Chapter 158
Chapter 158:
Could Rylie really handle this on her own? Brad found himself curious, wanting to see how it played out. But he was ready to step in the second she needed him.
As rumors about Rylie spiraled out of control, splashed across gossip blogs and trashy news outlets, she quickly became the city’s latest punchline. At first, the Owens planned to shut it down fast.
Kendrick was so furious that he nearly grabbed his cane, ready to storm out and confront the people spreading lies face-to-face.
He didn’t blame her for failing to fix the mess. Instead, he held her hand, shouldering the blame without hesitation.
“This is on me. You were never truly valued in the Kirk family — how could you stand a chance against people that sly? I’ll make sure you get the justice you deserve p>
Felix, her eldest brother, sat beside him, his expression unreadable as his fingers moved quickly across his tablet. “I’ve already lined up a PR team. We’ll have this mess under control by tonight p>
Marcus, her second brother, punched in a number with a cold look on his face. “That video’s been tampered with. I saw the original one Rylie sent me after her solo concert. I know exactly who’s behind this p>
Deandre, her third brother, had rushed back the moment he heard the news, looking even angrier than the others. “It’s got to be the Garretts, right? Paola’s sneaky, sure — but she’s not that clever. Laurel must be behind all this! That woman is trying to clear a path for her daughter, using Rylie as the stepping stone! Is she seriously asking for trouble? I’m going over there right now p>
Marcus grabbed his shoulder, holding him back before he could act on impulse. “You can’t pull your mafia tricks here in Crolens. Everything in this place runs on evidence. If you make a move without proof, you’ll just hand them another weapon to use against our sister p>
Deandre ground his teeth in frustration. “Then what’s the plan p>
Having her family rally behind her stirred something warm in Rylie’s chest. She gave her grandfather’s trembling hand a light squeeze. “Don’t worry about me, Grandpa. I’ve got it under control p>
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Concern shadowed Kendrick’s face. “Why act tough now, silly girl? Let your brothers and me handle this for you p>
“No need for that.” A faint, mischievous glint sparked in her eyes. “That so-called ‘leaked’ video? I gave them permission to post it. Otherwise, none of you would have seen it p>
Out of her pocket, Rylie pulled a USB drive and slid it into the TV port. The screen lit up with a side-by-side comparison — one video was the so-called “original” making the rounds online, the other showed the full, untouched surveillance footage.
“What am I looking at here?” Felix asked, adjusting his glasses in surprise.
“Professional video analysis,” Rylie said, pointing to the highlighted edits on the screen. “Whoever did it knows their stuff — but they’re not perfect p>
Marcus’s gaze sharpened. “So you set this up from the start. You let the rumors spread on purpose. What’s your next move p>
“The entire high society is watching now. Not just me — Paola is under the spotlight too.” Rylie smiled. “Ever since I came back quietly, those who know who I really am believed I didn’t belong in the Owen family. I used to think family matters didn’t need the world’s opinion. But I overlooked one thing — my brothers’ and grandfather’s pride. As an Owen, I have to show the world that I, Rylie, am just as remarkable p>