Turning Of the Tide by Diana Sander

Chapter 147

The early morning sunlight painted a picturesque scene, casting a warm golden hue over the bustling

city of Athana Hackett, long absent from the public eye, once again became the talk of the town,

dominating the trending topics and capturing the collective attention with hashtags, “Mr. Blackwell’s

secret daughter,” “Captivating moments of Mr. Blackwell bonding with his daughter at the amusement

park” and “Unveiling the mystery of who holds the key to Mr. Blackwell’s heart?”

The news sent shockwaves through the online community, igniting a frenzy of discussion and intrigue.

Comment sections. overflowed with many responses, surpassing tens of thousands in mere moments.

The viral sensation spread like wildfire, with comment after comment pouring in, creating a captivating

whirlwind of opinions, speculations, and anticipation.

Gossip, the kind that spread like wildfire, was when the whole world mistakenly believed something to

be the ultimate truth.

This sensational trending topic weighed heavily on the hearts of countless girls in Athana, each

harboring different motives. Some longed to climb the social ladder, others were secretly fascinated,

and many were simply in awe. The allure stemmed from Hackett’s undeniable charm, a trait that

radiated through Ruby’s enchanting beauty, a testament to their exceptional genes.

Among the countless comments, one read, “This little girl is undeniably beautiful. I can only imagine her

mother must also be a stunning woman.”

Yet, a tinge of jealousy crept in with another comment, “Obviously, only someone attractive could

capture Mr. Blackwell’s attention. Looks are all that matter to him.”

“Let’s not jump to conclusions so hastily. She may be a wealthy heiress or come from a distinguished

background. We should refrain from making sweeping assumptions.”

“Do you believe that? If she were from a prestigious family, Mr. Blackwell would have proudly

announced it. Keeping her hidden implies she lacks the status to be publicly acknowledged, just an

ordinary person yearning for recognition.”

This statement garnered numerous likes from commenters who shared the same sentiment. After all,

the Blackwell family held prominent status in Athana, and if it were a union between affluent families,

there would be no need for such secrecy. This action only fueled suspicions about the woman’s

background, suggesting she might not meet societal expectations. Clad in sterile attire, Natalie

emerged from the operating theater and made her way to the handwashing station. Nearby, a group of

doctors engaged in lively conversation.

“Have you all heard the news? Mr. Blackwell has a secret daughter who is adorable. It shows that one’s

appearance plays a significant role when choosing a husband. After all, we must ensure a worthy

legacy for the next generation.”

“I witnessed it as well! Mr. Blackwell’s patience and devotion to his daughter are truly heartwarming.

The sight of them together creates a poignant scene that resonates deeply. The little girl’s infectious

laughter has a way of touching one’s soul. I can’t help but feel a twinge of envy for whoever is blessed

with such happiness. Not only is his daughter beautiful and endearing, but Mr. Blackwell exudes an

irresistible charm.”

“Well, we can only marvel and be envious. Men like him, who possess both looks and wealth, are rare

and seem unattainable to us mere mortals.”

Initially, Natalie diligently washed her hands, paying little attention to the buzz surrounding the trending

topics. She had never been one to meddle in others‘ personal lives, knowing well that such trends often

held little truth. Only the individuals involved truly knew the reality of their circumstances.

However, upon catching snippets of sensitive keywords like “Mr. Blackwell” and “daughter,” she couldn’t

resist a tinge of curiosity and an inkling of apprehension.

She reached for a tissue, gently dried her hands, and casually initiated a conversation, “Which Mr.

Blackwell are you referring to in these trending topics?”

The doctors engaged in gossip regarded Natalie with an almost incredulous gaze as if questioning her

awareness of the world. Yet, they kindly explained, “Dr. Foster, are you unfamiliar with Hackett, the

esteemed Mr. Blackwell of Athana? He’s the fantasy of many young ladies.”

Natalie’s immediate thought went to Sherri….

The female doctor continued her chatter, “Although Mr. Wilson and Mr. Roberts are quite dashing in

their own right, they exude an air of aloofness, making it hard to connect with them. In contrast, Mr.

Blackwell carries a warm presence and appears much more approachable”

Natalie didn’t feel like continuing the conversation with her colleagues. She discarded her gown into the

recycling bin and hurriedly returned to her office in the inpatient department.

Before reaching her office, she took out her phone and opened the trending topics website. She was

immediately greeted with multiple photos capturing the interaction between Ruby and Hackett. The

photographer skillfully framed their faces together, showcasing their identical smiles and features. Even

at a glance, Natalie could quickly tell that Ruby was Hackett’s daughter, and she was sure others would

recognize it too.

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Countless suspicions raced through her mind. Why would Hackett spend time with Ruby? Could he

have discovered the truth?

Her suspicions grew stronger with each passing moment. Hackett wasn’t the type to casually spend a

whole day playing with an unrelated little girl. There had to be a reason for his actions.

Lost in her thoughts, her pondering was abruptly interrupted by her phone buzzing. Without a second

thought, she answered the call, knowing it was Sherri on the other end. “Hello, have you seen the

trending topics?”

Sherri was seething with anger on the other end of the line. “Do you think he deliberately exposed

Ruby as his daughter just to mess with me? Is he out of his mind, putting Ruby in the public eye on the

internet?”

Natalie shared a different sentiment. Protecting their children should always be a priority regardless of

how adults behave. The online world was filled with irrational fans, and it was better to err on caution.

Natalie suggested, “Why don’t you call Juana first and ask why Ruby was with Hackett? It’s possible

that the situation isn’t what we initially thought.”

Sherri realized her anger had clouded her judgment and agreed, “You’re right. I’ll make the call now.”

After ending the call, Sherri immediately dialed Juana’s number. “Mom, did you take Ruby to meet Joy

yesterday?” Sherri spoke politely, attempting to be more composed after their previous disagreement.

Juana’s voice was filled with excitement on the other end, saying, “Yes, Joy adores little Ruby. We went

shopping together yesterday. Let me tell you, Hackett is incredible with kids. While we were out, he

cared for Ruby alone, and they had a wonderful time.”

Sherri pressed her temples, feeling the pounding headache intensify. Could things get any worse? The

entire online world praised that man, and Juana irresponsibly thrust Ruby into the spotlight. She

berated herself for not leaving Ruby with Natalie the first time Juana introduced her to Joy.

It was a hasty decision.

Without a doubt, Hackett knew the truth. Why else would he willingly involve himself in caring for Ruby?

It was evident that he was aware of their connection.

Sherri let out a weary sigh, her voice tinged with frustration. “Alright. Mom, I have to go. I still have work

to do.”

Juana was left bewildered by the abrupt end of the call, shaking her head at her phone’s blank screen.

Sherri’s constant distractions and restless demeanor perplexed her.

After hanging up, Sherri didn’t reach out to Natalie. Instead, fueled by anger, she removed Hackett from

her neglected. blocklist. She dialed his number with fiery determination, hoping for a response. But the

phone continued to ring unanswered, intensifying her frustration to the point where she contemplated

hurling her phone across the room.

At that moment, Sherri had only one thought in her mind. Just pick up, damn it!

Despite making multiple attempts, each call went unanswered. Evidently, he was sound asleep, leading

Sherri to retrieve her blocked contacts on WhatsApp and launch a barrage of voice messages, one

after another.

Meanwhile, Hackett lay undisturbed in a deep slumber, oblivious to the constant ringing of his phone.

Eventually, the persistent stream of voice messages roused him from his sleep. Annoyed and

disoriented, he fumbled for his phone under his pillow and checked the caller ID. He couldn’t believe

his eyes. Wasn’t this the woman who had recently blocked him?

Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, he answered the call in a casual yet groggy tone, his voice

carrying a trace of sleepiness. “Are you calling to express gratitude for the flowers I sent you this

morning?”

Sherri’s gaze fell upon the fresh bouquet in the corner, fueling her anger. She marched over and

delivered two swift kicks to the flowers, her frustration boiling. “Hackett, you better remove that trending

topic immediately!”

Hackett, caught off guard by her outburst, responded with confusion, “What trending topic are you

referring to?”

Sherri was convinced he was feigning ignorance, deliberately provoking her to seek his attention.

“Don’t play dumb with me! You know exactly what I’m referring to! Did you have to exploit Ruby in the

public eye? Our matters should be dealt with privately, without involving an innocent child.”

Hackett awakened early in the morning and, now facing her wrath, felt a surge of bewilderment and

frustration. His thoughts became muddled as he retaliated, “Sherri, I haven’t even had the chance to

settle the score with you. How dare you take Ruby and flee to another country? How am I supposed to

resolve this matter?”

Sherri was taken aback, realizing that Hackett indeed knew the truth Without a doubt, he was

responsible for this whole situation. “Hackett, you’re completely out of your mind! That is my daughter,

not yours!”

Hackett fired back, his tone filled with anger. “Without my contribution, you couldn’t have created such

a remarkable child. What are you even thinking?”

Sherri, overwhelmed with anger, abruptly ended the call. Tears welled up in her eyes, streaming down

her cheeks. She felt a sense of panic, unsure of what to do next. Would Hackett fight for custody of

their child? Should she prepare for a legal battle?

Chapter 147

She hadn’t even had the chance to inform Juana, and now it seemed like everything was exposed.

Hackett, on the other hand, began to regret his impulsive response He had planned to approach the

situation calmly and gradually lead her to acknowledge the truth But in a moment of weakness, he had

lost control Little did he expect that

sherri would readily admit to their

She mentioned trending topics, prompting his curiosity to open the website Surprisingly, he discovered

numerous videos capturing the joyous moments he shared with Ruby, showcasing Ruby’s face to the

world.

The surge of anger within him reached its peak, clouding his thoughts

Meanwhile, at the Wilson Group, Jim, stationed in the bustling ser retary department, stumbled upon a

bombshell as soon as he arrived in the morning Lately, he had been feeling his inner composure

slipping away Just when Mr. Wilson had instructed him to prepare women’s attire, news broke out that

Mr. Blackwell’s secret daughter had exploded into the public sphere. And the twist of fater The little girl

turned out to be none other than Mrs. Wilson’s daughter.

How was he to approach Mr. Wilson about this delicate matter? Standing at the entrance, Jim

hesitated, struggling to find the right words

After much deliberation, he mustered the courage to open the door and enter. Mr. Wilson, as always,

donned his impeccably tailored black suit, his strong hands clutching a sleek black pen as he swiftly

signed a stack of documents. His face remained stoic, concealing any hint of emotion Jim, steeling

himself, finally said, “Mr. Wilson, there’s breaking news thus morning regarding Mrs. Wilson’s daughter

A revelation that she is, in fact, the illegitimate child of Mr Blackwell.”

Trevor’s grip tightened around the pen, freezing mid–air, while a glint of icy fury flickered in his eyes.

“What are you insinuating? Are you telling me that her daughter is Hackett’s? The implications sank

deep, suggesting an intimate

tion between Natalie and Hackett.

Jum pressed on. “Yesterday, Mr. Blackwell was photographed with Mrs Wilson’s daughter at the

amusement park. The photos have made quite a splash on trending topics today. Would you like to

take a look? He observed Trevon’s face intently, awaiting his reaction

Trevon, still perplexed, keyed in the website address and hesitantly clicked the mouse button Instantly,

images of Hackett and Ruby Blooded the reen Ruby’s beaming smile radiated joy, and Hackett

appeared equally delighted Trevon scrutinized the photos, and after a lingering moment, a smile broke

across his face Jim felt a shiver run down his spine, but he dared of question Mr Wilson about the ons

behind his amusement.

“I’ll head home on my own tonight, Jim You don’t need to drive me Trevon stated abruptly as he shut

down the computer.

Jim nodded, a sense of bewilderment washing over lum The recent actions of Mr Wilson had been

nothing short of peculiar, leaving Sum puzzled and curious about the underlying circumstances.