The scene between Laura and Lilah captured the attention of nearby onlookers.

"Who is the woman in a white dress?" someone in the crowd whispered.

"I recognize her. That's Laura Rhodes," another remarked.

“Laura Rhodes? From that wealthy family? Why is she pleading with our cEO?"

The bystanders began piecing together the story. "It must be about the incident at the private club. Didn't you hear? A staff member in their haunted house was accused of harassing women. Now, nobody wants to go there."

"I've never been to such a place. It's out of my league," another chimed in.

The conversation shifted. "So, is Laura suggesting our CEO is behind the rumors?"

“Makes you wonder, doesn't it? Nothing bad happened to Lilah herself, but now she wants the club to shut down. That seems rather heartless."

"I believe Laura is sincere and kind," someone in the crowd commented.

Lilah's expression grew colder as she faced Laura. "I'll say this one more time, Laura. You should speak to Gerard. This isn't my concern."

"But he made that decision because of you. Lilah, please, consider speaking up for the club's manager. I know you're compassionate. You wouldn't want to see the club fail, would you?" Laura implored.

Without a word, Lilah took out her phone and made a call.

"Hello, babe? Missing me already?" Gerard's familiar, deep voice answered.

Laura was taken aback by the tenderness in his tone, a side of Gerard she hadn't experienced.

“Laura's here. She's asking you to reconsider your stance on the club,”

Lilah said, going straight to the point.

After a brief silence, Gerard's voice turned colder. “Laura, we all know who was behind the incident. You should've come to me. I'm the one who took action. Why involve Lilah?"

Laura's face drained of color, her hands trembling. Gerard knew all along?

“Gerard, I didn't-" Laura started, but Lilah ended the call, casting a final, icy glance at Laura before walking away.

The onlookers were left puzzled by the swift change in Laura's demeanor. What did the person on the other end of Lilah's line say that made Laura react like that?

One bystander, Phoebe, spoke up. “If you have so much time to gossip about this drama, you'd be better off focusing on your work. It's odd, isn't it, that someone would go out of their way to save a failing club unless they were involved in the scandal in the first place?"

Her words struck a chord, and the crowd nodded in agreement. Phoebe had a point.

The sudden shift in Laura's demeanor didn't go unnoticed. Moments ago, some had seen her as kind-hearted, but now, they viewed her actions in a different light, suspecting manipulative intentions.

One by one, the onlookers dispersed, their gazes toward Laura now laced with skepticism.