Chapter 271

At VelaCore's flagship store, the three troublemakers were still hurling curses, drawing curious stares from the growing crowd.

Hannah turned to Meagan and spoke briskly. "Get the testing center on the line. Have them send a team down here-equipment and all. I want evidence collected on the spot."

"On it," Meagan said, already halfway out the door.

But Hannah stopped her with a sharp gesture."And call the reporters. Tell them we have a scandal worth broadcasting. Invite them to cover the whole thing live-they won't want to miss this."

"Right away." Meagan dashed off, her phone already pressed to her ear.

Hannah faced the three troublemakers, her eyes

glinting coldly. "You keep insisting my company's lingerie is toxic, that it'll ruin someone's skin after a single wear."

She stepped forward, her posture defiant, her voice ringing out for everyone to hear. "I'll prove it right here. I, Hannah Scott, will wear the set myself-publicly, in front of everyone, for a full day. Let's see if you still have the nerve to talk after that."

Gasps rippled through the onlookers, silencing the store.

The store manager stepped forward, his tone measured. "Ms. Scott, is this really wise? Shouldn't we rely on the test report..."

Hannah cut him off, her eyes flashing with resolve."We have to do this. Reports take days. The internet moves in seconds. People's minds are made up before the facts even land. I'm not letting these lies destroy us. I'll clear our name right now, in front of everyone."

Without waiting for a reply, she spun on her heel and

signaled to a staff member nearby. "Fetch a sealed set from the warehouse-the exact style everyone's been gossiping about. The one they've been saying is toxic. We'll unbox it here, for all to see."

The staff member snapped to attention. "Right away!" He hustled out of the warehouse, returning with a fresh, factory-sealed mesh sports bra.

Hannah snatched it from his hands, tearing open the plastic with a practiced flick. She held the spotless lingerie high for everyone to see, her every movement decisive and unflinching.

Her attention then shifted, eyes cutting sharply to the security supervisor who had just appeared by the entrance."Please see to it that those three women take a seat in the lounge area over there.Make sure they stay put until I'm done."

The security supervisor gave a brisk nod and,without missing a beat, ushered the bickering trio over to the designated seats, planting himself nearby with a watchful stance.

The three women's faces darkened in unison, their protests now reduced to tense, furious whispers.

Hannah, without even glancing back, strode to the fitting rooms, clutching the new lingerie in her fist.

The door slammed behind her with a satisfying thud.

Silence swept through the store. Every eye in the crowd locked onto that closed door, breath collectively held, waiting for what would happen next.The three troublemakers went dead silent.

Moments ticked by before Hannah finally reappeared, stepping out with calm, deliberate grace.

She wore the new pale-toned lingerie-no mistakes about it-layered beneath a matching silk cardigan,the store's fluorescent spotlight catching on the delicate fabric.

Gasps and scattered applause filled the air. There was no denying it now. Hannah stood tall, every inch poised and unflinching, right at the center of

attention. The so-called "toxic" lingerie clung to her figure, looking immaculate. She radiated composure,utterly free of any discomfort or allergies the three troublemakers had claimed.

Hannah swept her gaze to the three troublemakers,whose faces had gone ashen. Her eyes glinted,her voice cutting through the din with crystalline authority. "Look closely. I'm standing right here, and I feel perfectly fine."

Reporters surged into the store alongside the testing personnel, their cameras flashing as technicians began taking meticulous samples from the disputed lingerie.

While everyone watched, Hannah faced the cameras with effortless poise, launching into a crisp explanation of VelaCore's design philosophy-her voice ringing with confidence, her presence commanding attention.

Across the room, the three troublemakers shrank into themselves, ducking away from the reporters' lenses,trying in vain to escape the crowd's hostile glare.

Moments later, the police strode in, uniforms pristine and expressions unreadable.

Without missing a beat, Hannah gestured toward the three women under security's watchful eye."Officers, those are the ones you're looking for.They've broadcast blatant lies, savagely defamed my company's products, and stirred up a scene. The testing team has already taken samples-the official report will be ready soon. For the matter of public disorder, please handle it as the law reqquires."

As the police officers prepared to detain the three women, the heavyset woman stalked past Hannah,shooting her a look brimming with venom and spite.

Abruptly, she let out a shrill cry, feigning a stumble as she lurched forward-her movements clumsy yet calculated. She swung her shoulder at Hannah with clear intent, trying to send Hannah sprawling straight into the pool of black liquid that had been spilled earlier.

A voice rang out from the crowd."Careful!"

But Hannah moved with effortless poise,sidestepping at the last second, her every motion controlled and graceful.

The heavyset woman's frame carried her forward,and with a wail that pierced the air, she pitched headlong into the puddle herself, landing with a spectacular, wet thud that echoed through the mall.

Hannah didn't flinch. She stood tall, her lips curled into a calm, confident smile as she turned to the rolling cameras. "I trust everyone saw what just happened. This is exactly what slander looks like."

"No doubt about it." A warm, reassuring voice rose above the murmurs, drawing every gaze.

The crowd instinctively gave way, parting in a wave as a man strode forward. He reached Hannah's side,meeting her eyes with an easy, unshakable smile."Fontaine Galleria will stand with you, Ms. Scott."

Hannah matched Claude's smile and subtly shifted to stand side by side with him.

High above, on the fourth floor, Vincent watched it all unfold. He'd rushed straight from the office, not even pausing for breath. In mere minutes, he'd seen Hannah turn the tide-her composure and fearless energy impossible to miss, blazing in the chaos.His lips, tense and tight since he'd arrived, finally eased into a softer line.

But when Claude materialized at her side, Vincent's jaw clenched, and with a flash of frustration, he tore off his tie.