Chapter: 264
The newspapers had published numerous photos of Alan and Ashley, bolstering their narrative.
The article overstated the depths of Ashley and Alan's love and portrayed Kaitlin as the seductress who disrupted their relationship, leading to her pregnancy and ultimately displacing Ashley.
It swiftly incited public fury.
Merging these stories greatly tarnished Kaitlin's reputation.
“Immoral actions, poor treatment of clients in her studio, and only catering to the elite!"
“Boycott Oasis Studio, and boycott mistresses!"
"Mr. Hewitt and Ashley were the perfect couple, ruined by such a malevolent woman!"
"A mistress rises to fame as Osewood's premier designer while the original companion is overlooked-how can such injustice exist? It's completely unfair!"
Shawn glanced at the digital headlines and allowed a small smile to creep across his face. “Ashley really does have some clever tactics."
Kaitlin had just stirred from a nap and was drinking water when the latest headlines caught her eye on her smartphone.
She nearly spit out her water at the sight of her name linked to the derogatory term "seductress."
She tapped into the comments section but found them too distressing to endure.
Before she could read a message from Phoebe, her phone rang.
"Kaitlin, where are you?" Alan asked.
Annoyed, Kaitlin snapped, “Where do you think? At home. What on earth is happening with the news online?"
Alan's voice held a note of worry. “Kaitlin, let me explain. I've already told the PR team to sort this out."
Kaitlin's voice dripped with icy contempt. “I also came across those pictures of you with Ashley. Quite the cozy pair. I never imagined I'd be labeled a mistress someday."
Alan's brow creased in concern as he clarified, “Those are old snapshots. I'm looking into how they surfaced."
Kaitlin's response was skeptical. “And what are you planning to do about it?"
“Just stay put. I'll come by to pick you up soon," he assured her.
With a dismissive shrug, Kaitlin tried to dismiss her concerns.
The damage was done, and fretting was futile. The faceless crowd online was clueless about the truth, and their speculations meant little to her.
“Alright, I understand," she conceded, and with a flick of her wrist, ended the call, though annoyance lingered.
She tortured herself by scrolling through the photos again, each one a reminder of how genuinely Alan had once cared for Ashley. They were undeniably close in each frame.