The wedding anniversary of Andrea Singers became the hottest topic both online and offline, with discussions happening all over Vegas City. Speculation ran rampant in numerous households, with over a million people eager to uncover the truth: who did Andrea Singers marry a year ago?
Despite the intense public interest, no journalist had stepped forward to satisfy the curiosity of those intrigued. The attention surrounding the wedding anniversary surpassed that of many globally recognized festivals, making it a major talking point across various platforms and communities.
Today should have been jubilant in the Singer Mansion, yet the mood was somber, as if a tempest lurked on the horizon.
Andrea's tension was palpable; her brows furrowed, lips pursed, she stared out the window. Lost in thought, she barely registered the gentle thumb easing the tension between her eyebrows until she looked up into Lucas Anderson's reassuring smile.
His smile coaxed a breath of relief from her, and her body relaxed slightly. "I'm very nervous, Lucas. I'm not sure this is a good idea," she confessed.
Lucas chuckled, his voice light. "Thinking of backing out? If you are, you'll have my support."
She shook her head, determination returning to her voice. "It's not about backing out. It's just... I'm afraid things won't unfold as we've planned."
Before Lucas could respond, the bedroom door flew open. Tony stormed in, his eyes darting from Lucas with a glare to Andrea with anxiety written all over his face. "Andrea, you need to call off this anniversary now," he urged with palpable worry.
Ignoring Lucas, Andrea's resolve hardened. "I have no intention of doing that," she stated firmly.
Tony tugged at his hair in frustration, his voice rising in desperation. "Andrea, this wedding anniversary is a death wish. Have you even looked at your social media? 'Justice for Valentine Anderson' is blowing up on every platform imaginable. Some foolish people might get swayed and do something dangerous. Andrea, your life..."
Andrea cut him off, her impatience surfacing. "Tony, if you're here to persuade me to cancel, save your breath. The anniversary will proceed as we planned."
Defeated, Tony slumped into a chair, exhaling heavily. "If you insist on going ahead, then at least consider changing the location," he advised with a heavy sigh.
Surprised, Andrea's brows arched. She had chosen the most secure, top-rated hotel in Vegas City.
"Why would I do that?" she asked, skeptical.
Tony didn't reply but instead turned on the bedroom television.
The TV flickered to life, showing the chaos outside the Vegas City Presidential Hotel. A massive throng was attempting to break through the security barricades. The situation was dire; without the riot police, the hotel might have succumbed to arson or looting.
Shock registered on Andrea's face as she realized she had underestimated the power of social media and Valentine Anderson's vendetta against her anniversary.
Rubbing her forehead, she let out a wry chuckle. "Issue an order. Today, the Presidential Hotel will serve complimentary meals courtesy of the Singer Group. Inform our guests of the change; the anniversary will now take place at the Singer Mansion. Make sure our security is impenetrable."
Relieved by her decision, Tony stood up, ready to carry out her instructions. "Alright, I'll take care of it immediately." He shot one last glare at Lucas before exiting the room.
After Tony had departed, Lucas Anderson turned to Andrea with a grave look on his face. "Andrea, I don't think the mansion will be any safer," he said, his voice laced with concern. He could see the strain Andrea was under; the weight of the situation was suffocating her.
Had it been up to him, he would have taken matters into his own hands, quashing the rumors and slander with a flurry of retaliatory posts across social media platforms. But Andrea had not given her consent, and he would not act without her approval.
Andrea, massaging her temples with fingers that betrayed her inner turmoil, responded with a weary voice, "I know. That's why I've decided not to bring Pete into the banquet hall. He'll stay in the house instead."
After explaining her plan, Andrea turned to Lucas, her eyes reflecting a silent plea for assistance. "I'll leave it to you to explain things to him," she said.
Lucas nodded in agreement, eager to alleviate some of the pressure she was enduring.
With a grateful smile that momentarily brightened her features, Andrea left the bedroom.
As she was about to dial a number on her phone, Housekeeper Win approached her. "Ma'am Andrea, your mother-in-law and sister-in-law have arrived," she announced.
With a slight furrow of her brows, indicative of the unexpected interruption, Andrea pocketed her phone and descended the staircase to greet Mrs. Anderson and Benita.
"Mom, Benny, you're early. The wedding anniversary isn't for another hour," Andrea remarked as she approached them.
Mrs. Anderson's expression was one of indignation, her features hardened by the spiteful online comments that had unjustly targeted Andrea. "Andrea, I'm so worried for you," she confessed, her voice thick with concern. "The whole of Vegas City seems to be against you. It's frightening."
With a smile that belied the gravity of the situation, Andrea reassured her, "Mom, there's no need to be upset over those keyboard warriors. Once the truth is revealed today, they'll scatter and think twice before speaking about this matter again."
Mrs. Anderson's anxiety eased upon seeing Andrea's composure and confidence. She felt a surge of pride for having a daughter-in-law who could maintain such calm in the face of adversity.
Meanwhile, Benita remained silent.
The Singers Group dropped two bombshells simultaneously: one was the offer of complimentary meals to all patrons of the Vegas City Presidential Hotel, and the other was a change in venue.
The campaign for "Justice for Valentine Anderson" was swiftly eclipsed in the top search trends by the buzz surrounding the free-food promotion, as droves of people verified firsthand the reality of dining without the obligation to pay at the Presidential Hotel.
As the public's focus shifted to the tantalizing free food, the issue of the venue change slipped into obscurity, alleviating the pressure on Andrea.
Valentine Anderson, witnessing how Andrea's strategy had effectively derailed the trending topic about him, felt a surge of anger, evidenced by the throbbing vein on his forehead.
In the midst of his fury, Margaret Willow leaned in flirtatiously and whispered soothingly, "Darling, there's no need for you to be upset about individuals who, by the end of the day, will be in a state of despair and madness, frantically searching for their dead son."