When the next press conference was called for, Melinda put all her chips on the line like a seasoned gambler sure of her victory. Husband and wife appeared together as they took their seats.

"Let me make the introductions," Jonas started. "Everyone, this is my wife, Melinda."

"Hello, everyone." Melinda smiled warmly at the crowd. They laid their linked hands on the table, and the diamond ring on her left finger caught the raging flashes of the camera.

The conference commenced.

"I know there have been various speculations on the internet about my relationship with Miss Emily Bai," Jonas said.

The room quieted. He had decided to take the bull by the horns, and didn’t wait for the press to ask their questions before diving right into the issue.

"I will clarify this for you for the last time. Miss Bai and I were playmates in childhood. The love of my life is right here beside me." He turned to look at Melinda, and the cameras went wild again.

"I will not stand for my wife getting slandered and maligned by strangers who know nothing about our lives and only have too much time on their hands.

If the ugly rumors do not stop after this, I will not hesitate to use legal means to give pursuit to the defamers."

The authority in Jonas's voice sent a chill to everyone who listened. There was no mistaking the man’s serious attitude regarding attacks against his wife.

The members of the press twittered among themselves, and then suddenly a murmur of praises for the couple circled around.

After such a revelation, only fools would still think that the rumors were true, let alone think of spreading it even further. They knew all too well their careers would be over if they crossed the Gu family.

However, nobody knew of the "fake" members of the press that Emily’s team had planted in the conference. Their only purpose for being in attendance was to sow conflict and doubt, and reaffirm the rumors between Emily and Jonas.

And one of them was now raising his hand to pose his question. "Mr. Gu, this is your second press conference. All this time, we’ve only ever heard from you. Miss Bai has yet to tell her side of the story.

Why do you seem so eager to put a stop to the inquiries before she could do so? Are there perhaps secrets that you are anxious might leak into the public?"

Before anyone could even react to that, another of Emily’s cahoots shot a question. "There have also been talks that you and your wife didn’t actually get along well for many years. And this is the first time that you appeared together and acknowledged her in public.

One can’t help but think it’s a little bit staged. Aren’t you just forcing yourselves to display your so-called affections to the media?"

"Forced?" It was Melinda, and her sudden interjection obviously took the press aback. "Do you really think Jonas is the kind of person who would settle down when he is being pressured to do something he doesn’t want?"

Beside her, Jonas was quiet, and his face bore no emotion. But his grip tightened around his wife’s hand.

Melinda gave him a little nudge, and he turned to look at her. When he did, the cold wall melted, and his face took on a gentle and warm expression.

looked ahead to address the press once more, his tone was much calmer. "I believe Miss Bai will explain

cooped up in their agency with her assistant. Her team had come up with a plan to use the rumor mill

to the press, and instead would milk the hype for all that it was

long for her to find out that something happened in Jonas's press conference. Something that was going to cause the agency problems. "Some of the fans and netizens are now in favor of Melinda," she told Emily. "Although the online trolls we hired still have a

have to make a press release and devise a script that

taking such a drastic step. Before

bit her lower lip. She

dumb with me. I know you know exactly what I mean." Emily scrambled for an excuse. Jonas had yet to threaten her, but she could already feel the heavy pressure of his

Her eyes fell on her assistant. "My assistant hasn’t told me anything yet because I’ve been so busy and

in your hands. Perhaps I should take some of it off, so you can take care of this matter like I’m

mistake now; the threat was that he was going to pull out his investments

believed anything she said, and Emily doubted that

she bit out her

clear and precise, and soon, too. Otherwise, there’s no telling what other things the media could dig

breath hitched at his last sentence. She really couldn’t

her current projects, but keep her out of the

her eyes in defeat, and took a deep breath. She had to bite the bullet. "I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Jonas. I never meant for this to happen. I’ll clear this

were exchanged after that; he had hung up the phone.

felt suffocated; all at once the world came crashing around her, and all her favorable options flew out the window. Whatever might happen in the future, her only

ended, she uploaded a video on Weibo that refuted the rumors. She made sure to mention that she had

somewhat public apology to Melinda, and at the same time apologized for her fans for their

any amount of support; she had

many views, and was shared around the internet countless times. Pretty soon,

the crisis passed smoothly. More or less. Emily’s agency

them when the management called for her. "If I didn’t make that damn video, the show wouldn’t have thirty million dollars, and your stupid agency would lose one of

served to increase the tension that had long

my shoot. I advise you not to pursue this matter

added to the publicity of the rumors. She had fame at her disposal,

big impact on her popularity afterwards, but she would

on the way back to the set, calculating the possibilities. It was dark by the time she

who was working on the same project, only he was

opportunity she was looking for. If she was linked romantically with this guy, she knew she would have better chances at maintaining her popularity, perhaps gaining

but I’m fine. Thank you for your concern." She gave him

too much about it. Clean hands need no washing.

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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