The Heartbreak Prescription (by Glazed Snow) novel Chapter 1188

"Nathan, who is that woman?" Roger asked.

"She's the general counsel for one of our overseas business partners," Nathan replied calmly. "We were meeting to discuss a multibillion-dollar acquisition, and three other executives were sitting at the table with us. Whoever took the photo cropped them out on purpose to make it look like we were alone."

The guests immediately began whispering among themselves.

"She's a corporate attorney?"

Just then, Nathan's assistant walked in. "Mr. Lowe, I have the café's security footage."

"Put it on the screen," Nathan said.

The full, unedited footage soon appeared on the large screen.

It clearly showed all five of them entering the café together. Throughout the meeting, Nathan and the woman kept a polite, professional distance. Nothing even remotely inappropriate happened.

The so-called private date was manufactured by someone who deliberately cropped the others out of the photo to create a scandal.

The ballroom erupted in shocked murmurs.

"So they cropped everyone else out on purpose to make it look like the two of them were alone."

"That's unbelievable! Someone brought a manipulated photo to a birthday party just to stir up trouble. Whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing."

The color drained from Edric's face. He hadn't known the photo had been cropped.

Nathan looked around the ballroom, his gaze cold.

"I run a global corporation and personally sign off on our biggest international deals, but someone chose Grandpa's birthday party to spread rumors about me using a manipulated photo. Whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing."

"They cropped the photo on purpose!" Tabitha cut in angrily. "They were trying to drive Nathan and Ivy apart and humiliate the entire family."

Nathan turned to Edric. "Who gave you the photo?"

Edric stiffened.

Noelle had given it to him.

"I-I can't tell you," Edric mumbled.

Tabitha gave a cold laugh. "After everything she's done, you're still protecting her? Do you really think refusing to say her name will stop us from finding out who she is?"

Edric faltered. "I…"

Just then, the sound of a ringing phone cut through the room.

Edric pulled out his phone and looked at the screen.

Noelle was calling. She had clearly grown impatient and decided to call him herself.

"I need to take this," Edric said.

He turned to leave, but Roger snatched the phone from his hand.

"I'll talk to her."