THE VILLAIN'S WIFE

181-185

Chapter 181: Our Promise to The World

Tang Lingyun stared at Qin Mo. Gradually, fear started to register in her eyes. She made a mistake! She was so excited that she forgot that Qin Mo did not know about those images. The worst part was... she did not even notice what she'd done until now.

"Lingyun... answer me." Qin Mo gritted his teeth, his hand itching to slap the woman who was still acting innocent beside him. All those things that Qin Jinghua went through... was it because of Tang Lingyun? Unknowingly, Qin Mo's views towards Lily started to change.

Tang Lingyun continued to maintain her silence. Her eyes were already red from the tears that were threatening to flow down her cheeks. Before she could answer, however, Lily's voice echoed once again.

"Ah... how refreshing," Lily said, calling everyone's attention back to her. "Seeing those images made me reminisce about the things that made me who I am today." Her gaze then roamed around the crowd before it landed on the Qin and Xuan Family's table. This time, Lily gave them a meaningful smile.

"I grew up weak," Lily stated in her usual business casual tone. "I was an outcast in my own home, bullied in my own school. I tried to commit suicide not once, not twice, but six times - or at least that's how many scars I had on my arms." She let out a laugh, instantly easing the atmosphere despite the heavy topic that she was discussing. "Seven years ago I did something that made my own family kick me out of their house. It made my friends abandon me and my late mother, but that experience molded me into something that was feared by many businessmen out there. Seven years ago, I was nothing. Seven years later, here I am in front of you. Having achieved all of this in just seven years is something that I am not ashamed of."

Lily slowly took the microphone from the mic stand and took a few steps forward as she gazed down on everyone else. "As someone who has been a victim of internet shaming, the Facci Group and I have been working with several feminist groups that advocate equality and female empowerment. We believe that a single mistake or your past circumstances should not be enough to define you as a person. Because of this, I want to introduce two new charities that we will support. Both of them are for women and children who were abused."

"We will also collaborate with Zhuo Capital in helping people with depression and other mental illnesses. Starting today, the Facci Group's presence in Hong Kong will only increase. Today marks the day that the Facci Group will venture into the Far East. After decades of years in Europe, we finally decided to expand our operations to another three countries and added another three subsidiaries to the Facci Group empire. On top of that, the Facci Group's new head office will now be located in Hong Kong."

"Our goal has always been about becoming global. A single setback won't stop us and neither will a photo that was taken seven years ago with the purpose of shaming someone. The Facci Group and I will continue to innovate and grow, and that is our promise to the world."

Silence followed her statement before someone from the front of the audience began clapping their hands. Soon everyone followed. Applause echoed throughout as people began to nod their heads in approval. It was obvious that someone plotted to reveal those photos, however, Lily didn't show any signs of panic. She just stood there and watched with a smile on her face.

It was as if this was all a part of her plan so that she could promote her company and get everyone's sympathy at the same time. True enough, Lily didn't ask them not to pity her. She also didn't ask them not to judge her. Instead, she told them that she would support people like herself, people who had been shamed. It was as if she used those images as a stepping stone to make her company sound more righteous!

With the same smile on her face, Lily walked towards the center of the stage where there stood a waist high pillar with a red button located on its top. She looked at everyone and waited for the applause to die down. Then, once again, the lights dimmed.