The group of intelligent minds present were deep in thought after hearing Jack's story. Mike was the first to raise a question.
"But the problem is, Charlie and Yvonne's story already has plenty of attention. How can we create a significant enough twist?" he asked.
Jack grinned and looked at Harvey, recalling how he had tactfully covered for Yvonne in court, preventing her from being held in contempt, which could have led to her being detained.
"Mr. Specter, let me ask you—do you think Yvonne is beautiful?"
Harvey, slightly caught off guard, was grateful for his years of experience as a lawyer, which had thickened his skin. He quickly composed himself and nodded with composure.
"Ms. Biasi is one of the most graceful and gentle women I've ever met."
Jack, however, wasn't going to let him off the hook so easily. "So, if a gentleman like you could be moved by Yvonne, wouldn't it be reasonable for an opportunistic, unknown wealthy man to be similarly captivated by her beauty and try to take advantage of the situation?"
Everyone was momentarily stunned, but they quickly began to piece together Jack's earlier idea. They had a hunch about his plan.
"Here's what I'm proposing," Jack said, pulling out a checkbook and handing it to reporter Dupree.
"This is a bearer bond for $100,000. Dupree, I want you to publish a statement in the New York Post tomorrow. Announce that an unknown wealthy individual is offering this bond to Charlie Lane, provided he publicly breaks up with the beautiful Yvonne Biasi. The condition is that he must make the announcement in the New York Post as well."
Dupree, surprised, took the checkbook. Before he could say anything, Jack continued.
"You can write the specifics however you like. If you have the space, feel free to embellish the mysterious billionaire's affection for Yvonne—make it as nauseating as possible."
"You're not planning on telling Charlie and Yvonne the truth beforehand? What if Charlie actually chooses the money?" Mike asked skeptically.
"This is a gamble. It's a test of their kindness and love. Isn't that a bit too cruel?" Aunt Didi chimed in, sharing the same concern.
Suddenly, the normally quiet bald-headed Frank perked up with interest. "I bet you'll just lose that $100,000, but this gamble sounds fun. Count me in."
"I'm in too," Wesley said, joining in the excitement. After all, he was a genuine trust-fund kid.
Harvey pondered for a moment before speaking up. "I'm in as well. I can even notarize the anonymous billionaire's statement as a lawyer."
Mike looked at Harvey in surprise. "Aren't you worried the firm will give you trouble? Even if it's explained as a personal action, they might still be concerned about how it affects the firm's reputation."
Jack gave Harvey a meaningful look and reminded him, "Even though you'll clear things up in the end, as the plaintiff's lawyer, if Charlie really chooses to abandon Yvonne, you could be seen as a villain who egged him on."
Harvey laughed nonchalantly, leaning back on the sofa and crossing his legs, seemingly relieved.
"I'll only be sacrificing my reputation temporarily. If you lose the bet, I'll have no real loss, and the exposure will actually benefit me. But if you win, not only will I gain exposure, but I'll also earn a good reputation. The public will forget my previous actions and see me as a competent lawyer with a conscience. I win twice."
Ah, lawyers are never easy to deal with.
After hearing Jack's follow-up plan, everyone agreed to give it a shot. After all, there weren't many better ideas at the moment, and this unconventional approach might just work.
With the details set, everyone left. The Hunter couple and Frank returned to Cold Spring, a quiet town along the Hudson River. While they could certainly afford to stay at the Plaza Hotel, the older folks clearly preferred the tranquility of the countryside over the city's hustle and bustle.
Dupree, the overworked reporter, hurried back to write his article, while Jack headed out to take over Hannah's surveillance duties. There were still a series of maneuvers to execute, requiring careful guidance and design.
That night, the people of New York were taken by surprise when the New York Post, known for its attention-grabbing headlines, published something strange.
Other newspapers' front-page headlines were along the lines of "Police Officer and Waitress Lose Court Case" or "Charlie and Yvonne on the Verge of Bankruptcy."
But the New York Post? Its headline read: "Choice! Money or Love?" leaving readers bewildered.
The article itself was brief. After a bizarre, love-struck confession by an anonymous wealthy man—crafted by Dupree—came the real focus: Jack's designed announcement.
The announcement was in two parts. It offered $100,000 if Charlie publicly broke up with Yvonne, with Harvey Specter's statement as a lawyer certifying the bond's authenticity.
In no time, all of New York was buzzing with discussion. No one was paying attention to the lottery winnings or the divorce anymore.
Everyone was asking one question: Would the once-principled police officer, known for his honesty, abandon the waitress for $100,000? Even betting companies were planning to open odds on the matter.
The internet was ablaze. Various "insider information" stories, both true and fabricated, began to emerge.
In the age of the internet, it wasn't just the FBI who could easily dig into someone's past. With a bit of manipulation, local social media platforms were quickly flooded with gossip.
Soon, a "classmate" of Charlie and Muriel's emerged, recounting the story of how they met and got married. Then a "neighbor" claimed to have witnessed how Muriel squandered the lottery winnings. Another "neighbor" came forward, stating that after Charlie won, he once paid for commuters to ride the subway for free. This led to countless others chiming in, saying they had received free subway tickets that day.
Soon after, someone revealed how Yvonne's ex-husband, Eddie Biasi, was a total scoundrel who freeloaded off others. When he heard about Yvonne's unexpected windfall, he shamelessly tried to get back into her life, forcing her to run away from home.
Another "eyewitness" said they saw Charlie being kicked out by his wife and how his son suggested that Charlie, for once, spend some money on himself and enjoy a night at the Plaza Hotel.
Finally, a woman claiming to be a former hotel receptionist swore she had seen Charlie and Yvonne "coincidentally" meet at the hotel lobby that night. She vividly described their surprised expressions, the lingering looks, and the coy conversation, even suggesting that someone could check the surveillance footage to confirm her story.
It seemed as though an invisible hand was orchestrating all of this. And the only person who knew the full truth was busy making phone calls, carefully setting up the next steps.
"He snuck out? Got it. Don't worry, your partner's going to be fine."
"Yvonne's location? Almost at the café? Okay, keep an eye on her, and don't let any unwanted guests show up. The last thing we need now is a surprise."
"Dupree, it's time to start your makeup. Looks like it's going to rain, so make sure you use waterproof adhesive for the beard."
After finishing his phone calls, Jack, sitting in his car with a now-heated phone, sent out one last message: "Don't delete all the negative content—leave the really fake ones. Sometimes, those do more good than the positive stuff."
The rain began to fall softly outside. Jack turned on the defogger for his window, and as his view cleared, he spotted a familiar figure approaching in the night. The silhouette moved toward "Yvonne's Café," unlocking the door and slipping inside.
Soon, the dim lights of the café flickered on. Yvonne, having returned quietly, removed her raincoat and picked up a rag to start wiping down the tables. As she wiped, tears began to fall, and she occasionally brushed them away with the back of her hand—but they just kept coming.
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! May you and your family be reunited and blessed with happiness and health!
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