Chapter 229: Chapter 229: Huge Repercussions

The incident caused a huge uproar online. The police investigation proceeded with unusual speed, and a few days later, they announced the results:

Joelle Lynch had left with her children due to marital discord; there was no malicious interference from Naomi Kenway.

When this clarification was released, a large number of netizens still cried foul, claiming they didn’t believe it. Some even went on about the overwhelming power of capital, insisting they had to help Felix Jacobs uphold justice and seek fairness. For a time, both Naomi Kenway’s and the police’s public credibility took a hit.

Naomi Kenway and Laura Grant spoke on the phone again. Laura Grant sighed on the other end. “This Felix Jacobs has completely manipulated the netizens’ emotions. It’s looking to be quite a bit of trouble. Honestly, I think the most effective solution is…”

They both fell into a tacit silence. The fastest and most effective solution was a “clarification” from the other party involved.

Naomi Kenway hesitated. The internet was too vicious, and she didn’t want to disrupt the peaceful life that Joelle Lynch and Six now had.

“Actually, this situation is already affecting Joelle and the kids. The internet is a terrifying place. It might not be long before Joelle and her children’s personal information gets doxxed. Think about it carefully.”

At two in the afternoon, a middle-aged woman claiming to be “Joelle Lynch” posted a video on a short-video platform. In the video, she held up her ID card, her voice trembling slightly from nervousness. However, she quickly composed herself, her eyes filled with determination:

“Hello everyone, I’m Joelle Lynch, the other party in the ’Felix Jacobs incident.’ I am the ’cold-hearted and cruel wife’ that Felix Jacobs accused. But I want to say that things are not as you all think.”

“First of all, my divorce from Felix Jacobs was not because of any malicious instigation from Little Sis Kenway. If you must say there’s a connection, it’s that I am incredibly grateful to her for giving me the courage and strength to bravely take my children and escape that horrifying hell when I was at my loneliest and most helpless. The reason I chose to divorce Felix Jacobs is—”

She took a sharp breath. “Domestic abuse!”

As she spoke, she rolled up her sleeves, revealing arms covered in bluish-purple bruises that had yet to fade, along with scars from cigarette burns. The mix of old and new injuries was horrifying to see.

Tears welled in Joelle Lynch’s eyes, but she still forced a smile. “These are just the ones that are easy to show. There are many more injuries, and I’ll post the evidence later. During our marriage, Felix Jacobs was violent with me countless times. It wasn’t just him hitting me with stools and brooms. Just a short while ago, during my postpartum confinement, he came home angry about not making money and viciously beat me, even holding a kitchen knife to my neck…”

She tilted her neck up slightly, revealing a shallow wound that had already scabbed over. “Thankfully, Little Sis Kenway, who was filming a show at the time, arrived just in time to help me subdue Felix Jacobs. Otherwise, I can’t bear to imagine what would have happened. I’m someone who is very afraid of dying, not just for my son and daughter, but because I truly want to live freely.”

“I’m not saying all this to make you pity me. I don’t need pity. I just can’t stand by and watch Felix Jacobs spout nonsense and slander my benefactor! I only just found out about all this. I hope everyone will stop verbally attacking Little Sis Kenway. She is truly a very good person…”

Joelle Lynch’s voice was choked with sobs. “My life was endlessly bitter, and I didn’t have the power to escape it all. I thought about it so many times… that if I just drank a bottle of pesticide, all my troubles would be over… It was Little Sis Kenway who saved me. She helped me escape, rented an apartment for me, found me a job, and even got treatment for my daughter’s leg. Without her, these are things I wouldn’t have even dared to dream of…”

She cried, but then she started to smile, her expression filled with a new vitality and confidence. “I’m doing very well now. I’m a manager at a shop. I can finally afford to support my daughter and son. I can give them a good life. And just a few days ago, my daughter Six’s leg has started to get better.”

She called out gently, “Six, come here. Come on, try walking a bit.”

As a little girl in red, full of energy, appeared on camera, a joyous and relieved smile spread across Joelle Lynch’s face.

“Finally, regarding Felix Jacobs…” Her expression turned cold and hard. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t agree to the divorce. I have already filed a lawsuit with the court. And as for your domestic abuse, I’ve decided to bravely use the law as a weapon to protect myself.”

“Thank you all very much for listening. I wish you all a happy life.”

The video ended. The two-and-a-half-minute clip quickly caused a massive reaction online.

[Is that really Joelle Lynch? The actual person involved?]

[It has to be, didn’t you see her show her ID? I can’t believe it turned out to be like this. Felix Jacobs was maliciously spreading rumors. That guy is so disgusting!]

[I started crying while watching. What a pitiful woman. Who knows how many years she was abused like that. Before she met Naomi Kenway, she must have been enduring it all for her children’s sake!]

[How can this be considered cold-hearted and cruel? The fact that Joelle Lynch didn’t hit him back just shows she’s benevolent! With the official police statement and the clarification from the person herself, the truth of the matter is crystal clear. Felix Jacobs is disgusting for stirring up so many netizens.]

[The clarification is finally out! Thank you, Joelle! Our Nina doesn’t have to be hounded and cursed at anymore. As a fan who’s been following the variety show, I really felt for Nina. She was being attacked for no reason, and no one would listen no matter how we explained. I just knew there was more to this story.]

[Naomi Kenway is such a good person. Good people are rewarded. I hope your career becomes more and more successful!]

[How can anyone still say Naomi Kenway is a ’born villain’? How many celebrities have you seen who are this compassionate?]

[Felix Jacobs is too despicable! To think he’d make accusations while holding his ID card. A person like that deserves to be damned for wasting public resources.]

[Naomi Kenway is really a good person, doing good deeds without seeking recognition. Her previous clarification didn’t involve Joelle Lynch much, probably because she was thinking of her. I’m a fan now!]

…

Naomi Kenway’s studio issued another statement, announcing they had filed a lawsuit against Felix Jacobs for “defamation.” A crowd of people cheered and applauded in the comments below.

The reversal of this incident exceeded everyone’s expectations. Naomi Kenway gained a large number of fans, and her public image improved significantly.

Naomi Kenway had been trending on social media for days. After this, she became a household name. Even elderly people who didn’t follow celebrities knew there was a kind-hearted superstar named Naomi Kenway.

Naomi Kenway soon received a call from Joelle Lynch:

“Little Sis Kenway, I knew it wasn’t convenient for you to come over, so I called. I’m so sorry. I don’t usually go online, so I only found out about this when I was chatting with my neighbors. I can’t believe you’ve been wronged so much because of me. I feel terrible. Please don’t blame me for taking matters into my own hands. It’s all my fault for causing you so much trouble. I hope this storm passes quickly. If I’ve really dragged you into this, I… I just wish I could…”

“Don’t say such foolish things,” Naomi Kenway said gently. “It’s alright. It’s all in the past now.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep