The Real Heiress Rules the World (Sloane) novel Chapter 38

fterward, Marshall once again sought out the Rivers family patriarch, hoping to gain his support in weathering the crisis. But unlike before, the old man’s stance had shifted–he was now vague and noncommittal.

Marshall couldn’t make sense of it. The man had already agreed in principle before–what had changed so suddenly?

But that would have to wait.

That very night, a bombshell shook the entertainment world. A notorious gossip account known as “Detective Kōngkōng” dropped a cryptic post on Twitter, claiming to have explosive dirt on a top celebrity. The teaser mentioned that the celebrity had once been involved in a serious scandal: a car crash on a quiet late–night street. According to the post, the star had pulled strings to pin the blame on someone else—then fled overseas to dodge the fallout, trying to bury the incident for good.

Most notably, the leaker specified that the celebrity’s surname started with the letter “R“-but nothing more.

The internet went into a frenzy. Within hours, the topic skyrocketed to the top of Twitter’s trending list.

Curiosity exploded as netizens scoured the entertainment scene for every big name with an “R” surname. From trending idol singers to award–winning actors, no one was spared. Everyone who fit the profile got dragged into the public spotlight.

Yet “Detective Kōngkōng” seemed to enjoy keeping everyone in suspense. No matter how the media prodded or fans pleaded, he refused to share further details. Instead, he kept posting vague, tantalizing hints—stoking the fire, feeding the frenzy, and letting the speculation spiral out of control.

Sloane skimmed a few of the headlines the next morning and then tossed her phone aside, uninterested.

The atmosphere at the Rivers family breakfast table was noticeably tense.

Samantha, still sullen from last night’s scolding, sat listlessly at her seat.

Boone, meanwhile, looked completely distracted. Helen had to call his name multiple times before he even noticed.

“Boone, what’s going on with you?” Helen frowned. “I’ve been calling you over and over.”

Boone snapped out of it with a delay. “Sorry. I didn’t sleep well last night.”

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11:39 Mon, Oct 13

Chapter 38 The Scandal Snowballs

Finished

Helen’s eyes filled with worry. “You shouldn’t stay up so late reading scripts. You need rest.”

“Yeah, I know.” Boone mumbled, clearly not paying attention.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed. Glancing at the message on WhatsApp, Boone shot up from his seat. “Mom, Dad–I need to step out for a bit.”

“At least finish breakfast-” Helen hadn’t even finished speaking before he was gone.

Sloane watched him leave, the corner of her lips curling into a knowing smirk.

Boone rushed to the meeting point where his manager was already waiting. The moment he arrived, his pent–up frustration exploded.

“You told me everything was taken care of! What the hell was that leak last night?”

The manager looked just as anxious. He rushed to reassure him. “Boone, I swear everything’s under control. The fall guy already took the blame and got sentenced. He insists he was the one behind the wheel. There were no witnesses–besides, the other driver died on the spot. I’m telling you, that leak has nothing to do with you.”

Boone frowned, pacing in agitation, anxiety gnawing at his gut.

Seeing his concern, the manager doubled down on his pitch. “People are only dragging your name into it because your surname starts with an R. That’s it. I already hired a PR team to drown it out. They confirmed you were out of the country at the time. You’re in the clear.”

Boone stared at him, voice low. “You’re absolutely sure there’s no loose ends?”

The manager patted his chest confidently. “Positive. Trust me, it’ll blow over. There are plenty of other R–named celebrities. The public’s just guessing in the dark.”

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