Boiling with rage, Stephen banged on the door. Jessica glanced at the door with a sullen look before getting up and walking over. She saw how infuriated her father looked the moment she opened the door.
“Is this your doing?” the man roared at her. Jessica froze momentarily. Although he had lost her temper with her in the past, this was her first time seeing him so livid.
It’s all Roxanne’s fault. In spite of her fear, the woman mustered up the courage to stare at her father. “What did I do wrong? All I wanted was to show everyone her true colors!” Stephen’s brows furrowed deeply at that. “What did you say?”
“Seriously, I don’t know what people see in her that even the Queen family would step forward to defend her! I’ll never believe she could cure Old Mr. Queen!”
Stephen grew puzzled at her words, and deep down, he began to sense that something was off. It felt as though his daughter had committed something atrocious unbeknown to him.
Feeling his stomach drop upon recalling what Farwell Group had done tonight, he strode into Jessica’s bedroom and gazed at her phone screen.
Then, he picked up the device to see a string of comments—all of which were about Roxanne. It all started from the three photos that surfaced last night.
At that moment, Stephen realized that his daughter was behind the whole incident. “You imbecile!” With a bellow, he smashed Jessica’s phone into bits. The woman jumped in fright and stared at her father. “Are you insane? What are you getting all worked up for?”
Yet, she received a vicious slap across the face as soon as her words fell. She clutched her cheek and turned to her father in disbelief.
“Do you have any idea who has Roxanne’s back?” Stephen yelled in fury. “It’s because you got on her nerves back then that Farwell Group started giving us hell the very next day! Why do you think I told you to apologize to her? But look at what you’ve done now! Do you think Farwell Group’s going to let us off this time?”
Jessica was rendered speechless for a moment. “That can’t be… I know Lucian’s fiancée. Why would he ever back Roxanne up?”
Seeing that the circumstances had unfolded to such an extent, Stephen could only cling to the last hope he possibly had. “I want you to apologize to Roxanne publicly! Do it now and post it online. We might still stand a chance if you manage to subdue these comments!”
Despite her reluctance, Jessica knew she had no choice but to concede when Farwell Group was against them.
In a matter of minutes, she used another phone to post a public apology on Twitter, citing her jealousy over Roxanne and Jack’s relationship as the reason behind her actions.
Her words appeared sincere enough, but unfortunately, the post caused nothing more than a small buzz before being flooded by similar comments once again.
Even if more people now believed in Roxanne, the suspicions from those who didn’t still carry a considerable amount of impact on her.
Both Jessica and Stephen’s faces turned increasingly pale as the number of comments continued to pick up.
Evidently, the situation had escalated to an uncontrollable degree.
At this rate, it’ll be over for the Hightower family.
Jessica’s eyes became filled with panic, followed by hatred.
It’s all because of Roxanne! As if seducing Jack wasn’t enough, she even went after Lucian when he already has a fiancée! None of this would’ve happened to our family if it weren’t for her!
The next morning, Roxanne woke up and immediately checked the comments online. She was now the most trending person on Twitter. Thinking that the comments were leaning to her disadvantage, Roxanne’s heart sank as she glanced at the first post with a frown.
To her surprise, the most viral Tweet was a video of her own professor in an interview. It wasn’t just him; many of Harvey’s internationally-renowned research partners from his overseas institutes were present too.
“I’ve long heard about the Damaris family’s project,” Harvey stated in the video. “As Janet’s professor, I’m extremely proud that my student has been chosen to take part in this project. I’ve also come across many comments on her medical prowess within the nation. Please give Janet your trust for she’ll be sure to surprise you.”
The man had a smile on his face, but his eyes looked stern. After he was done speaking, it was the other researchers’ turn to give their opinion about Roxanne.
Upon seeing those familiar faces, emotion swirled within Roxanne as her eyes began to water. The comment section under this post blew up, but unlike yesterday, most of the comments were of people apologizing to Roxanne.
Bibomama: Janet? Is this the same Janet I know? She actually came back to the country in secret, and she’s this gorgeous? 11Zollo22: She’d make it big with just her looks, but she’s relying on her talents instead? That’s it. I’m officially a fan of hers now.
Most of the comments indicated surprise that Roxanne was actually Janet, and those who had never heard of the latter were quickly filled in by other netizens.
Janet wasn’t as popular in the country compared to Roxanne, but she was still fairly well-known internationally, so it was more acceptable for her to be joining the Damaris family project as the former.
Thanks to yesterday’s news, Roxanne’s good looks had added a touch of color to Janet’s name. Now, Janet was referred to as the goddess of the medical world by social media.
Roxanne hadn’t gotten used to the sudden changes in opinions that had occurred overnight. After scrolling on her phone a while longer, she exited Twitter and looked up her professor’s contact so she could thank him.
Yet, a phone call came from the latter just as she was about to dial his number. The woman picked up immediately. “Professor Lambert—”
“Why didn’t you tell me about something this serious? What do you take me for?” Harvey questioned her right away. In spite of his sullen tone, Roxanne felt a sense of warmth well up within her, for she knew he was only worried about her. “I’m sorry, Professor Lambert. It all happened because of me, so…”
If she were to disclose her identity as Janet, it wouldn’t take long for everyone to figure out that she was Harvey’s student.
Given the severity of yesterday’s comments, the woman was afraid of ruining Harvey’s reputation. She didn’t want others rebuking him for having such an unethical student.
The sudden turn of tides today had to be due to both the Queen family and Jessica’s respective statements. “I’m not having any of your excuses. You’re my student, and if anyone dares question you, that means they’re questioning me too,” Harvey declared.
Roxanne was moved upon hearing Harvey’s words. “I understand. Thank you, Professor.”
Unable to stand seeing her being slandered by netizens online, Harvey softened his tone after giving her a quick lecture. “Give it your all now that everyone knows you’re my student. Don’t let me down.”
Roxanne grinned. “I’ll do my best.” “I believe in you,” encouraged Harvey. “Also, that Damaris kid. He’s not bad, you know—”
“Professor!” Roxanne hurriedly cut him off knowing what he was about to say. “I have to make breakfast for Archie and Benny. I’ll talk to you next time.”
Harvey stopped at the mention of the two boys. “All right. Say hi to them for me.” “Okay,” the woman responded before pausing briefly. “Please thank everyone on my behalf.”
Harvey readily agreed. Then, they both hung up. A knock came on the door right after the call ended. Roxanne glanced at the time before quickly getting out of bed. She opened the door to find Archie and Benny standing outside.
“Are you not feeling well, Mommy?” they asked, staring straight at her.
The children would normally be eating breakfast by then, but they had waited much longer than usual that morning only to realize there was no food, nor had their mother left her room.
Hence, they made their way over, worried that Roxanne may have fallen sick.
“Sorry for keeping you waiting. I was just in the middle of a call with Professor Lambert,” the woman apologized while caressing her sons’ heads. “Why don’t you go heat up some milk?”
Relieved that she was in good health, the boys headed back downstairs to prepare breakfast. Roxanne then went back into the room to wash up.
By the time she was done, her sons had already prepared breakfast, including her share.
Upon taking a seat at the dining table, Roxanne suddenly recalled something. Now that the comments are looking better, I won’t have to trouble Lucian by getting him to come and pick the boys up.
Yet, the doorbell rang just as she was about to dial Lucian’s number.
As Roxanne stopped tapping on her phone and was just on her way to get the door, the two boys ran ahead in excitement and opened the mansion gates without even looking at the security camera footage.
They knew who was waiting outside.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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