chapter1156

Rosie's face went white as a sheet. Her hands gripped the edge of her dress so tightly her knuckles showed through the skin.

Benjamin moved closer, desperate to explain. Officers, this is just a misunderstanding..."

One of the officers met his gaze, voice calm but firm. "Please don't interfere with official business. If she's innocent, the investigation will show it and she'll come home."

Mandy took a long breath, steadying herself. "Alright. We'll cooperate."

Honestly, what else could they do?

Rosie's legs gave out beneath her and she sank to the floor, helpless.

When they got to the police station, the Gibson family finally learned what was going on. The four companies Rosie had paid for fake online posts had already been busted by the police.

The ringleader had skipped town and was now on the run.

Thanks to Lydia's airtight evidence-phone records, chat logs, even bank transfers connecting Rosie and the companies there was nothing Rosie could say in her own defense.

In order not to get dragged into the mess, Jackson had gone straight to the investigators and insisted he had no idea what the Gibsons were up to. Since he'd only just been released from questioning when everything went down, he had an alibi and managed to keep his hands clean.

Benjamin wasn't nearly so lucky.

As Rosie's father, people online started questioning his morals and his ability to do his job.

[Seriously? This is the Director of Protocol? Shouldn't someone in that position actually know about ethics? Just look at his daughter.]

[Exactly. Like father, like daughter. I honestly wonder how he even got that job.]

[Right? Was it connections or what? I'd love to know.]

[If people overseas hear about this, they're going to laugh at us so hard.]

[Just because they're powerful, they think they can crush ordinary people. That girl was just out for a meal and now her reputation is ruined. Where's the justice in that?]

Social media was ruthless. The Gibsons were completely dragged through the mud. Nobody was spared.

Jackson was lucky he'd managed to cut himself off from the family in time and release a public statement. If not, he'd be getting roasted too.

As for Rosie, her actions were enough to be considered criminal slander. She was looking at real jail time.

But since the ringleader of the fake post companies was still on the loose, Rosie was only being held at the station for now.

When she found out, Rosie was in shock. She never thought a single photo would land her in a police station.

Mandy knew what it was like. She'd spent two months in detention before and every day had felt

endless. She never imagined hermet

own daughter would end up in the same place, and all over the same person.

Lydia!

Why was this girl always against her family?

Rosie broke down, sobbing on the

floor and clutching the hem of

Mandy's shirt. "Mom, I don't want to stay here. can't be locked up. Please Mom, save me. know? messed up, I really do. Please..."

Deep down, Rosie was hoping Mandy would do what she did last time and take the blame for her

After all, she was her mother. What

mother could just stand by and

watch her child go to jail?

Mandy had thought about it, but this time was different. Rosie had done this all on

her own.