Chapter 60: 7 Days To Apologize.

Chapter 60: Chapter 60: 7 Days To Apologize.

Laura’s heart pounded as she opened the letter. Her breath caught in her throat, and her hands trembled slightly.

She stared at the paper for a moment, trying to calm herself. Gathering the courage to face whatever was written inside, she finally lowered her eyes and began to read.

*The letter read:*

*C.C. SOLICITORS*

_RE: LETTER BEFORE ACTION - DEFAMATION AND UNLAWFUL USE OF IMAGE_

_Dear Ms. Laura Ford

_We act on behalf of our client, Mrs Flora Darwin.

_Our client instructs us that you secretly recorded her and uploaded videos of her on social media platforms without her knowledge or consent.

_Our client did not know she was being recorded. She did not agree to be filmed, and she did not agree for her image, voice, and private moments to be posted online.

_These publications have invaded her privacy and caused her serious embarrassment, emotional distress, and damage to her reputation.

_We have in our possession screenshots, video recordings, and witness statements linking the said publications to you.

_WE HEREBY DEMAND that within 7 days of receipt of this letter, you:_

_1. Delete all videos, posts, and comments showing our client._

2. Publish a public apology and retraction on the same platforms.

_3. Desist from further recording, posting, or sharing any material concerning our client.

_Take notice that if you fail to comply, our client will commence legal proceedings against you for invasion of privacy, misuse of private information, and unlawful use of image, without further notice to you. You will be held liable for damages and legal costs.

_Yours faithfully,_

*C.C. Solicitors*

Laura’s hands were still shaking when the letter slipped from her fingers and fell on the couch.

She rolled her eyes and snapped her fingers impatiently.

Just then, she heard a car passing outside. She quickly turned towards the window, trying to see if it was Jeff.

When she realised it wasn’t him, she clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"Flora, or whatever they call you," she muttered under her breath. "I am your karma, and you better understand that."

She folded her arms, her face hardening.

"I didn’t force Darwin to marry me. He made that choice himself. So, you either cooperate with me, or we go our separate ways. And you Flora,have far too much to lose."

She picked up her phone and dialed a number.

"Hello?" the lawyer answered.

Laura’s voice broke. "It’s Laura. I need you. Now."

"What happened?"

"I just got a letter. From Flora’s lawyer. She says I recorded her and posted her videos on the media without her consent. She wants me to delete everything and apologise in seven days, or she will sue me."

There was a pause on the other end.

"Don’t panic, Laura," the lawyer said calmly. "Don’t reply to them. Don’t apologise. Send me a photo of the letter now."

Laura nodded, tears in her eyes. "I already sent it."

"Good," the lawyer said. "From now on, I will handle Flora. I will write back and demand her evidence. Let her prove it."

For the first time since she opened the envelope, Laura breathed.

Laura stared at the letter on the table, her anger growing by the second. She picked up her phone and dialed Barrister Charles’s number.

"My lawyer said I should not call, but I will anyways..She muttered

The call connected after a few rings.

"Hello, who is this?" Charles asked.

"You know exactly who is calling. I know you are aware of the letter that was sent to me," Laura said coldly.

"Who is on the line?" Charles asked again.

Laura let out a bitter laugh.

"Keep pretending all you want. You have the audacity to address me as Laura Ford? Do you think I am someone you can intimidate? More over, are you not due for retirement?"

There was a brief silence before Charles recognized her voice.

"Oh, you! This woman!" he exclaimed. "How dare you? Have you lost your manners? The only reason I even spoke with you the other day was because of Darwin. Without him, I have absolutely no business with you."

Laura’s grip tightened around her phone.

"Old foolish man! You will have me to contend with. Don’t think you can just threaten me and walk away."

Charles scoffed.

"Listen carefully, Laura Ford. Flora Darwin has already told me everything you did. I wanted no involvement in your case, but now that you have decided to make trouble, I will provide every possible support to ensure you face the full consequences of your actions. I will hand over the videos, the dates, the witness statements, and I will push for an injunction and damages. You will pay for every view."

Laura’s eyes widened.

"Charles, you better—"

"Don’t you dare call me again!" he snapped. "I will not continue this conversation in this tone. Direct any response through your solicitor. You should be more concerned about what is coming your way than calling me to make empty threats."

"How dare you—"

Before Laura could finish speaking, the call went dead.

She stared at her phone in disbelief.

"Did he just hang up on me?" she muttered.

Her face turned red with anger, but her mind was already working. She would let Charles think she was beaten — while she gathered her own evidence first.

She threw her phone onto the couch and clenched her fists.

Then her phone lit up again. An incoming call.

She knew, before she even answered, that things were about to get worse.

She picked it up and glanced at the screen.

Andrew.

She frowned before answering.

"Hello?"

"Laura, have you seen the video trending online?" Andrew asked immediately.

Laura adjusted herself on the couch. "Which video?"

"Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about. Flora’s video! The one you posted online". You shouldn’t have posted same night.

Laura rolled her eyes.

"Andrew, sometimes I wonder if you are normal."

"What do you mean?" Andrew asked, his voice rising.

"You heard me. What exactly is wrong with you? The last time we spoke, you were busy mixing business with pleasure. Now you suddenly have the nerve to call me and question my decisions? Please, respect yourself, Andrew."

There was a brief silence on the other end.

Andrew rubbed his forehead. He had expected Laura to be defensive, but he hadn’t expected her to attack him so quickly.

"Listen to me, Laura. This is no longer about our personal differences. You should be preparing yourself to lose that property."

Laura sat up immediately.

"What did you just say?"

"You heard me. Flora has evidence, and she has backups of everything. Now that the video has gone viral, you should understand that things are getting serious."

Laura’s expression changed.

"How did you know she has evidence?"

"Barrister Martins called me."

"Barrister Martins?" Laura repeated. "What did he say to you?"

"He wanted to know if I was involved in the case."

Laura stared at the wall.

"Why would he call you? What exactly did you tell him?"

"I told him I had nothing to do with it."

"You told him that?"

"Yes, Laura. What else was I supposed to say?"

Laura let out a bitter laugh.

"Honestly, Andrew, you are a weak man."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. A weak man!"

"Laura, watch your mouth."

"No, you watch yours! Now I understand why your wife died untimely and even your mistress rejected your marriage proposal. You are a weakling hiding under a patriarchal framework, pretending to be a powerful man."

Andrew’s jaw tightened.

"Have you finished?"

"Not yet Laura said. You couldn’t even build a strong wall with the people around you facing challenges. Instead, you keep running away whenever things become difficult".

"Laura, you are crossing the line."

Andrew took a deep breath. He was beginning to regret calling her. Laura was difficult, aggressive, and almost impossible to reason with whenever she felt threatened.

"Since you assume I’m weak, I suggest you use all this aggressive energy to fight Flora instead of wasting it on me."

Laura scoffed.

"Fight Flora? With what? You have already allowed her to gather evidence against me!"

" Really! Then find a way to deal with it. I don’t care how you do it. You wanted that property, didn’t you? Now go and fight for it. At least do it for the sake of your son."

Laura went quiet.

Andrew continued.

"If you are as strong as you claim, prove it."

Before Laura could respond, Andrew ended the call.

She stared at her phone in disbelief.

"What an arrogant fool!" she muttered.

She dropped the phone beside her and leaned back against the couch.

Andrew had some nerve telling her to fight Flora. Yet, one thing bothered her more than his attitude.

Laura swallowed.

"How much does that woman know?" she whispered.

She picked up her phone again, opened the trending video, and began scrolling through the comments.

The more she read, the more uncomfortable she became.

Laura locked her phone.

"This is getting out of hand," she muttered.

Suddenly, a car horn sounded outside.

Paaap! Paaap!

Laura turned towards the window.

"Who is that now?"

She got up, walked towards the window, and pulled the curtain slightly.

A familiar car was parked outside.

Her eyes widened.

It was Bruno.

"What is he doing here?" she whispered.

For a few seconds, she remained by the window, watching him.

Bruno stepped out of the car, adjusted his jacket, and glanced towards the house. He did not look like a man paying a friendly visit. He looked tense, like a man carrying bad news.

" I paid him to post the video. What could possibly be so urgent now?" she whispered.

Whatever it was, she had a terrible feeling that her problems were far from over.

Beep.

Laura’s phone vibrated on the couch.

She picked it up and opened the message.

*Bruno:* I’m outside. We need to talk. It’s urgent.