Chapter 7 - The Poisoned Pen
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By noon the following day, a sudden wave of toxic tabloid articles exploded across every major news website and social media platform. Headlines splashed across screens in bold, neon letters: Billionaire Marcus Vance Frames Wife to Elevate Lowly Maid!
Elena sat at the small kitchen table in the staff quarters, her hands trembling as she read the articles on her phone. The reports contained edited photographs of her walking near the estate garden, accompanied by fabricated stories claiming she was an uneducated gold-digger who had seduced Marcus and manipulated him into filing false charges against Victoria.
"Don't read those lies, Elena," Martha, the middle-aged head cook, said gently, setting down a cup of warm chamomile tea. "Julian Carter owns half the tabloid press in the state. He's trying to ruin your reputation to make Victoria look like a victim."
"They're calling me an unfit caretaker," Elena whispered, tears welling in her eyes. "They printed my home address... my sister's medical history..."
The kitchen door swung open, and Marcus walked in carrying a silver laptop. His face was a mask of cold concentration.
"Elena," Marcus said, setting the laptop on the table. "I’ve already instructed my legal team to file multi-million-dollar defamation lawsuits against every media outlet that published those stories."
Elena looked up at him, wiping a tear from her cheek. "Mr. Vance, maybe I should leave. If I stay here, they will keep attacking your family name."
"You are not going anywhere," Marcus said firmly, taking a seat opposite her. "This is exactly what Julian Carter wants. He wants to isolate me and force me to drop the charges against Victoria."
"But the public..."
"The public doesn't know the truth," Marcus interrupted softly, his gaze softening as he looked into her eyes. "You protected my son when he was in danger. You showed more bravery in ten seconds than Victoria’s entire family has shown in their whole lives."
Suddenly, Marcus’s phone chimed with an urgent text message from his lead investigator. He looked at the screen, his jaw tightening instantly.
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"What is it, Mr. Vance?" Elena asked, noticing the sudden shift in his posture.
"Julian’s lawyers just submitted a petition to the family court," Marcus revealed, his voice dropping into a low growl. "They are demanding an emergency custody hearing for Leo, claiming that living under the care of an 'unstable housekeeper' puts the baby at risk."
