Brandons only response was an indifferent glance, his attention quickly returning to his butler.Entertain our guest well.
Once the butler had escorted Audrey away, Brandon took a seat across from Johanna and Beal, the old photo still in his hand. His demeanor was softer now as he addressed them,I apologize for keeping you waiting.
Johannas eyes followed the figure of Audrey as she was led away,her gaze lingering even after the girl disappeared around the corner of the stairs. A slight frown on her face, her dissatisfaction was apparent, though she said Noticing her expression, Brandon inquired gently,Johanna,do you find something amiss with her?
Instead of answering directly, Johanna questioned,Is that girl truly your cousin? Be careful not to make a mistake.
Her eyes followed the direction Audrey had taken, her voice tingedwithannoyance.Though she appears innocent, I suspect theres more to her than meets the eye. Besides her origins are unknown, and I worry about Natalies safety around her, especially considering her amnesia. What if something were to happen to her?
Audreys unexpected appearance also aroused Beals suspicion. He said firmly, That girl arrived only today, and I, too, find her behavior odd. Investigate her thoroughlyBrandon. Dont allow anyone to exploit this situation.
Understanding their concerns, Brandon smiled reassuringly.I will have her watched. Even if she proves to be my cousin, Ill send her away promptly. Rest assuredI wont allow her to pose any threat to Natalie.
Johannas face softened at his sincere words,and she dropped the subject.
Brandon knew, however, that their visit was motivated not just by the matter of his potential cousin but also by the recent rumors. He asked bluntly, Did you come here today specifically because of the news circulating online?
Johanna and Beal exchanged a glance, their expressions turning serious.
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Considering the rampant and detailed rumors online, Johannas voice wasfilled with frustration. This situation has become highly problematic. Though we believe youre innocent, others are not so convinced. Your rival companies, in particular, seem ready to exploit this opportunity to harm you.
She thought of the reporters crowding outside the mansion, and her headache intensified. I cant fathom how they knew your arrival time, but they are not going away. Its an exceedingly troublesome matter.
Despite the troubling situation, Brandons face remained composed. He tapped his fingertips on the tea table,admitting candidly,Im at a loss for the best way to handle this right now. As resourceful as he was, even he couldnt quell public gossip. And the fact that someone seemed to be fanning the flames only complicated matters further.
Beal massaged the bridge of his nose, his expression betraying his frustration. The situation is indeed problematic. The news isnt entirely baseless; theyve exposed Jeremys death certificate, complete with an official seal. And theres also a video. Though it doesnt show you killing him, the footage of you stabbing him in the shoulder is. enough to convince many online that you were responsible for his death. Johanna nodded gravely, elaborating on the situation,Weve examined the evidence posted online very carefully. From the time you stabbed Jeremy to the moment the death certificate was issued, less than half an hour had passed. During that time, the club was still ablaze. Surveillance footage from outside the building confirms that no one entered the club within that half-hour window. Thus,youre the only person who could have committed the crime, and you are now the prime suspect.
Johannas words further heightened the somber, depressing ambiance within the living room After a while,Brandon reclined against the sofa his expression tinged by a slight frown. I dont believe that Jeremy is really dead. This must be part of his scheme against me.
With a heavy sigh, Beal rubbed his temples wearily and said, It doesnt matter what we believe, let alone what the truth is. What truly matters is public perception. Everyone online believes that youve killed him, and unless we can provide substantial evidence right now,we have no way of proving your innocence.
Brandon pursed his thin lips slightly. Despite looking a bit weary due to the several days of travel, he maintained an air of poise and nobility. Even in the face of this unfavorable situation,heremainedcomposed.Since Jeremy is still alive he mustve left some clues behind. Once we find him, the false rumor will be dispelled.
In contrast to his composure, Johanna expressed her anxiety,asking,But what if we arent able to find Jeremy? Youd end up being charged with murder, wouldnt you?
Beal, too, was a bit anxious. He couldnt understand why Brandon remained so calm despite being labeleda murderer. He immediatelyechoedJohannas concerns,Indeed, since it seems like Jeremy is well-prepared, he wont make himself easy to find. Theres a chance he could remain beyond the reach of the law even after youre successfully framed for the alleged murder.
Lifting his chin slightly,Brandon said arrogantly,Even if were unable to locate him, that wouldnt serve as proof that Ive killed him. Johanna was taken aback by this. She couldnt fathom why Brandon was so confident.Why? she inquired.
Gently tapping the armrest of the sofa with his slender fingers, Brandon narrowed his dark eyes and said in a calm tone,The so-called evidence that Jeremy released cant prove that his death was as a result of getting stabbed by me. After all, I merely stabbed him in the shoulder-hardly a fatal blow.
As he explained the logic behind his position, a glint of realization suddenly flashed in his eyes. No wonder Jeremy had been deliberately provoking him in the room that day. It became clear that Jeremy had already planned that if the poison scheme l failed, he would agitate Brandon,capture a video of Brandon stabbing him as evidence, and exploit it to frame him. After regaining his composure, Brandon glanced at the concerned Johanna and Beal before adding, No matter how dire the situation may appear, its only a matter of public opinion. Theres no way for the police to prove that Ive killed him based solely on circumstantial evidence.
Even so, Johanna remained apprehensive.We need to deal with it as soon as possible. If your reputation suffers because of it, the Larson Group will definitely be significantly impacted. As business men their reputation was intricately tied to their groups interests. They couldnt afford any missteps. Once their reputation became tarnished, what awaited them was an inevitable stock plummet and rival companies seizing the opportunity to undermine them.
Beal nodded with a sigh. Less than an hour after the news of your alleged murder broke, the Larson Groups stock hit rock bottom. The White Group was also impacted, experiencing a significant decrease in its stock value.
Brandon had anticipated this outcome. He rubbed his forehead wearily and said,I apologize for getting you involved in this mess. Ive already instructed Sean to buy back all the stocks that were sold on the market to temporarily stabilize the stock value. Ill do my best to reimburse you for the losses once this crisis subsides.
Johanna waved her hand dismissively and said,Were family. Theres no need for apologies, let alone compensation. However
She paused for a moment, her expression suddenly turning dark.
Just as she was about to continue speaking, Beal tugged at her sleeve,shaking his head with a disapproving frown on his face.