Chapter 216
The scene was almost identical in her past. Once again, Agnes tried to pin the blame on her. But this time, it wasn’t Arthur standing by Agues’s sile–it was Harry
Camila’s chest tightened as she glared at Harry. Before, he sent me to prison with false testimony–blindly believing Agnes’s lies. Now that he’s witnessed her crime hustlund, let’s see how he weasels out of this, Carmila thought.
Harry stood frozen in place, utterly stunned. In his mind, Agnes had always been the sweet, lovable girl everyone adored. He never insagined she would push Yvonne down the stairs and then try to frame someone else for it..
When Harry met Camila’s cold, probing gaze, an inexplicable guilt surged through him, as if he had wronged her in ways he couldn’t recall. But it didn’t make sense they had only met twice,
Just as Harry was at a loss, Agnes grabbed his arm, her face pale with panic. “Harry, help me! I’m scared–it wasn’t on purpose!”
“Help you? How am I supposed to do that?” Harry asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
“There’s no one else here but the three of us. If you testify that Camila pusled Yvonne down the stairs, everyone will believe you,” Agnies said, her voice trembling.
Harry’s body stiffened, thinking he must have misheard her. He stared at Agnes with an unfamiliar expression, as though seeing at stranger. How had the sweet, well–behaved Agnes turned into someone like this? he wondered.
A faint irritation began to rise in his heart. But in the end, she was still the sister he had watched grow up, the Jackson family’s darling. There was no need to hurt her feelings over an outsider..
With that thought, Harry’s gaze toward Camila hardened with resolve. He raised his hand and pointed at her. “I can testify–it was you who pushed her down the stairs.
A tomb–like silence filled the stairwell. Harry’s words seemed to drain the last of his strength. He hung his head in shame, unable to meet Camila’s searing gaze–those eyes burning with enough hatreil to scorch his soul.
But he was wrong, Camila’s eyes held no hatred, nor any surprise. In her past, she had already come to understand Harry’s favoritism toward Agnes and her own insignificance in the Jackson family.
Since she had long known the truth, there was no room for disappointment. A mocking smile tugged at her lips. The same situation, yet her feelings were worlds apart.
Back then, she sobbed and screamed, shaking her head in desperation, “It wasn’t me! It was Agnes!” But no one believed her.
This time, there was no need to struggle, no need to argue. She trusted that the Stuard family would believe her.
She was no longer the neglected, bullied Carnila. Now, she was Camila Stuurd. Cargila’s gaze bore into Harry and Agnes, unflinching and cold. Suddenly, she let out a sharp laugh that echoed through the stairwell, each note laced with biting sarcasm.
“You two are not just cruel–you’re downright stupid, Camila said, her voice dripping with disclains as she pointed to the camera above. “The footage has everything. Did you really think you could pin this on me?”
The two of them instinctively looked up, and sure enough, there was a camera. Their faces instantly turned ashien.
Camila smirked coldly. Last time, Belinda deleted the security footage–leaving me defenseless against the Jacksons‘ lies. But now? With the Stuards backing me and video proof in hand, let’s see them try she thought.
The Skyline Hotel, Northeville’s only seven–star hotel, was backed by an immensely powerful owner. Camila didn’t believe for a second that the Jackson family had the means to tamper with its surveillance footage.
This time, the power was in her hands. With a mocking smile, Camila said, “My parents and brother adore me. What do you think will happen to your Jackson family when they find out you tried to frame me?”
Agnes’s face was filled with anxiety, but she refused to back down. “Your family is just a bunch of nouveau richet We aren’t afraid of you!
he snapped defiantly.
ale grew colder, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Clearly, you don’t know who I am. My last name is Stuard—as in the Suard family one of Northeville’s four great families”
Chapter 216
Harry and Agnes froze, their faces pale as they stared at her in disbelief. The shock in their eyes was unmistakable.
Camila didn’t want to waste any more time on them. She needed to find Irene. If Irene came back with water and didn’t see her, she’d surely be worried.
Just as Camila was about to leave, the sound of approaching footsteps reached. The steps grew closer until they stopped right beside her. Turning around, she met Giovani’s gaze–his eyes were as dazzling as the stars. He reached out and held her small hand.
Feeling a bit awkward, Camila asked, “Giovani, did you hear everything we just said?”
Giovani nodded lightly. “Camila, letting them off like this is way too easy. They tried to frame you–don’t you think it’s time they paid the price?”
With that, he took her hand and led her up the stairs, step by step.
Harry and Agnes locked eyes with Giovani’s cold, emotionless gaze. Their legs began to tremble uncontrollably. Despite being only ten years old, Giovani exuded an overwhelming sense of pressure, his eyes carrying a chilling aura of ruthlessness.
Standing at the top of the stairs, Giovani faced Harry and Agnes directly. He suddenly spoke, “I’m only ten–too young to be held legally responsible.
Harry’s
Harry’s pupils constricted in shock. “W–What do you mean?”
Giovani’s lips curved into a smile, but the warmth didn’t reach his eyes. Without warning, he grabbed Harry and, catching him completely off guard, shoved him down the stairs.
Harry tumbled down the stairs, his body hitting the ground with a bone–jarring impact. He landed heavily next to the unconscious Yvonne, his body convulsing uncontrollably. But Giovani wasn’t done–he delivered a swift kick, sending Agnes down the stairs as well.
Agnes let out a piercing scream, her voice echoing through the stairwell as she hit the ground hard. Her head struck the floor, leaving her bleeding profusely before she passed out.
you won’t face
any
After that, Giovani spoke calmly, I’m too young to face legal consequences. But neither of you is of age either, so you legal consequences either.
“If the law can’t deal with you, then I will–for Camila. Don’t you think that’s fair? His tone was light, almost casual, but every word carried a bone–chilling coldness.
Camila stared at Giovani in a daze. She wasn’t scared, nor did she think he was cruel. Instead, she felt a deep admiration for h boldness. If only she’d had courage in her past, the Jacksons wouldn’t have had the chance to ruin her.
his
Camila suddenly hugged Giovani tightly, her voice soft yet filled with gratitude. “Giovani, thank you.”
Giovani stiffened slightly at her sudden embrace. He was used to keeping his distance from others, so her unexpected closeness caught him off guard. Yet, he didn’t resist. He found himself enjoying the warmth of her touch.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from the stairwell. Camila released Giovani and looked down. Her gaze immediately landed on Belinda.
Camila narrowed her eyes, a cold glint flashing within them. Belinda’s timing was impeccable, just like in Camila’s past. Back then, after Agnes had pushed Emily down the stairs, Belinda and Agnes had appeared downstairs one after the other.
Even though Belinda knew Camila couldn’t possibly have been the one to push Emily, she had still chosen to protect Agnes, even going so far as to delete the surveillance footage.
This time, Camila wondered how Belinda would react upon seeing her precious adopted daughter and son injured and bleeding. She watched with anticipation, but Belinda’s expression didn’t show the expected concern for Agnes.
Instead, when Belinda saw the unconscious Yvonne, Agnes, and the injured Harry writhing in pain on the floor, she clutched her head as if in agony. A flood of images surged through her mind, each one more unbearable than the last.
“Mom, you knew it was Agnes who pushed Emily! Why did you protect her!
“You’re my mom! How could you delete the footage that proved I was innocent–just to protect Agnes? How could you be so heartless! “Officer, it wasn’t me! You’ve got the wrong person—it was Agnes!
12:41 PM
Chapter 216
“If giving birth to me is all you care about, then consider us even. You gave me life, but you never cared for me. A severed finger is all your so–called maternal grace is worth,
“You all hurt me. You all ruined me. I don’t care about my innocence anymore I just want you all dead!
“Belinda, your beloved husband stole your kidney for his mistress, your cherished adopted daughter is the mistress‘ child, and now karma has finally caught up with you!”
The stairwell scene mirrored Belinda’s past so perfectly that her memories came flooding back–every humiliating moment flashing through her mind like a grotesque slideshow. Her skull throbbed, her heart clenched as if stabbed.
She remembered how Camila she had carried for ten months was abandoned in an orphanage by Arthur, while he brought Agnes, his illegitimate child, into her home.
The horrific memories overwhelmed her–her kidney carved out for Ivanna, her daughter’s stolen for Agnes. And when she’d confronted Arthur for vengeance, the monster had gouged out her eye. Now the agony left her writhing on the floor, body seizing with phantom pain.
Camila frowned as she watched Belinda’s reaction. Seeing Harry and Agnes covered in blood, Belinda was so distraught she could barely stand. Yet in her past, when Camila was covered in wounds, Belinda had eaten and slept peacefully; her emotions completely unaffected.
was clear–Belinda’s indifference was glaring, a cruel reminder that she had never been worth even a pretense of love. Camila shot her a cold, piercing glance.
Belinda met Camila’s gaze, devoid of any trace of hope or longing for her mother. The look was like arrows piercing her heart, leaving her gasping for air.
Despite the unbearable pain, Belinda reached out to Camila, her eyes filled with endless sorrow and regret. I was wrong, Camila. Mom knows she messed up. Please just give me one last chance.
This time, Mom will give you all her love, cherish you, and make you the true heiress of the Jackson family, she thought,
“Camila.” The name was spoken so softly that Camila barely caught it. But whatever was said, it was certainly nothing good–probably the same insults she’d grown tired of hearing in her past–heartless, ungrateful, malicious.
“Giovani. Mom’s probably freaking out now.”
“Alright,” Giovani replied, taking Camila’s hand as they walked back the way they came.
Belinda’s eyes were filled with panic. She wanted to stand up and chase after them, but her body refused to obey, paralyzed by overwhelming sorrow. All she could do was let her tears of regret flow endlessly.
Camila hadn’t gone far when she saw Irene and Joseph running toward her. Irene immediately pulled Camila into her arms. “Sweetheart, you scared me to death! Let me check–are you hurt anywhere.
Cantila shook her head. “Mom, I’m fine.”
Irene’s expression hardened, her teeth almost grinding in anger. “Anyone who dares touch my little princess must not want to stay in Northeville.”
ron
Joseph added furiously, “Mom, and yesterday, those siblings we ran into at the kids‘ clothing store–they somehow got into Skyline Hotel and barged into the lounge, trying to hurt Camila and me.”
Irene instantly transformed into a protective warrior. “Where are they?”
Camila pointed toward the stairwell. “They’re over there. Just now, those siblings even tried to frame me for pushing that girl, Yvonne.
down the stairs”.
A cold glint appeared in Irene’s eyes. She picked Camila up and walked step by step toward the stairwell, looking down from above. Her gaze met Belinda’s regretful eyes.
When Belinda saw Irene holding Camila in her arms, displaying such a deep mother–daughter bond, she momentarily forgot the pain in her chest. She scrambled to her feet and shouted, pointing at Irene. “Put down my daughter!”
Irene froze for a moment, her eyes growing even colder. “What do you mean?”
3/4
12:41 PM
Chapter 216
Belinda stared at Camila with unwavering intensity. “The child you’re holding is my daughter, Camila. Camila, I am your mother. Come
to me.”
Camila narrowed her eyes–Belinda was acting strange. She didn’t recognize me yesterday at the boutique–even helped Agnes bully me. Could she actually remember the past? Camila thought.
Upon realizing this, Camila found it laughable. “After all the pain Belinda had caused me in her past, why should I forgive her just because she got a second chance? Dream on.”
Camila had a better, more loving mother now. She didn’t need Belinda’s so–called muternal love. Tightening her arms around Irene’s neck. Camila said, “Mom, she looks so mean. I’m scared.”
Irene gently patted Camila, comforting her. “Don’t be afraid. Mom is here.”
Belinda’s head pounded at Camila’s icy indifference. Tm her mother–the one who carried her for nine months! She should be rotting. in that orphanage. So how is she in Northeville, adopted and living like royalty?”
Camila had a new mother now. From yesterday’s events, it was clear that this new mother had given her all the love she needed. Camila no longer lacked maternal affection, making Helinda seem redundant.
Belinda couldn’t accept it. She hadn’t even begun to atone for her past mistakes or repaid the debts she owed Camila from her previous life. Camila just abandoned her.
Tears streaming down her face, Belinda reached out to Camila. “I am your mother, Camila Come to me
Camila’s heart was filled with cold laughter. Now you want to act like my mother? After everything you did? Dream on the thought.
Lifting her head from Irene’s embrace, Camila feigned innocence and asked, “If you’re really my mom, then why did you dump me in an orphanage? Did you hate me that much?
That single question hit Belinda like arrows, leaving her utterly devastated.
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