Chapter 278: Chapter 278: The Approaching Storm

By the time Helen Lloyd returned to the underground parking garage, Harrison Thornton and his group had already gotten into their cars and left at some unknown point. Colin Grant was standing with his arms crossed, he turned to look at Gemma Thornton’s bodyguard and spoke in a calm voice, “Mr. Thornton has left. Before departing, he instructed you to drive yourself back.”

When they arrived earlier, Harrison Thornton and his daughter took two different cars, so Gemma Thornton’s vehicle was still parked exactly where it was before. As for where this bodyguard would drive “back” to or what he would do next, that was their internal affair. Colin Grant did not know and had no intention of asking further.

Hearing him finish, the bodyguard merely nodded in confirmation, offered a brief word of thanks, then got into the car, quickly starting the engine and driving away from the basement.

The expansive garage was ultimately left with only the people from Helen Lloyd’s side. At this moment, Colin Grant had taken his laptop out of his bag, casually placing it on the hood of a nearby car. The light from the screen cast a glow on his face, displaying a series of the latest news sites and social media pages that were constantly updating. Previously, Helen Lloyd had strictly instructed him to keep a close watch on the media to see if any unusual movements were leaked to the public.

“Have you managed to contact the others in the team?” Helen Lloyd approached and asked.

“I have reached a few of them. I told them not to panic and just head back normally. Once they arrive, they must thoroughly inspect their rooms to prevent any hidden listening devices, then continue to turn on their computers and monitor all reactions online.” Colin Grant reported the situation while his fingers clattered against the keyboard.

“Well done.” At this time, Helen Lloyd also took out her phone, using a secure line to contact the media crisis management team of the Caldwell Empire. This group of professionals was currently still on standby in St. Lawrence. Tonight’s incident was highly complex, and perhaps unfavorable news would be released online by their enemies at any moment, so they needed to carefully monitor every passing second to deploy a timely response plan.

The two stood in the parking lot, watching the screen for a long time without seeing any suspicious posts. The easing of the tense atmosphere made them both feel somewhat drained. Occasionally, Helen Lloyd would unlock her phone to see if Julian Sterling had sent any messages or made any calls. However, all the communications sent out were like stones sinking into the deep ocean, utterly silent without a single word of reply.

Right at this moment, Colin Grant suddenly called out to her: “Helen, look at this.”

Colin Grant hurriedly turned his laptop screen for Helen Lloyd to see. On the screen was the forum where Julian Sterling’s matters were leaked last time. They had assumed that the target this time would be Ethan Caldwell, considering the precedent of the sensationalized articles from yesterday.

Unexpectedly, the mastermind behind the scenes continued to target and attack Julian Sterling. The views on the post were increasing at a dizzying pace, with the sensational title reading: [It turns out that in an arranged marriage, everyone has the right to have an affair].

Attached beneath those malicious words was a candid photo taken during Julian Sterling’s meeting with Gabriel Cole, right at the exact moment when the other man deliberately leaned in close to Julian. The paparazzi had calculated the camera angle very carefully to capture this precise moment perfectly. Through the lens that intentionally blurred their surrounding background, coupled with a deceptive shooting angle, the distance and actions of the two people in the picture became significantly more ambiguous and intimate than the reality.

“Why do they keep targeting Julian?” Even someone who usually maintained his composure like Colin Grant could not help but frown and ask.

He originally had not interacted much with Julian Sterling; his greatest impression was merely that Julian’s appearance was always excessively obedient and quiet. Recalling the few times he went to the office to report work to Ethan Caldwell, he always saw Julian Sterling sitting obediently on the sofa to the side, waiting for Ethan. He did not say anything, nor did he ever casually interfere in their internal affairs. Not to mention, ever since officially joining the game development project and working directly together, Colin Grant finally realized just how much expertise and capability Julian Sterling truly possessed, which was entirely unlike what the outsiders rumored.

Furthermore, during the perilous situation tonight, it was also thanks to Julian Sterling’s sharp instincts and timely appearance. If it had only been him and the boss, it would have been truly difficult to manage that chaotic scenario.

Yet, these faceless bastards on the internet continuously distorted the truth, relentlessly aiming their attacks at Julian Sterling.

Helen Lloyd furrowed her brows, staring intently at the screen, her voice turning cold: “It is not over yet, there will definitely be other posts following this.”

Helen Lloyd assessed that this was merely a temporary push aimed at testing their reaction. Because the lingering aftermath of the previous time when public opinion targeted and attacked Julian Sterling was still present and had not completely vanished. By releasing more photographs creating such a misleading perspective this time, they had an excuse to continue pinning issues of morality and fidelity onto Julian Sterling, thereby manipulating the masses into criticizing him.

Moreover, upon careful analysis, the title of that post was clearly killing two birds with one stone, indirectly targeting Ethan Caldwell as well. Their main goal was to use this incident to strike back at the post publicly announcing their relationship from this morning, turning their marriage into a laughingstock in the eyes of the public.

“Quickly tell the media crisis management team to post a rebuttal immediately. Emphasize that Julian Sterling’s meeting with Gabriel Cole was just a normal gathering with an industry partner to discuss business. When they met, it was not in a closed space, and Julian Sterling’s personal bodyguards were standing right next to him, keeping watch. Temporarily use official information to control the situation and reduce the heat of the post for now. I am guessing that they have already prepared other things to release as well.”

Receiving the order, Colin Grant hastily sent a message to instruct the personnel in the media team who were on standby. Fortunately, Helen Lloyd had previously given them a heads-up to prepare the scenarios in advance, so their processing speed was remarkably fast. This time, aside from publishing a post clearly rectifying the information, the media department also decisively released images of legal documents. That was the result showing no acceptance of mediation, resolutely pressing charges and awaiting the court’s verdict for the individuals who spread baseless rumors and were sued the previous time. This move was clearly aimed at deterring and extinguishing the explosive spread of public opinion.

It was primarily to ensure that their words did not become too unpleasant to hear.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep