Chapter 195
After finishing her study prep, Mira got ready for bed. She casually checked her phone one last time and saw that the news her PR team released had already blown up, with thousands of comments flooding the threads.
At the very bottom of the post, there was a repeated disclaimer reminding the public to report any deliberate vandalism or theft of the rental bikes.
If the report was verified, the bike-sharing company promised a two-hundred-dollar reward per bike.
A string of anonymous tip-line numbers followed the announcement.
With a bounty like that, no one would ever dare mess with the bikes again.
This was exactly the outcome Mira had been hoping for. In this life, it was Mara’s
turn to be an absolute pariah. Thoroughly satisfied, Mira went to sleep.
The second her head hit the pillow, her phone rang.
“Mira, Mara is making headlines again p>
It was Liora calling.
“I know, Liora. Get some sleep p>
“I don’t go to bed until ten. Sorry to bother you so late p>
But the moment she hung up, Natalie called.
“Mira, did you see the news online p>
“Hahaha! Mara messed up big time! She actually hired thugs to smash those rental bikes p>
“Seriously, what did she even think she was going to get out of that? She’s honestly more of a psycho than I am p>
At least you have some self-awareness, Mira thought to herself.
“Oh, wait, isn’t that the company you’re the spokesperson for p>
“Well, she got hauled off to the police station. Go check online, there’s even a video! She looks like a total wreck p>
Even though her face was blurred out in the video, Mara was infamous enough that everyone instantly recognized her.
Natalie kept rambling before Mira could get a word in.
“I heard the company refused to drop the charges. Haha, it serves her right! I’m giving them a standing ovation p>
“Honestly, if I could, I’d pay them a fortune just to guarantee they don’t issue a settlement agreement p>
“Just show your support by riding the green bikes from now on p>
“Obviously, I will p>
“Yeah, yeah, I saw it, I know all about it p>
Mira humored her for a few more minutes before finally getting her off the phone. Once she hung up, she simply powered the device off.
She stuck to a ruthlessly strict sleep schedule, and after a long day, she could barely keep her eyes open.
Back at the Mercer residence.
Adrian and Norman had just returned.
No matter how much money they threw at the problem, the victimized company absolutely refused to issue a settlement agreement. In all their years of fixing messes, this was a first.
They had no choice but to figure out a different strategy for damage control.
“It’s just a few smashed bicycles!
They won’t even accept a payout ten
or a hundred times the value they
are deliberately targeting the Mercer family p>
“Ugh, the next five weeks… How is my poor Mara going to survive in there p>
Lacey sobbed angrily, wiping away her tears.
“Norman, look into this immediately. I’m starting to suspect that bike company has been bought off by the Porter family p>
Otherwise, it made zero sense to reject a massive payout just to force Mara into a jail cell.
Porter Entertainment was actively gunning for the Mercer family, and Ethan had already discovered their involvement in the recent jewelry scandal.
“Understood. I’ll look into it p>
Internally, Norman rolled his eyes. Your imagination is running wild, ma’am What does this have to do with Porter Entertainment? They’re the ones trying to fish their pawn out of jail right now.
“However, based on my analysis, it seems far more likely to be connected to Ms. Mira p>
“Earlier today, at the police station, Mr. Mercer and I saw her with… with p>
Norman glanced nervously at Ethan, hesitating to finish his sentence.
“With who? Stop stuttering and spit it out p>
Lacey snapped impatiently.
“She was with Mr. Lance from the bike-sharing company p>
“That’s absolute nonsense. What does this have to do with Mira p>
“She’s the spokesperson for the green bikes. Of course she knows Mr. Lance. But
that doesn’t mean she has anything to do with this whole mess p>