"If I withdraw, the Whitewood Family's reputation will be trashed. Are you sure you want me to drop it?" "What do you mean?" Oberon, who prized two things above all—his company and the Whitewood Family's reputation—quirked a brow. "Kelly has been spreading rumors online, slandering me with stories of a chaotic personal life, pregnancy, abortion, and other damaging lies. I'm a part of the Whitewood Family; I don't mind if my reputation is tarnished, but the family name will be dragged through the mud and made a target for gossip and ridicule. A public statement wouldn't stop the rumors. The only effective way to silence everyone is to use the law to defend our rights. This wouldn't only silence them but would also set a precedent, discouraging anyone from trying to defame the Whitewood Group in the future. "I might not know much about business, but I understand one thing: if a company has a stain on its reputation, moving forward will be harder than for others. Reputation is vital. I read an article in a magazine once; it talked about a century-old company whose stock value plummeted by billions due to scandal after scandal among its heirs. What was once the top family business in its field fell to third, then fourth, and eventually, it was on the verge of collapse. "When those scandals first surfaced, the management brushed them off as trivial issues, thinking it was enough to suppress them or make a simple statement. But even though there were no immediate losses, it planted a dangerous seed for the future." Oberon immediately thought of a well-known company from Hylora; she was probably referring to that one. Seraphina had shared so much just to make one point: no scandal, no matter how minor, should be ignored. If left unchecked, one day, it could become the seed of destruction for the Whitewood Group. Oberon fell into thoughtful silence. Chloe, however, smiled dismissively. "Such a small matter—it can't possibly be as serious as you're making it sound. You're blowing this out of proportion."A small matter? So, to her mother, having her own daughter's name dragged through the dirt was trivial. The sting of Chloe's indifference was as sharp and cutting as always, stabbing Seraphina straight in the heart. "This is not a small matter," Seraphina countered seriously. "Oh, come now. This is just a little squabble; it can't be that serious. Seraphina, you're overthinking things." Whether she was overthinking didn't matter. What mattered was that Oberon would be thinking it over. Even if, in the end, they forced her to drop the lawsuit, her goal was already accomplished. She'd successfully planted a seed of doubt deep in Oberon's mind, waiting to sprout and grow over time. When that time came, whether it was Linara or Aidan, they could all go to hell. Oberon absorbed her words, though he still felt filing a lawsuit was an overreaction. Yet, he couldn't simply let it slide either, so another solution had to be found."You'll withdraw the lawsuit. Tomorrow, I'll have that Thomson girl apologize to you." "Fine. But I think she should apologize in front of the entire school. After all, if I withdraw the lawsuit, people might assume we're guilty or hiding something." She compromised, and her suggestion was reasonable. Oberon nodded in understanding. "I'll explain it to Mr. Thomson." Chloe, satisfied with the outcome, immediately went upstairs to share the good news with Linara.