Chapter 5: Scandal Hits Home

Half a month later, the investigator finally caught Lauren and Ethan together on video.

They met in a high-security luxury apartment complex, all high-rises.

It was pure luck they got it on camera.

While hugging and kissing in the living room, they forgot to close the curtains. A few minutes later they fixed it, but it was too late.

Their faces were clear on camera—more than enough.

I told my cousin the news.

She quickly set up the fake scandal.

Thanks to earlier groundwork, it went smoothly.

Instagram exploded.

Celebrity gossip really does get attention.

The fans were relentless, digging up all kinds of dirt on Lauren.

She’d bullied classmates in high school.

She dropped out in sophomore year—only a GED.

And all those "big brothers" who’d given her opportunities.

Those guys were old news. Her current "honeymoon phase" was with Daniel Price.

I flipped through the investigator’s files, amazed at the fans’ collective power.

My cousin waited for the right moment, adding some solid proof to the fans’ findings.

The surprise was, fans also dug up Lauren’s secret Twitter account.

It had been active for half a year, with dozens of posts—each just a line or two, like a diary.

Mostly complaints about people around her, even mocking Daniel Price as naive and easy to manipulate.

She didn’t name names, but it was obvious. Soon Daniel Price’s Twitter was flooded with screenshots.

"Mr. Price, check out what your ‘good friend’ says about you."

"How does it feel to be backstabbed by your own star?"

"Daniel, you really need to wise up."

...

Besides the complaints, there were a few love notes.

The latest, posted a week ago, was about hoping someone on a business trip would bring her a surprise.

Male fans were thrilled—details confirmed the scandal was fake.

Reassured, they focused on digging up Lauren’s real boyfriend.

Just as everyone was scrutinizing candidates, the video of Lauren and Ethan’s tryst was released.

It was posted by a major gossip account.

Fans swarmed in.

They spread the video everywhere, defending their idol: "He’s single, she’s the one with a boyfriend, using him for clout."

Then Ethan’s identity and marriage status were exposed.

That was my cousin’s doing.

The internet went wild again.

That day was probably Lauren’s most famous moment since entering the industry.

Scandal in, scandal out.

That day, I canceled a few meetings, put on sunglasses, and left the office an hour early under sympathetic stares.

At home, the nanny had already picked Mason up from preschool. They were reading Dr. Seuss together.

The child ran over, showing off his gold star sticker from today.

"Good job, sweetheart." I smiled and praised him.

Then I turned away and quietly wiped my tears.

The nanny looked at me with concern.

I smiled at her. "Maggie, keep an eye on Mason. I’m going to rest. Don’t call me for dinner."

In my room, I lay there and dredged up every sad thing in my life, every tearjerker scene I could remember, and cried quietly.

When I heard Ethan and the nanny talking in the living room, I looked at my reflection—tear-streaked face, swollen eyes.

Not bad.

Just as I lay back down, Ethan knocked on the door.

I didn’t answer.

Soon, Mason called, "Mommy."

I smoothed my hair, wiped my tears, and went to open the door.

"Sweetie, what’s wrong?" I forced a smile.

"Daddy’s looking for you." Mason looked up at Ethan behind him.

"Okay, Mommy knows. Go play with Maggie, okay?"

Mason obediently ran off.

I didn’t look at Ethan, just sat on the bed and cried.

Ethan closed the door and came over.

"Honey, I’m sorry."

He knelt by my feet, apologizing softly, then slapped himself hard across the face.

Pulling the pity card right away.

I waited until he’d slapped himself five or six times, then acted like I’d finally recovered from the shock, crying as I tried to stop him. "What are you doing?"

"I did something wrong, made you so sad. I deserve it."

"If you like Miss Chen, we can..." I choked up, unable to finish.

He hurriedly grabbed my hand. "I don’t like her. You’re the only one I love.

"That time was an accident.

"We ran into each other at a dinner. She didn’t drive, so I gave her a ride home. When we got to her place, she invited me up. We’d just been talking about Mr. Howard, and I wanted more info, so I agreed. We had a few drinks..."

"But it was just once. We haven’t been in contact since. I swear, it’s the truth."

He swore up and down, so sincere that if I didn’t have all the evidence, I’d believe him.

He was Oscar-worthy.

A few words, and his cheating became a one-time, drunken mistake.

"So, it wasn’t on purpose?" I sneered inside, but outwardly, my attitude softened, eyes brimming with tears.

"No. Lots of people want a piece of Mr. Howard’s project. I got anxious, and your dad wasn’t helping..."

"I just wanted to make you proud, but I messed up. I’m so sorry."

His mistake was for my sake, and my dad’s lack of support.

"I told you not to drink, but you never listen." My tone softened.

"I’ll never touch a drop again. Honey, keep an eye on me, okay?"

"For Mason’s sake, forgive me this once."

...

In the end, he brought Mason in. "Daddy did something wrong. Mason, help me ask Mommy for forgiveness."

"Then you can’t drink anymore." I hugged Mason and cried some more, finally relenting.

"I promise." He agreed right away, then nervously asked, "What about your parents?"

"Let’s keep it from them for now. If it comes out, take whatever they dish out." I glared at him.

"If they want us to divorce..."

"They won’t. They respect my decision."

He believed it without question.

After all, my parents had opposed our marriage, but gave in because I insisted.

The video was quickly scrubbed from the internet after a tug-of-war between Lauren’s team and the fans.

But I’d already gotten what I wanted.