Josie finally understood the meaning behind Lily’s words in the elevator. So, she’s deceitful, she thought.
“Alice, is this true?” Josie asked. “Did you really accept a bribe from the contestant?”
“Your actions have violated a serious taboo in this industry, and the entire sector will blacklist you. Was it worth it to act in such a way?”
“Alice, could you please explain your original intention behind doing this?”
One question after another was thrown at Josie, and all attention was focused solely on her.
For the past two years, Josie had always kept a low profile. Despite winning numerous international awards for her work, she had never granted any media interviews.
In that moment, she felt somewhat uncomfortable being the center of attention, yet she didn’t show any signs of timidity. She remained calm and composed. She scoffed and said, “Anyone can talk big, but I’d like to ask you, Ms. Lily, do you have any evidence?”
Lily laughed triumphantly, not expecting Josie to fall into the trap so easily. Without hesitation, she reached into her bag and pulled out a stack of photos, tightly gripping them in her hand.
“Would I dare to expose you in front of so many people without evidence? Everyone, take a look. In this photo, Alice is seen meeting privately with a contestant named Dylan. Dylan is seen handing Alice a large envelope filled with Atharian currency.”
The cameras immediately started snapping photos of the pictures in Lily’s hand, causing a commotion at the scene.
As soon as Dexter entered through the main gate, he noticed something unusual about the situation.
He scanned the room, eventually fixing his gaze on Josie. She was alone, surrounded by a crowd of foreign journalists, bombarded with unpleasant noises.
Without hesitation, Dexter walked towards her.
“How much would it be worth in Atharian currency for Alice to take such a risk?” Dexter approached, maneuvering through the crowd until he reached Josie, firmly holding her hand.
Josie turned her head, staring at him intently. For some reason, in that fleeting moment, her once unsettled heart seemed to find tranquility.
She hadn’t spoken yet, but the man took the lead, casting a cold glance at Lily. His tone carried a hint of mockery as he said, “That envelope had less than ten thousand in Atharian currency, right?”
Lily recognized Dexter. He’s the man Josie is having an affair with! she thought.
Her eyes narrowed, not fully understanding Dexter’s background, but she had a rough idea that this man was not as simple as he appeared.
“The amount doesn’t matter. Since Alice accepted it, the nature of the act remains the same,” Lily insisted, now in a predicament.
“But why would Alice care about a mere ten thousand in Atharian currency? She wouldn’t stoop so low as to use this ten thousand to ruin the career she loves so much.”
“Ha! You shouldn’t have accepted it, then!”
Upon hearing that, Josie couldn’t contain herself any longer. “Then present the evidence that proves I accepted this money,” she demanded.
“Isn’t everything clear in the photos? What more evidence do you want?”
Josie was left speechless by that statement, but she still patiently explained, “Firstly, I admit the authenticity of these photos. Dylan did approach me privately, but I clearly rejected him. I haven’t taken a single penny from him. Moreover, I can provide evidence to prove my innocence.”
“Wow! That’s breaking news! Show your evidence!”
“Indeed, I would like to see who exactly is lying.”
“It’s more convincing to let the facts speak for themselves.”
