Chapter 18
I can handle it.” Cassie withdrew her gaze and continued typing on her phone. “Tell them I’ll give them two minutes, but I’ll only answer three questions.
“Ms. Murphy!” Larry got anxious.
Cassie had never seen him this worked up before. She chuckled and asked, “Larry, do you think why these reporters showed up at the school out of nowhere?
Larry frowned, deep in thought.
Cassie continued, “Someone had called them over
“It’s my oversight.” Larry’s voice was heavy.
“Don’t take the blame for those sleazeballs. Cassie looked out at the crowd. “Even if I don’t go out today, the articles they write tomorrow will be brutal. So why not face them head-on? What do you think?”
Larry was shocked completely. He never expected the usually quiet Cassie to speak so boldly.
“Larry. I’m eighteen now, I’m an adult, Are you going to keep me hiding under my family’s wings forever? Cassie’s expression was fearless. “It’s time to show everyone what the Murphy family’s princess is really made of.”
After a moment of silence, Larry nodded respectfully. “Understood, Ms. Murphy.”
With that, he stepped out of the car. Instantly, chaos erupted outside.
Not far off, Jennie and her friends watched with crossed arms, intrigued. They knew Cassie was scared of reporters. With so many around her, they figured she must have been frightened to death in the car.
“Too bad we can’t witness her freak out,” Brianna said cheerfullyContent rights belong to NôvelDrama.Org.
“Have you guys figured out how to write the story yet?” Jennie asked.
“Ms. Murphy is cold as ice and totally indifferent to her sister’s scandal-just goes to school like it’s no big deal. Brianna Laughed. “Something like that, I guess.”
“I also set up two social media accounts to spread the news about Cassie abusing’ Julia tomorrow,” another girl chimed in, sounding excited.
“This is what she gets for messing with us,” Jennie remarked, feeling pleased.
Jennie was convinced that Cassie wouldn’t dare confront the reporters and had prepared various news releases to take a serious shot at her.
But just then, she saw Larry step outside the car and lead the bodyguards as they cleared a space in the crowd.
“What are they doing?” Jennie’s smile faded.
“I have no idea.” Brianna looked just as confused.
The next moment, Larry opened the car door respectfully, and Cassie stepped out. The reporters went wild.
Is Cassie out of her mind? Brianna said, bewildered.
Jennie was completely at a loss for words. “This can’t be real. How does Cassie have the guts to face the media?
The reporters were shocked too, staring at the different
ut Cassie with blank faces.
“Ms. Murphy?” one reporter asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
“You guys have two minutes and three questions,” Cassie said calmly, scanning the reporters before pointing at one. “You go first.”
The chosen reporter was caught off guard.
“Why does he get to go first!” another reporter protested immediately.
Cassie looked at him, unfazed. “Because I’m the one being interviewed, and I make the rules.”
The reporters were speechless as the bodyguards exchanged confused glances.
The chosen reporter soon regained his composure and asked, “Ms. Murphy, do you have any comments about the video. going around online involving Julia?”
“Nope. Cassie replied and pointed to another reporter. “Next question, something related to me.”
The reporters were taken aback, and the bodyguards seemed equally stunned.
The designated reporter was shaken by Cassie’s calm demeanor But as he had already prepared the questions, he collected. himself quickly and asked, “Ms. Murphy, some people are questioning your decision to come to school after such a big scandal with Julia. Isn’t that a bit too flashy?”
Cassie stared at the reporter, expressionless. “I’m a student. Going to school is totally normal, isn’t it? You can question me if I ever sk**p a class”
After that, she pointed to another reporter. “You ask the third question. Make it a good one.”
The scene went silent, and the reporter who just asked the question looked completely off guard.
The third reporter jumped in quickly. “Ms. Murphy, please don’t avoid the issue. We came here to help the public understand what’s happening with Julia, and we need a clear answer from you.”
Cassie turned to him. “Why should the public be snooping into the victim’s life?”
The reporter hesitated for a moment, then pressed on. “Victim? Are you talking about Julia?”
Who else?” Cassie shot back.
Usually, celebrities were experts at dodging questions from reporters. Cassie’s straightforwardness was quite rare.
“Since you all think the public deserves a response, here’s mine. When something like this happens, your gossip can be a second injury to the victim.” Cassie paused, looking straight into the camera. “Remember, no matter the situation or who the person is, the victim is never at fault.”
With that, she turned and walked back to the car. The reporters paused and quickly tried to fire off more questions, but the bodyguards pushed them back. Cassie’s car slowly pulled away from the school.
Larry sat in the passenger seat, still in shock. He occasionally glanced in the rearview mirror at Cassie, who sat upright with a calm demeanor, as if nothing had just happened.
“Ms. Murphy, Larry called gently,
“Turn right up ahead. I’m not going to the estate tonight. I’m heading home, Cassie replied, not looking up, her fingers flying over her phone.
“Got it…” Larry was still puzzled. Is turning eighteen really that magical? Can one just suddenly become an adult overnight?
The car cruised smoothly toward the Murphy residence. As they got closer, Cassie’s phone buzzed, and she glanced down.
Codes flashed on the screen, then a chat window appeared, featuring Brianna and a reporter discussing how she planned to issue press releases targeting C**c.
A smick spread across Cassie’s face. Seeing all those reporters at school had immediately made her think of Jennie and her clique. So, she whipped up a little something on her phone quickly, pretending it was an email about a new luxury product, and sent it to them.
Brianna was the first to open it. Cassie didn’t hang around too long-she just wanted to confirm that the reporters presence was indeed linked to them. Then she swiped a few videos from Brianna’s phone and sent them out to dozens of media outlets using an anonymous email
Cassie pulled those off as the car had rolled into the Murphy residence’s garage.
Thanks for today. Larry. I’ll call my grandpa to let him know I’m not coming over tonight. You can go rest,” Cassie said cheerfully as she got out of the car, waving at him.
Larry, still a bit dazed, nodded and thought to himself, ‘Man, eighteen really is something magical.
Julia was anxiously waiting for Cassie to return to the estate. Her phone was lighting up with messages, but today, none of them were about the video.
Julia, has Cassie lost it! She got into a fight with Jennie in class!]
[Julia, do you have two friends both named Cassie! The one who showed up today was totally different! She took down Jennie and her crew!]
[Julia, how are you feeling these days? By the way, can you tell me where Cassie got her surgery? She looks amazing-no signs of work done at all! Please, I need to know! Summer break is coming, and I have a friend wanting to get some work done, too!]
While the classmates bombarded her with messages, the usually lively class group chat was eerily silent today. Besides teachers assigning homework after class, no one else was saying word.
Julia was shocked. “How could Cassie have the guts to fight Jennie at school? Wasn’t she the one who used to shake just hearing Jennie’s name?’ Figuring Cassie must be on her way back, Julia couldn’t wait and headed to the living room.
As she went downstairs, she overheard Anne saying, “Is she not coming over? Can she really handle being home alone?” “Louisa already went over, Heston replied. “Anne, I just can’t shake the feeling that something’s off with her
“Yeah, she’s been acting a bit different lately, Anne said, looking thoughtful.
Just then, Lucas rushed in from outside. He was usually relaxed, so seeing him like this was unusual.
“What’s going on?” Anne asked, slightly concerned.
Lucas turned on the TV quickly while explaining, “Larry said Cassie gave an interview at the school entrance. They’re airing
“What?” Hestor’s eyes widened in shock.
“Since you all think the public deserves a response, here’s mine. When something like this happens, your gossip can be a second injury to the victim.”
“Remember, no matter the situation or who the person is, the victim is never at fault.”
As the TV turned on, the news had just reached Cassie’s powerful closing statement. The three of them, who had been anxious moments ago, were frozen, staring at the screen. There stood Cassie-her gaze strong and every word she spoke
resolute