Chapter 8 The Truth Unfolds

"Hah! How would you know if I never got the chance? If I ever had the opportunity to be with him, I'd make sure to have his child and become Mrs. Murphy."

Selena's voice carried a mixture of arrogance and excitement as she flipped her hair over her shoulder. The mere thought of being associated with Mason Murphy made her heart race.

"Alright, alright. I'll call you Mrs. Murphy then. Happy now?" Ella teased, rolling her eyes at her friend's obsession.

Meanwhile, the man they were gossiping about had a deep frown on his face.

Seriously? Is this how women talk about me in public? How disgusting can they get?

Maybe it was his intense stare, or perhaps an odd twist of fate, but the two women suddenly turned toward him.

The moment their eyes landed on his face, their playful conversation came to an abrupt halt. Their jaws nearly dropped as they took in his striking features-sharp cheekbones, a chiseled jawline, and piercing eyes that seemed to hold the weight of the world. He was breathtaking, the kind of man who made time stand still.

"Wow, Ella, look at him! Since when did such a gorgeous man move into this building?" Selena whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

Ella quickly tugged her friend's sleeve and whispered back, "Selena, don't you think he looks familiar?"

Selena squinted, trying to recall where she had seen him before. "Now that you mention it, he does seem familiar. I feel like I've seen him somewhere..."

"I think that's Mason Murphy," Ella said in a hushed voice, barely able to contain her excitement. "Didn't you just say you wanted to have his child and become Mrs. Murphy?"

Selena froze on the spot, her eyes widening in horror. "M-Mason? What's he doing here?"

Her mind raced, piecing together everything she had heard about him. A man like Mason Murphy wouldn't be in an ordinary apartment complex unless there was something-or someone-keeping him here.

Ella smirked, enjoying the look of panic on her friend's face. "Don't you remember the single mom living in Unit 501? She has a son who's about seven years old."

The realization hit Selena like a lightning bolt.

Oh my god. So the rumors were true?

"Does that mean the child everyone's been talking about is really-"

"Shh! Watch what you say. Do you want to get into trouble?" Ella shot her a warning look, then grabbed her hand and hurried away, dragging a stunned Selena with her.

Mason remained standing in place, his expression unreadable as thoughts swirled in his mind.

A single mother? A seven-year-old son? That reminds me... I heard two boys inside earlier. One of them was definitely mine, but that stubborn woman kicked me out before I could see the other one clearly. As far as I know, she supposedly lost her baby seven years ago. Could there be something else going on?

His hand clenched into a fist. He didn't believe in coincidences. If there was a secret being kept from him, he would find out the truth.

Pulling out his phone, he dialed his assistant's number.

"I need you to find out which hospital Nora Taylor gave birth in seven years ago. Also, look into why people think her child didn't survive."

That night, a new rumor exploded on Instagram.

Breaking news: Mason Murphy was spotted at a private residential building late at night. Is he visiting his secret seven-year-old child?

Within hours, Mason's name was all over social media. The usually quiet and private businessman had been thrown into the spotlight once again, this time caught in the middle of a scandal that only grew bigger by the minute.

Some speculated that Mason had tried to secretly pay off the mother and child but was turned away. Others argued that the woman had refused to accept his money.

The attached photo showed Mason standing outside an apartment door, his cold, serious expression making it appear as if he had been caught in a confrontation. To the online world, this was all the proof they needed-he had been kicked out!

The next morning at ten, Murphy Group held its scheduled press conference at the convention center. Reporters from all over the country gathered, making it one of the biggest media events of the year.

After all, Mason Murphy wasn't just any businessman. He was one of the wealthiest men in the world.

As the leader of the powerful Murphy family, he had control over hundreds of billions in assets. His rare public appearances always made headlines, and this time was no exception.

Now that rumors of his supposed illegitimate child were spreading like wildfire, every media outlet wanted to be the first to uncover the truth.

Even those who couldn't get an exclusive interview still hoped to write articles that would capture the public's attention. Any news about Mason was guaranteed to make money.

At the venue, the head of Murphy Group's public relations team had just finished speaking when the camera feed switched to the lounge.

Suddenly, Mason's striking face appeared on the massive screens.

He wore a perfectly tailored dark gray suit but without a tie. The top two buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing a hint of his bronzed skin.

The way he rolled up his sleeves showcased his muscular arms, and on his left wrist sat a luxury watch worth millions. Everything about him screamed confidence and power.

Mason Murphy wasn't just successful-he was the kind of man everyone admired and envied.

At only twenty-eight years old, he was already a global icon. He had investments in over a hundred industries worldwide and assets worth more money than most people could even imagine.

His screen appearance caused an instant reaction in the crowded public square where people were watching the live broadcast.

"Mason..."

"Oh my god, I love him!"

"He's even more attractive in real life. I think I'm going to faint!"

"I wish I could have a baby with him! Then he'd have no choice but to make me Mrs. Murphy."

Mason focused on his laptop for a moment before finally looking up. His voice was deep and calm as he spoke.

"Good morning, everyone. I'm Mason Murphy, CEO of Murphy Group. Thank you to all members of the press and viewers joining us for this broadcast. I'm aware of the rumors circulating online about me having a seven-year-old child, and I'm here to address them. Regarding the picture that was posted last night, I have personally examined it and confirmed that it was altered. Now, please look at the image behind me. I will show you how it was edited and reveal the original version."

Having earned two PhDs from one of the world's most prestigious universities, using advanced software was second nature to Mason.

His fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard, and the image on the big screen slowly changed. Layer by layer, the truth was revealed-

The boy in the picture looked nothing like Mason.

Viewers watching the broadcast started flooding social media with comments.

"Look! The photo was fake!"

"Mason is so smart. He even knows how to analyze digital images. No wonder he's the most respected businessman in the country."

"Oh my god, I love him even more now!"

"Am I the only one staring at his hands? His fingers are so long and elegant. Imagine what those hands could do..."

The room quieted as Mason spoke again in his deep, commanding voice.

"I believe that after seeing this analysis, everyone now understands the truth. I do not have an illegitimate child. If any media outlets continue spreading false information about my personal life, I will have no choice but to take legal action. If necessary, I will see you in court."

The entire room fell into complete silence. Reporters exchanged uneasy glances.

Was that it?

Had the scandal ended just like that?

Or was there still more to the story, waiting to be uncovered?