Reborn Young Miss: Phoenix Burning Red-Chapter 333: Cry Wolf (1)
The public continued to criticize Adrienne and cause her to face blowback as the rumors persisted. Most of them took pity on Ayla and sided with her. Adrienne persevered and kept her attention on her work in spite of the persistent rumors and negative public reaction.
Ayla’s fans protested on social media, claiming StarMedia and its CEO weren’t protecting their young artist. It was known to everyone that Adrienne was Abigail Li’s daughter-in-law, and Ayla’s fans were claiming that they were bullying their idol.
Adrienne was rarely seen in public the past few days, as she wanted to avoid confrontation with anyone. She knew responding to the negativity would only fuel the fire and worsen things. She would take matters into her own hands and clear her name once and for all.
No paparazzi dared stalk her for fear of being on the receiving end of Lennox’s wrath. No one also knew what she was up to after graduating from college and assumed she was taking some time off to spend with her ill mother.
Ayla also kept posting updates on her recovery from the hospital, gaining more sympathy from her fans. It was the first time her name became the talk of the town, and she reveled in it. She also couldn’t stop smiling as she read how people bash Adrienne on social media. It made her feel like she was finally getting the attention and recognition she deserved.
Even her in-laws took pity on her, minus her husband, who chose to abandon her again. However, it didn’t stop Ayla from scrolling through social media, where she came across several vicious comments directed at her cousin, accusing Adrienne of deliberately trying to sabotage Ayla’s career.
Adrienne was aware that she had caused Abigail inconvenience because of the rumors. Lennox assured her it wasn’t a big deal, but Abigail had paid her a visit one Saturday morning to discuss the situation and find a resolution.
"Mom, I’m sorry. I didn’t expect Ayla would do something like this." Adrienne told her mother-in-law. "I understand, Adrienne," Abigail replied, her voice filled with concern. "But it’s important for us to address this issue and find a way to protect you from these false accusations."
Adrienne stared at Abigail for a moment. She couldn’t say she was close to her mother-in-law. In fact, Adrienne believes Abigail was tolerating her to some extent only because Lennox loved her dearly. They were amicable to each other, but Adrienne knew there was always a certain distance between them.
"You will protect me instead of Ayla?" She couldn’t help but ask.
Abigail raised a slender brow at the young woman before her. Her son was undeniably head over heels for his wife, and Abigail had no qualms about it. However, Adrienne was more reserved when it came to her.
Despite this, Abigail couldn’t deny the bond between her son and Adrienne, and she knew that Lennox would always prioritize his wife’s happiness. With a gentle smile, Abigail reassured Adrienne, "My dear, you are my family now too. I will always be here to support and protect you."
Abigail understood that Adrienne’s reserved nature might stem from past experiences, but she was determined to show her and Lennox her unwavering love and support.
Adrienne felt a wave of relief wash over her as she heard Abigail’s words. She didn’t expect Abigail to be so kind to her, especially considering the rumors. She had always assumed that Abigail saw her as an outsider, an unworthy match for her son. But Abigail’s words were reassuring, and Adrienne felt a sense of comfort knowing that she had someone on her side.
"Thank you, Mom," Adrienne said, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "I really appreciate it."
Abigail’s smile widened, and she placed a comforting hand on Adrienne’s shoulder. "Of course, my dear. You are a part of this family, and we will always protect our own."
She paused for a moment, then continued, "I heard the things you did for Lennox’s siblings. Thank you for being patient with them. I know it is hard for you to look after them and be a responsible guardian, as you are still young. You should be enjoying your life and your marriage, but instead, you are taking care of your husband’s siblings."
Adrienne shook her head. She didn’t think she did much to earn such praise from her mother-in-law.
"It’s no trouble at all, Mom. Liam, Vaughn, and Vince could do well on their own and rarely need me and Lennox. As for the younger ones, Lennox and I decided to give them the best care and support we could. It may be challenging at times, but seeing them happy makes it all worth it."
Abigail could see the genuine concern in Adrienne’s eyes, and she was relieved to know that her husband’s children from his mistresses had found a loving and supportive home with Adrienne and Lennox. Those children deserved to be loved and cared for, just like any other child, regardless of whether they were the product of her husband’s extramarital affairs.
Abigail also understood that it was not the children’s fault for their parentage, and she believed in giving them a chance to thrive and be happy. She admired her son’s determination to go beyond his will and care for his half-siblings as if they were his own.
"I know, and I’m thankful for that. But I also want you to know that you deserve happiness and to have your own life. Don’t let anyone take that away from you, especially not those who are spreading lies about you. Do you have a plan on how to deal with your cousin, or should I do it in your stead?" Abigail asked. She knew that Adrienne had a lot on her plate right now, especially now that her mother was getting therapy after waking from her long coma.
"What do you think we should do about Ayla’s fans?" Adrienne asked in return
Abigail’s expression turned serious as she considered the question. "I think we need to address their concerns and reassure them that we are taking steps to protect Ayla and all of our artists. But at the same time, I don’t want them to criticize you without knowing the truth."
Adrienne nodded, feeling grateful for Abigail’s support for her. She felt grateful to not only have a loyal husband but also a caring mother-in-law. Not many married women could be as fortunate as her to have such a strong support system. She knew that, with Abigail’s help, she’d be able to clear her name in no time.
"Don’t worry about me, Mom. I can prove that I didn’t push Ayla and cause her to miscarry her child. I have irrefutable evidence that could prove her false accusation. You should focus on the company to clear the smear campaign against you, Mom. However, I would like to ask for some assistance in holding a press conference. I won’t face the public, but I will send Myrtle to represent me."
Abigail smiled, proud of Adrienne’s determination and her willingness to take action. She knew her daughter-in-law wouldn’t be this confident if she didn’t have a plan in mind to clear her name.
"Alright. Let’s do that. In fact, why don’t we hold the press conference at StarMedia instead? I’ll give Myrtle all the necessary resources and support to represent you well. And as for Ayla’s fans, we’ll address their concerns and make sure they understand the truth about what happened."
"But Mom, you know that if I reveal the truth, Ayla’s career will be over. Are you sure you are alright with this? People would see that you are siding with me. Won’t that put you in a difficult position?" Adrienne asked.
Abigail chuckled. "My dear, I’ve been in this industry long. I know how to handle the press. Besides, it’s important for us to show a united front and prove to everyone that we are a family that supports each other no matter what. You should also know Lennox would never allow you to be stuck in a difficult position."
Adrienne sighed. She knew that Abigail was right and that it was important to show a united front to protect StarMedia’s reputation. And she trusted Lennox to always have her back, no matter what.
"Thank you, Mom. That means a lot to me," Adrienne said, feeling a weight lifted off her shoulders. "I’ll let Myrtle know about the press conference, and we can start planning it as soon as possible."
Abigail nodded, her smile still in place. "Good. And don’t worry, my dear. We’ll handle everything. You just focus on taking care of yourself and your family. We’ll make sure that everything falls into place. Now that that is settled, would you mind accompanying me for lunch, Addie?"
Her young daughter-in-law smiled and nodded. "Of course, Mom. I’d love to."
Over lunch, they discussed plans for the press conference and the steps that would need to be taken to address Ayla’s fans’ concerns. Abigail was impressed with Adrienne’s level-headedness and ability to think strategically under pressure. She knew that her daughter-in-law had a bright future ahead of her and was proud to have her as a part of their family.
