Chapter 244 I Didn’t Suspect You

Chapter 245 A Drug That Rots You From the Inside Out

Aurelia's social media accounts got exposed by netizens.

Her comment sections and DMs were full of people cursing her out. Class group chats and grade group chats were all talking about it. Someone even turned her photos into memes and spread them everywhere.

She lay on her dorm bed, scrolling through the comments one by one, her lips turning white from biting them.

Her phone buzzed.

A message from Asher: [What's going on? You couldn't even handle this small thing?]

Aurelia replied: [I underestimated him, but it's fine. I have other ways.]

She turned off her phone, stared at the ceiling, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

After Ethan posted the PR statement, the online mood flipped completely. People who were attacking Ethan suddenly flooded into Aurelia's comment sections with all kinds of nasty comments.

Aurelia turned off comments, silenced her phone, and lay on her dorm bed staring at the ceiling.

Her roommates came and went, no one talked to her. Sometimes someone glanced at her with barely hidden glee.

She turned over to face the wall and gripped the bedsheet tight.

Ethan, since you ruined me, I won't let you off easy either.

……

The stock price stabilized and the shareholders stayed quiet. Ethan thought it was over and sent Jake to school to handle the rest.

Asher finally eased up too and stopped nitpicking the contract terms. Both sides agreed to sign the final version next week.

Everything looked fine, but Anna still felt something was off.

She sat in her studio office, spacing out while looking out the window.

Her phone rang. It was Ethan.

"Anna, there's a dinner tonight. I might be back late, so don't wait for me to eat."

"Okay," Anna said. "Don't drink too much."

"Got it."

After hanging up, Anna thought for a moment and messaged Jake: [Any movement from Aurelia lately?]

Jake replied quickly: [She's been quiet these past few days. Just goes to class and stays in the dorm. Hasn't contacted me again, but…]

[But what?]

[She called me last night saying she wanted to apologize to Mr. Gray in person. I turned her down.]

Anna looked at the screen and replied: [If she contacts you again, tell me right away.]

[Understood.]

Aurelia stayed quiet for a few days. Then she posted on her social media with a photo of the orphanage entrance.

[I grew up here. Now it's time for me to give back.]

Right after posting, she messaged Ethan asking him to donate and buy clothes, toys, and books for the kids.

Ethan didn't think it was a big deal and had Jake handle it. "Get the best stuff."

Jake quickly worked with a charity organization and donated a large batch of clothes and daily necessities in Gray Corporation's name.

On the day the supplies arrived at the orphanage, Gray Corporation also posted on Instagram with a few photos from the scene and a simple caption: Giving back to society.

After the post went up, the comments were full of praise.

Anna saw it too. She was about to close her phone when a new comment popped up.

[These clothes were probably picked from the trash. So gross.]

Anna's finger paused.

She refreshed the page. The comment was still there, already with dozens of likes.

She clicked into the user's account. It was a brand-new account with no profile picture.

A bad feeling rose in her chest. Soon after, an exposé post blew up online.

The poster claimed to be an insider at the charity organization, saying the batch of supplies Gray Corporation donated was shady—clothes covered in stains. The photos were clear and shocking.

[Gray Corporation donated trash clothes to an orphanage. This is what you call giving back to society?]

The backlash hit hard again.

[Trash company, even lying to orphans.]

[If you can't afford to donate, then don't. Who are you trying to fool with these rags?]

[Ethan, come out and take the beating!]

Gray Corporation's Instagram comments section completely collapsed. The stock price dropped five points at opening.

Ethan spent the whole day in meetings checking information. The initial findings showed Gray Corporation had worked with a legitimate charity, and the procurement followed normal procedures with complete records and quality inspection reports.

But the batch of clothes delivered to the orphanage wasn't the one they purchased. Someone had swapped them during transport.

"Investigate," Ethan said. "Whoever it is, hand them over to the police once you find them."

When he came out of the meeting room, it was already dark.

Ethan got home and saw Anna sitting in the living room.

Hopie was already asleep. The house was quiet.

"Figure out who did it?" Anna asked.

"Still looking," Ethan said, sitting down beside her with a tired look. "Someone tampered with it during transport, but it won't be hard to trace. The delivery truck has cameras, and every transfer station along the route has records. We'll know in two or three days at most."

Anna poured him a glass of water and didn't bring it up again.

The next morning, Ethan left for the office.

As soon as he left, Anna changed clothes, grabbed her car keys, and headed out. She drove straight to Summit Academy.

Aurelia had just finished class and was walking out of the teaching building with her crutches. When she saw Anna standing at the entrance, she paused.

"You're here?" Aurelia's tone was light, like they'd known each other for a long time.

Of course she would act that way—she'd been scheming to get close to Ethan, so she probably knew everything about him.

Anna looked at her. "Let's find somewhere to talk."

Aurelia tilted her head. "Sure. There's a café up ahead."

They sat in a corner of the café.

Light music played inside, and students chatted and laughed around them.

"What did you want to see me about, Miss Rivers?" Aurelia held her coffee cup and blinked at her.

Anna didn't beat around the bush. "You had someone swap that batch of clothes."

Aurelia's expression didn't change. "What clothes? I don't know what you're talking about."

Her innocent look was flawless, but Anna noticed her fingers tightened slightly around the coffee cup.

"You don't have to admit it," Anna said calmly. "But I have ways to make you admit it."

Aurelia smiled, her smile carrying a hint of mockery. "Miss Rivers, are you threatening me?"

Anna reached into her pocket and took out a small box the size of her palm. She opened it. Inside was a pill.

Aurelia's smile froze. "What's that?"

"A kind of drug," Anna said, taking out a syringe and slowly turning it between her fingers. "Once you take it, your organs start rotting from the inside—first the liver, then the kidneys, then it spreads through your whole body. Nothing shows on the outside, but everything inside will rot away."

"The first symptom is your nails turning white. Within a month, you'll rot from the inside out, and there's no antidote." She looked up at Aurelia. "Want to try it?"