Forsaking the Years of Longing

Chapter 14 It was a photo of me and my father taken five years ago. The caption read:

"Gold digger? Why don't you all stop and think really?"

In just one hour, the internet exploded.

"Wait, what? Howard Group?"

"The chairman of Howard Group himself? So Caroline is. heiress?!"

-who is Caroline, the "This is insane-this is from the official account!"

My phone was flooded with messages, from Jasmine to some former colleagues I'd been on good terms with, all of them overwhelming me at once.

At the same time, Callan decided to jump into the fray with his own Instagram post.

"If dating Jason makes her a gold digger, then what does rejecting my confession yesterday mean? Am I not richer than him?"

True to his peculiar online persona, Callan even added a pitiful emoji at the end, making the whole thing surreal.

Was this really Callan?

The internet was just as baffled.

"Wait, now we're comparing wealth?!"

"Guys, this is Callan we're talking about! Rich and handsome- who would reject him?!"

"Suddenly, I feel so bad for Mr. Callan, haha."

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After watching this circus unfold, I quietly blocked the third number Jason used to try and contact me.

I sighed, only to see the trending topics shift once again.

At the top were some explosive headlines:

"Wood Group Heiress and Her Illegitimate Child"

"Emily in Australia"

"The Wild Lives of the Wealthy"noveldrama

The expose my friend had arranged earlier had gone live. Its content was scandalous enough to keep

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gossip-hungry netizens entertained for three days straight.

"Whoa, is this real? Is Miss Howard retaliating by exposing Emily?"

"Not fake-there's solid evidence. It's airtight."

"So that woman who cried on livestream about her fiancé being stolen by a mistress? Turns out she had multiple abortions-over

five-during her wild days studying in Australia. She ended up with

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permanent damage and had an illegitimate child she's still raising abroad. Then she came back to marry Mr. Parker for status. Absolutely shameless."

"Mr. Parker is truly pitiful. Isn't this just a textbook case of a trashy woman landing a sucker?"

"Wow, this circle is so messy. I don't even know who to believe anymore!"

The internet was as lively as a festival, but I felt a wave of irritation.

Dealing with pests is probably the best comparison - no matter how many you squash and throw away, the slimy, disgusting feeling of having been crawled on remains.

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Now, it was all up to the Wood family to respond.

When I got home, my father was still in the living room, waiting for me.

The moment he saw me, he blocked my way and immediately brought up Callan.

"What's going on between you and Callan?"

I assumed he didn't want me involved with anyone connected to Jason anymore, so I shrugged and was about to explain.

But his next sentence left me stunned.

"Callan's not bad -a standout among the new elites. Jason, that brat, doesn't measure up. But Callan? He's a perfect match for our family."

"I think you should consider him."

I rolled my eyes. "Then you go consider him. If you can strike a deal, feel free to marry him yourself."