Chapter 21 Looking for a Reporter to Leak Information?
Selena's POV
I looked down at the blooming flowers and smiled.
Going to the Empire Daily reporters with a story?
How could she be so stupid?
My clients, those people willing to spend a fortune on one of my pieces, they value my designs, the unique artistry, not some half-true gossip in the media.
They don't care at all whether the designer's private life is pure or messy.
But she shouldn't have, absolutely shouldn't have, acted out in front of my parents, and even worse, she shouldn't have set her sights on the Hart family.
Did she think that little bit of so-called explosive material in her hands could hurt me?
She didn't know that I had been keeping a "big gift" for her, for the Kateson family, all along.
A piece of "insurance" I thought I'd never have to use.
"Anna."
"Yes, miss."
"In my study's safe, there's a black folder. The password is my birthday." I tossed the wilted flower into the nearby trash can. "Bring it out."
"Yes, miss."
Anna didn't ask why. She turned and quickly left.
Taisia, you want to play a media war?
Fine.
I'll play with you.
I'll show you what real despair looks like.
A few minutes later, Anna returned to the greenhouse with the black folder.
I took it and opened it.
Inside were all the backups I'd kept over the past few years while busting my ass for the Kateson family.
I pulled out the first document.
"This is Kateson Corporation's real financial statements from the past five years, along with the... other set of beautified statements they submitted to the IRS and banks. I think the IRS auditors will be very interested in how much tax they've evaded and how much they've defrauded from the banks."
I pulled out the second document.
"These are the raw material purchase orders from their garment factories. Look, they publicly claim to use top Italian cotton, but actually, they use these substandard materials that don't even meet safety standards. I think those consumers who bought their expensive clothes will really want to know what they're actually wearing."
I closed the folder and handed it back to Anna.
"Make a hundred copies of these. Send them to every media outlet in the Empire worth mentioning. Remember, all of them."
I looked at her and added word by word, "Don't use any anonymous channels. Use Hart Group's official email and tell them this is a gift from the Hart family to all the people of the Empire."
"Yes, miss. I'll do it right away."
She turned to leave, her steps even faster than when she arrived.
I picked up my small silver scissors again and began carefully pruning another plant.
The greenhouse was very quiet. Only the crisp sound of scissors cutting through stems could be heard.
Game over.
I didn't go back to the main house. I stayed in the greenhouse.
I didn't even turn on my phone or computer.
I knew the storm would come soon.
Just one hour later.
Uncle Jonathan rushed in, holding a tablet, his face showing that weird expression of wanting to laugh but feeling it wasn't appropriate.
"Selena! Did you... did you do this?"
He held the tablet in front of me.
On the screen was the headline of the Empire's largest news portal, written in bold blood-red letters:
[Shocking Scandal! Kateson Corporation Exposed for Financial Fraud, Tax Evasion, Using Substandard Materials! Century-Old Elite Family's Reputation Collapses Overnight!]
I scrolled down.
["Pure and Innocent" Taisia Kateson's Image Shattered! Chat Records and Audio Recordings Exposed, Revealing How She Used Vicious Methods to Steal Her Sister's Fiancé!]
[Hart Group Publicly Speaks Out: Cleaning House.]
[Stock Market Crash! Kateson Corporation and Cater Group Hit Trading Limit Down at Opening, Countless Investors Lose Everything, Gathering at Company Entrance Demanding Compensation!]
[Breaking News: IRS and Multiple Federal Regulatory Agencies Have Formed Joint Investigation Team, Officially Entering Kateson Corporation!]
Below the news were overwhelming comments.
"Oh my god! I just bought their new coat last month, spent three months of my salary! It's made of garbage?"
"Taisia is so disgusting! How does a woman like that deserve to be a wealthy wife? Is Myrdal blind?"
"I always thought something was wrong with the Kateson family! Now it looks like when Selena was kicked out, she was totally framed! This whole family is a nest of snakes!"
"The Hart family is so bold! Directly using their official email to leak this! This is literally grinding the Kateson family into the ground!"
"Well done! This is exactly how you should deal with ungrateful people like that!"
Uncle Jonathan looked at me, amazed. "This move of yours is way harsher than just bankrupting them. You're destroying their entire family's reputation."
I smiled and said nothing.
Just then, Anna walked in, her face more serious than ever.
"Miss, all investors cooperating with Kateson Corporation and Cater Group have just announced they're immediately and unilaterally terminating all cooperation and reserving the right to pursue legal action."
"Got it." I nodded. This was completely within my expectations.
When the wall falls, everyone pushes.
Those so-called "partners" were now running faster than anyone.
These past few days, my parents and Uncle Jonathan have been looking at me strangely.
My mom no longer holds me saying poor baby, but looks at me with a mixture of pride and amazement, as if looking at some rare treasure.
My dad tells everyone: "Worthy of being my daughter, she has my style from back in the day!"
Uncle Jonathan is even more dramatic. He even wants to give me all his precious antique tractors, saying the Hart family heir should have this kind of spirit.
I'm a bit helpless, but their love is so strong that I can't push it away at all.
Is this what family feels like?
No matter what you do, they stand by your side unconditionally.