Reborn as Mr.CEO's Fat Wife-Chapter 967: A Barking Dog Never Bites

David Locke was cornered in the underground parking lot beneath Muse Entertainment’s headquarters.

Reporters from all directions swarmed in, blocking the exit completely. Even Martin, who prided himself on his extensive experience, couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth at this moment. Turning to the man behind him, Locke, he asked, "Director Locke, what should we do now?"

David leaned back in his seat, lit a cigarette, took a drag, and then instructed Martin leisurely, "Release the dirt we prepared earlier."

Martin responded quickly and turned around to start making phone calls.

David stared out of the car window at the growing crowd of reporters outside. He thought about the events of the past two days, the impending situation he would have to face, and also about the decisions Lambert Norman might make—decisions that could deeply influence Mary Scott’s future life trajectory.

After what seemed like an eternity, the noise outside gradually subsided. David knew their strategy of diverting attention had likely succeeded. Pinching his cigarette between his fingers, he extinguished it resolutely and gave the order, "Drive."

The driver obeyed, maneuvering through the remaining reporters and exiting the underground parking lot, but they didn’t head back to the Delight Hotel.

There was still plenty left for them to deal with.

...

Starlight Entertainment.

Jocelyn Spencer looked at Charlotte Leigh, who was slouched nonchalantly on the sofa, her expression carefree as if she "wasn’t afraid of boiling water splashing onto a dead pig." Jocelyn smirked bitterly, "I didn’t expect you to be so capable."

"Miss Spencer, there are many things you wouldn’t expect." Charlotte faked a smile. This time, her unintentional exposure of Mary Scott’s actions not only caused a scandal to explode online but also conveniently gave her an opportunity for redemption. Combined with the PR efforts promised by Starlight, numerous voices had begun speaking up in her defense. The reputation that had plummeted to rock bottom was starting to recover.

This gave Charlotte renewed confidence, and she straightened her back in front of Jocelyn.

Jocelyn smiled slightly without continuing to mock Charlotte. After all, the enemy of her enemy was now her ally. Mary Scott’s audacity had cost Jocelyn dearly this time. Being publicly reprimanded on top of losing her golden status as a star agent was something Jocelyn hadn’t foreseen. She never imagined that Mary would already have compiled damning evidence of her embezzlement and other violations within the company. Particularly, the contract riddled with loopholes for "Detectives and Wilderness," which was a recent occurrence—if she were to be sued, neither Jocelyn nor the company would come out unscathed.

What was even more remarkable was the lawyer Mary Scott hired, whose last name was Swallow. Jocelyn had originally dismissed him as an unknown rookie—young in age and not worth paying much attention to. Who would have guessed the lawyer was not only the apprentice of Swallow City’s top attorney, Benjamin Jones, but also an up-and-coming legal prodigy in the field recently? Coming face-to-face with Starlight’s legal team, the attorney had gained the upper hand, forcing them to agree to an amicable termination of Mary Scott’s contract.

Recalling the humiliation she felt while signing the agreement, Jocelyn’s heart surged with anger she couldn’t suppress. She had finally learned what it meant to disguise oneself like "a silent dog that bites hard." Over the years, Mary had played her role well in front of Jocelyn.

After taking a deep breath, Jocelyn turned her phone toward Charlotte, pointing at the trending topic that had just surfaced. "See this? They’ve started counterattacking. This means Director Locke hasn’t given up on her yet. How long do you think you can hold out? If Mary gets back on her feet, do you honestly think she’ll spare you? Once that rebound happens, all the goodwill you’ve painstakingly reclaimed will undoubtedly backfire against you. Even the company will struggle to save you."

Charlotte stared at Jocelyn’s phone. At the top of the feed was a breaking news story about a prominent A-list celebrity being exposed for hosting drug-fueled parties, implicating several well-known entertainers. The explosive nature of the scandal rivaled that of Mary Scott’s revelations. In fact, due to the celebrity’s higher status, iconic reputation, and enduring fame, the online reaction was even more intense than for Mary Scott’s tale of woe.

Netizens began playing detective, searching for artists potentially involved in the debacle. Panic and chaos spread within the entertainment circle.

This maneuver caused the focus on Mary Scott’s background to drop in intensity.

Charlotte’s expression darkened as she finished reading. She hadn’t anticipated things escalating to this point. Not only had David Locke refused to abandon Mary, but he had also deployed such a high-risk strategy, possibly offending half of the entertainment industry just to bail her out. She couldn’t wrap her head around what Mary possessed to deserve such sacrifice.

Jocelyn felt mildly satisfied seeing Charlotte’s reaction. "With Director Locke’s capabilities, what makes you think you’ll still have a foothold in the entertainment industry if Mary’s ordeal resolves itself?"

Charlotte didn’t need Jocelyn to spell things out; she already understood the implications.

Between herself and Mary Scott, there was only one possible outcome: either Mary died, or she did.

If she didn’t take the opportunity while Mary was down to completely destroy her, the moment Mary managed to rise again, Charlotte knew she’d be the one to fall.

Charlotte was acutely aware that Jocelyn was trying to use her to exact revenge on Mary Scott. Unfortunately, she had no choice but to comply.

After all, they had already been complicit in various shady dealings for years. This unspoken understanding was ingrained between them. After just a moment of hesitation, Charlotte looked at Jocelyn, "Miss Spencer, what do you want me to do?"

"Naturally, you have to bury her completely. You know that reporter you’re familiar with? I imagine someone like him would know how to ensure Mary Scott’s scandal remains at the forefront of the headlines." Since Charlotte now grasped her intentions, Jocelyn no longer bothered to act polite.

Charlotte hadn’t anticipated having to liaise with Reporter Emerson again, but given the current situation, she had no choice. Gritting her teeth, Charlotte nodded, "Of course."

Jocelyn, satisfied with her response, smiled more indulgently. "I knew Charlotte was truly the best. Speaking of which, tonight, Mr. Lamb from West City is throwing a party here in Swallow City. He’s recently invested in an epic costume drama. I’ve recommended you to him as the female lead, but ultimately, whether you land the role or not depends on your own capabilities."

Charlotte’s smile froze for a moment as she furrowed her eyebrows and looked at Jocelyn. "Miss Spencer, isn’t this... inappropriate? I’m now one of Starlight’s main stars and experiencing a surge in popularity. Won’t attending parties like this attract unnecessary attention?"

"Don’t worry. I’ll make arrangements for everything. You said it yourself—you’re one of Starlight’s biggest assets. I treasure your reputation almost as much as my own life. Do you really think I’d risk leaking this? Just attend the party confidently. This drama has invested over ten million, and if you manage to secure the female lead role, your comeback will be right around the corner." Jocelyn’s words carried a hint of persuasive grandeur.

Charlotte wasn’t naïve. She understood Jocelyn was ultimately using her as bait. Still, in her current predicament, it left her little room for negotiation. Even this recent success in steering public opinion wasn’t enough to guarantee her future. If Jocelyn’s words were true and this project had such an astronomical investment, Charlotte knew it could be her golden ticket to securing her position in the industry.

To survive in this circle, as long as one didn’t get caught in drug scandals or violate criminal laws, there was always a chance to clean up their image.

For actors, the fastest way to regain public favor was through solid works of art. A high-quality project could cast a brilliant halo over a star.

Convinced by her rationale, Charlotte looked at Jocelyn. "Miss Spencer, I need to see the project outline first." freēwēbnovel.com

"Of course." Jocelyn didn’t hesitate and handed her the prepared documents.

After reviewing them, Charlotte realized Jocelyn hadn’t been lying. This truly was an excellent opportunity for a turning point in her career. She couldn’t afford to let it slip away.

Leaving Jocelyn’s office, Charlotte immediately began preparing for the dinner, ensuring she called Reporter Emerson on the way. As Jocelyn had said, Mary Scott couldn’t be allowed any chance to recover.

When Reporter Emerson answered Charlotte’s call, he immediately grasped her intention, laughing sleazily. "I’ve done you such a massive favor this time. How do you plan to repay me?"

Charlotte gritted her teeth. "Helping me naturally helps yourself. After all, we’re giving our child a brighter future, aren’t we?"

The person on the other end of the line reacted with excitement. "Charlotte, are you seriously planning to keep my child?"

"Of course. You’re the only man in this world who truly loves me. If not for you, who else would I have a child with?" Charlotte replied with a syrupy sweetness, though her heart sneered at him. If the hospital hadn’t warned her against undergoing another abortion, she wouldn’t have kept this ambiguous pregnancy.

Still, it worked out well enough. At least she found a fool willing to play dad—and be useful to her.

Jason Emerson was oblivious to Charlotte’s true feelings. The mere thought of this goddess-like actress willing to bear a child for him made excitement race through his veins, diminishing any lingering doubts. Glancing at his faded old wife at home, he wished he could instantly be with Charlotte. "Baby, I love you so much."

Charlotte suppressed her disgust. "I love you too," she replied softly before changing her tone abruptly. "By the way, if things don’t work out with Mary Scott, didn’t she have a younger brother?"

"Don’t worry, baby. Don’t underestimate me," Jason assured her confidently. Once the call ended, he got right back to work, stirring up further trouble for Mary Scott.

To Jason, taking down a little bitch like Mary was child’s play after his years of thriving on the entertainment industry’s seamier underbelly.

David Locke had only just successfully diverted attention when counterwaves arose, guiding public opinion against him again. Ghostwriters aggressively spread claims online, alleging that the breaking scandal involving a certain A-list celebrity had been planted to draw heat away from Actress X. They concluded with pointed questions about the strength of X’s background, insinuating connections to her corrupt father’s lingering influence.

Mary Scott’s declining heat surged once more, thanks to these provocations. David Locke’s PR team was under constant pressure, gearing up for another round of counteroffensive measures. David even called Brandon Piers to bring in his tech experts for additional reinforcements in combating the online backlash.

The chaos sparked pandemonium across the internet, with netizens eagerly devouring juicy gossip faster than they could keep up.

David Locke returned to the Delight Hotel just past midnight. Mary Scott had yet to sleep.

But it wasn’t because she’d been waiting for David—it was because she simply couldn’t fall asleep.

It had been two days and nights since the incident unfolded. Though the heat of her scandal had been blunted by the avalanche of headlines from other big-name celebrities, her story remained trending due to unseen forces pushing it. Even if her name dropped slightly lower on the list, it hadn’t fallen far, and the insults hurled at her continued unabated.

How could anyone sleep with such circumstances? Seeing David Locke step inside, Mary instinctively rose, but her gaze was immediately drawn to the wheelchair beneath him. A wave of sorrow welled up inside her. "How’s your leg?" she asked, her tone revealing subtle concern.

"It’s fine. I switched to this chair just for convenience," David replied as he stepped closer and took her cold hand in his own, only to grab her other hand moments later, enclosing both within his warm grasp.

The warmth of his dry palms eased some of the chilling unease pooling inside her. Still, her mind remained clouded with worry. "Is it really okay?" she pressed.

"Are you doubting me again?" He raised an eyebrow at her, his tone unplaceable.

His words instantly triggered memories from the previous evening, making Mary’s heart flutter in disarray. Her body reacted reflexively; embarrassment lit up her face as she shot him a reproachful glance. "Could you be serious for a second? I reached out to Grace Rachel today, and they said this situation is tricky. Clearing my name seems unlikely. Don’t waste your energy on me anymore. Once the attention dies down, I’ll just leave the industry anyway. It’s not as though I ever enjoyed working in showbiz to begin with."

David listened intently. "Are you serious?"

Mary nodded firmly. "Yes, I’m serious. I might drag you down with me if I quit, but since you went out of your way to declare your commitment last night, I doubt I’ll find the nerve to oppose it. By the way, did you earn a decent amount before? Is it enough for you to support me?"

She deliberately asked her last question in an amused tone.

David froze for a moment, studying the small woman before him—a mix of fair-skinned and radiant—to whom he had pledged his dedication. The faint traces of playfulness flickering in her eyes held him captivated, stirring an exhilarating joy inside him. This was the first time Mary had expressed herself so openly with him; he couldn’t help but feel ecstatic.

So, did this stubborn yet vulnerable woman finally trust and rely on him—as much as he’d longed for?

"Why aren’t you answering? Second thoughts? Didn’t you say we’d face everything together without running or hiding? What’s caused you to suddenly realize supporting me might be more pressuring?" Mary teased, but before she could finish her sentence, David’s large hand reached out to the back of her head and suddenly silenced her with a kiss.

Mary was half-leaned down into a crouch by the force of his pull, resulting in an awkward posture that left her entirely at his mercy.

Time stretched until her resolve broke, and she managed to push him away breathlessly. "Ugh, my waist feels like it’s going to snap."

She hadn’t realized kissing at this angle could be so physically strenuous; her usual assumption was that standing would be easier.

Seeing her awkward complaints, David’s good mood was further buoyed. "Already complaining about your back? What will you do when my legs heal?"

Mary grew flushingly indignant. "From the looks of it, I bet your legs weren’t wrecked by Mia colliding with you—they were clearly broken by your own reckless antics. Just for your information, I’m awfully high-maintenance. I’m not easy to support at all."

David listened with intrigue, recalling some past observations. Despite spending years in showbiz, Mary had refrained from the industry’s common vices. She neither competed with other actresses nor indulged excessively in luxury goods like handbags and designer brands. Before he reconnected with her, she even wore knockoffs and counterfeits, enduring collective ridicule online, at one point becoming so broke she’d been thrown out by her landlord.

But even as a struggling former starlet under Starlight Entertainment’s oppressive constraints, how had she landed in that kind of impoverished situation? Granted, she had a younger brother to support; this raised some questions. Recently, however, she garnered a lucrative paycheck from "Detectives and Wilderness" reaching six million and partial advance endorsement deals with Raspberry, along with payments already settled. Amidst looming PR crises, she only took out one million earned through another campaign but left an open claim of owing another million to Grace Rachel’s firm.

So where had most of that wealth from opportunities dissipated?

David darted his eyes straight back at Mary inquisitively. She’d expected post-absurd romantic follow-ups typical within dramas—not constant drilling followed by wary stares like this instead?

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