Chapter 195 The Truth

Chapter 195 The Truth

After hanging up, Anastasia's expression had turned ice-cold.

She never imagined the Stafford Family could be this shameless.

Using the same dirty trick to frame her over and over again.

"Need me to handle this?" Richard's voice came from behind her.

He'd seen the news on the computer screen too.

His eyes were dangerously dark.

"No." Anastasia closed the browser. "This is my fight. I'll deal with it myself."

She wouldn't tolerate this anymore.

Before Anastasia could launch any counterattack, an even more explosive piece of news spread across the internet.

Renee had fallen down the stairs, hemorrhaging badly. She'd been rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment and remained unconscious.

The Stafford Family publicly claimed that Renee had fallen because she'd received a threatening phone call from Anastasia. In her agitated state, she'd lost her footing and tumbled down the stairs.

In an instant, Anastasia was thrust into the center of a firestorm.

Labels like "premeditated revenge" and "indirect murder" were slapped on her one after another.

Outside the studio, reporters who'd caught wind of the story and angry passersby held up banners, shouting for Anastasia to come out and apologize.

Some people had even started throwing trash at the door.

Zoey and Daphne didn't dare step outside.

And Anastasia couldn't get back to the studio.

She stood at the street corner, watching the chaos unfold in the distance, feeling utterly helpless.

This move from the Stafford Family was vicious.

Using Renee to checkmate her.

Just as she stood there at a loss, a black sedan pulled up in front of her.

Richard stepped out and walked to her side, removing his suit jacket and draping it over her shoulders.

Wrapping her completely in it.

"Don't be afraid. I'll get you through this."

Anastasia looked at him, her eyes stinging with heat.

When everyone else was accusing her, cursing her, only he stood firmly by her side.

"Let's go."

Without another word, Richard took her hand and walked toward the studio, straight into the crowd and the flashing lights.

Reporters swarmed them, shoving microphones and cameras in their faces.

"Mr. Roosevelt, what is your relationship with Anastasia?"

"What's your take on Anastasia causing her adoptive mother to faint and putting her sister in the hospital?"

"Will the Roosevelt Group terminate its partnership with Anastasia because of this?"

Richard didn't slow his pace.

He used his body to shield Anastasia from the jostling crowd, his eyes sweeping coldly across the scene.

"Move."

One simple word, but it carried undeniable authority.

The reporters, intimidated by his presence, instinctively cleared a path.

Just as Richard was about to escort Anastasia into the building, Renee's fans and some riled-up bystanders refused to back down.

They broke through the security guards' barricade and lunged at Anastasia.

"Murderer! I'll avenge Renee!"

A man raised a water bottle and hurled it viciously at Anastasia's head.

She instinctively closed her eyes.

The expected pain never came.

When she opened her eyes, she saw Richard holding her tightly in his arms, having taken the blow himself.

"Richard," she murmured, her voice trembling.

"I'm fine."

Richard looked down at her. "Don't be afraid. I've got you."

Security finally arrived, fighting to carve a path through the chaotic crowd.

Richard kept Anastasia close as they hurried into the studio.

The moment the door opened, Zoey and Daphne rushed toward them, their faces etched with worry.

"Anastasia, are you okay?" Zoey ran up, checking her over from head to toe.

"I'm fine." Anastasia shook her head, then turned to Daphne.

Daphne was clearly shaken, her face ashen.

"Daphne, I'm so sorry you had to go through that." Anastasia's voice was apologetic.

"I'm okay. What about you?" Daphne took her hand, eyes full of concern.

The studio was a complete disaster.

The windows were smeared with garbage, filling the air with a foul stench.

Anastasia's expression grew colder by the second.

She pulled out her phone and dialed Patrick's number.

It rang for a long time before he answered, his voice heavy with exhaustion.

"Which hospital is Renee in? What room?" Anastasia got straight to the point, her tone devoid of warmth.

Patrick hesitated before giving her the address.

"Don't do anything rash. Renee's in really bad shape right now."

"Is that so?" Anastasia let out a cold laugh. "Perfect. I'll go pay her a visit."

After hanging up, she turned to Richard.

"I need to go to the hospital."

"I'll come with you." Richard answered without hesitation.

"No need." Anastasia refused. "I'll go alone."

She looked at Richard with unprecedented seriousness in her eyes. "You've already done more than enough for me."

This was her personal matter. She had to settle it herself.

Richard saw the unwavering determination in her eyes. After a moment of silence, he finally nodded.

"Alright."

He didn't insist further, only pressed a voice recorder into her hand.

"These are recordings of your previous phone calls with the Stafford Family. I recovered them all for you."

After a pause, he handed her a flash drive. "This contains all of Renee's spending records from the past six months, plus evidence of her flirting with several rich kids."

"And this."

Richard pulled out his phone and played a video.

The footage showed the staircase landing in the Stafford Family mansion.

The angle was carefully positioned—clearly captured covertly.

In the clip, Renee had just finished her phone call, a malicious smirk playing on her lips.

She glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then deliberately stepped off the edge of the stairs, tumbling down in a deliberately clumsy fall.

Even as she fell, she made sure to protect her face with her hands.

This was the truth.

The so-called "frightened into falling down the stairs."

"How did you get this?" Anastasia couldn't hide her shock.

"Don't worry about it." Richard's tone was casual.

Anastasia's heart was shaken once again.

She hadn't realized Richard had been doing so much for her behind the scenes.

In his own way, he'd been quietly helping her solve her problems.

"Richard, thank you."

This time, it came from the depths of her heart.

The corner of Richard's mouth lifted slightly.

"Go. I'll be waiting."

……

Hopewell Hospital.

Outside Renee's room, reporters crowded the hallway.

The Stafford Family was giving interviews.

"The doctor said Renee lost too much blood and has a concussion. No one knows when she'll wake up."

"It's all that vicious woman Anastasia! She did this to Renee!"

"What did our family do to deserve raising such an ungrateful wretch!"

Just then, the crowd stirred.

Anastasia walked through the throng, step by step.

Her face was expressionless, radiating a chilling, oppressive presence.

Every camera immediately turned on her.

Nolan pointed at her and roared, "Anastasia! You dare show your face here!"