Chapter 6

Ava Sterling POV

Even after her trump card was exposed, Vanessa’s first reaction was still to throw money at the problem.

She forced out a smile.

“Mr. Blackwood, I made a mistake earlier.”

“I’ll immediately make up the Reed family’s donation and compensate for that brooch, so let’s just forget this, all right?”

Sebastian did not even look at her and turned his gaze to me instead.

Vanessa nearly ground her teeth to pieces and could only turn to look at me.

“Miss Sterling, I’ll pay.”

“What about the apology?”

I lifted my eyes coldly.

Countless cameras around us were pointed this way, and Ethan anxiously persuaded her in a low voice.

“Vanessa, apologize first, otherwise Mr. Blackwood…”

Slap!

Vanessa turned around and slapped him across the face.

“Shut up!”

“You liar, and you still have the nerve to talk?”

After hitting him, she could only take a deep breath and stiffly lower her head.

“I shouldn’t have interfered with the project, and I shouldn’t have spoken rudely to you two.”

“And her.”

I pointed to the little girl beside us whose eyes were red.

Vanessa’s face turned livid, and she bent toward the child perfunctorily.

“I’m sorry.”

The little girl held the box with the broken brooch and said in a clear voice,

“If you don’t like it, you don’t have to buy it, but you can’t smash it.”

Low mocking sounds rose around us.

Vanessa’s face turned dark red, and she retreated to her seat in humiliation.

Just as the disturbance settled, my assistant suddenly rushed over with a tablet.

“Ms. Sterling, someone bought a trending topic!”

“They’re saying we forced the Reed heiress to kneel!”

On the screen, gossip accounts had maliciously edited the footage of Vanessa bowing, and the full context had been erased.

Sebastian swept one glance over it.

“Ethan Vale did it.”

“He wants to muddy the waters so he can escape.”

Sure enough, Vanessa not far away perked up again and walked over while waving her phone.

“Miss Sterling, look, it seems the internet sympathizes more with me, the ‘victim.’”

I ignored her and directly turned to my assistant with an order.

“Cut the full backstage surveillance into three time points and post them from the official account!”

“Start a public livestream of the brooch repair process!”

“Don’t add any PR wording, and only show the facts!”

Vanessa sneered.

“You think a few lousy videos can overpower my family’s PR?”

I looked at her.

“I don’t need to overpower anyone.”

“I only need everyone to see how ugly you looked when you tried to use a withdrawn donation to buy a male model.”

As soon as the complete surveillance footage was posted, public opinion reversed instantly.

Vanessa, who had still been controlling the comments ten seconds earlier, was drowned in curses the next second:

“Private image companion?!”

“This woman tried to force-buy the CEO of Blackwood Group to shoot a film?!”

The official account released three hard-hitting videos in a row.

She pointed at Sebastian and said “I want him,” threatened the organizers by withdrawing the donation, and smashed the orphan’s brooch.

Not a single accusatory sentence was added, but Vanessa’s fake victim mask was torn to pieces.

Backstage fell into complete chaos.

Calls from the Reed family came in wildly to apply pressure, while Vanessa screamed hysterically at Ethan.

“How was I supposed to know he was Sebastian Blackwood?!”

“You lied to me!”

“Stop pretending to be innocent!”

Ethan simply tore off the mask.

“When you used the title of future Mrs. Blackwood to steal resources, did I ever stop you?!”

“When you wanted to forcefully take a male model, did you ever ask me if it was real or fake?!”

“You dare talk back?!”

“Don’t forget, I kept records of every time you asked me to use Blackwood Group’s name to open doors for you!”

The two of them turned on each other in public like dogs fighting dogs.

I looked at Sebastian.

“Is there enough evidence?”

“Enough for Blackwood Group to sue him for extortion, and enough for the Reed family to answer to its board.”

Sebastian’s tone was like ice.

“As for tonight’s cooperation with the Reed family, Blackwood Group will reassess it.”

“Take your people and get out.”

Vanessa finally panicked.

“Mr. Blackwood, you can’t deny the entire Reed family because of me alone!”

“Then weren’t you just about to cut off lifesaving money for dozens of sick children because of your temper alone?”

I asked coldly.

Vanessa had nothing to say and fled in panic.

The farce ended, but the auction reached its climax.

The gap left by the Reed family’s withdrawn donation was quickly filled by several entrepreneurs who learned the truth.

The urgently repaired “Cracked Brooch” sold for the highest price of the entire night.

On stage, the little girl bowed with red eyes.

“Thank you, everyone.”

Below the stage, my eyes warmed slightly.

The final auction item was the “Kite Brooch” I had designed myself.

As soon as the host announced the starting price, Sebastian slipped a bidding paddle into my hand and locked his fingers tightly with mine.

“Fifty million!”

I raised the paddle.

Sebastian took the microphone, and his voice spread throughout the room.

“Blackwood Foundation will purchase this brooch and add a long-term children’s medical assistance program.”

Thunderous applause filled the hall.

I looked at the children on stage with bright, sparkling eyes and smiled in relief.

Some people wanted to use power to crush kindness underfoot, but I insisted on standing at the highest place and letting the whole world see that kindness.