Chapter 151

Philip's POV

I stoed ourside the Howard Technologies building my phone cluched rightly in my hand, the screen displaying the news of my mother Betty Baker trending online. Anger burned like at raging fire in my chest.growing more intense with each passing second.

That bitch!" I silently cursed Annie. "How dare she do this to my mother?

I couldn't resist scrolling through those vicious comments again,witnessing how people attacked my mother, feeling both furious and heartbroken. My mother had always been a respectable Upper East Side socialite, and now she was being mercilessly criticized by internet users.

How could these people possibly understand the rules of our social circle?They had no idea that my mother was simply fulfilling her responsibility,protecting our family's dignity.

I recalled how my mother had always protected me throughout my life. In high school, when I had a dispute with my golf coach, she personally showed up to ensure my position was supported.

During college, when my thesis was questioned for plagiarism issues,she made a substantial donation that prompted the school administration to intervene.

Even when problems arose in my marriage with Annie,mother consistently stood by my side, never questioning my decisions. She was always the one who smoothed everything over for me. And now, this woman who once hung on my every word was exploiting my mother's predicament for her own gain? I waited at the building entrance, determined to confront her face-to-face.

Soon enough, I spotted Annie and Howard walking out of the building together.Howard leaned down to whisper something to her, and she nodded slightly, as if she had anticipated my arrival. This deepened my anger-she knew what was coming yet remained so calm.

I strode toward them, barely able to control the fury in my voice: "Annie,what exactly are you trying to do?"

She looked up at me with a puzzled expression that I was certain was fake.

"Me? I'm not trying to do anything, Philip. I don't know what you're talking about."

I quickly pulled out my phone and thrust the screen toward her face."This!" I almost roared, the phone nearly touching her face. "My mother becomes a trending topic, and suddenly your comics get massive traffic. Is that a coincidence?"

Before Annie could respond, Howard had already grabbed my wrist with a grip so powerful it caused me pain. In that moment, I felt tremendous pressure from his palm, almost crushing my wrist bone. I silently regretted being too busy with work to visit the gym regularly.

Howard's gaze was sharp as a knife, carrying an icy warning that instinctively made me feel a flicker of fear. Buat I immediately suppressed this emotion-I absolutely couldn't show weakness in front of Annie.

Howard's voice was cold as ice: "If you have something to say, just say it.There's no need to push a phone in her face." I struggled to free my hand from his grip, feeling humiliated but still standing my ground. "I know you have issues with mebut..,"I tried to make my tone sound more persuasive, "if you have a problem, you could come directly to me. Dragging my mother into this isn't very polite, is it?"

Annie's lips curved into a sardonic smile. "Polite? That's an interesting word coming fromn your mouth."

Her smile felt strange to me. This was completely different from the Annie I remembered-the fragile one who always tried to please everyone.

"Your family was never particularly polite to me either, was it?" she continued, her tone disturbingly calm. "Besides, I didn't drag your mother into anything. I simply took advantage of the attention when your mother was being criticized online."

I stared at her, suddenly feeling like I was looking at a stranger. "If it wasn't you, then who was it?"

"Could it have been my mother?" Howard suddenly interjected, his tone carrying a meaningful undertone.

"Your mother?" I asked, confused. "Why would she do that?"

Howard calmly replied, "You should watch this video." He took out his phone and pulled up a video I had never seen before.

I stared intently at the screen. The video Howard played was one I had never seen, related to the post my mother had published on the social forum a few days ago,but clearly recorded before the post was published.

In the footage, my mother was conversing with Margaret Thompson at a private social gathering. Mother appeared completely confident, utterly unaware that the spoke at length criticizing Annie, saying she "didn't understand etiquette,"was "from an ordinary background,"

and "didn't deserve to enter high society"-almost word for word repeating what would later appear in her forum post.

What shocked me most was how Margaret.Thompson's seemingly casual questions were actually cleverly designed to draw out more harsh critiques of Annie from my mother. I even noticed Margaret subtly nodding encouragingly when my mother said something particularly cutting,while my mother, completely obliviouis to the trap, continued to spout the very remarks that would later subject her to intense online criticism.

In the final part of the video, my mother even stated bluntly: "If Annie can't give the Baker family an intelligent heir, Philip would be better off ending the marriage early."

After watching the video, I browsed through some comments and discovered more information: evidently, shortly after my mother's post, this video was anonymously uploaded online, causing public opinion to shift completely in Annie's favor. My mother had intended to gain support through her post, to prove her attitude toward Annie was justified,but instead inadvertently triggered this storm.

I felt dizzy. I looked up at Annie, trying to regain my position: "Even if your view of her is correct, you shouldn't have-"

"There's nothing I shouldn't have done," Annie firmly interrupted me. "Philip, your family can't keep hurting me without facing any consequences.

Her gaze was steady and clear: "The current situation is quite fair... she approached me with malicious intent, and I used her to make money." I shook my head. unable to believe what I was hearing: "You've changed.Annie. You never used to care about money."

"Now you seem obsessed with it." I added accusingly.

Annie laughed, and the sound stung my ears: "It's precisely because I didn't value material things that I walked away fsom our divorce empty-handed.allowing a cheating bastard like you to retain substantial assets and live happily with your lover."

Her words pierced my heart like a sharp blade: "Looking back on my behavior that day, I realize how terribly wrong I was. I should have demanded money. At least that would have ensured I wouldn't face financial difficulties after the divorce."

I was speechless. The confident. powerful woman before me was nothing like the gentle, compliant ex-wife I remembered.

"Fortunately, I received Howard's help immediately after the divorce."Annie continued, her voice tinged with gratitude. "He's given me a better living environment than you ever did, provided job opportunities, and helped me earn money and understand its importance."

She looked at me, her gaze unwavering: "Philip, money solves most problems in my life. When news appears that can help me earn more, and I didn't actively create the trouble myself, why shouldn't I take advantage of it?"

I felt powerless, grasping at my last straw: "She's my mother."

"So what?" Annie scoffed.

I froze, not knowing how to respond to such a smple question. "You and I no longer care about each other, so why should I care about an ex-mother-in-law who only knew how to bully me?" Annie said calmly. "I hope you can understand that."

Then she took HowardI's hand: "Let's go eat."

"Alright." Howard responded simply.

Watching their retreating figures. I felt an unprecedented sense of loss and anger. "Annie, you'll regret this." I called after them, my voice filled with unresolved resentment.

But Annie didn't even turn around, as if my existence had become completely meaningless to her. I stood there, watching them disappear around the street corner, feeling my world crumbling. I never imagined there would come a day when Annie would no longer care about my opinions. no longer try to please me, and even exploit my mother's predicament for her own benefit.

This wasn't the Annie I knew. She had changed, becoming unfamiliar and formidable. And this transformation made me feel threatened and uneasy in a way I had never experienced before.