Chapter 421

William? Rape?

The young girl, fearing disbelief, quickly widened her eyes and said, “It’s true. The whole company is buzzing about it. They say that it was Sue who reported it under her own name, claiming Mr. William is tied to her daughter’s death.”

Brielle was rooted to the spot, stunned. It took her a full minute to regain her composure before she chuckled and shook her head. She refused to believe that William could have anything to do with Sue.

After all, William wasn’t Ryan; he wouldn’t leave such a scandalous trail.

Brielle set down her cup, trying to fathom Sue’s motives. If Sue was just spreading rumors, and the police cleared William’s name, he certainly wouldn’t let Sue off the hook with his temperament. He might even silence her permanently. And at the very least, Sue would face arrest and charges for defamation. Why would she take such a reckless step?

“Ms. Haywood, you must find it hard to believe, too. We were all discussing it. We thought Mr. Dorsey was such a gentleman, but who knew he could be such a person in private? Poor Sue has already suffered so much, only to face this too.”

The young girl’s words were a real eye–opener for Brielle. During Brielle’s last trip to the hospital, she had made an anonymous livestream featuring Sue and her husband. In the video, Sue was entirely presented as a victim – a meek, pitiable figure, devoid of any defiance. She bore the brunt of humiliation and physical abuse without uttering a word in retaliation. It was a glaring testament to her chronically timid nature.

If such a woman was daring to bite at the high ranks of Dorsey International, then her words must’ve held a measure of truth. And the public always prided itself on moral high ground, with a penchant for filling in the blanks. They would naturally rationalize Sue’s actions. A weakling who dares to fight back is to be encouraged and praised. The public would not hesitate to side with Sue.

Brielle smiled, a gleam of amusement in her eyes. She had always said, those who underestimate the power of public opinion will eventually be defeated by it. In using Sue’s family, William could never have anticipated her daring to strike back.

After a brief pause, Brielle sorted out Sue’s strategy. Sue didn’t expect William to truly be punished, nor did she hold any hope for the police investigation. Since William held such a high position, he undoubtedly had myriad ways to clear his name. Sue wanted to ruin William’s reputation, to make the public associate the name William with the word ‘rapist.‘ This would not only hinder William’s career but also send his public image plummeting.

People tended to focus on the beginning of a story, rarely caring for the outcome. Many high–profile cases stirred up a storm online, only to be resolved much later when public interest had waned, and few were watching. So, in most people’s minds, it was the start of the story that stuck, not the conclusion.

Once William’s case hit the internet, the public would condemn him swiftly. As for the ultimate 13.01 verdict, only a few would see it. For the majority, William would remain a rapist.

Sue must have been desperate to take such a gamble, but it was a grip on William’s Achilles‘

heel.

Brielle found herself reassessing the woman once again.

During lunch break, she headed to the company cafeteria and found William’s scandal had spread like wildfire. In the age of the internet, secrets were hard to keep. She ate her meal slowly, overhearing a group of girls at a nearby table.

“I can’t believe Mr. William could be like that. I thought he was really easy–going.”

“People can be so deceptive. Our supervisor has already ordered us not to leak anything to the media.”

“Even if they silence us, they can’t silence Sue. She’s still at the police station. No one’s stopping her from speaking out.”

Brielle was engrossed in the conversation when they abruptly changed the subject.

“Forget about Mr. William, he’s old news. Aren’t you more curious about our CEO? I just found out he’s got a bite mark on his collarbone.”

The girl’s eyes sparkled as she spoke, “Guess who left it?”

The others leaned in, intrigued. In Dorsey International, no one was more magnetic than Max.

“It has to be Ms. Alivia. I’ve already imagined her and the CEO in a loving embrace. She’s so lucky to have such a top–notch husband.”

“The CEO is known for his meticulousness and unapproachability, yet he indulges her, leaving a mark there. It’s clear he’s absolutely smitten with her.”