated a step, the journalists advanced an inch.

Caleb Sinclair exited the elevator and turned just in time to see this scene.

Surrounded in the middle of the crowd, Sienna was pale, her innocent almond eyes showed helplessness, and there was a hint of forced composure and grit.

She seemed to open her mouth to say something, but it was drowned out by the reporters’ voices.

She seemed trapped in a quagmire.

Despite the crowd around her, no matter how hard she struggled for help, those people could turn a blind eye, only wanting to hear what they wanted to hear.

Pity and anger burned in him like flames, making his whole body ache.

He walked over quickly with a stern expression, unceremoniously pulling aside several reporters, using his broad shoulders to block the cameras, and firmly grasped Sienna’s shoulders.

He softly said, "Sienna, don’t be afraid, I’m here."

Sienna looked up at him, the composure and resilience she had been forcing collapsed instantly.

Her eyes sparkled with helplessness as she reached out and clutched the corner of his coat.

Caleb’s heart sank, he held her hand, gave her a reassuring look, then turned around, still shielding her behind him while facing the reporters alone.

The chaotic reporters suddenly quieted down.

Caleb spoke coldly, "I am Sienna Monroe’s husband. I will answer the questions you are curious about; please do not trouble her."

After his words, two or three more journalists arrived.

He steadied his mind, adding pressure in his grip on Sienna’s hand.

Sienna felt a bit of pain, slightly frowned but did not pull away, listening to his calm, gentle voice beside her ear.

"Regarding the incident on the trending searches the other day, I will now explain them to you one by one. My wife Sienna was indeed a shareholder and the legal representative of Radiance Beauty Spa,

However, three months ago, due to the financial department manager falsifying accounts and tax evasion, Radiance Beauty Spa was investigated, and to prevent her distress and involvement, I had her resign as the legal representative.

She is unaware of the subterranean activities and has never participated in them. Anyone disbelieving can verify this at the Commerce Bureau; the representative changed three months ago, this is the first point.

Secondly, to the blogger titled ’K’s Entertainment Chat’, your second screenshot of an inquiry from the Commerce Bureau with the legal representative, I have had it authenticated,

I will file a formal lawsuit against you for defamation and slander in my wife’s name. Thirdly, as for the alleged dividends, when the beauty spa was initially set up, my wife invested three million,

what she received was only from the legitimate operations of the beauty spa and unrelated to the underground activities.

Fourthly, my wife was summoned by the police the day after the spa was seized and has been cooperating fully with the investigation; I assumed her not being detained was enough explanation, but didn’t expect anyone would defame her because of this. I hereby declare that the prostitution case of Radiance Beauty Spa is unrelated to my wife Sienna Monroe!"

Facing the cameras, Caleb maintained a natural demeanor, showing no trace of anger.

Behind his glasses, his almond eyes remained gentle, and his voice was calm and unhurried, unyielding yet polite, soft but firm.

Yet he exuded an immense sense of security.