In less than half an hour, the villa was surrounded by entertainment reporters, with paparazzi shouting at the top of their lungs.
"Ms. Spencer, we heard Ryan is inside! Can you get him to come out for just a moment? We need something to report!"
"Ms. Spencer, how long have you and Ryan been dating? Are you living together now?"
"Ryan, do you have any comments on the 300-million-dollar compensation claim from Starlight Entertainment?"
"Ms. Spencer and Ryan, are you really going to hide while so many people are out here tonight? Is this how you treat your friends in the press?"
"There are rumors that Ryan's termination was facilitated by you, Ms. Spencer. Can you come out and confirm this?"
Upstairs, Helen pulled back the curtains to see what was happening below.
One glance was all it took for the sharp-eyed paparazzi to spot her.
"It's Ms. Helen Spencer! She's on the second floor!"
"Ms. Spencer, please come out and give us a statement!"
Helen quickly dropped her hand and retreated into the room.
Meanwhile, Ryan could no longer sit still. Clenching his fists, he stood up and marched toward the door.
"Stop!" Helen called out. "Where do you think you're going?"
"They're here because of me. If I leave, you'll be safe. I don't want to drag you into this," Ryan said urgently.
"Leave? There are dozens of people outside. How do you plan to get through them? Do you really think you can handle that on your own?" Helen replied coolly.
She continued, "Didn't you say you wanted my help to start over? Everything takes time. If you want a fresh start, you need to be patient and stand your ground."
The moment he appeared, the paparazzi erupted into chaos. "Ryan is here!"
Reporters rushed at him from all sides, and within seconds, he found himself surrounded by a flurry of microphones, each vying for his attention.
"Ryan, is it true that Helen offered to pay for your contract termination? Did that spark your romantic relationship?"
"Ryan, is Helen still inside? When did your relationship begin?"
"Did Helen pursue you?"
"There are rumors that Helen is involved with Otto and Chandler. Are you one of her boyfriends too? What do you think of this open relationship?"
"Shut up!" Ryan snapped, forgetting Helen's instructions in the heat of the moment.
With a serious expression, he confronted the reporters, "Helen is an amazing person, and I won't allow you to disrespect her!"
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Unmasking Mrs. Newton's Secret Identities