Chapter 15

Whitmore Group had nearly a million followers on X. Its repost gave Elise’s message the reach it had been missing, and the replies came pouring in.

The company had confirmed that @EliseW927 belonged to Elise herself. It had also taken her side, publicly and unmistakably, and promised legal action against whoever had exposed that person’s private information.

“Am I reading this right?? Whitmore Group is backing Elise?”

“Same question. I thought she was at the bottom of the food chain in that house. This doesn’t match the rumors.”

“Weren’t we told her brothers all hated her? Why would they defend her if they did? I’m so confused.”

“So was that account yesterday actually her alt or not?”

“Why would she need an alt? She can argue with you on her main and have Whitmore Group back her up.”

“Can we stop inventing stories about her being some nasty little troll hiding behind an alt? The people doxxing someone are the nasty ones. I said what I said.”

“Exactly. The doxxers are the worst people here.”

“Jumping in here: the statement says ‘rumors and defamatory attacks.’ Does that mean all the old dirt on her was fake?”

“I’ve been saying it was fake. Rumors with nothing to back them up. Just people running their mouths.”

“Those ugly pictures of Elise were obviously edited, and somehow half the internet couldn’t see it.”

“And everyone kept making up stories about how much her family hated her. Her brother seems perfectly happy to stand up for her.”

“Good for her. Hold them accountable!”

Before long, @EliseW927 had more than ten thousand followers, and the post was gathering momentum.

Julian had read the abuse directed at Elise until he could no longer contain his anger. That was what had driven him to log in to the company account himself.

“Who’s actually behind the Whitmore Group account?”

“Who do you think? Julian Whitmore, obviously.”

“Or some employee who happens to be an Elise fan?”

“I doubt it’s Julian. Since when does he get involved in this stuff? I’ve followed his account for two years. The man never posts.”

“No way it’s him. He probably doesn’t even use X.”

“If that’s really Julian, I’ll livestream myself having diarrhea upside down.”

“Remember your promise. I’ve got your username.”

“Screenshot taken.”

“What if Elise secretly logged in to defend herself?”

“I love the way your mind works. Honestly, I can see it.”

“My guess: he told an employee to post it. They’re family. However much they dislike her behind closed doors, they still have to look loving in public.”

“Agreed. Definitely not him.”

“Another ten thousand votes for ‘not him.’”

Julian frowned at the screen. Had he really given people that impression? Did they think he disliked Elise so much that even a few words in her defense had to be questioned?

He rarely used X and could barely remember his own account details. Logging in to the company account had simply been easier.

After a good deal of thought and several attempts at his password, he finally got into his personal account.

It had more than four million followers. He almost never posted, and when he did, it was usually to promote a Whitmore Group product. The feed might as well have belonged to an automated reposting service.

He found the company’s repost of Elise’s message and shared it again.

“@JulianWhitmore reposted @WhitmoreGroup’s post.”

There could be no doubt now that Julian himself had spoken up. First the company, then its head under his own name: the two reposts set off another rush of replies.

“So much for Julian hating Elise. How does it feel to be proved that wrong?”

“Can the trolls stop making things up now? Her brother has come out to defend her himself.”

“He was awfully quick to protect her. Looks like he’s pretty fond of his little sister!”

“Julian Whitmore personally backing Elise. Never thought I’d see the day.”

“Bet that stung. I’m so tired of people hating her because they’re jealous. Can’t stand someone having what you don’t? Maybe try being born into a rich family in your next life.”

Most of her attackers fell silent. Public opinion was gradually turning in her favor.

The warning about legal action carried Julian’s backing now, and people took it seriously. Anyone who kept spreading lies about Elise might really find a letter from Whitmore Group’s lawyers waiting for them.

As far as the commenters were concerned, the company had every resource it needed. Money? Plenty. Lawyers? An entire legal department they reckoned could put any outside firm to shame. If Whitmore Group decided to sue, they pictured themselves losing before the case had even begun.

Elise had both the company and Julian behind her. Continuing to attack her suddenly looked like a very bad idea.

Adrian’s concert had just ended. As he came offstage, he could still hear the crowd screaming behind him.

The dressing-room staff got to work the moment he walked in, helping him out of his stage clothes and removing his makeup. By the time they were done, he had changed into a white T-shirt and settled in front of the mirror. His silver hair caught the lights, bright enough to dazzle.

Somehow, he made even that color work.

His assistant handed him his phone. “Your sister’s trending.”

Adrian glanced up, looking thoroughly at ease. “Which one?”

“Which one do you think?” The assistant rolled his eyes and turned away, unwilling to indulge him.

Adrian dropped the teasing expression, opened X, and tapped the trending list. He expected to find Vivian’s name. Instead, he saw Elise’s.

His eyebrows rose. He had never been particularly close to this sister. Ever since she had returned to the Whitmores, he had spent so much time traveling for concerts that they had barely spoken. When anyone mentioned his sister, he automatically thought of Vivian.

Frowning, he opened the topic and pieced together what had happened. Elise had stood up for a fan and gone as far as getting a lawyer involved.

That surprised him. He remembered her as a slight, delicate girl. Apparently, this little sister of his had a much tougher side than he’d realized.

Within minutes, Whitmore Group reposted her message, followed by Julian’s own account. As the two statements spread, the comments began to turn in Elise’s favor.

With the situation heading the right way, Adrian put his phone away.

His assistant came back through the door. “The car’s here. Time to go.”

“Mm. Bathroom first.”

The assistant nodded and sat down to wait, scrolling through his phone. A short while later, a heavy thud came from the bathroom, as though something had fallen to the floor.

He hurried over and knocked. “Adrian! You okay in there?”

For a long time, there was no answer. Then the door opened.

Adrian stepped out, his face dark. The assistant instinctively moved aside. He could have been facing a different person: there was so much aggression in Adrian’s expression that he looked ready to throw a punch.

Adrian surveyed the dressing room, trying to absorb the information arriving in his mind. He took out his phone and checked the date.

For an instant, excitement lit his eyes.

The assistant watched him, beginning to stammer. “Is this about your sister? Did seeing her get attacked on the trending list upset you that much?”

Adrian stared straight at him until his skin crawled.

His eyes narrowed. “Who did you say was being attacked?”

Elise’s lawyer’s letter, followed by the support from Whitmore Group and Julian, had taken the confidence out of the people mocking her online.

Soon, OnlyRegret deleted the original post exposing the IP address and phone number. A new post followed, offering a formal apology to Elise and to Elise Is a Good Kid, the account whose private information had been exposed.

The wording was painstakingly respectful. Every sentence seemed to have been weighed and revised, and the anxiety behind it was hard to miss.