Chapter 125

In the Bryant family household.

Cutler scoffed at the stream of comments flooding his phone screen, viewers trying to rally their collective wits against the trolls. He muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with regret. “This is on me, too much emphasis on family ties.”

His original plan had been to make sure Winnie faced some tough times, but not like this, not through public humiliation.

Winnie could be teased and taunted by her own flesh and blood, but Cutler would never stand for outsiders to do the same – especially not anyone from the Henderson clan.

He had no particular fondness for Winnie, but he despised the Hendersons even more.

While contemplating how to redirect the trolls‘ efforts, the clatter of footsteps echoed down the staircase. It was Springer, clutching his phone, his face flushed with anger.

Dressed as if he was ready to storm out of the house, he caught sight of Cutler lounging in the garden and pivoted towards him.

Cutler instinctively tucked his phone away, hiding his phone from Springer’s view.

Oblivious to Cutler’s action, Springer marched up and blurted out, “Cutler, did you see Winnie’s reality show live stream? Those Hendersons had the nerve to claim in front of the entire internet that they raised Winnie for 18 years! After they couldn’t get one over on us at the dinner party, now they’re trying to play the moral high ground card online!”

Cutler feigned ignorance, his voice dripping with indifference, “Why would I watch anything about Winnie? And the Hendersons are on it too? Well, they’re not exactly wrong, are they? They did take care of her for years.”

Springer was flustered by Cutler’s nonchalance. “You know what the Hendersons are like with Winnie! Didn’t they admit everything at the dinner party?! We let slide the way they treated her as a child out of respect for them raising her, and now they have the gall to play that card again on camera!”

His voice tinged with frustration, Springer pressed, “I’m heading over to the Hendersons‘ to back Winnie up, Cutler. Come with me!”

Cutler shot him a glance, his expression one of bored disinterest, “Go if you want, I’m not getting involved in her drama.”

Springer stomped his foot in irritation, “We’re all Bryants. This is about our family’s reputation. How can you call it ‘drama“?”

Despite their grievances with Winnie, when it came to outside threats, the Bryants stood united, a testament to the deep–rooted family values instilled by the older generation.

Cutler, of course, felt the same way, but he wasn’t about to show it as openly as Springer.

“If you barge in on their recording, you’re just going to make us the laughingstock of the entire Bryant family. If you want to clear Winnie’s name from the Hendersons‘, it’s not as simple as just showing up and shouting a few times.”

Cutler explained. “Right now, the viewers are all aware that the Hendersons her. Winnie’s attitude towards them is going to be scrutinized and criticized by everyone online. If you really want to help her, you need to start by changing how the viewers see her.”

Being older than Springer, Cutler’s strategies and thoughts were naturally more measured.

Springer nodded in agreement, about to ask how exactly they should proceed when a flicker of suspicion crossed his mind, “Wait a minute, I thought you said you weren’t following Winnie’s show. How do you know so much about the situation online?”

Cutler, caught off guard, had a fleeting look of embarrassment cross his face but quickly regained his composure. With a dismissive tone, he retorted, “It’s obvious if you think about it. Do I need to watch it to know?” As he spoke, he reached for his phone on the table, intending to retreat to his room.

But Springer was easily convinced. Among their generation, if Horace was known for his smarts, Cutler was a close second.

However, whether from guilt or distraction, Cutler’s hand slipped, and the phone clattered to the floor. Screen–up, the live stream from the TV show was clearly visible.

Springer’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Cutler had been watching the whole time.

Meanwhile, over at the Henderson place…

Suzan watched the show’s director closely after dropping the bombshell about the Henderson. family raising Winnie. She knew the power of a live audience and the real–time feedback from online comments. She was aware of Winnie’s desire to sever ties with the Hendersons, but Suzan wasn’t about to let her have the last word.

“If the stubborn girl wouldn’t resolve the issues willingly, I would force her hand.” she thought Catching a glimpse of the director’s stern face, Suzan anticipated that the online comments were already tearing into Winnie.

Suzan’s heart swelled with satisfaction, but she kept her face a study in restraint, showing nothing of her inner triumph. Instead, she adopted a visage of deep sorrow and pain.

She even went so far as to humble herself in front of Winnie.

“Winnie, I know you’ve got skills, or else the Supernatural Department wouldn’t have recruited you in the first place. If you really don’t want to lend a hand, we can talk money. Maybe you can craft a few more of those Amulets for me, that’s reasonable, right?”

Winnie saw through Suzan’s scheme in an instant. She knew that Suzan, just like Kathryn in the 11:30 past, always played the part of the frail innocent in front of others.

Although aware of this. Winnie didn’t have the heart to put on a similar charade of feigned misery. She simply and coldly refused, “No way.”

As soon as Winnie spoke, even the surrounding crew members couldn’t help but frown, their faces showing a hint of disapproval.

Despite never having taken Winnie to heart, Suzan had, after all, around her for eighteen years and knew her temperament well.

After hearing Winnie’s rejection, Suzan immediately put on an expression of utter heartbreak.

She needed to turn up the heat!

If she could just get Winnie on the hot seat, she was convinced Winnie would cave in!

“Winnie, how can you be so heartless? Do you… do you want me to get down on my knees and beg you? If that’s what it takes for you to agree, then I, I—”

Suzan, feigning desperation, made as if to kneel.

Quick as a flash, Candace darted over, swiftly grabbing Suzan’s arm to prevent her from kneeling.

If Suzan actually knelt down in front of the cameras, Winnie would be lambasted by the entire nation to the point of wishing for death.

Having only worked with Winnie for a couple of days, Candace felt that Winnie was not at all like the person Mrs. Henderson made her out to be.

And from her professional perspective, although Mrs. Henderson’s performance was quite convincing, a discerning eye could still detect the artifice.

Suzan might fool millions, but she couldn’t fool Candace – known in the industry as a clever actress.