Meanwhile, the online world had already turned into a full-blown circus with flaming opinions flying like knives.
Earlier, netizens had unanimously condemned Zahn Neri, branding him a cheating scumbag. In their eyes, the scandal had neatly explained his divorce, case closed.
Vanessa even stepped forward. She painted herself as a tragic heroine, a so-called warrior of love, declaring in a public statement that if loving someone was wrong, then she was willing to be wrong. That matters of the heart couldn't be controlled.
Some were moved, others gagged, scolding her for insulting 'love.'
Before the flames could settle, Zahn's legal team struck back. With Tristan's assistance, they released footage from the corridor showing Zahn, unconscious, being carried out.
Clearly, he was too drunk to even stand, let alone orchestrate some scandalous affair.
Alongside it came a firm statement:
They would be pursuing legal action against those who had taken advantage of his condition.
And just like that the narrative shattered.
What was truth? What was performance? No one could tell anymore.
Vanessa, who had just tried to seize the role of a romantic martyr, was immediately dragged back down. Accusations flooded in, sharper than before. A manipulator, opportunist and a shame to women.
But, of course, the internet is never a unified creature.
A faction still rose to defend her, those hopeless romantics who treated logic like an optional accessory.
"Love isn't a crime!"
"At least she's honest about her feelings!"
"You can't control who you fall for!"
Many expressed genuine sympathy to Zahn Neri, pointing out how he had clearly been set up.
Others turned it into entertainment.
"Why is this man always getting schemed against? If he's not being drugged, did someone get him drunk on purpose?"
"Why do women often resort to drugging men? All those dramas teaching this scheme should be banned."
"Zahn Neri is a renowned doctor. Why couldn't he tell if something was wrong with his body? In their circle, I've never heard of Shin Keir and Tristan Felan falling for such a ridiculous plot."
Someone replied to the comment above:
"Because the Keirs are ruthless people. I assume they've been trained to deal with cases like this. And with Hexion's presence, who would even dare drug them?"
"Zahn Neri: certified heart surgeon, part-time target of suspicious women."
---
"How could they possibly get footage of the hallway? I thought you took care of it?!" Vanessa hollered at Xavier, her voice sharp with anger and anxiety.
She had already warned him that Tristan Felan knew too much, yet he had brushed it off as mere assumptions with no evidence. And now, the Neris had retaliated swiftly.
Xavier Song frowned as he looked at the chaotic flood of comments condemning Vanessa.
He was certain his people had already taken care of the aftermath.
"Don't worry about such a trivial matter. I'm almost done dealing with the Neri Hospital affairs, and I can finally get rid of that old woman." Xavier waved his hand dismissively.
But Vanessa wasn't pacified in the slightest. After all, she was the one being condemned, her reputation hanging by a thread.
"Xavier Song, I did everything you asked me to do! I divorced you and watched you cozy up to that disgusting old hag. How do you think I felt all this time? Do you think I enjoyed seducing that block of ice, Zahn Neri? Do you have any idea how anxious, how afraid I've been, wondering if something really happened between me and him?"
Xavier narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing her. "So your heart never skipped, not even once, for Zahn Neri?"
Vanessa swallowed, but quickly seized the moment to look utterly wronged.
"I married you for love, and I divorced you for love, for your sake... because you said it was for our future. And this is what I get in return? Your suspicion?" she said, her voice trembling with hurt.
Xavier sighed and apologized, no longer wanting to argue.
Just then, he answered a call from a subordinate.
It was Junho, Hexion's genius hacker, not only had he recovered the deleted footage, but Tristan had nearly bought the hotel where they had taken Zahn Neri.
After the call, Xavier looked visibly frustrated. He wasn't in a position to casually purchase an entire hotel. Damn those Keirs, they certainly knew how to flaunt their power.
"I told you many times that Tristan Felan knew about our plan! There's no way they aren't helping Zahn Neri. But you still pushed me into publicly humiliating myself! What am I supposed to do now, huh? If Zahn Neri really sues, I'm finished—"
"Shut up. I get it, okay?" Xavier snapped, irritation flashing across his face. "Screaming won't help. The internet moves fast. Give it time and people will forget. Besides, didn't I promise you? Once this is over, we'll remarry. Did you forget?"
Vanessa's eyes reddened as she paced back and forth, like a storm trapped in human form.
Xavier stood and pulled her into an embrace, his voice softening. "Baby, I know you've done a lot for me, but this is temporary. Later, you can just say you were momentarily blinded, that nothing really happened between you and Zahn Neri. People make mistakes. Netizens are forgiving to those who admit them."
"What are you two doing?!"
The raspy, shrill voice sliced through the air like a blade.
Both of them turned.
Madam Neri stood at the entrance, her presence looming like a judge catching a crime in progress.
Xavier immediately let go, nearly pushing Vanessa away in his haste.
She stumbled slightly but said nothing, covering her mouth in shock.
"Dear, why are you here? I thought you were handling matters at the hospital?" Xavier stepped forward, attempting to hug her.
The response came in the form of a sharp slap.
Vanessa froze, eyes wide, but didn't intervene.
For a long time, Madam Neri had come and gone from Xavier's residence so often that the servants no longer needed to announce her arrival.
Yet ironically, this was the first time she had walked in on a scene like this, one that required no explanation, only consequences.
Veins bulged along Xavier's neck, a silent testament to the fury simmering beneath his skin. But he hadn't come this far without mastering the art of restraint.
Instead of lashing out, he gently took Madam Neri's hand, his touch careful, almost tender, as if he were the one worried she might have hurt herself from striking him.
"Don't hurt your hand." He frowned with worry.
Madam Neri had always been a shrewd woman but even the most calculating villains had their weak points.
Her sharp, murderous gaze shifted toward Vanessa alone, slicing through the air with enough venom to kill without a blade.
"I assume you may have heard some things outside," Xavier began smoothly, his voice measured. "But, dear, will you give me a chance to explain?"
"Why didn't you tell me she's your ex-wife?" Madam Neri snapped, her tone dripping with sarcasm and contempt.
"All this time, she remained by your side playing the role of secretary, consultant, assistant… even a business collaborator of Neri Hospital. She's certainly… versatile. If I didn't know better, I'd think there were three more of her walking around with that same face."
"And now she's setting her sights on my son. Because of her, people are condemning him." Her lips curled in disdain. "Let me make this clear. I will never accept a divorcée into the Neri household. You're even worse than that ungrateful Lianna."
She continued berating Vanessa without pause, each word sharper than the last.
Vanessa stood there with her head bowed, shoulders trembling as quiet sobs escaped her, tragic and pitiful.
Meanwhile, unnoticed, a flicker of contempt flashed through Xavier's eyes before vanishing just as quickly.
"Dear," Xavier interjected gently, "it's precisely because I was afraid you'd react like this that I didn't tell you. Vanessa and I are just friends now. She's simply… capable. Someone I can trust with important matters, that's all."
He paused before adding, "And earlier, I was only comforting her. You've seen what the netizens are saying, haven't you? I just felt sorry for her. A man like your son naturally attracts many women, Vanessa was no exception."
Madam Neri had just come from an argument with Lianna, her temper already stretched thin. Yet Xavier remained as composed as ever. He hadn't even shown anger when she struck him. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, her fury began to settle.
Still, learning that these two had once been married struck her like a crack through glass.
A heavy lump formed in her chest. She refused, absolutely refused to believe that Xavier was only after her wealth.
Pouting slightly, she shot Vanessa a cold glare. "It doesn't matter. From now on, I don't want her anywhere near you."
Xavier chuckled softly, raising his hands in surrender. "Anything my dear wants. As long as you're happy."
Vanessa "...."
The moment Xavier chose to pursue Madam Neri, whatever respect or lingering affection she once had had long since withered away.
And now, just the thought of the two of them being intimate, it was enough to make her stomach churn.
Even so, she couldn't let go of Xavier Song, especially now that this foolish old hag was practically handing her assets to him on a silver platter.
With a dramatic thud, Vanessa rushed forward and dropped to her knees before Madam Neri.
Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded desperately, begging her to stop Zahn from pursuing a lawsuit. She claimed it was all her fault, that she had merely misinterpreted Zahn's actions, foolishly believing he might have felt the same way.
Xavier frowned and immediately reached out to pull her up. "What are you doing? Don't kneel!"
Madam Neri, who had been momentarily stunned, felt a sharp surge of jealousy twist inside her. Her vindictive nature rose to the surface, dark and unrestrained.
"Let her kneel," she said coldly. "I might consider helping you… if you serve as my personal maid."
The mere thought of Vanessa and Xavier sharing a bed in the past ignited a burning rage within her. Letting Vanessa walk away so easily suddenly felt like a mistake.
Besides, that wretch Lianna was no longer around to serve her.
Vanessa, it seemed, would make a perfect replacement.
At her words, both Xavier and Vanessa froze.
Personal maid?