Chapter 52 A Total Lunatic
“T*****?”
Candice pulled the phone from her ear.
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She tapped open the app and instantly saw that several top–tier influencers had shared the same video, which had already skyrocketed to the top of the trending list.
The footage was from yesterday afternoon, right outside the airport.
But it was clearly edited with precision, painting a narrative where the delicate, innocent Mia was brutally slapped by the vicious and vengeful Candice–an image straight out of a villainess drama.
Curiously, Kyle, who had been right in the middle of it all, was completely erased from the footage. The clip showed only Candice “assaulting” Mia.
Even more curiously…
The influencers weren’t condemning Candice. They were collectively denouncing the poor, pitiful Mia Jones.
Not only did they expose her identity, but they also mocked her shamelessness–calling her a rich heiress who had stooped so low as to fall for a married man, wreck a family, and then cry foul when faced with consequences. She had it coming, they said.
Public tolerance for mistresses—often equated with rats scurrying across the street–was extremely low.
People who at first sympathized with Mia quickly flipped the moment the truth came out.
The comment section was 90% pro–Candice.
Some gleefully said the slap was too light. Others called for public shaming or worse. And soon, people began digging into Mia’s background–dragging the entire Jones family into the spotlight with her.
Candice noted the video was first posted by an anonymous account yesterday evening, while the influencers began sharing it after 2 a.m.
“Did you do this?” Bianca asked eagerly.
Candice smiled. “You think it was me?”
“I’m just saying–it feels like something you’d do, but also… not exactly. Still, who else could direct the narrative so well?”
“Maybe it was just some random passerby sick of mistresses. Makes sense, right?”
“Please, what random passerby goes to the trouble of hiring influencers to push a video?”
“The important thing isn’t who did it. It’s the result.”
“The result?” Bianca was intrigued. “Don’t tell me it was someone who’s secretly in love with you… like, Charl
Candice laughed. “Honey, I can’t say for sure who did it—but I can tell you, it definitely wasn’t me. And absolutely not Charlie.”
She didn’t say anything more.
After hanging up, she called Sophia to tell her about the trending video.
Sophia, who had spent last night taking care of her mother–who’d thrown her back out during a public square dance–had just woken up.
She opened T*****r, pieced it all together, and said, “Could it be Caroline Jenkins? Cutting Kyle out of the video… Maybe she didn’t want him to get dragged into this.”
“Caroline Jenkins? She wants this mess buried six feet under. No way she’d dig it back up herself.”
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“True… then who?”
“My guess… Mia Jones herself.”
“That’s insane. She’s the biggest victim–her name’s ruined, shes being publicly shamed. Why would she do that to herself?”
Candice was quiet for a beat.
Then Sophia suddenly made the connection. “…If she did post it, then she’s completely insane. Like, straight–jacket and padded -room level crazy.”
Destroying herself and dragging the entire Jones family down with her just to play the victim in front of Kyle?
Could that be real?
Candice said, “Let’s just wait and see. My parents are going to find out sooner or later. The video will definitely reach them. They don’t know I got hurt, so I’m worried they’ll panic. Can you help explain things to them for me? Tell them I’ll be home in a few days.”
“Don’t worry. I already told them a little. They’re taking it surprisingly well.”
“I should’ve just told them earlier…” Candice murmured. She hadn’t wanted to worry them, but now the truth had come out in the worst possible way.
Sophia comforted her. “It is what it is. Focus on the divorce for now. I’m planning to talk to Kyle again today.”
“He moved into the apartment above mine.”
“…What?!” Sophia nearly screamed. “He left you behind at the airport for Mia Jones. Didn’t that mean he made his choice? Why is he running between you two like this?”
“Who knows what goes on in his head. I just hope he stays with Mia Jones forever. Let them ruin each other’s lives and leave me
the hell alone.”
But as Candice thought of that T*****r post, a shadow of worry crept in. Something told her Mia -and possibly the entire Jones family–might come for her next.
Then again, that confrontation was inevitable. Their feud had already become very real at the charity gala.
Meanwhile…
A hungover Kyle received a call from the Jones family: Mia had attempted suicide after the T*****r scandal–she slit her wrists at home. They wanted him there immediately.
Kyle was stunned.
On his way over, he checked T*****r and felt a storm of emotions rise within him.
At the Jackson residence, Caroline Jenkins‘ phone wouldn’t stop ringing.
She stared at the faces of those two women in the video and wished she could erase both from existence.
Kyle’s father, Richard Jackson, had returned from the U.S. after the disaster at the charity gala. His health had kept him abroad for treatment, but the news brought him rushing home.
Finding out that Kyle had an affair, Candice had left the company, and the charity gala had turned into a public scandal–he was furious, nearly apoplectic.
Over the years, he had come to respect Candice. At first, her humble background bothered him, but her competence, loyalty, and
Chapter 52 A Total Lunatic
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elegance had won him over.
She had made real contributions to the family company, and he knew that.
“She’s smart, capable, loyal, beautiful–she’s the kind of woman you want in the Jackson family. If she has children, they’d be exceptional,” he said over breakfast.
“I hear Kyle’s trying to win her back. You should invite her to dinner. Apologize sincerely. And as for that Jones girl–cut ties immediately.”
To him, reconciliation was just a matter of effort and sincerity.
Caroline rolled her eyes and shoved the phone at him. “Look for yourself. These two witches–neither one’s easy to handle.”
Richard took one glance and scoffed. “Candice has backbone. That Jones girl tried to seduce our son–of course she slapped her! What’s the problem? If you won’t invite her, I will.”
“Fine, fine, you do it,” Caroline grumbled, storming off.
Outside, her phone rang again. She was already irritable–but the caller ID made her face go pale.
It was Mia Jones.
Compared to Candice, who constantly gave her headaches, Mia truly frightened her.
She declined the call.
But then a voice message arrived:
“Auntie, you hating me like this really breaks my heart…”
Her tone was soft, fragile, and sorrowful–but then it dipped into something chilling.
“…By the way, I found your little secret–Sunnydale Manor. Wow, I never expected you to be so… full of surprises. lol…”
Caroline’s brain went blank. The color drained from her face.
Her legs nearly gave out as she stumbled outside, looking around in a panic. Seeing no one nearby, she quickly called Mia back, her voice trembling uncontrollably.
“Y–You… how do you know that?! What do you want from me?!”
