[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-2603220ECDF1-605":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},605,47,"Chapter 47: \"Same Here, I Miss You Too.\"","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A few days later, Violette Ellis and Roman Griffin finished their follow-up medical exams.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A week after that, the reports arrived on their respective phones.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Violette went through her annual company physical, which only included a few additional tests this time. She skimmed through the results, her eyes darting past lines of \"within normal limits\" and \"no abnormalities detected.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Roman’s report, however, was significantly more colorful.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He didn’t seem to have a shred of privacy regarding these things. Whatever arrived on his phone, he simply forwarded to her without a second thought.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Thirteen percent body fat, high-vitality sperm counts, and even high-definition, magnified images attached as proof.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Violette studied the details for a moment, then snapped her phone shut the second she heard footsteps approaching.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"What are you looking at?\" A voice drifted over her shoulder.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Violette sat up straight, deadpan. \"Drafts for work.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Reading drafts during lunch? Are you trying to burn me out?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I am. If you can make me work through my lunch, why can't I do the same to you? Ms. Stone.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marilyn Stone set her tray down at the table across from her. There was one empty seat between them, making it look like a happenstance meeting.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marilyn chewed on a piece of lettuce, lowering her voice. \"Check your Twitter feed yet?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Whenever she brought that up, it was almost always about the online hate.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Violette shook her head. \"No.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"You’ve got nerves of steel.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marilyn chewed for a moment before looking up. \"I saw a dozen engagement-farming accounts posting apologies this morning. It was so synchronized, it felt like they’d coordinated it.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Violette immediately thought of the lawsuit Blake Pierce had mentioned to her. She asked, \"What did they say?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marilyn didn't bother showing her the screen this time, simply summarizing the gist. \"They claimed everything they posted previously was baseless speculation, offered their 'sincere' apologies for the distress caused to Ms. Ellis, and promised to do better.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She scoffed, adding, \"The copy-paste job was sloppy. You can tell they were just slapping together whatever sounded official.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Hmm.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Still, it's a start,\" Marilyn said. \"I guess Blake Pierce actually did something useful for once.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Just as Marilyn predicted, it was only the beginning.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Over the next few days, every account that had once fanned the flames of the rumors crawled out of the woodwork to issue an apology. Their shift in tone rippled through the fandom; the major influencers who used to lead the daily pile-ons suddenly went silent.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"What’s going on lately?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Apparently, they all got hit with a class-action lawsuit. I know an owner of a sports-commentary page who supposedly got a legal notice. Because his post about 'Ms. E' had thousands of shares, he’s in deep trouble.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"What? Seriously? They can't sue everyone, can they?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"They don't have to sue everyone—they just have to cut off the head of the snake. Either way, I’ve already deleted my old tweets. I’ve been using a burner account lately to keep a low profile.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Are you serious?! It’s not like it was a lie that she affected his performance. There were reports about how she messed up his training back when they were dating. Why are we scared? Since when are we not allowed to speak the truth? If I were her, I’d just shut up now that I’m married and stop trying to ruin my husband's reputation!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Still talking tough in the replies, are you? Check how many people liked your post. Can't you feel the legal notice flying toward your head already?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Hilarious. The like counts keep climbing. The internet never disappoints—there’s nothing people love more than a public train wreck.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The fan base split into two distinct camps: the \"keep your head down\" crowd and the \"doubling down on the rebellion\" crowd.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">That night, Violette opened Twitter to find exactly that. She had deleted her account, so she could only see the top posts on the main feed, but at least the blatant, name-calling vitriol had died down significantly.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She scrolled for a while, feeling strangely detached.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">As she stood up to pour herself a glass of water, she was struck by a thought. The same comments that used to make her blood boil now felt like nothing more than distant noise.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Is being with a person who has such unshakable emotional stability really this effective?\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She hesitated, then tapped on Roman’s chat box.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Roman was on a business trip. Their communication over the last few days had been limited to simple \"Good morning\" and \"Good night\" texts.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Violette typed: *Busy?*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A few minutes later, Roman replied: *Not anymore.*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Violette: *What are you doing?*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Roman: *Touring a manufacturing plant.*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Violette: *Working this late? Is it hot there?*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Roman: *It’s alright. The humidity is higher than in Deepwater, and the mosquitoes are relentless this time of year.*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Violette sent back a simple \"Mhm.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Roman stared at the single character. He could almost hear her voice, quiet and compliant, and he felt a sudden, sharp heat rising in his chest.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Roman: *Did you have something you wanted to tell me?*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Violette: *No.*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Across the digital divide, they couldn't see each other's faces or interpret the tone. Violette suddenly felt that \"No\" sounded a bit too cold, so she added:\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Violette: *I miss you a little.*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Thousands of miles away, in a humid factory district in Southeast Asia, the entourage surrounding the boss suddenly noticed him stop in his tracks, eyes narrowed at his phone.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The screen was lit, but the chat window was obscured, and no one dared to cast a lingering glance.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"If you have other urgent matters to attend to—\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"No.\" Roman slipped his phone into his pocket and glanced at his secretary. \"What’s the schedule for tomorrow?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"We have the groundbreaking ceremony for the new facility. In the afternoon, the local officials want to discuss the development plans we touched on last time.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Go on.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"The day after, we fly direct to Singapore for the Global Business Forum. There’s an interview after the event, but you’re free after 4:00 PM. The following day, we head to Luxembourg to sign the digital technology framework agreement. There’s a dinner hosted by the local authorities once the signing is complete. We have a few scattered appointments after that, and we should be cleared to head back by Thursday around noon.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Every item on the schedule had been vetted and confirmed. Changing it now would throw off everyone involved in the chain.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Roman rubbed his temples, his grip tightening. \"Understood.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A few steps later, he pulled out his phone again.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Roman: *Heading back next Thursday.*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Roman: *Same here. I miss you too.*\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272918667]