Chapter 316: The Battle Of Public Opinion

While Kristoff was addressing the public through his livestream, the Dalton Group’s PR team was already fighting a battle of its own.

Their objective was simple: seize control of the narrative before their opponents could twist it beyond repair.

Influencers were contacted, sponsored posts were prepared, and carefully worded comments began flooding social media.

Kristoff was portrayed as a man brave enough to admit his mistakes, face public scrutiny, and take responsibility for his actions.

Within an hour of his press conference, the online atmosphere had undergone a dramatic shift.

The furious comments that had dominated the discussion were gradually buried beneath messages praising Kristoff for his honesty and courage. Even some netizens who had initially condemned him began reconsidering their opinions.

The tide was turning.

Unfortunately for John Ascott, he learned about it too late.

He had returned home with the absolute conviction that Kristoff would never recover from the public backlash. In his mind, the scandal had already dealt a devastating blow to his business rival’s reputation.

Then his assistant informed him that Kristoff had held a press conference.

John immediately pulled up the recording.

The moment he saw Kristoff calmly admitting to the allegations and addressing them one by one, his expression darkened. By the time the recording ended, his face had turned livid.

What infuriated him even more was the comment section.

The man he had expected to see publicly humiliated was receiving praise instead.

"Damn it!"

John slammed his phone onto the desk.

"Get the PR team on the line. Now!"

Minutes later, his team gathered for an emergency meeting.

"Dig up every old photo of Kristoff and Charlotte," he ordered coldly. "Especially the ones where they looked like a loving couple. I want the public reminded of how serious their relationship was. Then shift the narrative. Make Charlotte look like the innocent woman who was betrayed."

If Kristoff wanted to clear his name, John would make sure the public remembered the woman he left behind.

He wasn’t about to let his rival escape so easily. The stake was too high.

...

At the Foster mansion, Julian and Leanne sat in the living room, their expressions grim as they watched the controversy unfold online.

Their hearts ached for Isobel.

She had done nothing to deserve being dragged into someone else’s scandal, yet her name had become a target for thousands of strangers who knew nothing about her.

"I honestly don’t know whether I should admire that brat for having the courage to admit his mistakes or strangle him for dragging Isobel into the middle of this storm," Julian muttered.

His thumb continued scrolling through the comments, each swipe revealing another wave of insults and speculation.

"Isn’t it better that he’s taking responsibility instead of denying everything?" Leanne asked quietly. "At least he’s being honest about what happened."

"Hmph. I’ll give him that much."

Julian’s expression remained dark.

"Still, I don’t like seeing Isobel suffer because of his problems."

Leanne sighed. "Unfortunately, whether we like it or not, Isobel is already part of the controversy."

She paused, her gaze lingering on the tablet.

"And because she is Alexander’s mother, people will continue dragging her into his mess."

Just then, Judy entered the living room and settled beside her mother on the sofa. Pierce took a seat across from them.

Seeing their solemn expressions, Judy frowned.

"Mom, why do you both look so worried this early in the morning?"

She had spent Sunday accompanying her husband on a tour of the capital’s historical landmarks and had been largely disconnected from the online chaos.

Leanne handed her the tablet.

"There’s a smear campaign against Kristoff, and Isobel was dragged into it."

Judy’s eyes widened as she read the headlines and scrolled through the comments.

"Why is Isobel being attacked? What does she have to do with any of this?"

Her expression hardened when she saw strangers mocking her sister for being an orphan.

"How dare they look down on her for something she had no control over?"

She turned toward her father.

"Dad, didn’t you announce that Isobel is a Foster? Why are people still calling her an orphan?"

"I announced it at the birthday banquet, remember?"

"Exactly! So why are they still treating her like she has no family?"

"Because the controversy about Kristoff has completely overshadowed that announcement," Julian explained. "Most people never even heard about it."

Judy’s jaw tightened.

"Then I’ll make sure they hear about it now."

She pulled out her phone and opened her gallery. After a moment’s hesitation, she selected two photographs: a beautiful selfie of herself and Isobel taken during the twins’ birthday celebration, followed by a family photo showing the Fosters together.

She returned to the trending topics.

Kristoff’s press conference was still dominating the discussion, followed closely by Charlotte’s interview from the previous night.

Without wasting another second, Judy posted both photographs beneath the discussion surrounding Kristoff’s press conference.

Her caption was short and direct.

Isobel Lancey is not an orphan. She has a family. She is a Foster.

She had barely put down her phone when the notifications began pouring in.

Within minutes, her post had attracted more than a hundred replies.

Some netizens expressed surprise, asking how Isobel had suddenly become a member of the Foster family. Others brought up old rumors claiming that she and Morgan had once been romantically involved.

Judy’s expression darkened as she read the increasingly vicious comments.

Some people questioned Isobel’s background. Others insinuated that she had deliberately attached herself to a wealthy family.

The more she read, the angrier she became.

What is wrong with these people? Do they even know her?

She had always known that the internet could be cruel, but witnessing strangers tear apart someone she loved made the experience painfully personal.

For the first time, she understood how relentless cyberbullying could drive a person to despair. Behind their screens, people seemed to forget that the targets of their insults were human beings with feelings.

And once a malicious rumor gained momentum, the truth could struggle to catch up.

Judy refused to let that happen to Isobel.