In just a few days, the tide of public opinion had completely turned against the media. Liam Williams accused them of twisting the truth for profit. Before those outlets could figure out how to recover, he hit them with a lawsuit.
The final outcome was brutal. The offending media outlets were shut down, and their executives were sentenced one after another, based on the severity of the public damage they'd caused. The media learned a hard lesson. From now on, anyone thinking of reporting on the president of Pinnacle Corporation would have to think twice—and consider who was backing them.
As for the divorce between Liam Williams and Emma Johnson, Liam never gave a direct answer. He simply didn't confirm it. So the public was left in the dark about the truth.
Because at this point, no media outlet dared to touch Liam's sore spot. It would be professional suicide.
And just like that, the headlines that had dominated the city for nearly two weeks were crushed by Liam's iron fist.
Amelia White sat in the living room at home, watching the news on TV. Her grip on the remote control tightened unconsciously. Her almond-shaped eyes glared at the screen, her emotions churning for a long time.
That hateful woman, Emma Johnson. Even after the divorce, she still made her brother pay such a price for her. Her methods were truly not to be underestimated.
"Great job, Emma. I didn't think Liam would actually take those media outlets to court. It seems he hasn't completely lost his conscience."
Mia Lewis had come to the branch to see Emma, and she couldn't help but say it with emotion.
"It's what he should have done. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have been doubted for no reason."
Emma didn't react much. Her expression was calm as she poured a cup of Pu'er tea for Mia.
Mia understood Emma. After all, anyone who gets stabbed in the back by someone close to them would find it hard to accept.
So she dropped the topic of Liam. No matter how much Liam did now, it could never make up for his past mistakes.
"By the way, I heard you're going to the hospital this afternoon? Is something wrong? I'll go with you."
Mia asked Emma.
"I can handle it myself. It's just insomnia. You have things to do this afternoon, and the store is important. I'm not a serious patient. Don't worry."
Since Emma said that, Mia didn't push further.
That afternoon, Emma took a taxi to the hospital. She didn't go to Brookhaven General Hospital this time. Too many doctors and nurses there would recognize her, and it would only remind her of Elijah Clark. So she went to a small, unassuming hospital in the suburbs. She didn't think there was anything seriously wrong with her. At most, she'd ask the doctor to prescribe more sleeping pills.
But when she finished the examination and the doctor told her she was pregnant, she was stunned.
"Doctor, don't joke with me. How could I be pregnant?"
Emma couldn't believe it. She even shook her head and smiled, as if it were ridiculous.
"There's no mistake. You're almost two months pregnant."
The doctor wasn't happy about Emma's doubt. She listed the symptoms of pregnancy in detail, and every single one matched. Now, even if Emma didn't want to believe it, she had to.
"It's best to come back for another checkup in a week. The condition of the fetus in your womb isn't very stable. It might be related to your emotional state, so you should come to the hospital for regular checkups."
When Emma walked out of the consultation room, her mind blank, clutching the examination report, the doctor's voice followed her. Emma turned her head and stared at the doctor blankly.
"Excuse me, if I want to have an abortion, when can I schedule the surgery?"
The doctor was a little surprised, but she'd seen this kind of situation before. Still, she kindly advised.
"Your body is weak. It's not easy to get pregnant. If you abort the fetus, it will harm your body. And it will greatly reduce your chances of getting pregnant in the future. So I advise you to protect the pregnancy."
When Emma left the hospital, her head was full of the doctor's words. She stood at the hospital entrance, her usually clear eyes now filled with confusion. She had been so careful. She took contraceptives every time. How could she be pregnant?
And right after she got divorced.
She stretched out her delicate, boneless hand and subconsciously raised it to touch her abdomen. Her stomach was flat. She couldn't feel any movement at all. But inside her, there was already a life growing.
This was Liam's child. But it was also her child. She didn't want any connection with Liam anymore. But did this life really have to be taken away?
Emma was now trapped in a painful, contradictory choice.
She didn't know how long she walked on the street. She still couldn't make a decision. Finally, she decided to give herself a few days to think. Then she hailed a taxi and went back to The Waterfront branch.
When she arrived, a familiar car was parked at the entrance. It looked like she'd seen it somewhere before, but she couldn't remember where.
When she walked into the shop, the waiter whispered a few words to her. Emma's eyes showed a look of sudden realization. She couldn't help but sigh, but she still went upstairs.
At a dining table, she saw a handsome face she knew all too well. Daniel Taylor. She didn't expect him to find out she was one of the owners of the branch.
"Long time no see. I didn't expect you to have lost so much weight. It seems the divorce really had a big impact on you."
Daniel Taylor looked at Emma with a smile. His tone wasn't sarcastic, but there was no comfort in his eyes either. After all, this was the result he'd been waiting for. So when he heard the latest news about Emma, he came here immediately.
"That's my private business, and it's none of an outsider's concern. Mr. Taylor, since you come from a famous family, I think you should know basic etiquette."
Emma smiled at Daniel, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. Daniel wasn't angry. Instead, he looked at her with an even deeper smile.
After all, from the very beginning, he knew that Emma looked like a delicate narcissus. But if you got to know her a little, you'd realize she was actually a rose with thorns.
Who could blame him for liking this rose?
"I just wanted to show some concern. I'm a good friend, aren't I?"