Chapter 197 The Russell Family’s Dignity

Chapter 197 The Russell Family’s Dignity

Phaedra was shaking with rage, her facial muscles twitching as she watched Catherine and Nora leave.

"Outrageous! This is absolutely outrageous!" she growled. She had lived for over seventy years and had always had the final say in the Russell family. When had she ever been humiliated like this?

"Mrs. Russell, please calm down. It's not worth getting angry over someone so ill-mannered," the servant beside Phaedra quickly stepped forward to support her, trying to comfort her in a low voice.

Phaedra shook off her hand. "Go investigate! That woman named Nora—find out what her family does. Dig up everything about her! I want to see what gives her such nerve!"

In the car on the way back to the villa, Nora was still chattering away. "Catherine, you shouldn't have stopped me! When dealing with someone so unreasonable, you have to be even tougher! Did you see her face? It turned purple like an eggplant. Serves her right!"

Catherine drove calmly. "She won't let this go."

"So what? We'll deal with whatever comes our way! With Alexander and Leo backing us up, what can she do?" Nora didn't care at all.

Catherine said nothing more. This matter wasn't that simple. Thinking about it made her frown with worry.

Back at the Harrison Group, Catherine had just walked into her office when Zack followed her in with a tablet, looking serious.

"Ms. Spencer, take a look at this."

Catherine took it. On the screen was a headline article from a financial media outlet.

[Shocking Scandal! The Harrison Group's Novogen-1 May Be an Overpriced Placebo, International Donations Actually Clearing Inventory?]

The article implied that the Harrison Group's drugs had quality issues and maliciously twisted the previous free donations.

Below the article, the comment section had exploded.

[I knew it! There's no such thing as a free lunch. Free medicine? Turns out they're treating us like a trash can!]

[No businessman is honest! Catherine's image is ruined! And I used to think she was a goddess!]

[Boycott the Harrison Group! Demand refunds! The face of capitalism is disgusting!]

"At the same time, at least twenty influencers shared similar content," Zack's voice was low. "And our company's stock price has started showing small unusual fluctuations."

Catherine's fingertips slid across the screen, her eyes cold.

"Those old guys on the board can't sit still anymore. They deliberately paid people off to pressure me."

Blocking someone's money is like killing their parents. By refusing to cooperate with K Group, she had basically smashed their golden rice bowl.

"Ms. Spencer, the PR department can barely hold on. The phones are ringing off the hook. Should we issue a statement first..."

Catherine interrupted him, handing back the tablet. "No need. Let them make noise."

The office door opened, and Alexander walked in with the entire Russell Group's legal and PR team behind him.

He walked up to Catherine, took off his suit jacket, draped it over her shoulders, and only then picked up the tablet on the desk and glanced at it.

Catherine looked at him, and the irritation in her heart suddenly eased a bit.

Alexander didn't waste words. He just picked up his phone and made a few calls.

"All quality inspection reports from R&D to production, including original certifications—scan everything in high resolution and send to the top one hundred media outlets in the country."

"Contact the Red Cross spokesperson. I need them to post a thank-you letter on their global website in five minutes, with videos of patients in Thalassia recovering after using the medication."

In less than half an hour, the online narrative completely reversed. Official quality inspection reports flooded in.

Then the official website featured a public thank-you letter at the top of the homepage. Public opinion completely turned around.

[Holy crap! It's reversed! SGS certification! That's the world's top quality inspection!]

[My face hurts! I apologize for my previous comments! Ms. Spencer, I'm sorry!]

[Those rumor-mongering media and directors will do anything for money! Support Mr. Russell! Sue them to death!]

[This is a real entrepreneur! This is a real goddess! Catherine is amazing!]

The Harrison Group's stock price, after a brief drop, surged back strongly and hit the daily limit.

Leroy and the others turned pale the moment they received court summons and lawyer's letters.

At the Russell Mansion, in the study, the atmosphere was heavy.

Leo held a book in his hand but wasn't reading it. Instead, he was staring at Phaedra on the sofa across from him.

"How long do you plan to keep this up?"

"Keep what up?" Phaedra asked casually.

"Besides Alexander's situation, what else could it be?" Leo asked back.

Phaedra didn't even lift her eyelids and let out a cold laugh.

"What am I keeping up? I just can't stand people from small families trying to climb up. I'm just screening for Alexander to make sure he's not deceived."

Leo laughed coldly, slammed the book on the table with a loud sound, and spoke in a low, hoarse tone.

"Your screening means hiring people to write hit pieces and nearly destroying a business that was finally built up? This is the Russell family's way?"

He had already investigated this matter privately. Those directors couldn't have acted alone—someone must have been pulling strings behind the scenes.

Phaedra's hand tightened around her teacup, but she remained stubborn. "If she wants to enter the Russell family, she needs to withstand this kind of storm!"

"You're throwing the Russell family's reputation on the ground for people to trample on!"

Leo stood up, paced around the study, his voice full of disappointment.

"You only see her background. Have you seen Alexander's changes?"

"What changes? He's just been bewitched by that woman!"

Leo stopped and turned around. "You and I both know what he was like before. Besides work, what else did he care about?"

The series of questions made Phaedra's expression turn unpleasant, and she said nothing.

"Look at him now." Leo's tone softened as he tried to persuade her. "He's living like a real person now, not that cold money-making machine."

He changed his approach. "And Catherine—facing a company as big as K Group, she didn't back down. She donated hundreds of millions worth of medicine. With that kind of character, how is she not good enough for our family?"

The study fell silent. Anyone with eyes could see what was really going on.

After a long while, Phaedra put down her teacup, her voice carrying a hint of weariness. "I'm just afraid he'll get hurt."

"His biggest hurt is not getting what he wants."

Leo walked back to her side and gently patted the back of her hand. "We're both old. We can't protect him forever. Let's stop blocking him."

...

A few days later, Catherine was in the villa garden with Ethan watering flowers when a black Bentley slowly pulled up at the entrance.

Phaedra got out of the car, still looking elegant and dignified, but the sharpness in her eyes had softened considerably.