Chapter 59: Public Scrutiny and Private Confessions

Chapter 59: Public Scrutiny and Private Confessions

The comments under Ethan's Weibo post were flooded with "???" and "WTF." Most people were completely baffled by his sudden revelation, unable to make sense of the situation.

Emily was just as stunned. She stared at the wedding photo for a long time, lost in thought.

After her memory loss, she hadn't really looked at their wedding photos.

Though she had no specific memories tied to the photo, she did remember the wedding dress. It was a gift for her coming-of-age, designed by her mother and crafted with top-tier pearls and diamonds, all personally selected by her grandfather. The dress had been painstakingly handmade by a European master craftsman, taking hundreds of hours to complete.

From the moment she first laid eyes on the dress, Emily had fantasized about the day she would wear it. But now, seeing herself in it, she realized it didn't look quite as she had imagined.

She had been only twenty when she married him, a young and naive bride. The dress didn't make her look more mature; instead, it enhanced her ethereal beauty. Coupled with her sweet, innocent smile and the sparkle in her eyes, she looked vibrant and stunning.

The man beside her was handsome as well, but his smile wasn't as relaxed or joyful as hers.

Of course, at that time, Ethan still believed she had schemed to marry him.

Reflecting on this, Emily couldn't help but feel that she had somehow let down that beautiful dress…

But the comments under Ethan's Weibo post seemed to disagree:

"OMG, they're so beautiful! Absolutely stunning!"

"Alisa is so gorgeous, from her hair to her crystal heels—like a fairy!"

"Alisa's wedding dress is exactly what I've always dreamed of!"

"Wow, Chairman Harrison is so good-looking! Those news cameras really don't do him justice."

"They honestly look like they walked right out of one of those CEO romance novels! I think there's a seven-year age gap? A true billionaire and his young bride."

"They're such a perfect couple, I'm crying."

After admiring their looks for a while, the spectators suddenly realized something—they had been proven wrong yet again.

"Wait… Alisa's husband is actually the top billionaire?! What kind of plot twist is this?"

"I just went back and compared that old photo of Alisa's husband's back with Chairman Harrison's from magazines and news articles [image]. Yep, it's the same person."

"There were rumors that Alisa's husband was a young billionaire from the domestic rich list… but who would've thought it was actually the guy at the top of that list!"

"Earlier there was a trending comment about them both cheating… why is that gone now? So it's 'I cheated on my wife with my wife and cheated on myself'? LOL."

"Breaking news! The comment accusing them of mutual infidelity has been deleted. Looks like someone's face is burning with shame. Judging by the ID, it was a Ryan fan, and now they've disabled comments on their own Weibo."

With Ethan's self-reveal, those in the know couldn't hold back their excitement.

Jessica updated her Weibo with just two smiley emojis and an image of the famous "Mom, hit me again!" meme, clearly mocking those who had been quick to judge. Olivia simply posted a series of "Aaaahhhh" along with various emojis, expressing her own mixed feelings.

Even employees from Emily's studio couldn't resist jumping in under anonymous accounts:

"LOL, this is great! Every time our boss trends, I get so mad and upset [angry]. I swear on my flat chest, our boss never stirs up drama or seeks attention, but still gets dissed [shrug]. She's quietly minding her own business behind the camera and yet always gets dragged. Makes no sense why there's so much hate [smile]."

"Don't understand why there's so much hate +1. Maybe it's because our boss is rich, beautiful, and doesn't need to rely on anyone [smile]. And by the way, whenever there's a scandal, we're quick to clear things up, but what about the other side??? Have they ever clarified anything? [smile] It's obvious who's trying to use whom, so can you all stop accusing our boss of seeking attention?"

"And for those who think our boss's marriage is just a 'strategic alliance' or that they're a 'plastic couple,' you're way off. It's pretty clear that her husband loves her more. He's the one always bringing her lunch, sending her flowers, reporting everything to her. If you're jealous, just admit it [smile]."

More and more insiders chimed in, some clearly from within the industry, even posting blurry photos as evidence—shots of Ethan leaning against a car, waiting outside Emily's studio, or following her as she hurried down the street, bundled in a coat with a cold expression. There were even details about the time he risked his life to save her during an accident. All signs pointed to one conclusion—

This newly revealed wealthy couple seemed to have some relationship issues, but it wasn't the typical "rich wife in distress" scenario. If anything, it appeared that the billionaire husband was the one more deeply in love and more proactive.

Some people even put together detailed analyses, complete with images and lengthy posts…

Everyone inside and outside the industry was waiting for a response from the other party involved. But as the story spread throughout the day, Emily remained silent. It wasn't until evening that Alisa's Weibo was unexpectedly updated with a long post.

Emily had written this post herself. Normally, when she made the news or trended, her team would handle the PR. But this time, she didn't want to rely on anyone else. Writing in formal Chinese was still a bit challenging for her, so it took a while to compose the post. Every word, every phrase, she typed out herself:

"I apologize for taking up public resources in this way.

Since everyone seems to want a response, I'll give one. First of all, @Ethanxx, Chairman Harrison's statement is not entirely accurate. Ethan and I signed a divorce agreement last year, so in a certain sense, I am no longer Ethan's wife. Please take note :)

Now that we're on the topic, let me clear up everything at once. I met Mr. Ryan after signing the divorce agreement, so the rumors of 'infidelity' are completely baseless. Besides, [Mr. Ryan and I are just friends and business partners]. I've clarified this multiple times before, and if you don't believe it, that's your choice.

I've noticed that many people are curious about what's going on between Chairman Harrison and me, so—

Why should I tell you?

Just because you're curious, does that mean I'm obligated to lay my private life bare in front of the public?

And besides, I don't make a living off of public attention.

For those asking why, with my family's wealth, I still choose to work in photography and videography… I'd like to say, perhaps you don't understand what 'passion' and 'love' truly mean.

And why is it that the public's focus on a woman always revolves around her marriage and the men in her life? Is a woman's worth only determined by who she dates or marries?

How amusing.

Lastly, as a photographer who has taken thousands of images, it's quite embarrassing that I make headlines more for my personal scandals than for my work.

So please, let's all cooperate and give me a chance to improve. I promise to focus on my photography and stay out of the headlines :)"

The public wasn't interested in cooperating, nor did they want to give Emily a chance. The billionaire had made their marriage public that morning, and by evening, she had announced their divorce. The turnaround was too swift and surreal, making it impossible for her to remain low-key.

Emily's response quickly shot to the top of the trending list. The red label next to it changed from "New" to "Hot," and finally to "Exploding."

Most of the comments were praising her for being direct, assertive, and strong-willed. One of the top comments read:

"The entire response radiates a 'Don't ride my coattails' vibe, and I'm here for it! 2333"

Others, still eager for more drama, tagged @RyanYancy and @Ethanxx in the comments under this post, suggesting that they not try to capitalize on her fame.

But some were still unwilling to let the gossip die:

"But I'm really curious, ahhh, the gossip never ends! If Alisa won't say anything, then could @Ethanxx, our billionaire, please clarify? Just one question: If you're divorced, then why were there photos of you waiting outside her studio? Are you pursuing your ex-wife? Is this your 'I was wrong' moment? [doge]"

Twenty minutes later, the user @Ethanxx responded with a single word:

"Yes."

People clicked on the ID with trepidation—it wasn't a parody account!

The real deal, the man himself, had personally responded, and the gossip was now fully ripened. Some persistent busybodies kept digging:

"Oh my God, I'm witnessing the billionaire's live 'I was wrong' moment! So, may I ask Chairman Harrison @Ethanxx, are you currently trying to win back your ex-wife? [doge]"

Half an hour later, the ever-active Ethan replied again:

"Thanks to all of you, I haven't succeeded yet [smile]."

**

Ethan's personal responses made Emily's long post go from "Exploding" to "Viral," even crashing the servers. This photographer who supposedly didn't rely on public attention had just

generated the biggest buzz of the year.

Ethan's phrase, "Thanks to all of you," quickly became a meme.

Surprisingly, this line managed to win him some affection. Some people laughed and said, "Wow, that's so cute," while others were moved, saying, "I can't believe this is true love. I'm actually tearing up."

Many felt guilty, realizing that their idle gossip had inadvertently hindered the billionaire's attempt to reconcile with his young wife. Since they had caused trouble, it was only right to help him now!

Thus, the "Find My Wife" couple was born, complete with a dedicated forum. Netizens used the hashtag to help the billionaire win back his wife, turning it into a nationwide campaign for reconciliation. Like a cult following, they bombarded Alisa with messages:

"Look at your ex-husband! Look at this billionaire who's so humble for you! He's rich, he's handsome, and he's truly in love! Reconcile, you deserve it! [doge]"

…

Unfortunately, Emily didn't see any of these messages. After posting her long response, she immediately uninstalled the app.

Tossing her phone aside, she pressed her hands against her forehead and closed her eyes to calm down.

Everything was too chaotic.

Just days ago, she had been upset with Ethan for not making their relationship public. Now that he had, her feelings were even more complicated.

And thinking back to the intensity of the previous night… Her stomach churned with a mix of emotions.

There was a light knock at the office door.

Her assistant poked her head in cautiously, "Ms. Summers, Mr. Harrison is here."

Emily slowly pursed her lips. Before she could respond, a shadow appeared behind the assistant.

The tall man pushed the door open and walked straight in. He stared at her for a couple of seconds, his dark eyes deep and intense.

This was the first time Emily faced Ethan directly since last night and this morning when she had pretended to be asleep.

The moment their eyes met, she couldn't stop her heart from racing, her face flushing—

She could feel that something between them had changed.

A small ripple formed in the depths of Ethan's deep eyes. He approached her, and before Emily could react, he pulled her into his arms, then leaned down to kiss her—

"Are you crazy!" Emily was shocked, quickly pushing his face away.

How could he just go for a kiss like that?

Wasn't last night's six rounds enough for him? Did he suddenly develop a skin hunger?

She struggled against the arm wrapped around her waist, glancing shyly at the assistant who was staring at them in shock. She slapped Ethan's chest lightly.

"Let go of me! There are people around…"

"So what if there are people?" Ethan didn't care and tried to press his lips down again.

"I want everyone to see!"