Chapter 75

Gabriela remained blissfully unaware that Phyllis was once again scheming against her.

While staying at Wesley's place, she felt nothing but radiant, unshakable happiness.

With the kind of money she was making on the side,she had no trouble staying cheerful al year.

Even better, Miriam and Loretta had finally stopped insisting she share a room with Wesley, arranging a bright, spacious guest room just for her.

After a hot shower, she flopped onto the plush mattress, rolling across it like a carefree child,soaking in the luxury.

The past two nights in Wesley's bed had left her taut with unease, unable to truly savor the mansion's soft linens. Now, with the space all to herself, she felt her whole body loosen in quiet relief. Eventually, she tired from her rolling spree,grabbed her phone, and started scrolling-only to have it buzz in her hand with an incoming call from Aubrey.

"Aubrey? Is that really you? I assumed you'd be too preoccupied with your boyfriend. I'm surprised you'd even think to call me..."

Gabriela had been ready to tease Aubrey about clinging to her boyfriend, but the sharp edge in Aubrey's voice cut her short.

"You've got enough trouble as it is, and you're cracking jokes? Get on Instagram and Twitter right now-someone's dragging your name through the mud!"

It turned out a high-profile Instagram influencer who went by Gem and commanded a massive following of thirty million had posted a scathing video.

In it, Gem claimed Gabriela had been orphaned at eight, taken in by her uncle, and given every opportunity-financial support, a good home, even a g raduate education. Now, Gabriela was repaying that kindness by trying to snatch her uncle's house out from under him. Under her relentless pressure, her uncle began considering gifting her the property outright.

But if she succeeded in taking it, the video asked,what was stopping her from coming for the family business next?

The post was gaining momentum fast on Instagram-enough to stir trouble, though not yet enough to blow up into an overnight sensation.

Claire's repost was what turned a flicker into a full-blown blaze. She added her own remark beneath it,"A small favor earns gratitude, but an overly generous one often breeds resentment. In a world where good people are the ones who get hurt, this kind of behavior is chilling. Cut those ungrateful leeches out of your life."

Claire, the undisputed queen of entertainment, had many followers. Her devoted fans quickly echoed her stance.

Within hours, Gabriela's name had been shoved into the number-four spot on the trending chart.

The post drew wave after wave of condemnation.

"People like her ruin it for everyone-the good ones give up, and the real needy get left with nothing."

"It's parasites like Gabriela that have sucked every last shred of kindness out of this world."

The outrage swelled, and the mob's determination to track her down and publicly shame her grew fiercer by the minute.

Within thirty minutes, someone dug up an old video from her high school days, showing her laughing with a pack of notorious delinquents at a bar.

Soon after, her workplace was outed, and some people claimed that they would confront her there once the holiday break ended.

Some queried in disbelief, "Isn't Apex Group the developer behind the country's most popular game?How the hell could they hire someone as pathetic as her?"

Gabriela's pulse quickened as she scrolled. Before she could decide whether to keep reading, her phone lit up-Aubrey again. "I just heard Phyllis is planning to go on Gem's livestream tomorrow to squeeze sympathy out of the audience," Aubrey warned, her voice brimming with indignation.

Though she didn't know the full story of Gabriela's family, she trusted her enough to believe she'd never scheme to steal her uncle's home.

In Aubrey's mind, the real villain could only be that sly manipulator-Phyllis.

"I've got a friend with over three million followers-should I ask her to step in and set the record straight?" Aubrey swiftly pressed on.

While her friend simmered with outrage, Gabriela stayed composed, a quiet instinct telling her this could be her best moment to tip the scales in her favor. She comforted Aubrey, "Don't work yourself up over it. Let's just get some rest and see where things stand in the morning."

"Why wait until morning?" Aubrey's temper was teetering on the edge of explosion. "Do you have any idea just how much sway Claire holds? You're already sitting at number four on the tending list-by tomorrow you'll probably be number one! How can Claire be so blind? Those lies are transparent as glass! I'm disgusted I ever admired her."

Though she was once a devoted fan of Claire,Aubrey chose to put her faith in Gabriela rather than a stranger's smear.

Gabriela's lips curved faintly as she assured, "Relax.I've got a plan."

She reasoned that Claire hadn't bought the influencer's story. This was likely payback for that banquet incident with the styling team-a grudge Claire clearly hadn't let go of.

Gabriela's unshaken demeanor gradually eased Aubrey's temper. "For real?" she asked, still worried about her.

"I mean it. Trust me," Gabriela replied, her tone calm and laced with quiet conviction.

After years of swallowing her pride, she felt as though fate was finally sliding a weapon into her hand.

Tonight, she needed Phyllis to fan the flames until the drama boiled over.

A flicker of anticipation warmed her chest as she imagined Phyllis pushing things further, the scandal would spread like wildfire.

If all went perfectly, the entire internet would know by morning.

With that thought, Gabriela set her phone aside and settled in, ready for a full night's rest.

Tomorrow, the counterattack would begin.

Even under the weight of malicious stories, she drifted into a deep, untroubled sleep.

Claire, meanwhile, faced her manager's sharp rebuke for reposting on Twitter. "Claire, you've worked so hard to reach this point. One careless post from you can set the internet ablaze. Mind your words and actions before they blow up in your face!"

Claire leaned back, utterly unfazed.

She had already dug into Gabriela's past and knew her high school reputation was far from spotless.This was her chance to let Wesley see the real Gabriela.

The influencer's damning video was a gift-why wouldn't she make the most of it?

The manager pressed on with gentle words of caution. "Stay out of these messy disputes. They can drag you down before you realize it."

She waved him off with an impatient flick of her hand. "Gabriela's nothing but a pest. I could crush her whenever I feel like it. And if you keep nagging, I'll skip the SK Elite Boutique endorsement altogether."

The manager decided it was wiser to say nothing more.

The endorsement-once well beyond Claire's grasp-had been won through backdoor ties to the CEO of the Vasquez Group.

The uproar online grew so deafening that even Marie caught wind of it.

One after another, ladies from high society called,their voices dripping with sympathy and polite concern.

Keeping her tone as serene as still water, Marie offered the same line to each of them. "Gabriela's a good person deep down, just a little too stubborn for her own good."

They gushed over her supposed graciousness,but behind the mask, Marie's lips curled in a sharp,disdainful smile. There was nothing gracious about her intentions.

Now that the matter had spiraled, she was content to sit back and watch.

If Gabriela's reputation crumbled under this storm,she would sleep easy knowing the house and company would remain securely in her hands.

That night, many tossed and turned in restless sleep.

But Gabriela-the very target of those spiteful whispers-slumbered without a care and woke up feeling rested and clear-headed.

Soon after, Aubrey called Gabriela again. Her voice burst through the phone, bright with surprise."Gabriela, every trending topic about you is gone!"

She didn't even pause before adding, "No wonder you weren't panicking last night. Someone powerful must've stepped in! I'm telling you, it has to be our handsome, mighty boss backing you up!"

Gabriela hadn't said a word before Aubrey barreled ahead with her string of guesses. As Aubrey's rapid-fire chatter finally tapered off, a thought began to settle in Gabriela's mind.

Who else could wipe every trace of those trending topics in a single night? It could only be Wesley's doing.

Once the call ended, she descended the stairs in search of him-only to spot Billy making his way toward the study.

She lingered a moment, then followed at a measured pace.