Chapter 242


    "Are you seriously not worried about ra? She''s the girl you''re into."


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Do you need sses or something? How did you see me falling for her?"


    "If you don''t like her, why all the wining and dining? Who''d buy that?"


    "Isn''t that how you''re supposed to take care of a sugar baby?"


    That recording instantly snuffed out all the light from ra''s face, exposing her most secretive side


    for all to see.


    The crowd wasn''t just any ordinary group. It included the brass and students from Ivywood


    University, as well as reporters from major media outlets.


    Ian''s personal life was always the media''s favorite bone to chew on. As soon as they heard the


    audio, microphones were thrust towards ra.


    "Attorney ra, what''s the deal with this recording? Have you really been Mr. Hayes'' sugar baby for


    three years?"


    "Ms. ra, back in the day, you were the talk of Ivywood University. Why''d you pass up the chance


    to study abroad to y secretary to Mr. Hayes? Were you really kept by him?"


    "When the Bell family hit hard times, did you choose to be Mr. Hayes'' canary to bail out your folks?"


    The reporters'' questions were like knives stabbing straight at ra''s heart. She tried to remain


    composed and offer an exnation, but she was at a loss for words – especially since it was Ian''s


    own admission.


    Just as she felt utterly alone and helpless, Anders sprinted onto the stage, shielding ra with his


    body, and nodded to the press below. "Sorry, folks, ra''s talk is over. Please enjoy the rest of the


    program."


    He tried to whisk ra off the stage, but the reporters weren''t having any of it. They swarmed


    around, blocking their exit and shoving microphones in ra''s face.


    Watching this sensational scene unfold, Heidi, seated in the back, couldn''t hide her cruel smile.


    "ra, this is what they call poetic justice. Enjoy your feast," she murmured, reclined in her chair,


    relishing the sight of ra besieged by the press.


    Just as she reveled in her triumph, she caught sight of a figure all too familiar.


    A tall,manding presence was heading straight for ra. Unapologetically, he plowed through


    the crowd of journalists, reached ra, and pulled the trembling woman into his embrace.


    Ian kissed ra''s forehead tenderly and whispered reassurance, "Don''t be scared. I''m right here."


    The eyes that were soft moments ago turned icy as they met the press corps, sending a chill


    through the air.


    Faced with this side of Ian, no one dared to speak. Everyone watched quietly, waiting to see how


    he''d unravel the mystery.


    Ian''s deep eyes darkened, his voice low and husky, "ra and I have always been in a normal,


    loving rtionship. We just had a bit of a tiff, and she dumped me. That recording was just me being


    bitter about it – but that''s not the whole story. Listen to this."


    He pulled out his phone and yed an extension of the earlier audio. The familiar dialogue was


    there, but it ended with Ian''s voice, filled with genuine sorrow.


    "If I could just treat her like a sugar baby, maybe I wouldn''t be so heartbroken."


    Ian had always projected an image of cool aristocracy. No one had ever heard him sound so


    downcast.


    After listening, the crowd got the picture. The questions resumed, this time with a different tone. "Mr.


    Hayes, what''s the current status of your rtionship with Attorney ra?"