CHAPTER 139: I DON’T THINK YOU DID IT

Meanwhile, Daniel stepped into his office, a dark aura trailing behind him like a storm cloud. His expression was unreadable, but the tension in his jaw said enough.

"Speak," he ordered, his voice low and commanding as he sank into his chair.

Henry didn’t waste a second. "Boss, the post originated from a random account with no solid background or traceable IP. However..." — he hesitated briefly — "the account is linked to Miss Stewart’s fan club."

The moment Daniel heard Fiona Stewart, his expression darkened further. His fingers tapped once against the desk before going still.

"Continue," he said evenly.

Henry cleared his throat. "The news has already spread across multiple platforms. The Bennett share value has taken a significant hit since morning."

Silence stretched.

Daniel leaned back slowly, eyes fixed ahead, thoughts churning beneath that calm surface. He’d had his issues with Hugo Bennett, but never — not once — would he let Anna suffer because of that man’s arrogance or the mess he created.

When he finally spoke, his tone was like ice.

"Get me Hugo Bennett on the line," he said. "I want to speak to him before he dares accuse my wife of something she didn’t do."

Henry nodded quickly and left to make the call, leaving Daniel alone in the heavy quiet.

He exhaled once — slow, deliberate as the anger simmered deeper.

He had expected attacks from rivals, from the media, from people who envied his position. But this... dragging Anna into it, tarnishing her image, threatening her peace — that was something else entirely.

His wife had already endured enough.

And Daniel would make damn sure no one — not her father, not her family, not that scheming woman trying to bring her down — would ever hurt her again.

Because to reach Anna Bennett... they’d have to go through him first.

***

[Inside Shawn’s Apartment]

Ever since Anna had asked him to trace the person who exposed her identity, Shawn had been working nonstop. But no matter how deep he dug, the result was always the same.

A bot account.

"Damn it," he muttered, frustration lacing his tone as his fingers flew across the keyboard. "It’s still the same. No trace. No name. Nothing."

He leaned back in his chair, exhaling heavily. Across from him, Anna sat quietly, watching the disappointment settle over his face.

Shawn was one of the best in his field — meticulous, fast, and nearly impossible to outsmart. Seeing him struggle only confirmed one thing: whoever had done this wasn’t just skilled... they were prepared.

"That person was smart enough to erase every digital footprint," Shawn said, his eyes narrowing at the screen. "They covered their tracks long before the post went up."

Anna’s expression hardened, though her silence spoke volumes.

"What should we do now?" Betty asked nervously, glancing between the two of them. Her phone buzzed again — her mother’s name flashing across the screen for what felt like the tenth time. "How are you going to face your parents, Big Sis?"

Anna’s phone started vibrating next, her mother’s name lighting it up like a warning.

She sighed and flipped it over, ignoring it once, twice — but the calls didn’t stop.

Finally, she stood. "Give me a moment," she said, her voice calm but clipped. Without another word, she stepped outside to take the call.

Betty stared after her, worry etched across her face. Then she murmured softly, "I used to think having parents was the greatest blessing... but watching Big Sis struggle just to get their love, I think I’m lucky I don’t have any."

Shawn looked at her, his usual composed expression faltering for a moment. "Don’t you miss them?" he asked quietly.

Betty smiled weakly. "I do," she admitted. "But I know they’re in a better place. And I’ll always remember them as people who loved me... right till the end."

Her voice trembled, but her eyes shone with quiet conviction.

Betty had lost her parents shortly after enrolling in the academy. They had been kind, loving, and fiercely proud of her. And though their absence still ached, she carried their love like a shield. It kept her strong.

Shawn studied her in silence for a moment, admiration flickering behind his steady gaze.

"I always thought you were just a kid," he said finally, a small smile tugging at his lips. "But I guess I was wrong. You’re more mature than most girls your age."

Betty blinked, her cheeks flooding with color. She hadn’t expected that from him.

"B–Brother Shawn," she stammered, flustered. "Is there really no way we can find the person who hurt Big Sis?"

"Shawn," he corrected, cutting her off gently.

"Huh?" she blinked.

"You can call me Shawn," he said, glancing at her with a teasing grin.

Her eyes widened. "But... Brother Shawn, how can I—"

"Because we’re not blood-related," he interrupted with a shrug. "And besides... I don’t really want to be your brother. Not after we—"

"Stop!" Betty’s eyes went wide with panic. "Don’t you dare finish that sentence!"

Shawn chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "As you say," he said easily. "But come on, it’s not something you can just forget, right? After all, you kissed—"

"Shawn!" Betty shrieked, her face burning red as she grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.

He caught it midair, laughing. "See? That’s better," he said, still grinning. "Now that’s the kind of reaction I like."

Betty huffed, crossing her arms to hide her flushed face — but Shawn’s quiet chuckle filled the room, breaking the tension that had hung heavy only moments ago.

***

Meanwhile, Anna stood a few steps away from the apartment door, her phone gripped tightly in her hand.

She stared at the screen as it buzzed again with her mother’s name. She knew what was coming — the scolding, the disappointment, the inevitable guilt. Still, ignoring the call would only make things worse.

Taking a slow breath, she finally answered.

"Anna, what is all this? Why weren’t you answering my calls? Your father—"

"Mom," Anna cut in sharply, her voice trembling despite her effort to keep it steady. "Do you think I did it?"

For a second, there was only silence. Anna didn’t even know why she’d asked that — maybe because deep down, she already knew the answer. Her mother always chose to believe her father. Always.

But then, Rosaline’s voice came softly through the line.

"No, I don’t think you did it, Anna."

Anna blinked, stunned. She... what?

For a brief moment, a fragile relief flickered through her chest — but it faded as soon as her mother continued.

"However," Rosaline sighed, "your father still believes you were wrong to pursue this career without considering the consequences. He’s angry, Anna. He feels betrayed."

And just like that, the air left Anna’s lungs. Any comfort she had felt moments ago dissolved into quiet bitterness.

Her voice dropped lower. "Mom, it’s not me. But I think I know who did it."

Rosaline’s tone grew uneasy. "What do you mean? Are you saying someone did this on purpose?"

Anna pressed her lips together, shaking her head at her mother’s hesitation — the disbelief that always met her words. How was she supposed to explain anything when they’d never really listened?

For as long as she could remember, her parents had dismissed her concerns as complaints — her pain as overreaction.

"Mom," Anna said softly but firmly, "if you truly believe me — which I hope you do — then please trust me on this. I would never do something that would hurt you or Dad. But someone out there wants to create a rift between us. And they’re doing a good job of it."

Rosaline fell silent again.

On the other end, Anna could hear her mother’s shaky breath — the sound of someone who wanted to believe, but was terrified of what that belief might cost.

"I just..." Rosaline began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just don’t want you to make things worse for yourself, Anna. Be careful what you say, who you accuse. The more attention this gets, the harder it will be for you."

Her words weren’t cruel — they were frightened. But that only made the ache in Anna’s chest sharper.

"I understand," Anna murmured, her tone calm but cold. "But I can’t stay silent, Mom. Not this time."

Rosaline didn’t reply.

When the call ended, Anna stood there for a long moment, staring at her reflection in the darkened window — the faint tremor in her fingers, the determination hardening behind her eyes.

If her family wouldn’t protect her name...

she’d protect it herself.

Anna exhaled slowly, leaning back against the wall as she tried to steady her thoughts. Despite everything, she was relieved that Rosaline believed her — that, for once, someone in her family didn’t think she was reckless enough to bring this scandal upon them.

Still, her mother’s warning echoed in her mind: this wasn’t something they could simply ignore. Their lives had been dragged into the public eye, and the damage was already spreading.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Anna turned to head back inside when her phone pinged. The sharp sound stopped her mid-step.

She frowned and glanced at the screen.

DarkKnight_07.

Her brows knitted tighter. She hadn’t heard from that account in a while — the mysterious user who always seemed to know more than they should. For a moment, she debated whether to even open it. But curiosity, as always, won.

She tapped the notification.

DarkKnight_07: Do you want to know who exposed your identity?

Anna’s breath hitched.

Her eyes lingered on the words, her pulse quickening. There was no hesitation in that message — no doubt, no question. Whoever this person was, they knew.

Before she could type a response, another message appeared.

DarkKnight_07: But there’s something I want in return.

Anna’s grip on her phone tightened, the faint chill of unease crawling up her spine.