It was a speech prepared and arranged for Nathalia to deliver, and it would have sounded a bit more convincing if Nathalia had done so. However, Nathalia had stayed quiet the whole time, and Frank Carter had no choice but to do it himself.
Fake? Photoshop? This is the answer you can offer? Ridiculous. This is a joke. Do you think we can't tell what's fake or real? Do we work with cameras!Does he actually thinks we are stupid?
The crowd shared the same thought, except for a small group.
Someone shouted out loud, "That explains why the video clip doesn't seem natural and real to me. I've been wondering if it's fake."
Then another supportive voice, "I agree. To be fair, it's a video very well edited, but one can still tell it's fake."
"So Zack Carter has been the real victim instead! Mr. Carter, have you found out who the rival is that has done such an evil thing?!" someone else joined in passionately.
"We are to report the truth. Now that Zack Carter's the real victim, we have to let the public know and clear all these rumors!" said another enthusiastic voice.
The shout of support went on for a good few minutes. Righteous anger was heard. Justice was passionately requested.
The small group of reporters seemed to have turned the whole situation completely from against Zack to supporting him. They shouted one after another. It was unexpected to the rest of the reporters, and they were not given a chance to speak.
Nathalia sneered inside, thinking, "Huh, just as expected. So you have bribed some of them."
But Nathalia would not just give up so easily.
Then a random question was thrown at Nathalia "Miss Nathalia Carter, is your father speaking the truth? Your brother has never beaten you?"
The question quietened the crowd. Everyone looked at Nathalia.
Frank cast a warning look.
Anne was nervously holding her breath.
Evette and Zack seemed calm, thinking Nathalia dared not go against them.
Nathalia bit her lower lip slightly to show her uneasiness. Tears wetted her eyes. She glanced at the Carter couple worriedly, fists clenched nervously, like a frightened creature surrounded by hunters.
Frank Carter was taken aback angrily. What the hell is she doing?
Not receiving an answer, the reporter repeated his question. Rushed, Nathalia nodded nervously "It's true. What my father said is true. Please do not spread any more rumors. My brother is innocent."
People watched her in doubt, wondering if she was forced to say what she had said as she looked scared and sounded threatened.
Anne Carter was enraged, wishing she could give Nathalia a slap on her face right away. You little ungrateful shit. I've fed you, clothed you, sheltered you for over ten years. You won't just cooperate a little bit—useless shit.
The Carter supportive group of reporters grabbed the chance to do their job paid as a bribe. "See, Miss Nathalia Carter has told the truth."
"Indeed. Zack Carter is innocent. Though he's young and even willful sometimes, he could not have conducted such brutality."
"Therefore, it's a setup."
They lied for the sake of money. They cared not about truth.
Hearing Nathalia's answer, those that sought truth remained silent, though some of them were still suspicious.
A loyal supporter of the Carter's exclaimed, "Mr. Frank Carter, could you be so kind as to let us know who the vicious rival is?"
Frank Carter sensed that they had secured trust and felt relieved. "We are still investigating. As soon as we find out, we will inform you..." but he was soon interrupted.
"Liar!" A male reporter in a white T-shirt shouted as he held one arm up in the air with some paper in his hand. He handed out the paper to everyone as he slowly emerged to the front of the crowd.
"What an excellent performer you are, Mr. Frank Carter!" The reporter stated sarcastically. He glanced at Frank Carter, then looked around the crowd as he continued, "By the way, by the performer, I mean liar. As you can see from the paper, it's an analysis of the video clip's authenticity. Thorough and real. It shows no trace of editing on Photoshop at all." He said in a voice of unshakable confidence.
The whole situation was again switched completely against Frank Carter, who thought he had had everything in control. The unexpected appearance was ruining his plan. He glared at him furiously and bellowed, "Which media do you work for?"
The reporter turned around and yelled back, "Does Mr. Frank Carter want to get rid of me? It's your favorite and usual solution, isn't it?" As a reporter, I'm here, to tell the truth. That's my job, my duty. I can't be bribed. You have conducted the cruelest crime and are planning to cover it. The public deserves the truth."
The crowd chimed in "The truth."
Those bribes retorted "Nonsense."
"Miss Nathalia Carter has told us the truth. It's a set-up against Mr. Zack Carter. You heard the truth."
The reporter sneered. "Miss Nathalia Carter is the only victim here, a helpless victim. She gets no support from her parents, including her own father, who only cares about his second wife and his two other children. How dare she fight against them when she's alone and powerless?"
The Carters were astonished and furious. Frank Carter roared, "Nonsense. Everyone knows how much I love my older daughter, Nathalia."
He then thought, Who's this guy? How dare he go against us? Could someone powerful have his back? I shall be cautious.
The reporter smiled and questioned, "Tut. Tut. Tut. If you do love your daughter, why are you stealing her shares of the company from her? You forced her to sign the agreement to transfer the 10% shares her grandfather gave her as a present."
The plot thickened.
"What? That's shocking." The crowd murmured.
"10%!"
"He forced her to sign. Really?"
"That's shameless. Stealing his own daughter's shares."
***
Frank Carter was shaking with fury. "There's no such thing. You are lying!"
He was, in fact, worried. Who is he? How come he knows about the shares?!
Anne Carter jumped in frantically, "Who are you? How dare you make things up? Security. Get this guy out!"
Immediately, the reporter jumped up onto a desk and pulled out a pile of documents from his bag. "Here are the copies of the agreement Miss Nathalia Carter was forced to sign. THIS IS EVIDENCE. The evidence speaks the truth. Now, Mr. Frank Carter, tell us how much you love your daughter."
It shocked everyone at present.
"Unbelievable. Never thought Frank Carter so shameless!"
Voices of disapproval and condemnation grew louder and louder amongst the crowd.