"Avery, are you really dating Alexander?"
Avery looked puzzled. "No, we’re just acquaintances who collaborate professionally now and then."
"I knew it. Those trashy tabloids are stirring things up," Rufus spat. "If you’re not in a relationship with Alexander, I’ll deal with those media outlets and teach them a lesson."
"Hold on," Avery said calmly. "Let me find out what’s going on first."
She hung up and quickly searched for articles about her and Alexander. The results left her speechless. One headline read, "Mr. Moran’s new fling is an 18-year-old beauty and top SAT scorer." Another said, "Mr. Moran spotted with flowers at a luxury hotel, spends a romantic night with a gorgeous young woman." The most ridiculous of all was, "Mr. Moran and the top SAT scorer are living together!"
Avery skimmed the headlines, shaking her head, not even bothering to click on any of them. However, one article caught her eye, and she read it from beginning to end. The headline was, "Rumored to be pursuing the top SAT scorer, Alexander Moran too was a top scorer himself."
The article disclosed that Alexander, at the age of 14, had scored full marks on his SAT. Following standard procedure, the identity and results of the top scorer weren’t officially announced, and the Moran family didn’t release them either. After the exam, Alexander went abroad to study, and his achievement only came to light last night when his secretary revealed it publicly.
It also mentioned that Alexander completed a double master’s degree at an Ivy League university in just three years. After returning to the country, he became the CEO of the Moran Group with support from his sister, Lucy. Over the years, Alexander hadn’t been involved with any women. The scandals circulating about him had been fabricated by women seeking fame, but he had warned them and dealt with them accordingly. No one had dared to exploit his name again.
The closing lines read, "This time, Alexander presented flowers to this year’s top scorer and openly stated they were friends. It seems he’s interested in her and doesn’t mind the public attention. We wish them the best."
A smile spread across Avery’s face after reading the article. Amid all the messy, scandalous, and irresponsible gossip, this one stood out as refreshing, with a refined tone. She made a mental note of the writer, "Saucy," from the official account of the Rosemont Chronicle.
After skimming a few more gossip pieces, she thought for a moment and sent a message to Louis:
Have you seen the gossip online about me and Alexander?
I’m looking into it now. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure it all disappears by tonight.
"How did Miss Carter hear about this so quickly?" Louis thought. He had hoped to let the gossip simmer for a few days and make it clear that the relationship between Avery and Alexander was anything but ordinary. However, some of the rumors were too harsh on Avery. These people need to be put in their place!
Avery had no idea that Louis was secretly rooting for her and Alexander to become a couple. She politely replied:
She was about to return Rufus’s call when her phone rang again. This time, it was Josie. The moment she answered, Josie’s tearful voice came through.
"Avery, a bunch of people have surrounded Mom and Dad! They’re saying our restaurant is filthy, that it has bugs, and that customers got food poisoning. I’m so scared..."
Avery immediately stood up, her face turning serious. "Don’t be afraid, Josie. Calm down and tell me slowly. What’s happening?"
Josie sobbed and said, "Dad, Mom, and Arthur won’t let me listen, but I know there are a lot of people saying bad things about our restaurant. And they’re saying bad things about you too. They’re bullying us..."
Being just a child, Josie didn’t fully understand the situation, and the family had tried to shield her from it. Still, Avery figured out what was going on. In a gentle tone, she asked, "Is anyone with you?"
"Mom’s here," Josie replied.
"Alright, I’ll talk to Mom. I’ll hang up now."
Claire had been so caught up with the chaos at the restaurant that she hadn’t noticed Josie using her wristwatch to call Avery. When Avery called her, she didn’t hide anything and softly explained what happened.
"Don’t worry about it, Avery," Claire said reassuringly. "These things will blow over in two or three days. We’ll be fine. Just don’t come home for a while and keep a low profile. Don’t let anyone find out where you live. We don’t want anyone taking pictures of you."
Avery listened calmly and replied, "Mom, don’t worry. I’ll ask my lawyer friend to handle it."
Those reporters and influencers were undoubtedly targeting her. The family had just been dragged into it. She even suspected someone had orchestrated this, pulling strings behind the scenes. They had no reason to be smearing her family’s name.
After hanging up, she immediately called Ryan and briefly explained the situation. Ryan, ever efficient, replied, "I’ll head over with a team right now. Tell your family to secretly film everything and capture their actions on video."
Avery thought for a moment and said, "Take Rufus with you." Rufus had connections on both sides of the law. With him around, he would surely keep those troublemakers in check.
She hung up and sent a message to Arthur:
Don’t act impulsively or engage in conflict. Just stay calm and be polite. Remember to record everything as evidence.
Got it. I’ll listen to you.
After making all the arrangements, Avery still felt uneasy. She searched online for reports about her family and was stunned by what she found.
Her family, who had attended Zoe’s party last night, had suddenly become famous. Their address, their jobs, their financial struggles—everything had been exposed. Even Maria’s part-time job at a coffee shop had been disclosed.
In one video, influencers and reporters crowded at Maria’s coffee shop, filming her.
They introduced Maria as the sister of the top SAT scorer, bombarding her with questions.
"How much do you make selling coffee here?" a reporter asked.
One of the influencers spoke in a derisive tone, "Avery is so pretty and smart, but you don’t look like her at all. Aren’t you jealous of her? You’re already working at such a young age."
"Do you have a boyfriend? Would you let him meet Avery? Aren’t you afraid he’ll fall for Avery if he meets her?" an influencer asked, her voice dripping with mockery.
"Is your family biased toward Avery because you’re not as pretty or smart?" another influencer commented, her sarcastic edge barely concealed by a sad, almost sympathetic face.
Maria covered her face with her hands, trying to hide from the cameras. She looked as if she was on the verge of tears.
Avery, usually calm and composed, felt a surge of anger rising within her.
These vultures are harassing my family because they couldn’t find me. Do they think I’m just going to sit back and do nothing? she thought, seething in rage.
Oh, they’d learn tonight just how wrong they were.