CHAPTER 20: CHAPTER 20: THE TRUTH OF THE CHAMPAGNE TOWER

The next day.

When Aiden Fordham opened his eyes, the blinding sunlight had already poured in through the porthole window.

It was already past nine in the morning.

He patted his forehead. The last image frozen in his mind was Stella Grant’s beautiful little face, along with her cries and resistance.

She actually dared to drug him and run off on her own?

Heh.

Aiden Fordham pulled at the corners of his lips, a low, cold hum escaping from his throat.

Interesting.

He got up, went into the bathroom to shower, changed into a perfectly pressed, custom-made suit, and opened the cabin door.

Keegan Lindsey was already waiting respectfully outside.

"Good morning, President Fordham."

Keegan bowed slightly and handed over a phone.

"Your phone, sir. Since last night until now, there have been seventy-three missed calls—all from Miss Kensington."

Aiden Fordham took the phone, glanced at the dense record of missed calls on the screen, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"What happened?" His voice, still hoarse from sleep, was nonetheless icy cold.

Keegan dared not delay and immediately handed over the tablet in his hands.

The screen displayed several explosive news pieces about Corinne Kensington.

[#Corinne Kensington and Abraham Grant#]

[#Vivi Sterling slaps Corinne Kensington#]

[#Corinne Kensington’s persona collapses#]

Every headline was alarming.

"The news broke in the middle of the night. Discussion volume has already exceeded a hundred million," Keegan quickly reported. "The related videos and photos... are all very clear. At least ten brands have now announced a unilateral termination with Miss Kensington. Her studio’s phone lines have blown up."

For a female celebrity who relied on her looks and public image, this was undoubtedly a devastating blow.

Corinne Kensington’s career would experience an unprecedented downfall.

Aiden Fordham’s gaze swept over those disgraceful headlines and photos, and his brows furrowed further.

This Vivi Sterling really pulled no punches, daring even to touch his people—was this not a public slap in his face?

His eyes moved down; there was another trending topic of high popularity at the bottom of the screen.

[#Mysterious Beauty Shocks the Crowd with a Blind Performance at the Fordham Family Anniversary#]

The attached photo was of a woman in profile, the lighting dreamy, highlighting her delicate jawline and her appearance while playing the piano with her eyes closed.

It was unmistakably Stella Grant.

Aiden Fordham’s gaze lingered on the photo for an extra two seconds.

Then he looked away, returned the tablet to Keegan, and gave a cold, indifferent order.

"Get the trending searches wiped from the net."

"Yes, sir." Keegan responded quickly, though he was a bit anxious in his heart. It seemed the boss had softened.

As long as The Fordham Group stepped in, Corinne Kensington could still come back from the dead.

Ding!

Keegan suddenly remembered something and quickly reported, "I received this video in the middle of the night."

Keegan handed the tablet up again.

The video showed Corinne Kensington "accidentally" bumping into a table, causing the champagne tower to collapse and almost injure Stella Grant—the footage was high-definition.

The latter half clearly captured Aiden Fordham and Andy Lockwood rushing forward to save Stella Grant. He anxiously reached out to block the shards of glass flying toward Stella’s face.

Otherwise, the consequences would have been disastrous!

After that, Andy Lockwood arrived and pulled her into his arms...

Aiden Fordham’s eyes instantly turned icy, as if soaked in frost.

Corinne Kensington was getting bolder and bolder. How could she dare to act so blatantly?

If this video got out, she would never recover.

If he hadn’t moved quickly, Stella Grant’s face would have been ruined, right?

Even though he didn’t love Stella Grant, he couldn’t just let Corinne Kensington do as she pleased.

At this, he couldn’t help feeling a rush of fear.

It seemed she needed a little lesson!

The car drove smoothly on the way back to the city; the pressure inside the vehicle dropped ever lower.

Keegan’s phone rang again; it was a call from the old mansion.

He picked up and spoke a few words. After hanging up, his expression grew grave. He turned to look at Aiden in the back seat and repeated each word carefully.

"President Fordham, the old mansion called. The old man instructed that you... are not to intervene in Miss Kensington’s matters this time."

Aiden Fordham leaned back in his seat, eyes closed in rest; at these words, he didn’t so much as lift an eyelid.

Keegan hesitated, then continued, "Also, the old man wants you and... the madam to come back for dinner tonight."

Keegan enunciated the word "madam" especially clearly.

Aiden Fordham finally opened his eyes. His gaze was deep and inscrutable.

He didn’t respond to the command from the old mansion.

Just then, Aiden Fordham’s private phone rang.

The screen flashed with the name "Corinne Kensington."

He stared at the display for a few seconds; his fingertips twitched slightly, but in the end, he slid to answer.

"Aiden! You finally answered!"

Corinne Kensington’s voice burst from the other end, tinged with sobs, hysteria and desperation.

"Did you see the news? Vivi Sterling and Stella Grant set me up! Help me, Aiden, you’re the only one who can help me, or else my entire career is over."

Her voice was shrill and urgent, filled with fear and dependency.

"As long as you step forward, as long as you tell everyone I’m your woman, those rumors will collapse on their own! Aiden, I’m begging you..."

Aiden Fordham listened to her incoherent crying, his face expressionless, his voice colder than ice.

"I’ll handle this."

His tone was calm and unwavering, yet brooked no dissent.

"Go lay low. Don’t go out for the next few days."

Finished speaking, not letting Corinne say another word, he directly hung up.

Seconds later, the phone started ringing crazily again—still Corinne Kensington.

Aiden Fordham didn’t even look at it. He directly set it to silent and tossed it aside.

In the past, he would have intervened at the first moment. With his people, he’d never allow anyone else to step in.

But after seeing the video of her hurting Stella Grant, he actually hesitated!

Just as Aiden Fordham arrived at the base of Fordham Tower, his phone received a picture and a message.

The photo showed Corinne Kensington soaking wet and unconscious, an air of tragic beauty about her.

"Eldest Master Fordham, please, save my Corrie. She tried to drown herself. She’s now at Central Hospital on the third floor, in emergency care."

Aiden Fordham froze for two seconds, then slammed his hand on the car door.

"Bang"—the driver and Keegan shrank in fear.

"To Central Hospital."

"Yes, sir."

He shut his eyes tightly, fists clenched. Why had he hesitated? He should have helped her the first moment.

If not for her, four years ago, he’d have drowned at sea...

A deep sense of guilt flooded him, instantly restoring his composure.

He had promised to protect her for a lifetime; he shouldn’t break his word.

Ten minutes later, the luxurious Rolls-Royce pulled up at Central Hospital’s entrance. Aiden Fordham strode in on his long legs.

Arriving at the hospital room, he heard the sound of sobbing from inside.

Helen Warren was pounding her chest and wailing, calling out Corinne Kensington’s name.

"My poor daughter, how could you do something so foolish? What am I supposed to do? What will the Kensington Family do? What’s more important than your life?"

"Four years ago, you jumped into the sea to save someone. I almost lost you then. How could you do it again?"

"Are you trying to take your mother’s life too? Corrie, Corrie! I’ll never force you to do anything you don’t like. It’s my fault!"

???

Aiden Fordham’s heart slammed in his chest. Was he too late?