It seemed that the reporters noticed Sidney's reaction and figured that interviewing Jayson was not as intriguing as interviewing his mysterious wife, who stirred more curiosity.
As soon as they left the stage, they were surrounded by the media again. This time, all the microphones were focused on Sidney, asking about her married life and how she and her husband got along. Jayson stood by her for a while, then left her to face the media alone while he chatted with others nearby.
Many people had arrived today, and while Sidney answered questions, her eyes darted around the room. She was looking for his figure. She had just seen him, but now he was nowhere to be found.
Sidney quickly finished answering and excused herself, walking around the venue. She was certain her father was deliberately avoiding her, so she left. She quietly approached Jayson and whispered in his ear that she had just seen Esteban.
Jayson nodded, called over a bodyguard, and had them look for a while. When they returned with no news, Jayson reassured Sidney, "Don't worry. The security here is tight. Even if he managed to sneak in, he wouldn't do anything out of line."
Sidney had no idea why he was here. It couldn't possibly be to check if they were doing well, could it?
At that moment, loud noises came from the entrance of the resort, and everyone's attention shifted towards the door. Sidney and Jayson exchanged uncertain glances, unsure of what was going on. They quickly sent someone to investigate. Moments later, a bodyguard returned, breathless, to report that members of the Calderon family were causing a commotion outside.
Upon hearing this, Sidney immediately rushed towards the entrance. She spotted her father outside, shouting angrily, accusing Sidney of ruining the Calderon family, claiming she had stood by while the Calderon Corporation crumbled in disgrace. He also hinted that Jayson had embezzled money from the company. A crowd had gathered, watching the scene unfold, while the staff stood frozen, too intimidated to intervene, recognizing him as the boss's father-in-law.
Jayson's frown deepened as he listened, his face darkening. He gave a subtle signal, and a few bodyguards moved in, pressing against Esteban's back and shoulders to forcefully pull him away. Esteban fought back, shouting curses at Sidney, calling her a traitor as he struggled against their grip.
Most of what Esteban said was probably a lie, all part of his scheme to tarnish both Jayson and her reputation. He wanted people to believe they were ungrateful, disloyal children, when in fact, it was far from the truth.
The others started whispering among themselves. Sidney turned around to head back and saw Jayson standing five steps behind her. They exchanged a glance, but neither of them spoke. She knew she didn't need to worry; he would handle it, but rumors could be dangerous, and no amount of explanation could completely clean up the mess.
Back inside the venue, Jayson spoke briefly to the host, and the music that had been playing abruptly stopped.
Jayson walked up to the stage, grabbed the microphone, and began speaking.
The guests, who had been quietly discussing among themselves, all lifted their heads to look.
"Look, I don't want to go into all the details of what happened at the door earlier. Honestly, I'd rather not explain at all, but for the sake of my wife's reputation, I feel it's necessary. Since we're all gathered here today, I might as well take a moment to clear the air." He smiled casually, as if chatting with friends. "My wife and I have never been involved in the operations of Calderon Corporation. Anyone interested in the facts can look them up themselves. We've never set foot in any of the company's offices, and anyone who knows about the financial troubles at Calderon knows the cause. I won't go into specifics—I respect my father-in-law. People who are clear-headed will understand that. I've done what I can within my capacity, but when Calderon announced its closure yesterday, there was nothing more I could do. After all, my business was handed down by my father, and I have a lot of people to look after myself. I can't risk causing panic among my own employees. Those who understand business should get what I mean." "The resort's grand opening in the coming days relies on all of you for your support and publicity. Thank you for that. And as for those of you who received invitations today, you'll be getting a VIP card, and from now on, you'll enjoy discounts for future visits. You can look forward to it."
Jayson finished speaking with a smile, then stepped off the stage and quickly took Sidney in his arms, leading her out of the venue, not giving the reporters a chance to ask any further questions.
