Chapter 151: Everything Is Still Not Out of Control

Chapter 151: Everything Is Still Not Out of Control

"What did you just say?" Daphne slammed on the brakes.

Selene repeated it again.

Someone online claiming to be Claire's high school classmate had leaked information saying that Claire's biological parents lived in a remote rural area. To maintain her previous wealthy lifestyle, she refused to acknowledge her birth parents after leaving the Blackwell family, and now engaged in shady dealings in Crystalbrook.

The person also revealed that someone had personally witnessed Claire with a man in his fifties or sixties who drove a luxury car, acting as intimate as lovers.

People online were calling her a gold digger.

They said she not only hooked older men but could even snag a catch like Vincent—her methods were truly impressive.

The comments were brutal, as vicious as they could get.

After hearing this, Daphne quickly grabbed her phone to check. Something crossed her mind that made her expression darken, and she cursed coldly, "Rowan, that idiot!"

When they arrived back at The Montague Manor, Daphne walked in carrying her bouquet to find the servants bustling about in the courtyard.

Three in the afternoon—this wasn't their usual time for garden maintenance.

Unless The Montague Manor was hosting a party?

Her heart skipped a beat.

A servant spotted her and greeted her warmly. "Ms. Montague, welcome back! We haven't seen you in days."

Daphne asked the servant, "Why are you working on the garden at this hour?"

The servant smiled. "Mrs. Montague is hosting a party at The Montague Manor. She asked us to tidy up the grounds."

A party?

Daphne's grip on the bouquet tightened.

Selene whispered cheerfully, "Ms. Montague, Mrs. Montague must be planning to announce Claire's identity, right?"

"Shut up." Daphne's voice was ice-cold.

Selene looked confused. "Ms. Montague, what's wrong? Didn't you say you hoped Mrs. Montague would announce Claire's identity?"

Daphne shot her a glare.

Idiot.

She was only Sarah's adopted daughter—how could she possibly want Sarah to announce her biological daughter's identity?

She'd only said that because she was certain Sarah wouldn't announce Claire's identity at such a critical moment.

Daphne hurried inside with the flowers. Sarah and Katya were reviewing the guest list.

She put on a sweet smile and walked over affectionately. "Mom, I'm home."

"I bought you flowers."

Sarah looked up and smiled warmly as she accepted the bouquet from Daphne. After examining it, she praised, "Daphne has such good taste—these are all my favorites."

Sarah handed the bouquet to Katya, then turned to Daphne. "Perfect timing. I need to tell you something."

"Your father and I have decided to host a small party at The Montague Manor the day after tomorrow to formally announce Claire's identity."

Daphne's eyes flickered briefly before she put on an indignant expression. "Mom, you should have done this ages ago."

"You don't know how much it hurt to see those awful comments about Claire online. I wanted to write posts myself to argue back so many times."

Sarah looked pleased by this response.

Then Daphne's expression turned worried. "But Mom, you know how most people these days resent the wealthy. Right now, everyone's hostility toward Claire is running high. If they find out Claire is the Montague family's daughter, won't it just fuel more hatred?"

"Those internet users don't know the truth. What if they spread rumors that Claire bullied Rowan because of her family background? I'm worried it'll be even worse for Claire."

Daphne furrowed her brow, her eyes full of concern, as if she were genuinely worried about Claire.

In reality, her nerves were wound tight, desperately hoping Sarah would have second thoughts and cancel the party.

She waited anxiously, then heard Sarah speak calmly. "I've thought about all that, but announcing her identity is Claire's decision."

"Isn't she worried about the consequences?" Daphne sounded urgent.

"Consequences?" Sarah smiled. "Claire is the Montague family's daughter. What is there to worry about?"

She looked at Daphne fondly. "You too, Daphne. As long as you do what's right, you never need to worry. Your father and I will always have your back."

"Thank you, Mom." Daphne responded obediently, though her expression was stiffer than usual.

After a moment's thought, she probed carefully. "Mom, if that's the case, why not announce Claire and Vincent's relationship at the same time? It would stop the wild rumors and protect Claire's reputation."

"Claire says there's no rush."

As Sarah spoke, she picked up her phone and tapped a few times. "I just transferred you one million dollars. Make sure you look beautiful for the party the day after tomorrow."

"You're so good to me." Daphne looked pleasantly surprised.

But inside, she was already calculating her next move.

Since announcing Claire's identity was inevitable, she'd have to come up with a different strategy.

She pretended to help Sarah review the guest list, then suddenly said indignantly, "That Rowan went too far. At least Vincent kicked her off the production—she got what she deserved."

At this, Sarah's expression darkened instantly, a shadow passing through her eyes. "Just firing her is letting her off too easy. She dared to smear Claire repeatedly—she needs to pay for that."

Hearing this, Daphne's eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly.

Announcing Claire's identity might quell the other rumors, but there was video evidence of Claire bullying Rowan—that vicious image couldn't be erased.

If the Montague family went after the Blackwell family now, with just a little manipulation, it could be twisted into the Montagues using their power to crush the Blackwells, who had raised Claire.

If they dared announce Claire and Vincent's relationship, she could guide internet users to accuse Claire of using her status to steal her fiancé.

Then she would become the victim. And Claire—along with the entire Montague family—would face public backlash.

Brian's position was sensitive; he couldn't withstand that kind of pressure. To calm the unfavorable public opinion, announcing her relationship with Vincent would become the best option.

Having worked this out, Daphne's furrowed brow smoothed.

Everything was still within her control!

……

Meanwhile, Rowan was on her way back to the Blackwell family residence.

Her assistant drove while she scrolled through her phone.

She was waiting for news.

She'd been the one to post the rumor about Claire having a sugar daddy, using a burner account.

She didn't believe Vincent would see that kind of news and not publicly distance himself from Claire.

She was waiting for Vincent's statement of clarification.

But it had been two hours since she posted, and while the internet was tearing Claire apart, she still hadn't seen what she was hoping for.

Her assistant noticed her anxiety in the rearview mirror and spoke hesitantly. "Rowan, is it possible that Vincent is blinded by love?"

"What do you mean?"

The assistant explained, "Think about it—if Vincent and Claire were just messing around, he should have come forward to clarify the relationship the moment Claire was exposed as a homewrecker, to give the Montague family an explanation."

"But it's been days since that news broke, and there's been no movement. Now rumors about Claire's loose morals are everywhere, and he still hasn't said anything. Don't you think it's possible he actually has real feelings for Claire?"

Rowan immediately countered, "Impossible. If he really cared about her, how could he let Claire suffer through this cyberbullying?"

Rowan's words stopped abruptly.