Chapter 51: He Takes The Blame
"You can also confirm with Isaac regarding this." Joshua's eyes fell on the last photo.
His eyes went dark, "In this photo, Hazel was out with schoolmates. This is her tutor's car."
Joshua looked at the reporters and, with a serious tone, quickly replied, "Hazel is a very good, simple, and traditional girl. She would not participate in any sexual activity for money.”
In Denmark Residence, Hazel got an unexpected message on her phone. She got the news from her roommate that Joshua was hosting a live press conference.
Hazel opened the live channel app. She did not expect that Joshua would clarify the situation for her first. She looked at Joshua on her cell phone. He was so handsome and courteous.
The reporters were stunned. Obviously, the explanation that Joshua provided was not very convincing.
The reporters asked questions one after another.
"Master Denmark, how do you know about Hazel so clearly?"
"Master Denmark, why do you want to help Hazel to clarify the rumors? What is your relationship?"
"There is a shady deal in the surrogacy competition. Don't you want to pursue it?"
Looking at the angry reporters, Joshua said plainly, "There indeed is a shady deal in the surrogacy competition."
The whole venue was quiet instantly.
Hazel was watching nervously. How would Joshua explain this? Would he...really let her go?
"I want to apologize to everyone because the person who made this shady deal is me," Joshua said.
"What?!" Everyone looked at each other. They looked at Joshua unbelievably. He actually fabricated the shady deal?
On the screen behind Joshua, it was now the photo of Hazel wearing only a suit in the preliminary selection.
But this photo of Hazel had also been blurred on the key part as the other photos.
"This is a photo of Hazel in the preliminary selection. There's something wrong with her dress. When I was at the scene, I... fell in love with her at first sight. So, I gave her my coat and took her out of the studio." Joshua twitched his lips; his fingers gently kneaded his suit jacket.
The cameras had zoomed in on the jacket Hazel was wearing in the picture. Suddenly, they turned to Joshua, only to discover that he wore the same jacket to the press conference.
Joshua continued to explain, "I thought I had found my other half, so I immediately shut down the surrogacy competition, and I did not give any explanation. This indeed was negligent on my part..."
"Master Denmark, do you mean you and Hazel are together now?"
"Is it because you love Hazel that you are deliberately accepting all the blame and want to deny Hazel bribed the Denmark Group staff during the competition?”
Reporters questioned intensely.
They could not accept the explanation that Joshua gave. They needed news with some impact. What they didn't need was an innocent Hazel.
Joshua took a deep breath and sighed, “We didn't have any relationship at all,"
Reporters were dumbstruck.
It was their first time to confront Joshua. They wanted to use all the tricks to squeeze him and make some big news, but they found out Joshua was not easily bullied.
Instead, Joshua led the conversation again and again and made them feel they were being teased! He was not predictable at all!
"I would like to apologize to Hazel seriously." Joshua looked at the camera calmly with his dark eyes blinking, "After seeing her on the preliminary selection, I investigated her and thought she was suitable to be my wife, so I pursued her. She didn't like me, though. Then a man's self-esteem let me do something wrong, including things...against her will."
The reports were writing all the notes down as quickly as their hand would allow them, plus they were recording on multiple devices; they did not want to miss a word that Joshua was saying.
During the press conference, Joshua Denmark said he chased a girl and was refused? And he even criticized himself?
People were now focusing on Joshua and no longer Hazel. Joshua made a public confession, how could they not care?
And, what exactly did he force Hazel to do? Everyone couldn’t help but start imagining.
"Although those things did not break the law, they were against Hazel's will." Joshua continued, "For example, I had forced her to meet several times.”
Reporters were getting really eager, but Joshua continued to tease them!
"And, because of her entanglement with me, Hazel has encountered the current defamation rumors." Joshua looked a bit gloomy, "I apologize again to Hazel for my childish behavior."
Reporters were waiting for him to finish.
"Love is a matter that takes two people to be willingly involved. I will not bother her in the future." Joshua paused for a moment and continued, "I hope this situation can stop here. I have had no luck in winning Hazel's heart. She was totally innocent and drawn into this by the event. I only hope that you will stop bothering her and let her continue to live a quiet life in the future."
Reporters were once again stunned.
They originally thought Joshua would continue to pursue Hazel. But what's going on now? Did he give up?
Those who were encouraged by public opinion didn't really care what the so-called shady deal was. They only cared about who Joshua was with.
Whoever was with him would have to get through the linguistic slaying of the public. If Joshua gave up on Hazel, who the hell would pay attention to an ordinary college student?
The Hazel that's not with Joshua had no value in public opinion. These reporters were all smart enough to know.
"Master Denmark, will you continue to hold the surrogacy competition, then?"
The reporters were still questioning Joshua when the spokesperson of Denmark Group stepped onto the stage and announced the end of the press conference.
Hazel looked at the phone quietly. On the screen, Joshua was leaving the scene escorted by bodyguards.
Hazel did not know what to do, seeing his unwavering face. She never thought Joshua would actually do that.
To cleanse the stain on her reputation, Joshua took all of the blames upon himself. She became an innocent victim after his speech.
Those negative comments against her would soon disappear, but what Joshua did would definitely affect the Denmark Group.
She couldn't help but read the comments. The current public opinion had forgotten all about her. They were all discussing Joshua.
The mainstream argument was that Joshua was too impulsive and not qualified to be the President of the Denmark Group.
Joshua was now officially exposed at the forefront of discussion.