Chapter 3

　　At 1 p.m., the banquet hall on the second floor. 　　A dense crowd of people stood under the stage at the press conference. 　　However, only a few hours had passed. The news online had not yet fermented. How could there be so many reporters at a temporary press conference? 　　Isabella inexplicably felt it strange. 　　Before she had a chance to think carefully, she saw a familiar face in the crowd. It was her best friend Helen Payten. 　　As a prominent journalist for Radar Online, Helen was undoubtedly sent by the company to obtain first-hand information. 　　Sure enough, the concerned gaze from her best friend was mixed with a hint of helplessness, as if she was asking Isabella, "Are you okay?" 　　Isabella managed to squeeze out a smile and nodded at Helen to indicate that she was fine. 　　On the stage, Amanda sighed deeply with a face full of sorrow. Jasmine also changed her usual glamorous style, dressed in a gentle and lovely white dress, her eyes filled with tears, looking pitiful. 　　Amanda was the first to speak, her voice heavy, "Thank you all for coming, dear journalists. We had no intention of using public resources, but today a baseless news story has already affected the reputation of my daughter Jasmine and the entire Watson family, so we cannot just sit back and watch. We have specifically convened this press conference today to debunk the rumors and to clear Jasmine's name..." 　　Amanda choked up due to the excitement, and Jasmine also covered her face and sobbed quietly. 　　Isabella, standing aside, was inwardly rolling her eyes, just wanting to end this quickly so she wouldn't have to watch the mother and daughter's pretentious behavior any longer. 　　At that moment, a reporter wearing glasses and a mask suddenly asked Isabella, "Ms. Watson, have you and Mr. Sandall called off your engagement?" 　　Despite the abruptness of the question, Isabella was about to blurt out a 'yes', but caught a glimpse of Amanda's warning look and the corner of a green plum blossom in her hand. After a slight hesitation, she could only reply, "No." 　　Isabella knew well that if she announced her separation from Bruno at this moment, it would indirectly confirm the authenticity of the news. Amanda would never allow it. Therefore, she decided to wait until everything had settled down before finding another opportunity to announce it. 　　"How did Ms. Watson explain the matter of you spending the night with another man at ten o'clock last night?" 　　The big screen behind suddenly started scrolling through photos of Isabella and a man in black entering the hotel without any warning. The clock in the hall showed that it was exactly 10 o'clock last night! 　　What? 　　Reverse?? 　　Was there dirt??? 　　In an instant, the scene erupted into chaos. All cameras focused on the stunned Isabella on stage. 　　Bruno rushed out of nowhere, his face ashen, "Isabella, you! You actually...! Do you think you've treated me fairly?" 　　He appeared just in time, which provided the reporters below with a great assist. 　　"Excuse me, Ms. Watson, who is the man in the photo? Judging by his physique, it shouldn't be Mr. Sandall, right?" 　　"Ms. Watson, since you were still dating Mr. Sandall, would this be considered cheating?" 　　"Ms. Watson, did you fabricate the false news about Mr. Sandall and Ms. Jasmine, intentionally diverting public attention to excuse your own infidelity?" 　　"Ms. Watson..." 　　The barrage of questions came at her like a tidal wave, and a strong sense of suffocation tightly enveloped Isabella. 　　Her chest heaved violently, her throat felt as if it was being strangled, and though she opened her mouth, she couldn't make any sound. 　　Helen tried to rush onto the stage several times but was stopped by her gaze each time. Isabella couldn't risk Helen losing her job. 　　At that moment, Isabella inadvertently caught a hint of barely noticeable delight at the corner of Amanda's mouth. After a brief pondering, she somewhat understood what was going on. 　　It turned out that all of this was a trap. The clarification was false, and the real intention was to tarnish Isabella's reputation through the press conference. 　　Isabella regretted it. She would vomit even with a single glance at the disgusting scene at the Glory Villas, let alone think of taking a picture with her phone. At this moment, she had no evidence in her hand. Even if she told the truth, no one would believe her. 　　What was worse, since there was irrefutable evidence of her "infidelity", if she were to reveal the affair between Bruno and Jasmine at this point, it would be seen by everyone as nothing more than fabricating facts to divert attention and excuse herself. 　　And Ruth was still in their hands. Isabella dared not and could not gamble with her life. 　　Isabella gritted her teeth, thinking, "Such a good trick indeed!" At this moment, the only thing she could do was admit it. 　　"Isabella, speak up!" Bruno urged irritably. 　　Looking at the crowd below with various expressions and the flashing lights making clicking sounds, she took a deep breath, about to speak... 　　At that moment, a clear, slightly teasing voice rang out, "Is my name really that hard to utter, Mrs. Parker?" 　　Everyone turned towards the sound, their eyes widening in shock, frozen in place like statues. 　　Isabella's heart skipped a beat the moment her gaze fixed on the entrance of the banquet hall. 　　It was him!