Chapter 552

Five recordings had surfaced online.

Each one contained what was unmistakably Cedric's voice.

Lillian, alarmed, clicked on the suddenly popular recordings.

Cedric's voice filled the room.

"Hackett, I'm responsible for those misogynistic comments about you online. What are you going to do about it?"

"Daniela is my wife, and with her support, I'm untouchable in Olisvine."

"As long as we're married, she's my shield. Merely by being her husband, I command respect and open doors throughout Olisvine."

"Hackett,you value your daughters,but to what end?You've lost your influence. If you don't want to face bankruptcy or worse-seeing your daughters end up in a nightclub-then they better followmy lead.Why the tears, Hackett? Being associated with me should be seen as an honor for your daughters!"

"Tonight, bring your three daughter to Room 1308,Night Lounge Hotel."

The release of these recordings dominated the trending topics.

Servers were overwhelmed and crashed for almost thirty minutes due to the traffic.

"Cedric,protected by Daniela."

"Divorce Daniela and Set Her Free."

This plea quickly climbed the rankings.

The PR team from Phillips Group arrived in a rush,confronting Cedric with serious expressions.

"Mr.Phillips, did these words really come from you?"

"Our technical experts have verified these recordings.They're authentic, just like the high-definition video."

"Please,we need your response."

Cedric had cultivated a reputation as a business prodigy admired by many.

His followers idolized him and struggled to reconcile the man they admired with the villain portrayed in the media.

Meanwhile,Ryan was trying to access hospital security footage.

If he could find that footage, it could confirm Cedric's alibi-that he was at the hospital that night, not at the Night Lounge Hotel as claimed.

Ryan's hands shook as he navigated the security system.

Seeing his struggle,Daniela took over the computer.

Her fingers danced rapidly across the keyboard, but after a few tense minutes, the screen displayed a frustrating message, saying, "The requested page is not archived."

Daniela briefly closed her eyes, sensing that their adversary had meticulously planned their moves.

After passing the computer back to Ryan, she approached the doorway, surveying the Phillips Group staff assembled below.

"I understand your shock and your anger. As Cedric's wife,l,too,was stunned by these accusations online.But I ask you to have faith in my husband. He is a wonderful man,and I implore you to allow us the time to gather evidence and clear his name. Please, stand with Cedric and me during this challenging time."

Wade Blake, from the tech department and a long-time admirer of Daniela, stepped forward. "Ms.Harper, do you truly stand by Mr. Phillips? You know the technology better than any of us. You've seen the videos. They're real, aren't they?"

Daniela nodded in acknowledgment. "The footage online hasn't been altered, but the man in them isn't Cedric. I realize how difficult this is to believe, and all I ask is for a little time. We will vindicate him."

Daniela's appeal, in light of the compelling evidence against them, seemed weak at best.

Some staff members suspected she was sacrificing her integrity to protect Cedric.

Nevertheless, they returned to their duties, motivated not by the scandal but by their longstanding respect for Phillips Group and the decent treatment they had always received.

The undeniable nature of the online evidence seemed almost final,leaving scant opportunity for defense.

Back in the living room, the team gathered, their expressions troubled as they strategized their next move.

Daniela lingered for a moment before heading to the kitchen to prepare some food for the group.

Shortly after, the PR manager and several members of Phillips Group's tech team arrived, laptops in tow, ready to collaborate on strategies.

The living room became a makeshift command center, filled with several team members.

Daniela served the food she prepared, and a heavy silence fell as they ate.

Meanwhile, the intense of online debates showed no signs of fading.

The security chief from Phillips Group reported that vandals had thrown garbage at their office building.

Daniela accessed the internet, clicking on the most trending topic.

The headline read, "Cedric, Apologize!"

Chaos reigned throughout the night.

Journalists from every major national newspaper staked out the buildings of both Phillips Group and Elite Lux.

The following morning, the stock price of Phillips Group plummeted,hitting the daily limit.

By the afternoon, more than a hundred business partners had called to sever their contracts.

An unjust boycott impacted all celebrities affiliated with Phillips Group.

Major retailers removed all Phillips Group products from their shelves, exacerbating the crisis.

Phillips Group descended from corporate dominance to public enemy overnight.

It was widely accepted that recovery was impossible for the company this time.

Cedric seemed destined to carry a permanent mark of disgrace.

Elite Lux's official website was swarming with comments like, "Daniela, divorce him!"

Top executives at Elite Lux headquarters quickly became involved as the crisis escalated.

The moodwas grim among the PR and tech teams at Phillips Group; online trolls savagely attacked every public statement they issued.

"Daniela, what's our next move? The trolls are relentless!" Lillian asked, overwhelmed by the onslaught of online attacks.

With a calm demeanor, Daniela suggested, "Let's pause for a moment. I need to rest for half an hour."

The PR and tech team at Phillips Group were speechless. How could she be sleeping at a time like this?

Cedric, ever supportive, draped a blanket over Daniela and signaled for quiet.

He suggested,"Why not take this time to rest as well?We have guest rooms ready."

Exchanging suspicious glances, the team was stunned.

Rest at such a time?

Sleep was out of the question!

Right on the heels of a previous mess, Phillips Group was floundering once more.

Their jobs were hanging by a thread!

Falling asleep under such stress was unthinkable.