Chapter 36 Home-Wrecker, Get Out!
Seconds later, gasps of disbelief erupted from the crowd.
The media section reacted first, camera flashes going off like crazy, the clicking sounds merging into a continuous symphony.
Nicholas was married?
So what did that make Zoe, who was standing on stage?
The other woman?
"Oh my God! Is Mr. Harrison married? His wife's name is Emma!"
"That makes Zoe a total home-wrecker!"
"Holy crap, what a bombshell! So the Harrison Group CEO's wife had already decided."
"Zoe is the mistress—how dare she flaunt her relationship with Mr. Harrison so publicly?"
"I can't believe it, Zoe's the other woman?"
"No way, Zoe can't be a mistress, how did she become the other woman?"
......
The entire venue erupted into chaos.
"Home-wrecker! Get off the stage!"
Someone in the crowd shouted first.
"She's the other woman!"
"Shameless! Seducing a married man!"
"And she has the nerve to hold a fan event? The audacity!"
Furious fans hurled their glow sticks, gifts, and water bottles at the stage.
"Liar! Get out!"
"Bitch!"
The scene instantly spiraled out of control, with screams, angry shouts, and crying voices blending together.
Security tried to maintain order, but it was completely useless.
On stage, Zoe's smile froze completely.
She stared at the marriage certificate on screen, at the chaotic crowd below, her mind going completely blank.
How could this happen?
Impossible!
This had to be fake!
She opened her mouth to defend herself, but no sound came out.
The blood in her veins seemed to freeze.
Reporters swarmed to the edge of the stage, shoving microphones and cameras in her face.
"Ms. Perez, did you know Mr. Harrison was married?"
"What's your relationship with Mr. Harrison? Is this an affair?"
"Is it true you're a home-wrecker? Will the Harrison family accept you?"
"Please respond!"
Zoe had become the laughingstock of the entire city, if not the whole country.
Her social media followers plummeted at a visible rate, losing millions within minutes.
The comment sections were overrun by furious netizens, filled with unspeakable insults.
Years of carefully crafted images collapsed in an instant.
An unprecedented credibility crisis plunged her into the abyss.
Her assistant and manager rushed onto the stage, protecting the devastated Zoe as they fled through the side exit in disgrace.
Behind them lay the still-chaotic venue and her destroyed career.
At the same time, the Harrison Group's official website was under siege by angry netizens.
They branded Nicholas a scumbag who abandoned his wife to cheat with Zoe, declaring he didn't deserve to be Emerald City's wealthiest businessman.
Everyone collectively boycotted Harrison Group products.
This clearly had competitors pulling strings behind the scenes!
The Harrison Group's stock plummeted as online attacks surged like unstoppable tidal waves.
Nicholas stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, a cigarette between his long fingers, his cold, narrow eyes fixed on the apartment building in the distance, on that plant-filled balcony.
Charlie knocked and entered, carrying a folder.
"Mr. Harrison, the management team is assembled. Should you head to the conference room now?"
"Also, Ms. Perez has been calling nonstop, blowing up my phone. Should we activate crisis management PR for her? But given the company's current situation, if we step up for her, the negative impact would be even worse."
Charlie suddenly fell silent.
"Have someone else chair the meeting."
Nicholas left with just that single sentence, grabbing his coat and heading out.
Fury burned in his eyes—right now, he needed answers.
Fifteen minutes later, Nicholas arrived at Emma's apartment door.
The doorbell rang urgently, betraying Nicholas's impatience.
Emma opened her drowsy eyes, feeling dizzy, only then realizing she'd fallen asleep curled up on the sofa the night before.
She patted her head. No good—still dizzy.
The doorbell kept ringing. She reached for the door, her entire body leaning weakly against it.
She saw the man outside, his handsome face cold enough to freeze water.
Nicholas looked at her pale, listless face. Had she just woken up?
Her eyes were severely swollen, but her small face, bare of makeup, showed a hint of flush.
"Emma, did you do all this?"
Nicholas stormed in with an aura of cold fury, his handsome face covered in frost, barely contained rage burning in his eyes.
He demanded an explanation.
Emma tiredly leaned her head against the doorframe, already suffering from a splitting headache, made even more irritated by his inexplicable question.
She thought he was referring to burning down Dreamy Garden last night. Hadn't he said he'd given it to her?
Did she need to report how she handled it?
Was it really necessary to come here specifically to blame her?
The fire wasn't large, but it had made quite a commotion.
She pulled at the corner of her mouth, her eyes weary, too tired to argue.
"Yes, I did it."
"Don't you already know?"
"So many people saw it, I can't deny it."
Her tone was flat, emotionless, as if discussing something completely unrelated to herself.
Nicholas's chest heaved violently, his anger instantly maxing out.
"Emma!" He roared, veins bulging at his temples. "Do you hate me that much? Hate me enough to destroy everything between Zoe and me?"
Emma froze!
He'd finally admitted it—Dreamy Garden was built for Zoe.
And he'd given it to her?
Who was he trying to disgust?
Anyone with an ounce of decency wouldn't pull something like this—shameless man!
Emma's ears rang from his shouting. She raised her hand to rub her forehead.
She laughed, but the smile didn't reach her eyes, carrying mockery and distance.
"Does it hurt?"
"Nicholas, don't you think you're ridiculous?"
She turned her face away, her voice weak. "Just leave. I'm dizzy and don't want to fight with you."
But Nicholas refused to leave. He stepped closer, his tall figure looming over her with overwhelming pressure.
"Emma, I really underestimated you!"
"I thought when you signed the divorce papers so readily, you'd truly let go and wouldn't cause any more trouble!"
He spoke through gritted teeth. "Turns out you were lying in wait!"
"You just want to destroy Zoe, want to see me suffer, want to make me pay, don't you?"
Emma's head grew more confused, buzzing—she couldn't understand what he was talking about at all.
Burning Dreamy Garden could make him suffer?
Damn... she should have burned it sooner!
She gripped the sofa armrest tightly, trying to steady herself.
"Nicholas, what are you doing? Have you lost your mind?"
"Just leave!"
"Whatever you do with Zoe—marriage, kids—none of it concerns me!"
"None of your concern?" Nicholas laughed coldly, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Emma, you're quite the actress!"
"Emma, your methods are truly despicable!"
"Using such shameless tactics to get revenge on her, do you find it amusing?"
"Let me tell you something—destroying Zoe won't be that easy!"
Each word was like a poisoned ice pick, stabbing viciously into Emma's heart.
Emma looked at his handsome face, which was becoming somewhat blurry.
"Do whatever you want. Now, please leave." She pointed toward the door.
Seeing her nonchalant attitude, Nicholas furiously grabbed her wrist.
"Emma, you..."
His words cut off abruptly.
The skin his palm touched was frighteningly hot.
Was she sick?
Emma was in pain from his grip, and combined with her physical discomfort, her emotions instantly collapsed.
She forcefully shook off his hand, her body swaying.
"Nicholas, it's over."
Her voice was hoarse, choking with tears, as she used all her remaining strength to shout at him.
"I don't love you anymore!"
"Really, I don't love you anymore!"
"Twelve years was long enough!"
"Now get the hell out!"
Before she finished speaking, her vision went black, and her body crumpled to the floor.