Chapter 107
“No! You can’t!” Lucy screamed as if possessed, suddenly scrambling to her feet. Her voice was shrill, almost desperate. “Dean!
You absolutely cannot call the police! If you do, my life will be ruined! You can’t! I’m from the Chancer family! My brother is on
the board of trustees–you can’t just ignore that!”
Tears brimmed in her eyes, overflowing as she shook her head wildly. She couldn’t let this happen.
She was the daughter of the Chancer family, a shining socialite of the East Coast. If she were arrested and sent to jail, not only
would the other wealthy families shun her, but she’d become a target of mockery for everyone in her circle.
Dean Larson hesitated, visibly torn. After all, the Chancer family held sway over the board.
But Zachary’s icy voice cut through the tension. “Don’t worry, Dean Larson. The board isn’t blind to right and wrong. Besides,
this matter involves Mia, and the Reynolds family will not let this go. Let’s follow Ms. Sanders’s suggestion ”
“Mr. Reynolds! Please save me!” Lucy sobbed, panicked, as she stumbled toward Zachary, her trembling hands reaching for him.
never do anything like this again! I swear! Please, don’t call the police!
Zachary dodged her with a look of pure disdain, stepping aside without a word.
Sarah, watching Lucy’s pitiful display, couldn’t help but find it laughable. “Lucy, I warned you at the Reynolds family banquet last time. I told you clearly–if you provoked me again, I would settle both old and new scores. Last time, your family begged us not to press charges, and we showed leniency for the Reynolds family’s sake. But this time, there’s no one left to protect you.”
“Sarah! Sister–in–law! I’m begging you! I really know I was wrong! Don’t call the police! I’ll never do anything like this again! Isn’t my brother still important to you? I’ll help you get back together with him, okay?”
Lucy’s cries became a mess of desperate pleas and revolting flattery, her face streaked with tears.
But Sarah was unmoved. If anything, she felt nothing but irritation. She had said it countless times–she no longer cared about
James. 1
It was just a man.
a man. Sarah had dared to love once, but she could just as easily let go. Why couldn’t anyone understand her? Why did
they all keep ignoring her decisions, as if she were some pawn to be manipulated?
“Lucy, I’ve already called the police. They’ll be here soon,” Sarah said flatly, her patience long gone.
“You bitch, Sarah! This was all a trap! You set me up!” Lucy roared like a madwoman, lashing out at Sarah with venomous words.
The students in the audience looked on in shock. Was this really the same girl who usually flaunted her elegance and class?
“Lucy,” Sarah said coldly, her expression one of disdain, “please step down. The competition isn’t over yet. We still need to
present the awards. Or are you planning to continue embarrassing yourself here?”
Lucy’s eyes burned with rage. In an instant, she shoved Mia hard. Mia stumbled backward and fell off the stage.
1/2
Chapter 17
Then Lucy charged at Sarah with a crazed look in her eyes. “I’ll kill you!”
+20 Bonus
Before Sarah could react, someone suddenly pulled her out of the way. She crashed into a broad chest as Lucy stumbled, landing face–first on the judges‘ table.
Zachary frowned deeply, steadying Sarah. “Are you okay?”
Sarah’s heart was racing, but she quickly shook her head. “I’m fine! Go check on Mia!”
Zachary nodded and hurried toward Mia. Thankfully, Mia had fallen into the audience area, and several students had caught her,
She was shaken but unharmed.
Meanwhile, Lucy burst into wild, manic laughter. Jane and the other judges backed away cautiously as the scene grew more chaotic. In her frenzy, Lucy grabbed Sarah’s thermos from the table and flung its contents at her.
“Die!”
Scalding hot water splashed all over Sarah.
“Ahh!” she screamed, clutching herself as the pain overwhelmed her.
“Sasal”
“Sarah!”
“Ms. Sanders|”
Cries of alarm erupted from all around as Sarah collapsed to the ground. In her blurred vision, she saw Lucy being restrained by
security guards.
Then she saw him–the owner of that worried gaze, running toward her without hesitation.
