Chapter 2
My mother chose that exact moment to chime in. “Claire, you are being so thoughtless! How could you? David is completely devoted to you, how
could you trample on his feelings like this?”
Wow. The favoritism was so blatant it was almost comical. In my last life, I was so stupid I actually blamed myself for this. I couldn’t see through
their disgusting charade at all.
年
David pulled me behind him, stroking my head protectively before shooting Isabelle a look of pure ice. “I haven’t said a thing. What gives you the
right to stand there and bark? And you,” he said, turning his glare on my mother, “are merely fostering her. What right do you have to interfere in
n my mother, “are merely fo
the Sterling family’s affairs? Besides, it was obvious you threw yourself over here. Claire was standing behind me. How could she possibly have
tripped you? Do you think I’m blind, or just stupid?”
The guests who had been sympathizing with Isabelle a moment ago finally understood. A wave of anger at being fooled swept through the crowd,
followed by a chorus of derisive sneers benefit all
“So that’s what this is. A manipulative little schemer. How
“Exactly! That necklace is clearly priceless. She must be jealous of Mr. Crestwood’s affection for Miss Sterling and trying to break them up.”
“Tsk, tsk. So young and already so malicious.
The barrage of scornful remarks was relentless, and Isabelle quickly crumbled. Her lip trembled, her eyes filled with tears,
of a terrible injustice.
as
if she were
the victim
David pressed on. “This is Claire’s birthday party. What is a foster child like you even doing here, causing a scene?”
“I… I wasn’t… I…” Isabelle’s face turned a blotchy, furious red. She looked helplessly at my mother.
But now, even my mother didn’t dare to openly defend her. Everyone here had witnessed what happened. A mother who wouldn’t help her own daughter but instead sided with an outsider? Anyone with half a brain could see something was very wrong.
Having lost her only support, Isabelle could do nothing but run away, sobbing.
My father, forced to salvage the disastrous party, managed a strained smile and politely ushered the guests into the banquet hall.
David followed behind me, taking my hand. “Claire, is she bullying you? Do you need my help?”
I looked at him and shook my head. “No. I just want all of you to be safe and sound.”
David smiled gently, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “Trust me,” he said softly. “I will always protect you.”
After the party, my father summoned the entire family, including my mother, to his study.
O
She tried to play the dutiful wife, pouring him tea and massaging his shoulders. “Darling, what’s wrong?”
My father shot her a cold look and brushed her hand away.
“Who is currently managing the company’s accounts?” he asked, his voice chillingly calm.
Everyone exchanged glances, but no one dared to speak. The accounts were always handled by the CFO. The silence was damning.
Seeing my father on the verge of exploding, my inner voice piped up again.
Last time I peeked at Mom’s burner phone, I saw a transfer record for thirty million dollars. I wonder what she used it for? Better not tell Dad. If he knew, he’d go ballistic.
My father did, in fact, go ballistic.
He slammed his hand on the desk. “Mrs. Gable, go to my wife’s room and bring me all of her burner phones. Now.”
in my past life, my mother had framed me for embezzling company funds. My father didn’t believe it at first–he had raised me, and he knew my character. But then, to eliminate me completely, she secretly planted forged documents and the devices used for the transactions in my room, accusing me of being a reckless spendthrift who was damaging the company. Deceived by her and Isabelle, my father’s faith in me was shatter- ed
This time, I had forced the issue to the surface early. What tricks could she possibly pull now?
Hearing my father’s order, my mother’s face went deathly pale. “Darling, what do the company’s finances have to do with me? I don’t understand any of that.”
Chapter 2
11:48
My father snorted, his gaze cutting her to the quick. “Oh, you don’t, do you?”
“Darling, what are you talking about?”
