The room finally fell silent in the wake of Liam's statement. Eyes darted from Liam to Vanessa, then back again, trying to gauge the truth of the situation.
Vanessa's face grew steadily paler, the color draining as if someone had pulled a plug, leaving her hollow and ghostly.
Her composure, previously strong and steady, now trembled on the edge of collapse. The room felt thick with tension, the air buzzing with the anticipation of a crowd hungry for more.
The same reporter, seizing the opportunity, jumped in with another question. "Mr. Bennett, how are you so sure it was Vanessa Bennett who spread the false rumor? Do you have any evidence to support your statement?"
Liam nodded with calm assurance. "More than just evidence," he replied, "I have witnesses who can confirm that the gossip is false as well as identify the source of it in the first place."