Chapter 447 Rumours
Charlotte didn’t expect that the plan Avery had mentioned about obtaining a kidney for Westin involved a top secret project supported by another country.
She did her best to hold back her anger as she listened in on Avery’s conversation with the other party. As soon as they left, she immediately slammed her hands on the table and said, “Avery, what were you thinking? Are they really selling poor people’s kidneys? Do they even know how risky it is…”
“Charlotte,” Avery interrupted her with a sombre look. “I know that you’re a very kind person, and you can’t help but think for others. But you know how businesses work, don’t you?”
“I would never sell anything that goes against my morals!”
“Your morals aren’t important here. No matter what, we still require a kidney from a willing donor, right? Do you know how many people would sell their kidneys just for a hundred bucks? You might think it’s unbelievable, but many poor people in that country could survive off it for years! All they eat every day is potatoes, you know? If you were them, would you do the same as well? If you could just sell one of your organs and get enough money in return that could change the way you lived your life, would you do it? Wouldn’t you want to just experience what not living in poverty feels like for once?”
Charlotte instantly choked on her words. “I…”
“I know you want to help these poor people, but I’m here to tell you that these people aren’t truly poor. They have shelter, and some of them even own houses. The people who have volunteered to sell their kidneys are really rare.” Avery tossed a stack of papers to Charlotte, “Look here, among them, only a handful of them are in perfect health. The villagers poured their heart and soul into raising a healthy person, just so that person could sell their kidney at a good price. You know a person can live a long and happy life with just one kidney, right? They’re banking on the money from the transaction, so their whole village can prosper!”
“You keep thinking we’re violating their human rights. But have you ever thought to ask whether or not they wanted to do it or not?”
After saying that, Avery left with Skylar and his medical team.
As soon as he opened the door, Skylar reminded him, “Avery, you don’t have to be so angry with Miss Charlotte. She’s just worried about the legality of everything. She doesn’t want to make a wrong decision, that’s all.”
“I did that on purpose.”
“What?”
“I’m going to get Cassius to persuade her. Although Charlotte came from a poor family, she has received great education ever since she was a child. She doesn’t know what real poverty is like, or what true pain really is. It’s not conducive to her success.” Avery said after a pause, “If she wants Shane to go ahead with his gameplan, she has to acknowledge the fact that one has to be at their lowest point, to understand how important longing for salvation truly means. Otherwise, she won’t learn how to be grateful when true salvation comes.”
Skylar sighed and said, “Does this have something to do with Shane?”
“Of course there is! Why do you think Shane wants to make so much money?”
Avery sneered and continued to walk forward.
Staring at his back, Skylar let out another sigh. Of course, he knew that Avery’s words made sense. However, Miss Charlotte was a little pitiful at the moment.
In the conference room.
Charlotte was still staring blankly at the stack of papers Avery had given her.
The children stated on the papers were all grown-ups. However, when she looked at their pictures, they did not look like adults at all. They did not look childish nor mature as their gaze fixed sternly forward.
Just like Avery said, selling their organs was the only way out of poverty. In this world, everyone despised those who did not cherish their own bodies. As such, those who sold their bodies were hated. She had shared the same thoughts as she criticised these people from her high horse before her conversation with Avery just now. However, she had never thought that such an act could change so many lives for the better.
If they bought from one of these people, Westin would live a better life, and so would the person who sold their kidney.
“Miss Charlotte, are you all right?” Cassius was worried. “If you don’t think this will work, maybe we can find other ways. Perhaps fate has already decided that Westin’s life is…”
“Cassius.” Charlotte interrupted him softly. “I’m fine. In the past, I just didn’t understand why so many people took the risk to commit crimes like these. Selling their organs and polluting the name of their countries sounded despicable to me. But I understand now. They had no choice in the matter. They were just trying to survive…”
“Miss Charlotte…”
“I know that Avery is not trying to preach about this to me. I also understand that the world is a cruel place. But today is the first time I’ve properly understood just how cruel it is. Don’t worry, I’m fine. By the way, are you hungry? Do you want to go get something to eat?”
Cassius nodded his head obediently.
“Let’s go.”
Cassius still had some reputation. When he was walking with Charlotte, he was recognized by quite a few fans and some had even been filming them. In the beginning, he had tried to stop them, but when he saw that Charlotte didn’t look like she minded, he stopped trying.
Soon enough.
Cassius and Charlotte’s ambiguous relationship became a hot topic of discussion.
“Isn’t that Shane Fuller’s girlfriend?”
“Oh, Cassius is her boy toy now, isn’t he?”
“Stop spreading such rumours! The two of them are just good friends. Let’s focus on Cassius’s new movie.”
Various discussions about their relationship took place.
Cassius hurriedly told his agency not to address the comments. As such, the rumours grew more and more outrageous. While they were eating, Charlotte stood by the window and watched the scenery while he sat by her side. He took out his phone and positioned it in a way that the two of them would be in the frame. After he snapped a picture of them, he looked at it carefully, then posted it onto his social media.
The caption under the photo said, “My boss is here enjoying the scenery. As her subordinate, I’m enjoying my lunch so I can work harder for her in the future!”
Soon, that post became a huge hit, garnering many comments.
“Oh, sweetie. You’ve finally cleared up the situation!”
“What’s your relationship with her? We’ll support you if you’re dating, but if you guys are planning to get married, no chance!”
“Cassius, please don’t get seduced by this rich woman’s beauty!”
Later, someone found out that all the companies under Shane’s name were slowly being passed on to Charlotte within the past year. It seemed that Shane had turned Charlotte into a tycoon as well.
As such, an Internet conspiracy was afoot. People were saying that Charlotte had deliberately used Shane to obtain all those companies. After she had succeeded, she abandoned Shane and snatched up Cassius instead.
Charlotte turned a blind eye to all of this.
Cassius felt very distressed and said, “Miss Charlotte, aren’t you going to clarify the situation?”
“They’re not completely wrong though, don’t you think?” Charlotte was lying on the sofa in the private room, watching a TV series.
“That’s… ”
Cassius did not understand what she meant.
“I really did gain ownership of those companies because of Shane, and you are indeed an artist I’ve taken under my wing. But I didn’t abandon Shane, and I haven’t done anything with you at all. If I told them that, do you think they’ll believe me? They’ll just think I’m trying to cover up the truth.”
“Even so, I can’t let them disrespect you like this! They’re saying awful things about you,” Cassius said and sat down beside her. “I thought with that post just now, they would lay off you. I didn’t expect them to come at you with insults like that. I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to. I just wanted to help you out…”
“I know, I don’t blame you.” Charlotte leaned over and tousled his hair. “But have you ever wondered why they would think that the both of us are in a relationship?”
“Because… I’m good-looking?” He replied tentatively.
Although this was probably the true reason, he still felt a little shameless admitting to it.
Charlotte nodded with a smile. “You’re half-correct.”
“Why just half?”
“It’s because they see you as just an idol, not an actor. If you were a normal actor, had a decent representative, and didn’t need such media hype to keep you relevant, they would only suspect that I’m with you at the moment to discuss a new movie production or something related to business, am I right?”
Cassius nodded, slowly understanding what this all meant as he nodded. “They think I’m not capable enough.”
Even if that was the truth, he didn’t really want to admit it.