Chapter 213: Chapter 213: No Darkness Can Escape the Scorch of the Blazing Sun

This guy’s words were toxic!

Claire Sinclair felt like she’d just been lectured. She mumbled timidly, "So if I don’t go, it means I have no ambition..."

"Haha, there’s hope for you yet!"

"Well, alright. I’ll go. When is it?"

"It starts this Friday at seven p.m. It’ll be broadcast live online, and there will be celebrity guests. You’ll have to wear an evening gown again," Henry Hartwell said, beaming.

"..."

’I have a feeling I’ve been tricked.’

"Teacher Hartwell, will you be going with me?"

"I wouldn’t have accepted this gig for you if I wasn’t planning on going too. I’ll be there, don’t worry."

"That’s great!" Knowing she’d have company, Claire Sinclair felt much more at ease.

Henry Hartwell suddenly picked up a stack of files. "This is your work for the week. I’ve already given you the materials. Go back and write three articles for three different media. You have free rein, but they must meet the paper’s standards."

"Okay." Claire Sinclair took the files, ready to get to work.

Henry Hartwell added one last thing, "Once you’ve mastered these three, I’ll take you out to cover stories."

"Really???" Claire Sinclair was ecstatic.

A reporter who couldn’t go out to cover stories wasn’t considered a real one. She had been waiting for this day for so long!

Henry Hartwell chuckled. "Of course it’s real. Now get to it."

"Okay, okay, I’ll start writing right away!"

Claire Sinclair could barely contain her excitement. She eagerly scurried back to her desk and started writing.

Using the materials Teacher Hartwell provided, Claire Sinclair wrote a research paper, a narrative news story, and an accountability report.

There was no way to finish in a single day; it took her three days to write the final drafts and send them to Henry Hartwell.

After reading them, Henry Hartwell pointed out quite a few flaws, but for the most part, they passed.

She thought Teacher Hartwell was just having her practice her writing, but she never expected him to actually publish her accountability report in the newspaper.

And so, the very next day, the construction company she had criticized became a trending topic on Weibo. The company’s legal representative was summoned for a talk by the higher-ups, its reputation plummeted, and it eventually went under completely.

Of course, its collapse came later.

This was the power of the Astoria Daily: exposing evil, promoting good, and ensuring no darkness could escape the scorching sun.

Watching the chorus of praise from Weibo users, Claire Sinclair’s heart swelled with a sense of accomplishment.

’I’ve finally learned to use my pen as a weapon to defend the rights of the vulnerable. Does that make me a warrior now?’

’Sis, I’ll do my best to catch up to you!’

...

Friday arrived in the blink of an eye, and Claire Sinclair found herself worrying about an evening gown again.

All of her gowns and formal dresses were at Evergreen Garden. She couldn’t just go back for one. If Adrian Quincy found her there, he would definitely misunderstand.

’Since I’ve already decided on a divorce, I can’t use his things anymore.’

’So, I’d better just buy one.’

At exactly 12:00 PM, Claire Sinclair sacrificed her lunch break and went by herself to Lily Mall, which was near her office. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Lily Mall was also a high-end shopping destination; all the brands with stores there were major international labels.

When she was by herself, Claire Sinclair was rather indecisive and also suffered from choice paralysis. She wandered around for a bit but nothing caught her eye.

She glanced at the time—it was almost one. She still had to eat lunch, so she started to feel anxious. In her haste, she ducked into a random boutique, planning to just grab something and head back.

Her "just grab something" mentality bordered on giving up. Claire Sinclair randomly picked up a little black dress and was just about to ask to try it on when a hand, adorned with a diamond ring, suddenly reached out and snatched the dress away.

"Salesclerk, I want to try this one on." After speaking, the woman shot her a haughty glance and turned to enter the fitting room.