Chapter 216: Adeline's Strategy

Ronald was genuinely furious this time. That very day, he blacklisted several media outlets for their false reporting. The online trolls who had been insulting Adeline vanished one by one as Opulent Treasures began issuing legal notices.

Adeline was just groggily waking up when she got a call from Elisa.

"Adeline, have you seen the trending news? That scumbag Allen actually dared to fake a sex tape of you two! The guy is disgusting! But a hacker left evidence, and now it's all over the internet!"

Elisa went on for a while before Adeline finally processed it. "It's all over the internet?"

"Yeah! Allen is so gross. This morning he was even arguing with netizens, saying you just act all pure but have probably been with who knows how many men. Then he got reported!"

Elisa laughed gleefully, but Adeline immediately grabbed her phone to check. Sure enough, she saw the legal notice from Opulent Treasures. The police had even managed to investigate and clarify all the facts overnight, proving that the online videos and photos were all fake.

But what surprised Adeline the most was Ronald's official post with a photo of the two of them.

[My girlfriend, Adeline Smith.]

Those few words had garnered hundreds of thousands of comments.

[OMG, Mr. Williams confirmed it himself! Ms. Smith really is his true love!]

[I said from the beginning they looked like a couple, and people attacked me for it!]

[The truth is out. They just wanted to date quietly, but some people always have to cause trouble.]

[This is great, they're finally together! No, wait, they've been together all along!]

The occasional negative comment in the thread would be deleted within seconds, leaving only a chorus of blessings. Adeline knew this was all Ronald's doing.

"Adeline, are you listening?" Elisa's voice cut through again.

"Yeah," Adeline replied. "I'm looking at the trending news."

"Mr. Williams is so cool! A boyfriend like that is a real man! I was so worried a while back, I really thought he was getting married. It's all good now." Elisa, an avid internet user, had seen the photos of Ronald and Gemma and had truly believed he was entering a marriage alliance. After all, for ordinary people like them, Ronald was completely out of reach. She had been preparing to console a heartbroken Adeline, but Ronald had come through spectacularly.

Adeline chatted with Elisa for a few more minutes before hanging up. A message from Ronald had already arrived, telling her to rest at the apartment today and work from home if she had to. Adeline thought for a moment and replied with an emoji.

Ronald had said he was going out yesterday and hadn't come back. Adeline knew he had been running around because of her.

She opened her work group chat on WhatsApp, where nearly everyone was asking about her and Ronald.

[Flora, you're closest to Adeline. Are she and Mr. Williams really a couple?]

[OMG, so Ms. Smith is the secret boss's wife?]

[I always said she and Mr. Williams were a great match. What was the deal with that Ms. Murphy anyway?]

[Doesn't Mr. Williams's mother really like Ms. Murphy? Is she going to try and break them up?]

[Ms. Smith, please satisfy my curiosity, or I won't be able to work!]

Elaine: [Ronald and Adeline have been together for a long time. As Ronald's cousin, I can confirm this. Anyone who sends another message unrelated to work will have their bonus for the month deducted.]

Elaine: [Mr. Williams is treating everyone to afternoon tea. It's in the breakroom, help yourselves.]

Silence fell over the chat.

A few colleagues who were close to Adeline couldn't resist sending her private messages, but she didn't reply to any of them, pretending she hadn't seen them.

Unable to sleep, Adeline lay in bed and eventually opened her laptop to work. She had several design drafts that needed revisions.

She worked until the afternoon, when her phone finally rang. Seeing it was Ulysses, she found it a bit strange but answered anyway. "Mr. Martinez."

"I've seen the new design drafts. Are you free to come out for a bit?" Ulysses sounded hesitant. "Aunt Elysia wants to see you. She says it's to discuss the design plan, but I don't think that's it. You can refuse."

Before Adeline could speak, Elysia's voice came through the phone. "Ms. Smith, it's about work. Let's meet, shall we?"

"Alright, I'll head over now."

Adeline hung up, quickly got ready, and left.

When she arrived at Elysia's studio, Elysia was still cutting fabric. Seeing Adeline enter, Elysia nodded. "Ms. Smith, I've seen your new proposal. Did you revise it by yourself?"

"Yes, I'm handling this part of the design," Adeline said, closing the door but not approaching further.

Elysia finished organizing her fabric and then led her to the sofa. "The new design is excellent. Truly worthy of a designer who has won international competitions. I know the prestige of the Olympia competition."

Adeline said nothing, waiting for the "but."

Sure enough, Elysia sighed. "But, Ronald has been busy for a whole day because of your affairs, and his public announcement of your relationship has certainly had a huge impact. You must have heard that the Murphy family has provided Opulent Treasures with a large number of high-quality diamonds this time."

"Other suppliers can do that too."

"What did you say?" Elysia, not expecting the rebuttal, asked again. "Other suppliers?"

Adeline met her gaze. "Mrs. Williams, there are many suppliers willing to work with Opulent Treasures, and many businesses that can provide diamonds."

"Even if the Murphy family doesn't cooperate, Opulent Treasures can get diamonds of the same quality, possibly at a lower price. The Murphy family's quote isn't cheap, and it requires purchasing other gemstones as a bundle deal, which isn't cost-effective."

Elysia frowned slightly. "You have better channels?"

"Avalonia has many excellent suppliers. It's not just me; Ms. Wilson is also actively making contact, and Mr. Williams has many partners as well," Adeline paused, then continued. "Opulent Treasures is one of the few companies in the country that can acquire so many diamonds at once and settle the payment in full."

"It was never the Murphy family helping Ronald; it was Ronald helping the Murphy family. Otherwise, their hundreds of millions of dollars worth of diamonds would have been stuck in their hands, with no chance of selling for years."

Adeline knew Elysia hadn't called her just to talk about work. It was more about Ronald's marriage alliance and the collaboration with the Murphy family. So, she had already planned her strategy on the way over. Ronald had already made their relationship public; she couldn't be a liability, even if Elysia truly opposed them being together.

Elysia looked at the young woman before her—serene, beautiful, stating these facts without a trace of anger, simply presenting the truth. She took a deep breath and then asked, "I am Ronald's mother, and I also have shares in the company. May I learn more about these partners you mentioned?"