Chapter 106:
Everyone was already worn out from a long, exhausting day, and the commotion caused by Elyse only added to their fatigue. Monica suggested that they all head home and get some rest. She had wanted to ask Elena more about her background, but noticing the dark circles under Elena’s eyes, she decided to wait.
“Elena, you must be exhausted. Go home and take a break. I’ll take you out for a meal soon as a proper thank you.”
Elena massaged her temples. Lately, she had put herself at risk by infiltrating the military’s cyber network, hoping to trace her mentor’s whereabouts—almost getting caught in the process. Unfortunately, her efforts yielded nothing. The only conclusion she could draw was that her mentor had some connection to the military, but uncovering more information proved difficult. The security measures within their systems were formidable, and she had expended considerable effort trying to break through.
After saying her goodbyes to Monica, Elena returned to the Harper estate. That night, she finally got some uninterrupted sleep. She assumed the issue with Leopardex was resolved, but the following morning, she awoke to find the internet flooded with damaging reports about her.
Descending the stairs, she was greeted by Jolie’s concerned voice. “Did you sleep well, Elena? Don’t go to the office today. Stay home with me instead, alright?”
Gathered in the room were Alexander, Jeffry, and Louis—only Ellis remained unaware of the situation, cut off from external news. Jolie’s visible distress, along with the unusual tension in the house, made it clear to Elena that something was wrong. And whatever it was, it involved her.
Keeping her composure, she stated, “There’s something I need to take care of at the company. I won’t be long.”
Jolie, unable to dissuade Elena, turned to her husband for assistance. Alexander, attempting to soften his usually stern demeanor, hesitated. Strict with his three sons, he had never raised a daughter before and worried about intimidating her. After Elena’s return, he had been so preoccupied with work that he failed to give her the attention she deserved, something he now regretted.
Now, wanting to express his concern, he struggled to find the right words.
Jeffry, on the other hand, could barely contain his frustration. Although he had already arranged for the defamatory articles about Elena to be taken down, the thought of anyone tarnishing his sister’s reputation filled him with rage. No one who dared to slander Jeffry’s sister would escape unpunished.
They didn’t want Elena heading to the company, fearing that employees might have already seen the scandalous articles and started whispering about her. Just as the family managed to convince Elena to stay home, Samira arrived.
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“Alexander, Jolie, have you seen the latest reports? They’re claiming that Elena copied Helena’s designs. People are already starting to boycott Leopardex’s jewelry.”
Alexander silenced Samira with a sharp look. “Stop spreading gossip and leave.”
Samira, oblivious to the tense expressions on Alexander’s and Jeffry’s faces, pulled up screenshots of the reports.
“I’m not making this up. Look, Alexander, it’s right here—Elena Harper, the designer at Leopardex, is accused of stealing from the renowned Helena Walsh. This is a major scandal for the industry.”
Jeffry’s frown deepened. Was Samira truly unaware of the situation, or was she deliberately reading such accusations aloud in front of Elena?
