Kate appeared in the video, but she wasn't alone. She was wrapped in another man's arms, kissing him passionately.
In the final moments, the man lifted her over his shoulder and walked away.
Kate felt her stomach drop. A wave of nausea hit her.
No. That couldn't be me!
She stared at the screen and thoughts filled her head.
How could this happen? Had she really left with another man? She struggled to piece together her memories of the previous night.
Then, like a bolt of lightning, realization struck her.
"Ashton!" Daniel called out.
"Yes, sir!" Ashton replied, turning the livestream camera toward himself.
"Good afternoon, everyone," he greeted politely. "I'm sure you've all seen the video. Now, let me explain the situation.
First, the Wilson family announced yesterday that the wedding between Mr. Daniel Wilson and Ms. Kate Bently has been called off.
Second, the man seen with Ms. Bently in the surveillance footage was not Mr. Wilson. There is no truth to the rumors about him 'sampling the goods.'
Third, after a thorough investigation, we confirmed that Ms. Bently was the one who spread the false stories about Mr. Wilson cheating on her.
These accusations are completely lies, and legal action will be taken against her.
Lastly, Chantelle Bently is a woman of integrity. Mr. Daniel is pursuing her with respect, and he asks the public not to believe baseless rumors about her character. He also apologizes for any trouble this has caused her."
Ashton kept his explanation brief and to the point.
Kate felt like she was sinking deeper into a void. She still couldn't grasp what had happened.
Who was the man she had left with last night?
Her mind spun as everything around her collapsed.
Once Ashton finished, he arranged refreshments for the media and had the ballroom cleared.
The livestream ended, and netizens slowly left the chat.
As the crowd dispersed, only Daniel and Kate remained.
Daniel had no desire to stay, but there were still things he needed to know.
"Kate, was Chantelle really responsible for Grandpa's death?" he asked as his eyes pierced through her, searching for the truth.
For a split second, shock flashed across Kate's face, but she quickly hid it.
"Of course, it was her!" she shouted. "She caused his death, and that still wasn't enough for her, was it?" Her voice trembled angrily. "She had to ruin my life too! Why, Chantelle, why?!" She used her fury to mask her growing fear.
Daniel watched her in silence. He didn't say a word.
After a few moments, he turned and walked away.
Panicked, Kate rushed after him. She reached out her hand, trying to grab his sleeve, but missed it.
"Daniel!" she cried out. "I've been nothing but loyal to you all these years. How can you treat me ?" Her eyes were red, filled with desperation.
Daniel halted his steps but didn't turn around.
"I told you five years ago—there will never be another Mrs. Wilson besides Chantelle. But you never stopped trying to change my mind. I gave you enough chances. It's a shame you never learned to be satisfied with what you had." His voice was calm, but his words cut deep.
"Daniel..." Kate sobbed, tears streaming down her face. But Daniel was unmoved.
He was no longer affected by her emotional manipulations.
His eyes remained sharp as he continued. "Second question. Did Grandpa's death have anything to do with you?" His voice was cold.
A shiver ran down Kate's spine. She realized this wasn't just about their relationship anymore.
His question carried far more serious implications.
Kate forced herself to stay calm. "Daniel, I don't understand what you mean," she said quickly. "That was so long ago. Why are you bringing it up now?" Her heart pounded in her chest.
Had Daniel found out something?
"Kate, I really hope that's the case and you had nothing to do with Grandpa's death. Take care," Daniel said before walking away. Without another word, he strode toward the door and left.
Kate collapsed to the floor, watching him go. She felt completely crushed.
Just then, Ruby walked out from where she had been hiding.
She approached her daughter and held out a hand. "Kate, get up. We need to rethink our approach now that things have come to this."
Kate looked up instantly as her face streaked with tears. "Mom, where were you? You didn't see what happened! They all turned against me!" she sobbed.
"Enough, darling. Don't cry," Ruby said, trying to soothe her. "Your father just called. He says there might still be a way to fix this."
Kate's tear-filled eyes widened with a mix of hope and caution. "A way to fix this? Are you serious?"
"Why would I lie to my own daughter?" Ruby said firmly. She then pulled her up. "Come on, let's find your father and hear what he has to say."
Kate took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay, let's go."
A flicker of hope returned to her eyes.
Then, as they walked, a thought struck her. "Oh, by the way, Mom, Daniel seems to be looking into what happened years ago. Do you think he'll trace it back to me? I'm afraid..." she trailed off as her voice shook.
Ruby's expression hardened. "Shh, you fool! Don't talk about things in public. Someone might be listening!" she scolded Kate.
She lowered her voice. "No matter what, always deny any involvement. Understand? Everyone who knew the truth was already gone. There's no way Daniel will uncover anything, so stop worrying."
Kate hesitated, doubt creeping in. "But Mom... are you sure they're all gone? Are you absolutely sure?" Her instinct told her that Daniel wouldn't have brought it up unless he had something.
"Of course! It was a clean job!" Ruby declared with confidence. But deep down, a nagging doubt lingered. Maybe it was time to visit an old friend...
Chantelle sat on her sofa, scrolling through social media on her tablet.
The news about Kate's press conference and its aftermath was everywhere. She couldn't deny she was satisfied with Kate's downfall, but something in Ashton's announcement had irritated her.
Daniel had publicly declared that he was courting her.
The audacity! Where did he get the confidence to say something like that?