Chapter 22
When have Valerie and I ever been on good terms?”
The maid was stunned by that, but Talia had already stood up and was walking out.
In the hall, Valerie was all dressed up and surrounded by a bunch of rich girls. She was holding a glass of white wine and about to take a sip.
Suddenly, a voice cut in, “Ms. Valerie, don’t drink that wine! It has been messed with!”
Valerie looked shocked. “What do you mean?”
The maid who spoke glanced over at Talia. “I saw Ms. Talia go to the kitchen and put something in your wine. It might be some kind of drug.”
As soon as the words were out, a few people’s faces changed.
Everyone in the Taylor family knew what happened three years ago. Valerie got kidnapped because she drank wine that was spiked. Some lowlifes took her away quietly.
Now, hearing that the wine might be spiked again, Valerie turned pale, and the glass in her hand hit the floor.
It shattered with such a jarring noise that a lot of people turned to look.
Valerie’s eyes were red, and she threw herself into Maeve’s
arms.
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Chapter 22
“Mom, I’m scared.”
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Maeve knew exactly what Valerie was thinking. She patted her back and said, “Relax. It’s all over now.”
Then she turned to Talia. “Still up to your old tricks?”
There were a lot of people around, so Maeve didn’t want to embarrass the Taylor family by saying it straight out.
But Talia knew what she was talking about.
Talia felt like laughing when the old stuff came up again.
She didn’t expect Valerie to use this to make trouble twice.
“I didn’t.”
Talia glanced at the wine in the decanter. Valerie loved white wine, and this was specially made just for her. It seemed like she had planned this in advance.
“I did go to the kitchen, but I was looking for something to eat, not to spike her drink.”
The maid insisted, “But I saw you put something in there with my own eyes. I swear on my life.”
She spoke with such conviction, like someone standing up for what was right, no matter what.
People around were jabbering away and pointing fingers.
Maeve was worried that if things got out of hand, it would be hard to fix. Since it was a family matter, it was better to handle it in private. If it got out, the Taylor family would be embarrassed.
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Chapter 72
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Valerie could tell what Maeve was thinking and smiled softly at her. “Mom, I think there’s a misunderstanding here.
“Tally has been in prison for three years. She wouldn’t make the same mistake. I believe she’s innocent.”
Her words shocked everyone.
Talia spent three years in prison? Didn’t she study abroad?
These were all rich ladies of high society. The idea of prison felt like it was worlds away from their lives.
But they knew very well that if one was put in prison, it was like having a permanent stain on their life. They couldn’t run for office, and even their close relatives for three generations would be affected.
In the hall, people were chattering away.
Valerie seemed to realize she had said something wrong. She clapped a hand over her mouth, looking shocked, and said with a guilty look, “I’ve had a bit too much to drink, so I’m spouting nonsense. Please don’t take it seriously. Tally could never have been to prison.”
After what just happened, trying to backtrack now made it seem like she was trying too hard to cover up the truth.
The more nervous Valerie got, the more it seemed like she was hiding something.
“Tally, you just got back from abroad. Have you adjusted to the time difference? Today’s our birthday, and I’ve got a special gift for you. Let me show you.” Valerie tried to make amends.
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Chapter 22
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Maybe it was the noise from downstairs, but even Kendrick, who had been playing cards upstairs, was drawn down.
When he and his group came downstairs, they saw a
vulnerable–looking Valerie standing in the crowd, apologizing
to Talia.
Her eyes were red, and she was nervously holding her hands together, watching Talia’s expression carefully.
Talia turned and looked at Valerie.
This kind of thing had happened many times before, and every single time, Valerie always managed to act like the innocent victim.
Talia pursed her lips, feeling all the weird looks from the people around her.
But what did she do wrong?
What did she do to deserve getting framed like this? To be set up by Valerie?
Wasn’t three years in prison enough?
By bringing up her jail time in front of everyone, Valerie was trying to ruin her life!
“Well then, let’s go down together!” Talia thought to herself.
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