Second Chance: Marrying into Wealth Chapter 197

"If you can't figure this out, just come to me!" I was just trying to be helpful.

Honestly, when it came to Yosef and Yasmin, they were the ones I disliked the most.

But Marlowe didn't buy for a second that I would actually help her.

She thought I had ulterior motives and was furious. "You think you can make me bow down to you like this? No way. How could I ever trust you?"

I shrugged, indifferent.

Marlowe was even more provoked. "I hate that smug look on your face. I'm like this because of you. Ever since I met you, you've schemed against me countless times. Even that interview mess was your doing. There's no way you genuinely want to help me!"

"Suit yourself. I've given you the chance. I'm busy and don't have time for these trivial matters." With that, I ignored Marlowe.

Her face was still grim, but she didn't have time to waste on me. She stepped on the gas and drove off.

Back at the office, I shared the video with Paula before work started.

Paula called me after watching the video, utterly shocked. "Yosef and Yasmin are truly shameless. I've dealt with difficult people before, but they take the cake. And the worst part is, even knowing how awful they are, you can't do anything about it. Marlowe really messed with the wrong people."

"Yeah, but if she hadn't tried to scheme against Quinlan, she wouldn't be in this mess." I had no sympathy for her.

Paula, who also couldn't stand Marlowe, agreed. "She brought this on herself. But you were lucky not to get caught in Yosef and Yasmin's schemes. Lawrence actually did something good for once! Marlowe's probably in for a rough time now."

"I bet the video will go viral. Did you see how she tried to get Yosef and Yasmin to go after me? I don't know why she changed her tune at the last minute."

"I noticed that too. Maybe because we thought Christopher liked her, we put her on a pedestal. But now we see she's just a regular person. What does Christopher see in her?" Paula couldn't help but criticize.

"Who knows what goes on in the minds of the powerful."

Paula then said, "If Yosef and Yasmin are this shameless with Marlowe, imagine what they'd do if they found Quinlan. We can't let that happen."

I was worried too. "Yeah, Quinlan's parents are a nightmare. But I warned her to leave Starlight City."

"Good. She'd be better off. Otherwise, she'd end up worse than Marlowe."

"True, but it's sad she has to keep moving and can't settle down. I feel bad for her."

"That's a tough situation. And look at Marlowe. Just one encounter with Yosef and Yasmin, and the video is already spreading. Her reputation might be ruined." Paula wasn't sympathetic to Marlowe, just making an observation.

I thought of Jason. "Maybe we don't need to worry. Jason is close to her. If he steps in, the video might not spread further and could be contained quickly."

"Jason, huh..." Paula mumbled something I couldn't catch.

Then she quickly found an excuse. "Got work to do, Melinda. Talk later!"

I understood she had to go, but her reaction seemed odd. Was there something between her and Jason I didn't know about?

But thinking of Jason's calm, detached demeanor, I figured I was overthinking it.

Marlowe's video spread faster than I expected.

By the time Paula and I finished our call, it was already circulating online.

Even my coworkers were talking about it.

The video only showed the part where Yosef and Yasmin accused Marlowe of disowning them. The part where Marlowe called the police and Yosef and Yasmin were taken away wasn't included.

Probably because there were no bystanders to film it. This led to a flood of criticism and curses against Marlowe.

I wondered if Christopher knew about it.

I glanced towards Christopher's office. If Marlowe was someone he cared about, he would surely be keeping an eye on the situation, even if he didn't show it outwardly.

Would he take action to manage the online backlash?

I thought the situation would calm down quickly once the police issued a statement clearing Marlowe's name.

But the video spread rapidly, and within a day, it was trending.

Almost all the comments were negative, some extremely harsh.

Marlowe's personal information was dug up, and people were attacking her, her magazine, and even her neighborhood. She was being vilified everywhere.

Most people online were easily swayed by a misleading video.

Marlowe's career was likely over, but I couldn't feel sorry for her. If Quinlan hadn't escaped, she would have been the one suffering.

I guessed Marlowe must be regretting her actions now.

Yosef and Yasmin were fine in their hometown until Marlowe called them, unleashing a nightmare that backfired on her.

That night, she showed up at my house.

She looked at me with a cold expression, as if I were the villain.

For someone so irrational and unreflective, I couldn't be bothered.

When I tried to leave, she blocked my driveway with her car.

"You win! Didn't you say I could come to you if I wanted to deal with Yosef and Yasmin?" Marlowe looked exhausted, with dark circles under her eyes. But she still had that arrogant attitude.

She hadn't been this tough with Yosef and Yasmin! Clearly, she was trying to bully the weak.

"That was then. So what? I don't feel like helping you now. What are you going to do about it?" I replied coldly. "Move your car, or someone will come and tow it."

Most people living here had some status and money. She wasn't afraid of offending everyone?

Other cars were trying to get in, and someone was already honking impatiently. "Who's blocking the way? Are you crazy? Move it, or we'll call the tow truck!"

Someone with a short temper was already cursing.

The more I interacted with Marlowe, the less I understood what Christopher saw in her.

And Jason too. If they liked her, shouldn't they be stepping up now? Where were they when she needed a hero?