Chapter 79 Exposed

Chapter 79 Exposed
EILEEN POV:

I was walking out of class when I realized people were staring at me. Since my relationship with Dominic became public, a lot of people recognized me, but they kept their distance after a while. But today’s gazes were less curious but held more judgment.

“Dan, did something happen?” I asked.

Dan had followed her around every day since Arthur came into the picture. “The college didn’t allow any journalists and paparazzi to enter, so you are safe for now,” he said quickly. 

I sucked in a breath. “What is it?” I asked in a low voice. 

He pulled the car door open and waited for me to slide in. Realizing he was in a rush to get me out, I got into the car without question and played with my thumb as he rounded the car and slid into the driver’s seat.

He took the south gate instead of the one we usually took back home and I arched my brow. “The cameras are waiting outside Gate 2,” he informed her. 

“Can you tell me what is happening now?”

“Arthur tried to sell the story to a news outlet but was turned down. So, he went on an incel podcast with a couple million followers and made a sob story about how you refuse to let him meet his daughter and are using Dominic’s contacts to make things difficult for him.”

I stiffened. We had anticipated part of it. I had thought he would post on social media and because Dominic’s name was mentioned, he would get some traction. But most people wouldn’t believe it, or his page would be so small that it would be shut down. 

But I had never expected him to contact a random podcaster with an avid hatred for women. With the rise of men who hated women and blamed all the world’s problems on them, this kind of content from a father who only wants to be happy with their kids sold easily. He would be put on a pedestal and my name dragged through the mud. 

“What podcast did he go on?”

Dan looked at her through the rearview mirror and grimaced. “Greg is working on getting it taken down already.”

“Tell me the name,” I sighed. 

I knew he wanted to protect me from the scathing comments. But I had to see what Arthur had to say. 

Dan mumbled it under his breath and I searched for it online. As I had expected, it exploded from a reel posted on Instagram. The podcast itself had over a million views even though it was posted a couple of hours ago, while I was in class. 

The podcast was over an hour long, going over how we met and how wonderful our relationship was… from his point of view. I scoffed when he mentioned that I broke up with him over a misunderstanding and never informed him of the child’s birth. 

He really had thought it through. He had an explanation for why he was not in the picture during Bethany’s birth and the next years of her life. 

“I recently found out she had given birth and is now in a relationship with a rich and powerful man.” 

The implication was: I had left him to be with someone richer. That I was a gold digger who kept his child from him. 

The podcast host asked him who it was, and Arthur looked distressed. “I can’t really name them, but it’s a billionaire who once dated an actress.” He didn’t say any more, being evasive. 

I wanted to reach through the screen and strangle him. Anyone with a nose for gossip could hunt through Arthur’s college information and draw a conclusion from that.

I scrolled to the comments and obviously, it was full of speculation. Dominic’s name came up multiple times. My name was there, but I noticed how it kept disappearing every time my name was mentioned. 

A battle happened in the comments section. People wondered why their attempts at revealing my identity were being thwarted. Was it the channel banning those comments, or was the billionaire in question blocking news from escaping.

The fact Dominic’s name wasn’t removed was a good thing. Some people didn’t think he was involved. I sighed with relief, knowing he might not be dragged into this mess because of me. 

“Is Dominic at the company?”

“He has security with him. There are some reporters downstairs but they are more interested in getting you.” Because I was easier to get a response out of.

“I–”

“He told me to reassure you… this is well within his estimation. Greg is good at his job. Don’t worry.”

I was not worried about myself. If Dominic’s name wasn’t mentioned, I could have pulled out the recording of him asking me for money and had public opinion reversed. But now, if she tried it, everyone would say it was doctored, and that the rich was bullying the poor working class. 

In the podcast, I heard another strange sentence. 

“Are you scared of saying who they are? No matter how rich or famous they are, can they beat the public?”

“It’s difficult to fight when the other party provides a dream life for my child. One part of me is happy that my daughter is living the life I dream of giving her, but another part of me wonders if a father’s love is worth more than these things that money can buy.”

I wanted to laugh. The fatherly love he proudly spoke of was something he was incapable of. Dominic was thousand times the father than he ever could be. Moreover, I treated Arthur as nothing more than a sperm donor. 

Since when did sperm donors have the same honor as a father who brought up the child and went through all hardships with them? If only that were true legally in our case, as well.

The conversation turned towards how he didn’t have enough money to fight in court and the podcast host even offered to donate for the cause. That women like me should not be allowed to raise children lest they ruin the future generation. 

The jokes were endless, and Arthur appeared delighted by how everyone was bashing me, while exalting his efforts.

“Dan, do you think people will believe me?” I wondered.

I refreshed the page and my eyes widened. The video had been turned private by the owner of the channel.