Chapter 155

Sienna awoke and gleefully opened Twitter, eager to see Thalia Winters publicly vilified. However, after extensive scrolling, she found no trending topics where her followers were abusing Thalia. Perplexed, Sienna opened TikTok, her eyes widening in shock. Her account had been permanently suspended! How on earth…?

She opened her contacts to call Drake Ashcroft for help, only to find several missed calls from him. Sienna immediately called him back.

“Hey, Drake, I—”

Before Sienna could finish, Drake interrupted sharply.

“Sienna! Have you seen the mess you’ve created?” Drake was furious. “You spread rumors online claiming Thalia’s a home-wrecker? Who’s the real home-wrecker here—have you no self-awareness?”

Sienna was speechless. “I…”

“Thalia’s law firm has sent you a formal legal notice,” Drake said icily. “I won’t be helping you. You’ve made your bed, now lie in it.”

Drake ended the call. Sienna was stunned. What legal notice?

She hastily returned to Twitter and found the letter from Thalia’s law firm, Winters & Associates, stating they would sue her for defamation. Sienna frantically searched online for information on the legal ramifications of defamation. What she discovered drained the color from her face. Defamation was a criminal offense, punishable by imprisonment! If Winters & Associates successfully sued her and she was found guilty, she could go to jail.

Chapter 155

This wouldn’t do. She couldn’t just wait for disaster to strike.

When business hours began, Thalia called the police station again to inquire about the rescue efforts for her sister, Lucy. The duty officer stated the case was highly complex and the rescue operation wasn’t easy to formulate. They asked her to be patient, continue cooperating, and assured her they would notify her immediately of any developments.

After hanging up, Thalia’s shoulders slumped. Monday arrived, and Thalia went to Winters & Associates to handle work. The firm was in its startup phase, and as managing partner, she couldn’t afford to slack off.

After working for two hours, Yetta, Winters & Associates’ receptionist, knocked on Thalia’s office door.

“Come in.”

Yetta opened the door. “Ms. Winters, someone’s here to see you.”

“Right, I’ll be there in a moment.”

Thalia walked into the reception area, and a familiar figure unexpectedly appeared. A perfectly tailored charcoal grey suit showcased the man’s impeccable physique—broad shoulders, trim waist, and commanding posture. Even his back view was captivating.

“What brings you here?” Thalia’s expression darkened. “Mr. Blackwood, kindly refrain from disrupting my work.”

Asher’s eyes dimmed. “Lia, I’ve heard about the social media storm. Are you alright?”

Thalia turned away, fixing Asher with an icy stare. “I’m perfectly fine. Don’t trouble yourself on my account.”

Asher was quiet for a moment, then said, “I’ve already spoken with the platform administrators. Sienna’s account has been permanently suspended.”

“Well, how terribly kind of you.”

Asher: …

“If there’s nothing else, you can leave. I’m busy and haven’t the time to waste on this conversation. Good day.” Thalia turned to leave.

“Lia, please, just hear me out…” Asher quickly rose and followed her.

As they exited the reception area, Yetta approached Thalia again. “Ms. Winters, there’s someone else here to see you.”

“Who is it?” Thalia inquired.

Chapter 155

“Are you Ms. Winters?” a bespectacled man asked, eyeing Thalia.

Thalia nodded. “Yes, that’s me. How can I help?”

“Lia, look out!” Asher’s voice rang out from behind.

In a split second, Asher pulled Thalia into his arms. The bespectacled man hurled a colorless, transparent liquid directly at Thalia’s face. Because Asher had yanked Thalia into his embrace, the liquid splashed onto the potted plant behind her instead. The plant rapidly corroded. Sulfuric acid.

Thalia’s face turned deathly pale. If Asher hadn’t pulled her away, the acid would have hit her face directly, horrifically disfiguring her.

The bespectacled man glared with fury, as if she were his mortal enemy. His eyes seemed to wish a thousand painful deaths upon her.

“You bloody slag! Home-wrecking bitch who destroyed our Sienna’s relationship and got her account banned. Rot in hell!” the bespectacled man spat venomously. Evidently, one of Sienna’s obsessive fans.

Asher’s two bodyguards restrained the man, his arms pinned, yet he continued his abuse. Asher, with a thunderous expression, viciously kicked the man in the stomach. “Shut your bloody mouth!”

The impact was brutal. The man instantly paled, contorting in agony as he doubled over, clutching his stomach and howling in pain.

Asher asked, his eyes brimming with concern, “Lia, are you alright?”

Thalia recovered from the shock, a wave of horror washing over her. With a bloodless face, she said simply, “Call the police.”

The authorities arrived promptly. The bespectacled man was taken into custody. Asher remained at Winters & Associates, hovering around Thalia and anxiously asking if she was unharmed.

Concentrated sulfuric acid has high density, meaning the liquid wouldn’t have splattered widely. All the acid landed on the potted plant, and Thalia hadn’t been touched. Asher had verified this multiple times but remained deeply concerned.

“Lia, perhaps I should take you to hospital for a check-up?”

“Not necessary. I’m perfectly fine,” Thalia replied coldly. “If there’s nothing else, you should leave now. I need to get back to work.”

Thalia walked toward her office with Asher trailing behind.

“Laurina Kensington is my cousin.”

Thalia continued walking. “I’m aware. Your point being?”

Asher’s throat constricted. “I ended our relationship to protect you from Tom Malfoy.”

Thalia’s lips curled in derision. “How utterly absurd. You broke things off and called off our engagement, so pray tell, why would Tom Malfoy still abduct both me and Lucy?”

Asher was speechless. Thalia halted at her office door and turned back, her glacial gaze settling on Asher’s face. “Asher Blackwood, you are truly full of your own self-importance.”

“I’m sorry, Lia.” Asher’s eyes darkened with regret. “Could you possibly give me another chance? I swear I’ll make amends and treat you properly.”

“I’m afraid that won’t be necessary.”

Thalia called out to the reception desk, “Yetta, please show Mr. Blackwood out.”

When Rupert Lysander walked into Winters & Associates, this was the scene that greeted him.

“Mr. Blackwood.” Rupert’s eyebrow arched slightly, regarding Asher with interest. “Are you here to engage our services for a case?”

Asher started. “What on earth are you doing here?”

Rupert smiled. “I’m a partner at this firm.”

Asher stared blankly at Thalia. “Lia, you’ve gone into partnership with him?”

How could she possibly partner with Rupert Lysander! Rupert had always had designs on her!

Thalia’s eyes reflected nothing but impatience. “Mr. Blackwood, whom I choose to partner with is hardly your concern.”

“Lia…” Asher’s eyelashes fluttered with emotion.

Thalia pushed open her office door and stepped inside, closing it firmly and shutting him out.

Rupert smiled pleasantly. “Mr. Blackwood, if you wish to engage our firm, you’re welcome to discuss matters with me. Ms. Winters is rather occupied at present.”

“Lysander, don’t think I don’t know what you’re playing at.” Asher fixed Rupert with an icy glare, practically seething.

Rupert adjusted his glasses and smiled. “Oh? Perhaps Mr. Blackwood would care to elaborate on what precisely I’m ‘playing at’?”