Chapter 109: Touch His Angel, Face His Wrath

Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Touch His Angel, Face His Wrath

~Third- POV~

"Issue cease-and-desist notices to every media outlet hosting those articles, and prepare defamation lawsuits against every blogger involved. I want everything ready by noon today."

"Understood, sir," Arthur replied without hesitation.

"Since the source wanted this story spread to the world, then let them come out and show their face to the public," Frederick said coldly. "Find out who’s behind this and make sure they regret ever attempting to drag my name and Reynold’s through the mud. I want everyone involved to regret the day they decided to make this public."

"Right away, Mr. Corvin. Consider it handled."

Frederick ended the call and tossed his phone onto the nightstand, turning his full attention back to Reynold, who was nestled in his arms. The icy tension in his face melted away as he looked down at him, and Reynold gazed back with a soft, awe-filled blush.

"Will this be handled?" Reynold asked quietly.

"Yes, sweetheart. You have absolutely nothing to worry about," Frederick assured him.

"Alright, Daddy."

Frederick smiled and ruffled Reynold’s blond hair affectionately.

"Alright, now," he said tenderly, brushing his thumb over Reynold’s warm cheek. "Let’s go have a proper breakfast together."

Meanwhile, a tense, suffocating atmosphere hung over the Reynold family residence’s dining room.

Reynold’s stepmother sat at the head of the polished table, her face twisted into an ugly grimace as her frantic eyes scanned the glowing screen of her tablet. Her two sons, Thomas and Damian, sat on either side of her, while her husband sat at the opposite end, staring blankly at his hands in timid silence.

Suddenly, the stepmother slammed her palm down on the wooden table, making the breakfast plates rattle.

"How can this be?!" she screeched, her voice shrill with jealousy. "How did that miserable, ungrateful boy get so lucky?! How did that stupid boy do it? How on earth did he manage to trap a man like Frederick Corvin?!"

Damian shifted uncomfortably in his seat, rubbing the back of his neck. He looked at his mother with a mixture of exhaustion and rare honesty.

"Mom... I think we should just be happy for him. He’s suffered so much and cried so many times because of the way you treated him. Maybe this is God’s way of rewarding him. Besides, remember that terrifying warning we received weeks ago? The one telling us to stop bullying Reynold and never lay a finger on him again, or we’d face total destruction? It’s painfully clear now that Frederick was the one who sent it. Just leave Reynold alone."

"YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH, YOU IDIOT!" his mother roared, turning on him furiously. "You sit there trying to lecture me?! Look at someone around your age and see what he’s doing! Do you even know who Frederick Corvin is? He’s a man practically dripping with wealth, an absolute titan who built his own business empire without relying on his family’s fortune. You can’t mention Saint City without Frederick’s name coming up, and that stupid Reynold gets to be with him! Why not you?! Why aren’t you or your brother in his position?!"

Thomas frowned and adjusted his shirt collar. "I don’t like men, Mom."

"Who cares what you like?!" their mother spat, her eyes wide with unhinged greed. "Look at Reynold! That boy doesn’t give a damn about us anymore! He’s living a damn fine, luxurious life without us, while we’re sitting here with nothing!"

Thomas scoffed, staring at her in disbelief. "So you wouldn’t mind your own son becoming gay just for money?"

Their father sat quietly at the opposite end of the table, shrinking into his seat, too terrified to speak up against his wife’s volatile temper.

"I would NOT mind!" Reynold’s stepmother snapped without a hint of shame. "If either of you had the brains to get into Reynold’s position, I would never have anything to worry about again! Our family would never be poor again!"

Reynold’s father finally cleared his throat, gathering every shred of courage he possessed before speaking up.

"Honey... that’s enough. Reynold is still part of this family. If we ever need financial help, all you have to do is apologize to him sincerely for everything we’ve done to him in the past. He’s a good boy. He might be willing to speak to Frederick and ask him to help us."

His wife rounded on him with a look of utter disgust. Her glare was so sharp that his words died in his throat. He bowed his head, falling completely silent once more under her suffocating control.

"Apologize to him?!" she sneered, her lip curling. "Over my dead body! Since Frederick is clearly into men, I’ll find a way to get him into bed with one of these useless fools!"

She thrust an accusing finger toward Thomas and Damian.

Thomas immediately shook his head. "I already have a girlfriend, Mom! And I love her."

"Me too, Mom," Damian added quickly, pulling back from the table. "I’m not doing that."

"BOTH OF YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTHS!" their mother screamed, her voice echoing off the walls. "You will break up with those useless girls today and find your way into Frederick Corvin’s bed!"

"Honey, please. This isn’t right... Don’t do this," their father pleaded weakly, his voice trembling.

She shot him a glare so fierce and full of hatred that he immediately fell silent and looked away, completely submissive to her authority over the household.

Breathing heavily, she crossed her arms over her chest, her mind consumed by envy. She refused to sit back and watch Reynold enjoy a life of luxury, protection, and unconditional love while her own sons had nothing. In her eyes, Reynold didn’t deserve that happiness. Her sons did.

Thomas looked at her cautiously. "How are you even going to do that, Mom?"

A dark, malicious smile slowly spread across her face, her eyes glinting with cruelty.

"Just watch me..." she rasped, her voice dripping with poison. "I’ll bring that boy to his knees until he has absolutely nothing left. He thinks he can enjoy all that wealth while I suffer? Over my dead body. I will never allow it."

By late afternoon at Frederick’s estate, the golden sunlight cast long, warm shadows across the master suite’s private balcony. Frederick sat comfortably in a plush outdoor armchair, one leg crossed over his knee, watching Reynold lazily flip through an art journal nearby. The peaceful atmosphere was broken only by the quiet chime of Frederick’s phone.

He picked it up and unlocked the screen. It was an urgent document file sent directly from Arthur, accompanied by a brief summary message.

Frederick swiped open the report, his dark eyes calmly scanning the cold, precise legal updates.

LEGAL ACTION & INVESTIGATION REPORT

Client: Frederick Corvin / Corvin Enterprises

Status: Initial legal action taken; investigation ongoing.

1. Defamatory Media Outlets and Bloggers

Formal legal notices have been sent to the identified bloggers and media outlets, demanding the removal of the defamatory publications and warning of legal action.

Result: The major articles targeting Frederick Corvin and Reynold have been removed from the identified websites. Several social media posts have also disappeared, while requests to remove remaining copies from search results and other platforms are being processed.

Action Taken: Defamation lawsuits are being prepared against the individuals responsible for the publications. The legal team is also compiling evidence for submission to the appropriate authorities regarding possible criminal harassment or other applicable offenses.

2. Source Investigation — Eva Hartley

Financial records and preliminary investigative findings have established a direct link between Eva Hartley and the blog network responsible for publishing the defamatory articles. Records indicate that payments were transferred from accounts associated with Hartley to individuals connected to the publications.

Action Taken: The evidence has been organized for the legal team’s next steps. Arthur is preparing the necessary legal filings and assessing the grounds for seeking emergency court orders.

Financial and Professional Consequences

Eva’s talent agency has been notified of the evidence linking her to the campaign. Her professional relationships and endorsement contracts are now under review, and several brands have begun reconsidering their partnerships with her.

Current Status: The legal team is pursuing the available remedies, including potential claims for damages and appropriate court orders concerning relevant assets. Any account freeze or further financial penalties will depend on the applicable legal process.

Frederick’s lips curved into a faint, cold smirk of satisfaction. In less than eight hours, his team had traced the smear campaign back to Eva, secured the removal of the major defamatory articles, and begun building a case against everyone involved.

His phone rang, and Arthur’s name appeared on the screen. Frederick brought it to his ear.

"Mr. Corvin," Arthur said, his tone crisp and professional. "We’ve traced payments from accounts associated with Ms. Hartley to individuals connected to the blog network responsible for publishing the articles. Our team has issued legal notices to the bloggers and media outlets involved, and we’re preparing the necessary filings for the defamation case. Several major outlets have already removed their publications."

Frederick leaned back in his chair, his expression cold.

"Excellent work, Arthur. Continue gathering evidence and make sure every outlet involved is held accountable. I also want you to pursue every available legal measure to protect Reynold and me from further attacks. If Eva thinks she can drag us through the mud without consequences, she’s mistaken."

"Understood, sir. I’ll keep you updated as we make progress."

Frederick ended the call and tossed his phone casually onto the glass table.

Reynold looked up from his journal, noticing the change in Frederick’s expression. He set his journal aside, got up, and walked over to Frederick’s armchair. Standing behind him, he bent down and wrapped his arms gently around Frederick’s broad shoulders.

"Was that your legal team, Daddy?" Reynold asked softly, resting his chin against Frederick’s cheek. "Is everything okay?"

Frederick reached up, placed his large hand over Reynold’s wrist, and gently pulled him around until he was seated comfortably on his lap. He wrapped an arm around Reynold’s waist and buried his face in the crook of his neck, pressing a soft kiss against his skin.

"Everything is being taken care of, sweetheart," Frederick murmured against his neck. "The major articles have been removed, and my team is handling the rest. You don’t need to worry about any of this."

Reynold let out a soft sigh of relief and cuddled closer to Frederick’s chest, wrapping his arms around his neck.

"Thank you, Frederick... for protecting me."

"Always, sweetheart," Frederick whispered, tilting Reynold’s chin up before capturing his lips in a long, lingering kiss.

When they finally pulled apart, Reynold leaned closer and whispered...