Chapter 82
After I hung up on Faye, I opened all the web pages she'd sent me. The video of Jessa and Michael's hotel meetup had been edited into many different versions.
In the footage, you could clearly see Jessa entering Michael's room.
The scandal between the two of them would probably spread throughout the entire city soon. Combined with Jessa's celebrity status, public opinion was impossible to control.
This also damaged the Morgan family's reputation. After all, Michael was Cleo Morgan's husband. His affair meant the Morgan family had been humiliated.
I had my doubts about the news of them being together. Jessa loved Levi. No matter what the reason, she wouldn't change her heart.
Even if Jessa had found a boyfriend like Alaric, I didn't believe she would steal Cleo's man.
I put down my phone and decided to get out of bed first before making any other plans.
I had a feeling tonight's Morgan family dinner would have a very heavy atmosphere.
All day long, I buried myself in work. Even though it wasn't my scandal, I felt equally embarrassed by this whole thing.
My husband's brother-in-law was cheating with my husband's unforgettable girl - it sounded absolutely explosive.
As quitting time got closer and closer, I kept wondering whether I should contact Levi.
Just as he called me, Nola came into my office, and I quickly hung up.
"Blair, things must be pretty chaotic at your place, right? I've been holding it in all day, but now that we're about to get out of work, I still want to ask you."
Nola loved fresh gossip. If she didn't ask me, she'd probably burst.
I didn't mind her asking. She meant no harm - she was just curious.
"Chaotic or not, we'll find out at tonight's family dinner." I didn't know how bad it would get either.
"Honestly, people outside are making it sound so crazy, but I don't believe Jessa would hook up with Cleo's husband. A lot of those videos are poorly edited."
I bit my lip. This matter was hard to say.
"Didn't Jessa's studio release a statement? She said it was all rumors."
I tidied up the things on my desk, getting ready to leave work.
Nola pressed on, "What's your husband's reaction? With his resources, it shouldn't be hard to investigate this, right?"
I was speechless. "He's not all-powerful."
Just from the fact that the surveillance footage didn't catch who picked up Hayden that day, Levi seemed pretty defeated.
"Okay, you go ahead. I'll help you clean up." Nola smiled at me.
I showed her the time. "It's quitting time. I bet you'll leave even faster than me."
"Hehe, I've got drinks planned, drinks planned."
"Your recent blind date guy can't be a heavy drinker, can he? Otherwise, he wouldn't have lasted more than a week without you dumping him."
When Nola heard "blind date guy," she immediately ran out, throwing out a line as she closed the door: "I'll bring him to meet you another day. You bring Levi, and the two of us will have a drinking contest with him."
My heart felt empty. Chatting with Nola could make me happy for a while, but thinking about everyone sitting together tonight made me feel depressed.
I remembered Levi had called me earlier. Just as I was about to call him back, I saw the message he'd sent me. He said he wouldn't pick me up - we'd meet at the Morgan mansion.
I was planning to go by myself anyway. His picking me up would have made me uncomfortable. Lately, Levi had been showing more and more concern for me, which gave me the false impression that he wanted to be good to me.
Anyway, I didn't believe he could forget Jessa so quickly.
……
Night fell. Winter always got dark early.
After I parked my car, I found Levi waiting for me.
The main topic today would probably be about Cleo's husband.
My sister-in-law was really hard to read. She could get angry just like that, or forgive just like that.
"Let's go. Don't keep everyone waiting."
I linked my arm through Levi's. It was something I wanted to do without thinking.
If the two of us appeared as a fairly harmonious couple, maybe it would give the elders some comfort. This family couldn't afford any more chaos.
Everyone was already seated, just waiting for us two.
Faye and Celestia weren't at the table. They probably thought the evening's conversation wouldn't be appropriate for them to hear.
I'd already gotten a message from Faye on the way. She said please, if there was any new information, I had to share it with her. When it came to gossip, she and Nola were evenly matched.
"Sorry, I'm late. There was some traffic on the way." I apologized to everyone first, to break the ice.
Levi's mother smiled warmly and said, "Not late at all. We just sat down too."
I greeted Aiden and Rhea, then saw Cleo with her head hanging low.
I didn't know if they'd talked to her before I arrived.
Levi and I sat down. He didn't say anything. He didn't know what to say at a time like this either.
"Well, let's eat first, then."
Rhea looked at Aiden and gave him a look, hoping he'd eat first so everyone could start eating.
But Aiden didn't move. He let out a long sigh and took a deep breath.
"The family was pretty peaceful this year, but there's been too much improper behavior."
Aiden rubbed his wine glass. "Cleo and Levi, you two won't let anyone rest easy!"
"First, Levi - you and Jessa had that scandal, making everyone think she was your wife. This made Blair suffer so much. If Blair weren't so understanding, I would have dealt with you long ago."
"You're already a father now. Can't you keep your personal life straight? When you have a wife and daughter, you need to be responsible. You can't do whatever you want just because you have some status."
Aiden brought up old matters, every sentence pointing out Levi's faults.
Levi didn't respond or argue back. He let Aiden criticize him. Whenever Aiden criticized him, he always stayed silent.
Not wanting to affect everyone's mood, I wanted to say a few good words for Levi.
"Grandpa, since it's all in the past, let's not bring it up. We're doing fine now." I said with a smile.
Aiden nodded. "Well, well, well. You're always protecting him. One day, when he does something outrageous, I won't protect you."
I could tell these were just angry words from Aiden.
Rhea pressed Aiden's arm. "Let's eat. Stop talking."
"What, I can't talk now?"
Aiden shook off Grandma's hand and pointed at Cleo. His trembling hand was heartbreaking.
"And you - you can't even keep an eye on your own husband? How did such a disgraceful thing happen!"
Cleo's eyes filled with tears. "Grandpa, I really didn't know how they got together. I never would have imagined that Jessa would do something so disgusting - seducing my husband."
"This isn't just that woman's problem!"
Aiden said sternly, "Michael Johnson himself is a womanizer, too."
"Grandpa, he was just temporarily confused." Cleo was still speaking up for her husband.
I remembered at Jessa's house, Michael kept saying he and Jessa had no relationship at all. So where did this talk of Jessa seducing him come from?
This whole thing was very suspicious. Just based on Jessa's attitude toward Michael that day, I didn't think they would have an affair. Otherwise, their acting skills were just too good.