Chapter 10

People in desperate straits often become even more shameless.

Cyrus had reached the end of his rope.

He could neither repay that thirteen million debt nor accept the fall from cloud nine to mud.

At Meadow's instigation, he decided to go all in.

The next morning, a video titled "Heiress CEO Abandons Three-Year Lover, Turns Around to Grovel Before Returning Tycoon" shot to number one on trending.

In the video, Cyrus appeared unshaven, red-eyed, haggard, tearfully complaining to the camera.

"Vivienne and I were together three years. I gave her my whole heart. The day her grandfather was dying, I got injured at the racetrack and didn't see the call. She's held it against me ever since. Now that Sebastian's back, she kicked me out to climb the social ladder and stuck me with over thirteen million in debt... I really don't know how to keep living."

Meadow appeared on cue beside him, crying pitifully, even holding a forged "abortion medical record."

"Viv never liked me. She thought I was Cyrus's burden. A while ago I accidentally got pregnant. When Viv found out, she forced Cyrus to take me for an abortion. That was a little life..."

This victim act was devastatingly precise.

"Abandoning old love," "clinging to power," "forced abortion." Every keyword struck the public's sensitive nerves.

Public opinion exploded instantly.

Uninformed netizens flooded Sterling Corporation's official account and my personal profile with abuse.

"Vivienne Sterling get out of New York! How can such a heartless woman be CEO?"

"Trading her fiancé for money. Absolutely disgusting!"

"So sad. Three years of her life wasted on a man, and now he's the one paying the price. Too tragic!"

"That Sebastian guy isn't any better, right? Taking someone else's leftovers?"

Sterling Corporation's stock price hit the daily limit down at opening.

The board couldn't sit still, calling to demand answers. Some even proposed removing me as CEO.

I sat in my office watching Cyrus's supremely hypocritical face on the big screen. I found it laughable.

Did he think public opinion could destroy me?

Too bad he forgot. These three years, I'd kept the Sterling family head position not through mercy.

"Miss Sterling, PR has prepared a clarification statement. Should we release it?" My special assistant looked anxious.

I shook my head, fingers lightly tapping the desk. "No rush. Let it play out a bit longer. The heat isn't high enough yet. Not enough to finish him off completely."

"What about Mr. Ashford's side?"

The assistant checked her phone, expression somewhat odd. "Mr. Ashford said... this small matter doesn't require your concern. He's already sent people to 'invite' those two big stars."