?Chapter 573:


    “Who cares about the history? Just listen to them and call it off. Even though their behavior is suspicious, they would never do anything to harm you.”


    Corrine’s grip on her phone tightened, and a flicker of irritation crossed her face.


    “Why are you also telling me to break it off?”


    “Because it’s Nate Hopkins!” Jules snapped, his usualzy tone vanishing, reced by something sharper.


    “I told you not to get involved with him. I warned you to stay away—”


    “He came to me first,” she interrupted, her voice unwavering.


    “I understand your concerns, but my decision stands. He is going to be my husband.”


    Jules was momentarily speechless.


    Had everything he said gone in one ear and out the other?


    “Corrine, you—” The line went dead before he could finish.


    Listening to the empty silence, Jules clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to hurl his phone across the room.


    “Damn it!” he muttered, dragging a hand through his hair in frustration. He grabbed a pack of cigarettes from the table, shook one out, and lit it.


    The first drag flooded his lungs with nicotine, giving his anger a momentary relief. Then, thinking that Nate would soon be his cousin’s husband and therefore respect him in the future made Jules feel a little smug.


    But then, when he remembered how Nate had seduced Corrine behind the entire Ford family’s back, his irritation red again.


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    That bastard.


    Nate was certainly a cunning guy.


    Meanwhile, Corrine was on her way to the Ford Group headquarters when her phone rang again.


    Karina’s voice came through, breathless with urgency.


    “Corrine, check the trending news!”


    “What is going on?” Corrine asked, exiting the call screen and quickly opening her social media app.


    Karina let out a frustrated sigh.


    “About half an hour ago, Leah posted an update, iming she and Jolene used to be close friends. She hinted that Jolene’s expulsion wasn’t entirely unjustified. Then, like clockwork, a flood of nasty rumors started circting online. They’re saying she used to hang around shady ces back in high school, that she had wealthy men backing her, and even that she had stic surgery and abortions. They’re dragging her name through the mud.”


    The timing was too convenient, too deliberate. It was as if someone wanted to manipte public opinion, making Jolene’s expulsion seem less like a scapegoat situation and more like a deserved punishment for her so-called questionable past.


    With the trial looming, these baseless usations would put Jolene in a disadvantageous situation. If any of them gained traction, the police might be forced to reopen the case, leading to dys andplications.


    Corrine arched a brow, her expression cooling into something unreadable.


    “Has Jolene’s studio responded yet?”


    Karina sighed, pacing in frustration.


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