''Don't come out of your house today.''
''I still have my last interview to go to today, Xia, I know who did this.'' Natalie had just one person on her mind.
''Who? Did you offend someone lately?''
''Dindin!''
''Who is Dindin?''
''Mimi's friend. She tried to mess with me yesterday but I put her in her place. She must have sent those pictures to Mimi to do this. She is the only one who could have done this to me. Xia, what do I do? At this rate, what if people find out that Alice and I having the same surname isn't a coincidence?''
''That bitch just won't lay low for a second.''
''I have another interview this morning. I can't stay at home because of this.''
''Natalie, you know how those reporters are, and also the netizens are so crazy these days. They're calling you a money-crazed bitch who quickly forgot about her husband the moment he died. There are a lot of bad comments about you.''
''That is not true. I have nothing to hide!''
''Nat, stop being naïve. Do you think the paparazzi and netizens care about the truth? All they want is news. They don't care about whether you are in the wrong or right. All they need is scoop and you just became one.''
''Then, what do you want me to do?''
''Stay at home. Your life is more important than the interview. Your face is all over the place, the company might even stop you from having the interview because of this. There are a lot of crazy fans of your husband out there who think you killed him and are out to get you. You need to protect yourself''
''That is too harsh. Why do I have to put my life on hold just because of what others think? I did not kill Thomas.''
''Just stay in the house. Thank God no one knows where you stay, I will bring you something to eat and figure out how to deal with this.''
''I really think I should face this head-on.''
''And have another relapse? No can do. Please, listen to me for once. Once you grant this people an interview, they will think that you have something to hide. You don't need to explain yourself to anyone. Why do you suddenly care about what people you don't know think about you?''
''Fine, I will listen to you. Hurry up with the food, seeing all these comments about myself just made me hungry.''
Natalie looked at the pictures and smiled. ''Well, at least they picked nice pictures''
....
Meanwhile in B City.
After seeing the news all over the internet with Natalie's picture and the malicious comments left by netizens, Alice angrily stormed towards Mimi's suit with fury ready to tie her apart. As she got near the door and prepare to bang on it, someone quickly pulled her into the corner and trapped her.
''Ssssh!'' Mikael said to Alice as he looked at the door. Alice turned and saw Mimi outside the door.
Mimi saw no one after opening her door and closed it again.
Alice looked at him angrily and tried to push him away as she hit him hard on the chest. ''Let go of me. If I don't kill that bitch today, then I am not Alice Jun!"
''I know you're angry, but now is not the time to deal with someone like her.''
''What do you mean? Did you not see the things people are saying about my sister? My sister is nothing like what they are saying.''
''Calm down first!''
''I can't calm down until I send that bitch to hell. I swear I will kill her today.''
Mikael sighed and tried to explain things clearly for her. He knew that she was acting out of anger and that wasn't going to solve anything ''going there will only put you and your sister in more danger''
''Do you want me to just sit and watch her mess with my sister however way she likes?''
''She doesn't know about your relationship. Going in there to fight her will expose the relationship you and your sister fought so hard to hide and protect. Is that what you want? Because, I can guarantee it will only make matters worse.'' Mikael held her hand and said to her. ''Come with me!''
....
Black Horse pub- private room.
Alice sipped the whiskey in her hand as she asked Mikael. ''Whose side are you on exactly? Because, I know you don't like me nor my sister.''
''I'm on nobody's side!''
Alice hit the glass against the table furiously, ''Yhen, why did you stop me from attacking Mimi?''
''I don't know why my brother put in so much effort in hiding your relationship and protected you, bu I can see he really cared about you and I'm not about to let his efforts go in vain.'' Mikael said solemnly.
He knew Thomas very well. His brother wasn't someone who did things for the fun of it. He always had a reason for every action taken and even if he didn't understand his brother, Mikael took his brother's matters seriously and whatever his brother made efforts to protect, he wasn't going to let go so easily.
Alice cussed and poured a glass of the whiskey and gulped down before saying. ''Darn it, my sister was finally coming out of her shell and that b*tch just had to mess it up.''
Mikael furrowed his brows. ''What do you mean your sister was coming out of her shell? Did something happen to her apart from Thomas' death?'' he remembered Mimi's words about Natalie's mental state.
''You won't get anything out of me. My mind right now is filled with ways to make Mimi suffer.''
Mikael smiled. If she didn't want to say it, it was okay. There were other means to finding out the truth. He raised his glass and said to Alice, ''If you want to mess with her, I can help you with that.''
''And why would you help me? We're not exactly friends?'' Alice looked at him suspiciously.
''We're not enemies either.'' Mikael cocked his brows at her.
''You hate my sister, that makes you my enemy.''
''So, do you want my help or not?''
Alice clicked her glass against his saying, ''I won't refuse but, let me warn you. If you do anything to my sister later on, I won't hesitate to kill you.''
''I like your guts.''
...
City M
T-Villa.
Natalie laid on the sofa with her head on Xia's laps as they watched TV and chatted.
''I looked into the matter before coming here.''
''What did you find?'' Natalie picked a piece of grape and fed Xia as she asked.
''The news was first leaked by a portal site reporter from Celebrity digest called Lee Felicia. And guess what I found else?''
''What did you find?''
''She is the same reporter that writes about every charity work the Songs undertake and Mimi's works. She is like a rat, always on the lookout for information about other people scandals. She is the one who wrote about Alice and the director last year. She is a loyal dog of the Song family.''
''She is basically eating off the crumbs of the rich.''
''She is Mimi's personal maid. How do you want to pay back?''
''If I stay quiet and don't fight back, then, she is going to keep writing all sort of nonsense. People like her will continue to write rubbish the more you keep quiet. I thought that if I just keep low and don't say anything, the news will die but it seems things are getting out of hand. My name is still trending on major sites.''
''That is why I dug up some dirt on her. Apparently, she is a regular at a host bar in District K.'' Xia said proudly and Natalie sat up to face her.
''You mean she goes to service rich old men?''
''Bingo!!'' Xia snapped her fingers together.
Natali shook her head. ''Whoa. So, she had all that dirt and still had the guts to mess with me? It is always the ones with the dirtiest past that throw the first stone.''
''I know, right?''
''Senior reporter Kim, I won't stop you. Do what you do best.''
''Okay. I feel so refreshed now that I'm going to start doing something I love. Being editor is quite boring. Natalie, I am going to put everything on the line and make sure I write an Oscar worthy article that will totally swipe all the negative comments away. Also, I will make sure that reporter doesn't bother you ever again after I am done dealing with her.''
''Put all your best grammar to use. Don't restrain yourself at all. You have my blessing.''
''Okay!'' Xia replied and they laughed.
Natalie took her phone from the table, ''I should call Alice. She must have seen the news.''
''Call her. I'm going to wash my hands and check my mail. I'm sleeping here tonight.'' Xia stood up and went towards the kitchen while Natalie called Alice.