chapter 2
In less than ten minutes, Layla posted a new video.
She shared screenshots of Violet's post and all the employees' comments.
She was crying so hard in the video that she could barely breathe, trembling all over. "I'm so scared. They're all bullying me!"
"Ms. Cooper controls the entire company. All the female employees have been brainwashed by her."
"They're all forced to defend her!"
"This company is terrifying. They're ganging up to bully me!"
"Group bullying" instantly topped the trending search list.
A wave of online harassment against all our employees began.
Violet's home address was posted online. Her child's photo was maliciously edited into a memorial picture and spread wildly across major social platforms.
Every call Lily received was filled with insults and death threats.
All the employees who supported me were cyberbullied.
Their accounts were flooded with abusive messages.
Netizens called them "accomplices" and "brainwashed idiots!" and even cursed them and their families.
The day Violet came to me, her eyes were swollen, her expression dazed, and she could barely stand.
She deleted that post in front of me, crying.
She said, "Julia, I'm sorry.
"My child is only three... These netizens are so vicious!
"My husband wants to divorce me because of this..."
She handed in her resignation letter.
Next was Lily.
Then it was the employees from the tech and marketing departments who supported me online.
The constant harassment and threats broke them mentally, leading them to resign one after another.
But Layla became a hero for "standing up against workplace bullying."
My company was labeled as "manipulative and bullying towards subordinates."
A week later, all the employees resigned, leaving only me.
I sat alone in the completely empty office.
The computer screen showed an interview video of Layla and her fianc Martin Nielsen.
Martin wrapped his arm around her shoulder, promising to protect her for a lifetime on camera.
Meanwhile, my phone was filled with thousands of vicious messages cursing me and my family.
My ID number, home address, and personal phone number were all exposed.
Someone kept splashing paint at my doorstep.
On my door, someone had written in thick black marker: "Vicious old woman, go die!"
The property management cleaned it three times a day, but it still couldn't be cleared completely.
My mom called me.
As soon as the call connected, she yelled, "Julia! Are you crazy?"
"Look at how people online are cursing you!"
"Do you still want to save your company's reputation? Go apologize to that girl right now!"
My dad shouted from the side, "Just because no one wants to marry you, you've gone crazy!"
"You're jealous that the girl could get married so quickly, aren't you?"
"You've completely embarrassed your mom and me!"
I listened in silence and hung up the phone.
The phone had just gone quiet for two seconds when Layla's livestream started again.
She livestreamed the entire wedding preparation processtrying on dresses, choosing a diamond ring, decorating the wedding room.
But every time she livestreamed, she would "accidentally" mention me.
She said, "Im really grateful to my former boss. It was her oppression that made me see who truly loves me."
"Why must women make things hard for each other? I hope she can figure things out someday."
Netizens all praised her for being kind.
Alex convened an emergency board meeting.
After the meeting, he called to inform me, "Julia, you now have two choices.
"First, hold a press conference immediately, publicly apologize to Layla, approve her leave, and compensate for emotional distress.
"Second, all shareholders will join forces to dilute your shares and force you out.
"Your choice."
I calmly replied, "I refuse to apologize."
There was silence on the other end for a few seconds, followed by an angry roar. "You're insane!"
He slammed down the phone.
The next day, the industry completely blacklisted me.
All business forums removed my name.
I went from "Female Entrepreneur of the Year" to "Industry Disgrace."
No one dared to mention my name again.
And Layla posted her wedding e-invitation on Instagram.
She didn't block me.
She even specifically invited a few former colleagues who had left, including Violet and Lily.
She did it on purpose to make me see.
In the evening, my best friend also came to persuade me to apologize.
She looked at my door and said worriedly, "Julia, you can't fight public opinion."
"For a newcomer, ruining your ten years of hard work isn't worth it!"
"Just apologize to that girl, and this will be over!"
"Why are you so stubborn?"
I didn't explain.
I just stared at the door covered in insults, feeling nothing inside.
Then, I opened my phone's notes and quietly jotted down Layla's wedding date and the hotel location from the invitation.