CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 41: THE FORDHAM GROUP’S OFFICIAL STATEMENT

The sky had completely darkened; not a single star could be seen on the ink-blue canopy above.

Stella Grant returned home; the entryway light wasn’t on, so she changed her shoes in the dark.

The living room was pitch black.

Originally, Vivi was supposed to come back with her, but Stella had refused.

With that girl around, she’d probably be forced to spend tomorrow in bed.

She took out her phone.

The screen lit up, displaying a dozen missed calls from Andy Lockwood.

Her fingertip slid across the screen—she dialed back.

The call was answered almost instantly.

"Stella?" Andy’s voice carried a barely noticeable tension.

"I’m sorry." Stella’s voice was soft, tinged with the huskiness that follows a fever, "I had a bit of a fever today, took a nap, but it’s gone now."

"As long as you’re okay. Did you eat dinner? I’m nearby, I can bring you something to eat."

His voice took on a hint of urgency.

"I’m not hungry. Senior, you should rest early." Stella paused, then added, "I’ll come to the office tomorrow."

After hanging up, she switched on a balcony light, walked out, and gazed up at the crescent moon.

The night breeze, cool and gentle, brushed her cheeks.

She lifted her eyes to the brightly lit, towering skyscraper in the distance, like a silent beast standing firm in the night.

Her gaze lingered there, gradually losing focus—turning empty and dull.

She couldn’t quite figure out what kind of man Aiden Fordham was.

The midday quarrel was still vivid; by afternoon, he seemed like an entirely different person.

She couldn’t tell which was the real him.

Downstairs.

A Maybach sat quietly in the shadows.

Andy Lockwood stood by the car, head tilted up, his gaze fixed steadfastly on that balcony glowing with faint white light.

The night blurred his handsome features, leaving behind only a deep shadow.

He suddenly recalled a poem: You admire the scenery on the bridge, while someone below admires you.

Perhaps, this was exactly how it felt.

Bitter!

...

The night swallowed the city whole.

Central Hospital, VIP suite.

The air was thick with the scent of disinfectant, though mostly covered by the expensive aroma diffusers in the room.

The doctor had just finished a full checkup for Corinne Kensington, reporting to Aiden Fordham, who stood nearby.

"Mr. Fordham, Miss Kensington is in no serious condition; all signs are normal. A night’s rest and she’ll be ready for discharge tomorrow."

The doctor wisely withdrew.

Only Aiden and Corinne Kensington, lying in the hospital bed, were left in the room.

Corinne’s face was pale, her eyes swollen red; she reached out her trembling hand to softly clutch Aiden’s sleeve.

"Aiden, I’m sorry..." Her voice was thick with tears, broken and heartbreakingly pitiful.

"I shouldn’t have troubled you, really, I just... I just wanted to leave quietly on my own."

She sniffled, and tears spilled out again.

"I don’t know... don’t know why Stella just won’t let go of me. The fan appreciation event, that was... my shining moment. If she hated me, she could’ve talked to me privately, how could she..."

Aiden spoke softly, "I’ll look into this. Don’t overthink it."

Corinne froze—wasn’t it Stella? Or was he intentionally covering for her?

Then it must’ve been Vivi Sterling; they’re all thick as thieves.

"It’s all my fault, I couldn’t help wanting to stay by your side. If I had some self-awareness, none of this would’ve happened."

She sobbed twice and went on,

"Dad’s company... It’s about to go under. Mom has a distant cousin, seems she works at The Sovereign Estate, but just because she accidentally offended Miss Grant, she got... got sent to the police station..."

"I know she hates me—let her come for me, why drag my family into this?"

The more she spoke, the more agitated she became, her body trembling along with her words.

Aiden pulled over a chair and sat by the bed.

He looked at her without saying anything.

Corinne felt uneasy under his gaze, her small fists clenched tightly.

Finally, Aiden spoke, voice calm.

"Stop worrying so much."

"Let me handle these things."

He reached out, lightly patted the back of her hand—his gesture soothing.

"Promise me, from now on, don’t do anything stupid."

His tone wasn’t harsh, but it carried an unmistakable authority.

"Otherwise, I’ll truly be angry. I can’t always be there in time."

Thinking back, he still felt a chill; if he’d been a minute late.

Would she...

Corinne looked at him in a daze, tears blurring her vision.

She nodded hard.

"Aiden, The Fordham Group has fallen so far because of me, what do we do?"

Aiden brushed her hair, "It’ll be fine, I’ll handle it. Rest for now; I’ll have someone bring up some food."

"Mm."

Corinne obediently lay back!

Aiden stepped out. Keegan Lindsey was there, hesitating!

"You wanted to say something?"

Keegan quickly spoke up, "Madam is out of the hospital!"

"Mm!"

He nodded, his face unreadable. Truthfully, he didn’t know what else to say right now!

But in his heart, a decision seemed to be forming!

A day facing life and death with two women, his mind had never been clearer!

...

The next day.

Meritopia was set ablaze again by a single statement!

The internet was boiling!

[Fordham Group Official Statement]

"Regarding recent rumors about our President, Mr. Aiden Fordham, and Miss Corinne Kensington, we declare: Mr. Fordham and Ms. Stella Grant signed a divorce agreement on [XXXX year X month X day], with their marriage long ended. Mr. Fordham is now in a confirmed romantic relationship with Miss Kensington. We ask all netizens to stop spreading false information and refrain from rumor-mongering. The Fordham Group reserves the right to pursue legal action."

Beneath the statement, a photo was attached.

The image was a partial screenshot of the [Divorce Agreement], with sensitive details blurred out.

But at the bottom, the signatures of [Aiden Fordham] and [Stella Grant] were clear as day.

One stone cast—thousands of ripples.

#AidenFordhamHasLongBeenDivorced#

#AidenFordhamAndCorinneKensingtonInLegitRelationship#

#FeelForCorinneKensington#

#StellaGrantNoLongerRichestMadam#

Several hashtags quickly dominated the trending topics.

"Holy shit! So they were divorced ages ago? Corinne Kensington isn’t the third wheel at all!"

"Damn, that turnaround was fast! So the President was single when he got together with Corinne?"

"No wonder President Fordham rushed to save Corinne—that’s his legit girlfriend!"

"Everyone who trashed Corinne needs to apologize!"

"What’s up with Stella Grant? Divorced but still won’t let go?"

"If you think about it, maybe all those scandals were stirred up by this ex-wife? What a nasty woman!"

The tide online turned faster than flipping a page.

Just yesterday, everyone was calling for Corinne’s head; now she was instantly the wronged victim.

Meanwhile, Stella was shoved into an even more humiliating position.

Plenty of netizens cursed her as vicious, divorced but still trying to bring down the Fordham Group.

Truly, nothing’s crueler than a woman’s heart!

And the Fordham Group’s stock price, with the release of the statement, miraculously steadied and started to recover.

The boycotts and negative comments faded away, just like fog burned off by the sun.

With the Fordham Group’s PR team moving in, every bit of dirt on Corinne Kensington disappeared without a trace.

No one dared call Corinne the third party publicly ever again.

After all, President Fordham himself had stamped "divorced" on it.

Twists and turns—the drama left the gossip crowd dizzy!

But satisfied!

This time, there’s no doubt—President Fordham truly loves Best Actress Kensington.

Absolutely!

The next morning, Stella Grant stepped out of her apartment building.

Reporters, like swarming, scenting flies, flocked over.

Camera flashes burst, crackling so furiously it was almost blinding...