Stories about Hazel had been cooked up. One by one, they were posted online.
Overnight, it was all about Hazel Haynes all over the internet.
Every day, downstairs in Hazel's office, there were reporters and strikes against her.
Despite this, she still insisted on coming to work daily.
Back in the Hotel.
Early in the morning, Tristan came to see Hazel with a bunch of flowers.
"Oh, hey, Tristan!" Hazel greeted him as she opened the door. She had been preparing breakfast for the kids.
Even with three nannies, she still cooked for her children from time to time.
"Have you eaten anything? Sit down and let's eat together," said Hazel.
She poured Tristan a glass of milk and went to make another sandwich.
Tristan did not say no. He just sat down and started digging in.
As a matter of fact, he had always hated sandwiches. However, since it was made by Hazel, that changed everything.
"Hazel, I've found a good house. The neighborhood is friendly, and the facilities will protect your privacy just fine. You should move in with the kids recently," said the man.
"I will. Thank you, Tristan," Hazel replied. She was still making the sandwich, looking a little exhausted. Tristan stared at her thin back, feeling so sorry for her.
He rose from his seat and went to give her a gentle hug from behind. "You shouldn't go to the office. these days," he was saying.
"It's alright. I'm fine!"
"I always said you were fine. But look at you. How much sleep did you get last night?"
Hazel gave him a smile and flipped her hair a little. "I'm really fine," she said confidently. "I'm just a little tired."
Obviously, she did not convince Tristan. He looked at her side face, concerned in his eyes. "Don't you forget that you have three children to take care of? Who will look after them if you fall down?"
Hazel raised her eyebrows and paused. Then she shrugged and replied, "I'll find a way."
Tristan gave a long sigh and spoke up again, "Hazel, you can't put up with this anymore. You have to fight back!"
"Of course. I'm not the girl I was nine years ago. I'm not going to allow Amara and the others to do whatever they want to!"
"That's good to hear. I'm so happy to see you pull yourself together," said Tristan with a smile. "I've got my PR team working on it. We shall see a reversal tomorrow."
"Um, Tristan, I…" Hazel was not sure how to put it.
Tristan gave her a bright smile and cut in, "no, you better stay out of sight for the time being."
"Why?"
"It will make people even more curious about you. And we would want people to assume that you're having a breakdown. Then the rebound will be even stronger."
"Well, all right." Hazel agreed. "Just in time. I can take the kids and move."
After all, staying in the hotel was not a long–term solution. She was settling down in the city with the kids.
"By the way, you need to take a set of photos," Tristan added.
Hazel looked at Tristan in bewilderment. "Photos?"
"Yeah, the public opinion is against you now. You must show some positive images before your reputation is ruined completely. Also, the Haynes Group's share price has plummeted recently. We need to do something. Otherwise, your company will fall apart."
"Okay, whatever you say!" Hazel had always trusted Tristan.
This man was the one last person whom Hazel trusted in this world.
The next day, Hazel did not show up at the office. No one at work saw her for the whole day.
"Did that bitch kill herself or what?"
"Maybe she's just hiding from the heat. People are mad with her. Who knows if someone will attack her all of a sudden if she's seen in public!"
In the Haynes villa.
Lyra ran over to Amara cheerfully with her phone. "Mom, look at the comments below! Ha! These guys you hired are awesome!"
Amara sneered as she replied disdainfully, "These are just appetizers. They are far from enough. Don't worry. I will make her pay the most painful price. But then again, it feels good to see so many people calling her a whore!"
Mother and daughter were talking when Chris came downstairs. "What's so exciting?" he asked.
"Nothing!" Amara answered first.
"Dad, have you seen the news?"
Frowning, Chris said impatiently, "No, and I won't. Nothing interesting anyway."
He did not even have to check to know that there must be nasty news about Hazel everywhere.
"Dad, are you just gonna leave her on a rampage like this?"
"The company is a mess right now. If Hazel wants to make a splash, so be it," Chris answered flatly. "When things go out of control, she'll beg me to go back with tears!"
"That's right. Since that bitch gave us a hard time, we will make her suffer, too!" said Lyra fiercely.
Chris heaved a sigh. "Don't call her that. She's your sister after all…"
Lyra pouted. "I don't have a sister like that!" she said angrily. "Dad, do you want my brothers and me, or do you want Hazel?"
"Of course, you three. We're a family. As for Hazel, alas, that wretched girl… Oh, enough of her. I need to take care of my blood pressure."
The next day, someone posted something anonymously about Hazel.
"The Crimes of Hazel Haynes!"
This title drew Netizens' attention at once.
There were thousands of words in the article.
It recorded Hazel's whole life from her birth up until now.
Especially in her teens when she had returned to the Haynes family and had been shunned by everyone, including Chris Haynes who had never given her any fatherly love.
This article seemed to be criticizing Hazel. While in effect, it allowed everyone to take a more global approach to the issue.
Netizens' opinions were not so easily changed, but they had already taken a glimpse at the full picture, which was the crucial first step.