Chapter 170: Conspiracy Theories

[Chapter 170: Conspiracy Theories]

[Who else could it be if not him? They paid off the silence fee.]

[Be careful what you say; your IP address can be tracked.]

[What, you think he can just come through the Internet and take me out?]

[I don't know if you're safe, but I do know that Tyran's brother is miles away from Ryan. Didn't he just get taken out?]

[We might have guessed wrong. It might not even be Ryan -- maybe it's Taylor pulling the strings!]

Much like the countless conspiracy theories that circulated, it wasn't that people inherently had vivid imaginations. It was that the country was filled with bizarre occurrences and secrets lurking in the shadows.

For instance, all those involved in the future scandal known as the "Email Gate," including the investigators at that time, ended up disappearing without a trace. So it was only natural that Ryan was seen as the "protagonist" in this conspiracy theory; he was definitely the prime suspect.

[T/N: Hillary Clinton email controversy]

Within two hours of the statement being released, netizens tried to dissect Ryan's declaration from every angle.

[Why go to such lengths to pay off a silence fee? That doesn't make sense.]

[Plus, he even urged the police to get to the bottom of it. What nerve!]

[He practically slapped the public in the face!]

[And Tyran's brother spoke up just the other day, two days later, and now he's gone.]

[Yeah, it was way too quick on his part.]

[Maybe he already wrapped everything up, which is why he's so confident.]

[Exactly! His confidence stems from the fact that he believes no one will connect the dots back to him.]

[How deep can his connections go? Who's got the guts to investigate who Ryan actually is?]

'Deep connections? What connections do I have? I wouldn't know!' Ryan found it increasingly difficult to ignore the suspicion wrapped around the whole situation, but he didn't really care. After all, truth has a way of revealing itself. Facts speak louder than words.

However, he wondered if this whole ordeal would interrupt ongoing projects. If something were to be discovered, he had little to worry about, but the pressure on the higher-ups would surely be immense. As a precaution, Ryan decided to give Nora a call.

...

"I admit, I underestimated you a bit before," said Nora, sounding a bit rattled.

She had just seen the news and comprehended what had been happening. She never expected her business partner to be this ruthless, leaving her feeling a bit anxious. To her, individuals like Tyran and her brother could be easily dealt with for a little cash. But Ryan went straight in without hesitation.

"It wasn't me," Ryan sighed.

"Of course, it definitely wasn't you," Nora replied with a forced smile.

"Is there any possibility that this has something to do with land?"

"Who would bother you over a Playboy model? This land was previously church property; there's no dispute," Nora advised.

It's worth mentioning that the world of Playboy models can be quite dangerous; over twenty models had met untimely ends through the decades. Ryan didn't feel like delving into all of that, so they briefly discussed construction matters before hanging up.

...

In Miami, Nora tossed her phone onto the desk, massaging her temples. She had originally thought this celebrity wasn't very dependable; now she had to reevaluate Ryan... Who was really behind him? That question lingered heavily in her mind.

Before teaming up, she had researched Ryan and discovered he was quite clean, with his acquisition of Big Machine Records being a lucrative investment, which she had assumed was just luck. But now it seemed that the cleaner the background, the more complex the reality.

...

Ryan opened up the fan forum, knowing he could always count on his devoted fans for feedback. But to his surprise, there was not a single thread discussing the recent events; the fans were preoccupied with "user levels." Some fans doubted him, which Ryan understood. Others defended him, which was also understandable.

But the complete lack of discussions? That left Ryan baffled. He first contacted the online administrator, known by the username [22222].

[There's really nothing to discuss. Whether or not you did anything is irrelevant. The fact is, he's gone now; it's all in the past. I've deleted any posts that even hinted at the topic. Don't let it bother you; your main focus now is on making a final push for the Grammy Awards! You got this!]

Even though the forum was censoring opinions, it showed that the incident hadn't really resonated with core fans.

In truth, it was over; what mattered now was that a life had been lost, nothing else. Women's perceptions of men often didn't include moral standards. Just then, Ryan received a call from his real estate agent.

...

"Mr. Rivers, the seller agreed to your lower price. It's set at $15 million. Additionally, he's throwing in the land in front of the house as a bonus. He lives in Palm Beach and asked me to convey that he'd like to be friends; he'll make time to visit once you move in."

"Okay," Ryan shrugged.

'Come on, after "killing" a person, even the house price dropped?' This was surreal.

...

Ryan then called his fiancee.

"Ryan, our rehearsal went really smoothly today! The tech team's stage effects were amazing. We just need to finalize the security team. I have a feeling this tour is going to be a huge success!" Taylor sounded excited on the other end.

This was their first call since the "Tyran Incident."

"I got the house sorted out too; the final sale price is $15 million, not including taxes."

"Really? That's an unbelievable deal! How did you convince them?"

"The previous owner just wanted to make a new friend, that's all. He currently lives in Palm Beach."

"So, once we move, we're officially in 'high society' now?"

'High society? It's all a bunch of nonsense...'

"Just tidy up; we'll be moving in a few days," Ryan said.

With investigations taking time, and Taylor soon heading to Los Angeles, they both found a rare opening in their schedules.

...

"Put those in the cabinet, and be careful; they're fragile."

"Those clothing items should go to the walk-in closet upstairs; they'll be taken care of there."

"Let's place the rug here for now and roll it out afterward."

Taylor crossed her arms, directing the movers like she was the lady of the house already. Ryan took pleasure in the leisurely pace, strolling around the newly purchased mansion.

Thanks to the reduction in home price, Ryan and Taylor felt a lot less pressure. They were able to put together the down payment and the rest went on mortgage processing through United Bank, where Ryan had established good relations. Since they weren't married yet, the house was solely in Ryan's name.

"By the way, is there a hurricane coming?" Taylor suddenly remembered something.

Ryan realized the concern and immediately turned to the real estate agent.

"You both can rest assured. Homes like these can get hurricane insurance that fully covers damages. I swear, you might even be glad if a hurricane hits. The 'Mar-a-Lago Club' nearby was hit before and ended up collecting $15 million in damages." The real estate agent had also been helping around the house.

"You seem to know a lot."

"Because the owner had a strong stance, lawsuits were constant -- suing the town of Palm Beach and the airlines," the agent casually noted.

"Sued airline because of the house?"

"The flight path went directly over his property; he found it noisy."

"And what was the outcome?"

"The airlines lost. They redirected the flight path so nearby residents benefited."

"So why sue Palm Beach?"

"In addition to objecting to the right of use, he also erected a flagpole over 80 feet (24 meters) on the estate to hang the American flag. It's super tall, that definitely exceeded limits."

Ryan nodded.

...

The moving day stretched long, and it lasted for hours. They still had half left to move, and Taylor was sorting through everything with some housekeepers until nearly ten.

"You don't have to lift a finger; those people were hired to help you." Ryan wiped away some dust from her nose.

"I know, but I'm not tired," Taylor said, shaking her slim arm. "I don't know why, but the more I work, the more energized I feel -- it might be because this is my home."

When the day's work wrapped up, Taylor tipped every staff member.

"Thank you, Ms. Rivers. Your kindness is unmatched."

"God bless you!"

...

The group left feeling grateful, and when Taylor turned around, she saw Ryan had prepared a feast.

In the large living room, it was just Ryan and Taylor now. She turned off all the lights, leaving only the one in the dining room. The atmosphere felt dreamy and romantic.

"Ryan, did you notice that fridge? It's huge; it could fit two adults!" Taylor pointed.

What a strange metaphor.

"I didn't orchestrate that; it was an accident," Ryan explained.

"I know it was an accident. You'd never pull a stunt like that," Taylor replied, never doubting him for a second.

"As for that woman and her brother, when they tried to monetize your privacy, they deserved punishment. But in this accident, it's just too bad for her brother," Taylor stood firmly beside Ryan on this point.

Then Taylor lowered her head, focusing on her meal.

"So, what was that woman planning to say?" Taylor asked.

"Oh, you know, just subtly implying I'm involved with her," Ryan replied.

Taylor suddenly looked up. "So, are you involved with her or not?"

Ryan thought for a moment. "Does watching her perform count? She did wear very risque outfits."

Taylor chuckled. "You've seen plenty of performances. You've even watched from the Victoria's Secret runway! But why would you recruit her? She's just a Playboy model."

"Someone has to communicate with those porn stars. They're a recurring part of my events."

"Why go after those stars... never mind, you men just love that," she shook her head.

Then she added thoughtfully, "The police need to catch the killer quickly to clear your name. Otherwise, you will act recklessly."

What kind of logic was that?

"I'm not as reckless as you think," Ryan laughed.

"Oh please, the first time was in my car," Taylor took a sip of her wine.

"That was because of your charm."

"Hmph, I'll take that as a compliment."

*****

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