Chapter 31
Julia’s POV
In the photo, Scarlet was talking to someone in a café,
The image on my phone screen held my attention like a vice. Scarlet was in the image with a man sitting across from her. Her face was focused slightly away, mid–conversation, a half–smile playing on her lips and that of the man. I was confused as to who the man was and why Jake had sent the photo to me,
Lucas, seated across the table, must have noticed my change in demeanor as I wasn’t eating. My eyes were focused on my phone. “Something wrong?”
I stiffened, forcing my expression into neutrality, “Nothing,” I replied, too quickly as my gaze met his with a smile. His gaze lingered on me, skeptical, but he let it drop.
The dinner continued without further interruption and soon, the time passed in a blur. Mr. Samuel, who had been in high spirits throughout the meal, escorted us to the door as we stood to leave.
“Lucas, make sure to send Julia home safely,”
I gave
I gave a polite nod but turned to Lucas as we stepped outside. “You don’t need to see me home,” I said, maintaining a measured tone and then started to walk away but his statement made me halt.
Lucas regarded me for a moment before speaking, “I know who that man in the photo is.
I turned to him. “You do?” My eyes narrowed as I took a few steps closer. “You recognize him?”
Lucas let out a slow breath. “More importantly, I recognize your stepmother, Scarlet. I wasn’t sure at first, but the photo confirmed it.”
A fresh wave of confusion washed over me. I was surprised as to how he was able to recognize my Scarlet.
“You do?” I questioned.
He placed his two hands into his pockets and took a few steps forward, his gaze boring into mine. “I do… but not personally. But I’ve seen pictures of her before.” He hesitated for a fraction of a second before continuing. “As for the man she was speaking to, that’s a journalist. A gossip columnist, to be specific.”
My pulse quickened. “A journalist?” What was Scarlet up to now?
Lucas gave a slow nod. “Yes. His name is William Pratt. I came across him a few years ago when I worked on a project related to media monitoring. Part of the job was keeping track of the media landscape, including reporters who focused on sensational news.” He paused and took another step and then he continued. “William was one of them. His articles were always filled with speculation, half–truths, and just enough facts to make them believable. He thrives on scandals, especially those involving corporate figures and high society.” The explanation made sense, but I still couldn’t wrap my head around one thing. So why would Scarlet meet with him?
“She’s meeting a gossip journalist.”
“Exactly. And knowing his track record, I’d say it’s only a matter of time before negative news about you starts circulating.”
Negative news? And why would Scarlet do that?
A headache began forining at my temples. I had dealt with bad press before in my previous life but this felt different. I know Scarlet had never shown much interest in me, our interactions had always never been polite. Why would she suddenly be speaking to someone like William Pratt? What could she possibly have to say?
Lucas studied me. “Do you want me to look into it?”
I shook my head. “No, I’ll handle it.”
His lips pressed together as if debating whether to push the issue further, but he didn’t. Instead, he simply nodded. “Alright.”
Without another word, I turned and headed back to the company. The moment I stepped into my office, I called Emily…
She entered within minutes, her expression shifting to one of slight concern as she noticed the look on my face..
“Is everything alright?” She questioned, stepping closer as she studied me and waited for an answer.
I hesitated for only a moment before handing her my phone, showing her the image of Scarlet and the journalist. “His name is William Pratt. I
need everything you can find about him, his recent articles, his connections, any ongoing projects he might be working on.”
Oxpter 3
Emily’s eyes scanned the image before she gave a curt nod. “Alright ma’am.”
As she left, I sat behind my desk, fingers tapping against the surface of my table.
+25 Bonus
Emily returned within 2 hours, carrying a tablet. She placed it on my desk and swiped to bring up the relevant files. “William Pratt is a freelance journalist, but he works closely with several tabloid outlets. His most recent articles have focused on business scandals, political affairs, and celebrity controversies. He has a habit of targeting people with influence. His writing style is… well, let’s just say subtlety isn’t his strength.”
I took the tablet and began scanning through the articles. As expected, they were sensationalized, filled with insinuations and suggestive language rather than hard facts.
“He seems to have a lot of followers,” I muttered.
Emily nodded. “His work tends to gain traction quickly. If he’s looking into anything, it won’t take long before people start talking.”
Emily watched me carefully. “Is there a problem?” She questioned but I shook my head, signifying a no.
“Not at all,” I admitted.
My fingers hovered over an article from last year, detailing, a corporate scandal that had led to a CEO’s resignation. The accusations had been vague at first, based on anonymous sources, but the damage had been immediate. The company’s reputation had plummeted, and within months, it had been swallowed by a competitor.
Tapping the screen, I went through more of his work. Something about it unsettled me. Suddenly, memories of perhaps what I knew about his personal life glared at me. I couldn’t quite place the exact story I had heard about him in the past. But it felt like I knew who he was.
Author’s Note: Revenge After Rebirth: No Longer Yours, Ex! Will be updated at least 4 to 5 times a week. Please do well to add to your library so whenever a new chapter is updated, you will be notified. Happy reading!!
