Chapter 4

Dad had built this company from scratch, starting with nothing, over the past 20 years. For the last two years, he'd worked himself to the bone trying to get it listed. To achieve that, he'd been constantly traveling all over the country.

If we lost this opportunity, the next chance to start over might not come for another ten years.

I stared at Kaia's smug face, my voice growing colder. "If I can prove my relationship with Mr. Linden, you'll withdraw the complaint, right?"

She wanted proof of our relationship, right? I didn't have it at the company, but I had it at home.

I stepped into the hallway again and called our housekeeper, Esther Brown.

I instructed over the phone, "Esther, take a taxi and bring my social security card and driver's license to the company immediately."

As soon as I hung up, I heard cries of astonishment coming from the lobby downstairs.

A crowd had gathered around the large display screen. Many people were pointing at it and talking excitedly. Burst after burst of mocking laughter filled the air. The laughter was laced with ridicule and derision, making me feel physically sick.

I had no idea what was happening, but an ominous feeling crept into my heart.

Thus, I followed the crowd to the lobby on the first floor. The moment I looked up, my eyes flew wide open.

While I'd been trying to retrieve the surveillance footage, someone had used AI to create a pornographic deepfake video of me and displayed it on the giant screen outside the company building. An indecent woman with my face was seductively posing for everyone on the street.

I felt a surge of rage shoot up, causing my temples to throb. A loud ringing filled my ears, and my mind went completely blank. With trembling hands, I opened the trending headlines on my phone.

Sure enough, someone had already recorded the video playing on the display screen and uploaded it online. It had instantly become the number one trending topic locally.

Just then, several black MPVs pulled up at the company entrance. A group of uniformed officials walked through the crowd. They wore serious, emotionless expressions as they stopped in front of me.

One of them held up his badge and said, "Are you Yelena? We've received a report accusing you of exchanging sexual favors for professional benefits. You'll need to come with us."

I didn't move. Instead, I kept looking toward the entrance.

"Please wait a moment. I can prove my relationship with Mr. Linden," I pleaded.

Just then, Kaia casually chimed in from the side, "Don't tell me you're waiting for someone to come and save you? Earlier, I stopped a woman at the entrance who claimed to be your family's housekeeper.

"The way she was sneaking around made her look suspicious. Could she be some actor you hired?"

I whipped around to look at her. My heart instantly sank to the bottom of my stomach.

I asked furiously, "What right did you have to stop her? Where is she now?"

"I called the police and had her taken away. If she'd interfered with the Securities and Exchange Commission's investigation, I don't think she'd be able to bear the consequences," Kaia huffed.

My legs went weak, and I involuntarily staggered back a step.

One of the officials from the Securities and Exchange Commission said sternly, "We've investigated your bank records since you joined the company. Every month, Gideon Linden transferred a large sum of money into your account on a regular basis.

"However, the census records show that you and Gideon have no familial relationship."

I stood frozen to the spot.

The money had been my monthly living allowance from Dad. But how could the census records have no record of my relationship with him?

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Kaia exchanging furtive glances with one of the officials.

In an instant, I understood.

The officials surrounded me and grabbed me by the shoulders. They forcibly escorted me away.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps approached from the distance.

I looked up and saw Dad, who had just returned from his business trip. He had an immensely anxious look on his face.

His expression was grim as he slammed a birth certificate onto the table.

He roared, "Who the hell spread such obscene rumors about my daughter and me?"