Chapter 980: Pitiable

Chapter 980: Pitiable

Camille hadn't responded yet when Rex emerged from the mansion.

Even in casual attire, he exuded a natural air of elegance. His

demeanor was friendly, and he wore a faint smile as he observed the

two women engrossed in conversation. He didn't want to disturb them

but had a task to fulfill.

He looked at both of them and said softly, “Isn't it tiring to chat like this?

I'm thinking, why don't we just break down this wall and make it easier

for you two to chat anytime?"

Sienna cast him a brief glance, clearly annoyed at his sudden

appearance interrupting her chat with Camille. She replied coolly,

“Thanks, but we'd prefer to maintain a bit of distance."

Rex could sense her irritation but still walked up to her, placing a hand

on her waist, and then turned to Camille, saying, "Cami, see how mean

she is to me normally?"

Camille, with a smile, responded, “Sorry, Mr. Ward, I didn't see or hear

anything just now, so I don't know."

Rex sighed dramatically, “Cami, I thought you were the fairest and most

just. Shouldn't you support justice over friendship?"

"Am I that kind of person?" Camille chuckled. “You shouldn't be fooled.

I've always been biased towards my friend."

Sienna raised an eyebrow provocatively and said, "Stop trying to drive

a wedge between us. Even if you talk until you're blue in the face, it

won't affect our relationship.”

Camille laughed and watched Sienna, who was clearly carefree and

happy. Camille genuinely wished for Sienna to always remain this

carefree. Sienna had repressed too much in the past, and while Camille

didn't pry, she hoped Sienna could enjoy her life more, especially now

that she was with Rex.

The three of them chatted in the garden for a while before dispersing.

Although they hadn't mentioned Ayan explicitly, the conversation

continually revolved around him.

As Camille returned to her house, her thoughts remained fixated on

Ayan, making her restless. Around 10 PM, a person claiming to be a

resident of Fola Village posted a message.

This person introduced themselves as a resident of Fola and a family

member of the victim in this incident. They claimed that the victim's life

was in danger but due to the immense influence of Simpson Group,

they couldn't even go to the hospital. They had to hide, fearing that

Simpson Group's people would find them and force them to deny any

connection between the incident and Simpson Group or Modest Temple

Hotel.

They expressed their fear and helplessness, emphasizing how

unfortunate their situation was. They sought assistance and implored

everyone to speak on their behalf to Simpson Group. They offered to

cover their own medical expenses, requesting only that Simpson Group

no longer prevent hospitals from treating them.

In addition, they shared many photos depicting the victim's injuries and

their desperate attempts to find medical help.

The photos showed the severe injuries, with visible bone on the knee

and a battered and bruised face. It was a heartbreaking sight.

The current environment was filled with compassion, and witnessing

such scenes naturally triggered an outpouring of empathy.

Simpson Group's official social media accounts were inundated with

criticism. Ayan had ordered a team to compile information about the

troublemakers and the sensationalist media. These team members

were now overwhelmed because there were so many of them — too

numerous to count. Some individuals even enlisted friends and family

to join in the online berating.

Simpson Group was instantly painted as a heartless, oppressive

corporation. This public perception had consequences, not only for the

company but also for its employees. Anyone revealed to work for

Simpson Group was subjected to the same vitriol.

Some impassioned protesters even took their anger to the streets,

egging the doors of Simpson Group's building, leaving the entrances in

disarray. All of this quickly became a top trending topic.

Many people believed that this must be true; otherwise, why would

Simpson Group remain silent?

This continued for half an hour until Ayan had gathered all the

necessary information and evidence. Only then did he start to take

action. Major forums and Twitter accounts began experiencing

comment and post restrictions, leading people to believe that

something was amiss.

Simpson Group's official account then posted an update with just one

sentence: "You've said all I need to say; now it's my turn to speak.”

Following that, the official account released the agreement signed by

Mr. Bell and Mr. Mikkola during their meeting, along with an audio

recording. Ayan clearly stated that he disagreed with violating the rules

of charity. However, both Mr. Bell and Mr. Mikkola insisted on their

course of action. Furthermore, Preston sided with Mr. Bell during a

voice call at that time.

This was Ayan's first response. Subsequently, he revealed the entire

content of his offices surveillance footage. His office had always been

equipped with hidden cameras. Although it was within the company, he

wanted an extra layer of security. Only he and Kian knew about them.

To ensure that no one could claim he had manipulated the footage,

Ayan sent it to a specialized testing center, which confirmed that the

footage had not been tampered with in any way.

This was his second response.

Following that, Ayan provided a third response in the form of a video.

The video featured a man and a woman, both appearing somewhat

uncomfortable in front of the camera, in a hospital room.

The man, lying in the hospital bed and in his forties, spoke, "I was

injured at the Modest Temple Hotel while passing by. Thanks to Mr.

Simpson from Simpson Group, I was brought to Hance City for

treatment. I've had kidney disease for many years and thought my life

was over. But thanks to Mr. Simpson's help, I'm now preparing for a

kidney transplant surgery."

The man's wife chimed in, "We're grateful for Mr. Simpson's assistance,

as well as for his help to the villagers of Fola.”

Following their statements, there were interviews with local villagers,

during which it was mentioned that the current manager of Modest

Temple Hotel had informed them that Modest Temple Hotel had nothing

to do with Simpson Group. All decisions now depended on them, and if

anyone dared to defy them, there would be consequences.

From their words, one could sense the villagers’ fear and

powerlessness, as they couldn't oppose the people managing Modest

Temple Hotel.

Ayan made three responses in total. Each response clarified the

connection between this incident and certain people. However,

Simpson Group's statements did not end there. They soon issued a

legal notice, the largest one ever filed in history. It included several

media outlets, tabloid journalists, and thousands of individual users.

Simpson Group demanded compensation of one dollar each and

required them to post an apology at the top of their profiles for a year,

vowing never to spread false rumors about Simpson Group again. If

they violated this agreement, the consequences would be severe.

Seeing these compelling accusations, those who had been vocal and

critical were now silent.

The internet was restored to normal, and companies like Nixon Group

and Armstrong Corp released messages of support for Simpson Group,

joining forces with them. Many enterprises in Hance City also

expressed their support, including Ward Corp and several other large

companies.

After Ayan completed this series of actions, he finally got up from his

desk. He had been at the company for a day and a half.

Fatigue was evident on his face, and Kian immediately followed him out

of the office. In a hushed tone, Kian asked, "Shall I take you back to

Franklin Bay, or to Maple Leaves Mansion?"

Ayan's brow furrowed slightly, and his voice was extremely low as he

replied, "Let's go back to Maple Leaves Mansion. It's late."

Kian nodded and drove Ayan back to Maple Leaves Mansion. When

the car stopped in front of the mansion, Ayan didn't immediately get

out. Instead, he softly said, "Mr. Bell will contact you at the latest by

tomorrow morning, so keep your phone on and stay reachable.”

"Understood," Kian replied. He then asked in a low voice, "Have you

decided to cooperate with Mr. Bell?"