Chapter 177
425 BONUS
The press release set the fashion world and the internet ablaze, spreading like wildfire. Opinions were divided, some sympathized with Linda Miller for being falsely accused, others still believed she was involved, and a few concluded that Thalassa Thompson must have deliberately planned the whole thing
In her office, Linda was sulking over her financial reports as usual when the door suddenly burst open, startling
her.
“Susan, what the hell? You gave me a scare!” Linda hissed as her daughter rushed in, phone in hand.
“Mum, Thalassa just released a statement clearing your name!”
Linda scoffed. “As if that stupid bitch would do that.”
“No, Mum, it’s true. It’s posted on TT Fashion’s website and all their social media. Everyone’s talking about it.” Susan insisted, holding out her phone.
Linda snatched the phone, the disbelief on her face slowly turning into a smirk as she saw it was true.
“She really cleared my name.”
Susan nodded excitedly. “And your stocks are back up by 11%! We’re going to recover, Mum.”
Susan rushed forward and engulfed Linda in an excited hug but pulled back when she realized her mother remained stiff.
“What is it, Mum? Aren’t you happy?”
Linda’s eyes narrowed, her nose upturned in suspicion as she stared at the phone screen. “Why now? She refused when I asked Kris to talk to her about it, so why would she just agree all of a sudden? Something isn’t right.”
After being away from the office for almost two weeks, Kris had a lot to catch up on, so he was focused on work But when Millie brought him the cup of coffee he’d requested, he noticed the bemused expression on her face. “What’s the problem, Millie?” he asked just as she was about to step out.
Before she could answer, the door opened wider as Alden stepped into the office. “Have you seen it?”
Kris grimaced. “Seen what?”
Without a word, Alden turned his phone toward Kris. Kris’s frown deepened, confusion etching across his forehead. Thalassa had released a press statement clearing his mother’s name?
He shot to his feet, pulling out his phone to dial Thalassa’s number. After two failed attempts, he remembered his number was still blocked.
His phone rang in his hand. Seeing it was his mother, he answered.
“Mum?”
“Kris, I just saw Thalassa’s press statement. Thank you, son, for convincing her.”
“I didn’t,” Kris replied, his eyes narrowing “Tell me the truth, mother. Did you say something to her? Did you threaten her?”
“What? How could you even ask me that, Kris?” his mother snapped, clearly offended. “Maybe she finally got tired of being a manipulative liar and decided to do the right-‘
11
Chapter 177
+25 BONUS
“You’re not going to insult her again, Mother,” Kris warned. “Thalassa and I are back together, and I won’t let you ruin things for me this time. No.”
“Wh… what? You and that woman are back together?” Shock tinged his mother’s voice. “Is that why she did it?”
“I don’t know, Mother. I have to go.” Kris hung up abruptly
As he lowered his phone, he noticed Alden and Millie gawking at him.
“What?”
“What do you mean, ‘what?“” Alden said. “Did we just hear you say you and Thalassa are back together?”
Kris pursed his lips, smiling sheepishly. “Maybe I was a little too confident saying that. Thalassa has only agreed to give me a second chance. I’m still working to earn her trust.”
A grin broke out on Alden’s face. “That’s still massive. When did this happen?”
“Last night.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
Kris scoffed. “We’re not teenagers, Alden. It’s different if we meet up, but I’m not going to call you to gush over every exciting thing in my life.”
Alden grimaced, but Millie spoke before he could. “I’m happy for you, sir. See you were able to do it without my help?”
Kris smiled. “Thank you, Millie. Can you go over these reports for me? I have to go see Thalassa.‘
He needed to know why she was doing this. Why had she suddenly decided to clear his mother’s name when she’d been so unwilling to do it before?
