Patricia certainly has a talent for drama.

"Isn't it odd?" Isabella remarked, her voice laced with confusion. "By all logic, Evelyn should be begging for our mercy by now. Yet days have passed, and she hasn't made a single attempt to reach out."

She paused, her tone sharpening with irritation. "Could she genuinely be indifferent? With the entire internet echoing the tabloids, attacking and insulting her openly, how can she remain so detached? Is she completely oblivious? Who wouldn't be terrified by such a vicious online storm?"

Patricia's eyes narrowed, a scornful laugh escaping her lips. "She's clearly putting on a brave face. We just need to apply more pressure. I refuse to believe she can withstand this much longer."

That evening, after Evelyn had settled in, her phone rang. It was Charlotte.

"Evelyn, you were right! Patricia is at it again, and it's worse than ever!" Charlotte's voice was electric with excitement. "Check social media, now! The timing is perfect. She's pulling out all the stops to destroy you."

Evelyn let out a soft chuckle, walking to her desk and powering on her computer. "Julian is her only son. It's no surprise she's desperate to clear his name."

As the local trending page loaded, Evelyn couldn't suppress another laugh, this one dripping with sarcasm. "Patricia truly has a gift for theatrics."

A live stream link was featured prominently. It was an event orchestrated by Patricia, featuring a panel of notorious gossip reporters.

The title boldly featured Evelyn's name. It was supposedly organized to "address" the rumors circulating about her.

The stream was a spectacle, drawing a massive crowd of reporters and spectators hungry for drama.

Patricia sat center stage. Isabella was beside her, tears already streaming down her cheeks.

Evelyn clicked the link with an air of detached amusement, then leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms.

She was curious to see what kind of performance the two women had prepared.

The stream began immediately. A reporter launched the first question. "Mrs. Blackwood, are the recent online rumors about your son and Evelyn accurate?"

A chorus of other reporters quickly joined in, their voices aggressive. "Did she truly leave him at the altar for another man?" one shouted.

"Mrs. Blackwood, is your son Julian completely innocent?" another pressed. "Did Evelyn have him imprisoned out of spite?"

"Mrs. Blackwood, please address these claims directly," a third insisted.

Hearing these perfectly scripted questions, Patricia felt a surge of smug satisfaction. Everything was proceeding exactly as planned.

Feigning profound exhaustion, she let out a long, heavy sigh.

Before the stream, she and Isabella had applied makeup meticulously to appear pale and haggard. Under the harsh studio lights, they looked utterly drained.

Patricia forced a few strategic tears, her voice trembling weakly as she began her rehearsed speech. "Julian is our only son, the sole heir to the Blackwood fortune," she began. "I never imagined it would come to this. I don't blame Evelyn, of course. I'm sure she had her reasons for leaving. But I know my son. He would never do anything truly wrong."

She took a deliberate, shaky breath for maximum effect. "While it's true Evelyn married another man, I've known her for years. She was always perfectly polite and respectful around me. There must be some terrible misunderstanding. I beg everyone not to jump to conclusions and to please stop spreading these cruel, baseless rumors."