Chapter 22
Chloe knew she had to find a way to save herself from the situation. Instinctively, she glanced at the reporters lingering in the hotel lobby. And then at Chloe, who was crouched near the stairwell, picking something up.
As she straightened up, Chloe moved as if to push her. Sensing the danger, Celeste dodged quickly, and Chloe ended up tumbling down
the stairs.
“Ah!” Chloe’s scream rang out, and the reporters rushed out to see her sprawled at the bottom of the stairs, looking hurt and shaken They hadn’t even managed to ask what had happened when she began accusing Celeste immediately.
“Celeste. I know it was wrong of me to copy your work, but did you really have to try to kill me over it? It hurts so much,” Chloe whined, her voice trembling as she clutched her arm, pretending to be in unbearable pain.
Watching her pull another one of her manipulative stunts, Celeste could only shake her head, more amused than angry. Seriously! Does she ever get tired of acting like this? the thought.
With a look of disdain, Celeste finally spoke up. “Chlor, your attempts at framing me are getting more and more pathetic.”
Chloe bit her lip, looking hurt. “I’m already lying here on the ground, and you still say I’m making things up?”
Celeste let out a breath and took out her phone to hack into the hotel’s surveillance system. Then she said, “Well, if that’s how you want to play it, I guess I’ll just have to prove it.”
With that, Celeste accessed the hotel’s surveillance feed, finding the footage from the lobby entrance. She handed her phone to the reporters, allowing them to see for themselves what had actually happened.
In the footage, it was clear that Chloe had reached out to push Celeste. And Celeste stepped aside, so she stumbled and fell down the stairs all on her own.
After seeing that, the reporters, who had been poised to take Chloe’s side, exchanged uneasy glances and muttered among themselves.
“I heard the Sinclair family just found their real daughter recently. They said she was sweet and gentle, but from what I’ve seen, that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
“Chloe’s really vile. First, she steals her sister’s work, and instead of apologizing, she tries to frame her like this. It’s disgusting!” “Celeste has my sympathy!”
“I kind of hope Celeste sues her. Someone like that needs to face some consequences”
With looks of disgust, the reporters turned and walked away, not sparing another glance at Chloe.
Celeste looked down at Chloe with contempt, saying, “You’ve really outdone yourself, Chloe. IFI ever needed an example of shooting yourself in the foot, you’d be it. Stupid, do you seriously think framing me would magically redeem
your
Just as Chloe was about to speak, Celeste added, “Do you really think everyone is as stupid as you?” Chloe clenched her fists, her eyes flashing with rage as she watched Celeste walk away.
Originally, Chloe wanted to use the incident of Celeste intentionally hurting herself to gain the sympathy of reporters, making them fully support her side and help her denounce Celeste together.
But Chloe hadn’t anticipated the security camera outside the lobby that had captured everything in damning clarity.
Now, with this press conference and her botched scheme, Chloe knew the public’s opinion of her was likely tanking.
How can I possibly repair my image now? Chloe thought
Once everyone had left, Chlor pushed herself off the ground slowly and decided to head back into the hotel to find Lachlan and work on some sort of strategy.
As she approached the lobby, Chloe noticed a red bracelet lying on the f floor. It was the one Celeste always wore
Moreover, Chloe remembered hearing from Eleanor that it was something very special to Celeste, though she wasn’t sure why.
If it’s that important, she’ll probably come back for it, Chloe thought. And when she does, maybe I can use it to stop her from pressing
1/2
10:34 AM ₫
Chapter 22
charges.
Chloe’s eyes gleamed with a sudden idea, and she bent down to pick up the bracelet.
Π
Meanwhile, after leaving the Kingston Grand Hotel Celeste took a cab to the airport directly and flew back to Ravenshire. By the time her plane landed, it was already around three in the afternoon..
The first place Celeste went after arriving in Ravenshire was the hospital. She was about to go inside when she ran into Isolde, who had just stepped out.
Their eyes met, and for a second. Celeste could see the barely concealed disgust in Isolde’s gaze.
Isolde thought. They tell me that Beth has been beaten to the point of being unable to work. But why is she now appearing in front of me completely unharmed? Did the people I sent betray me after taking my money?
Isolde did her best to hide the emotions in her eyes and said. It’s work time now. Why are you standing at the door instead of taking care of him in the ward!
Celeste had already heard that Isolde had paid someone to rough up Beth, so her attitude toward her had drastically cooled. She replied coldly. I don’t see why I need to explain to you what I’m doing here.”
Originally, Celeste had hoped they could get along, but now it seemed that wouldn’t be possible. She was determined to get back at holde for what she’d done to Beth. After all, there was no way she’d let that beating go unpunished
Celeste’s response was clearly not what Isolde wanted to hear. With an irritated expression, Isolde spoke up. “Do you even know who 1 am? You think you can talk to me like that?”
“Of course, you’re Isolde, the adopted daughter of the Isolde Huxley family Celeste replied coolly
The words “adopted daughter made Isolde’s face darkened, as if she’d been slapped. Nothing grated on her more than being reminded she was only the adopted daughter, a stand–in for Celeste Huxley.
Isolde clenched her fists in her coat pocket, forcing a cold smile. “Even if I’m just the adopted one, I can still ruin someone like you who has nothing. So I suggest you show a little respect, or don’t blame me if I decide to make things difficult”
Does the Huxley family even know she acts like this behind their backs! Celeste wondered.
When Celeste first reunited with her biological family, she assumed she’d be done dealing with two–faced women. But it seemed she’d traded one schemer for another.
Isolde’s tactics were even more polished than Chloe’s Isolde always had others handle the dirty work, whereas Chloe was clumsy and
hands–on.
It seemed that Celeste’s days with the Huxley family would be just as restless as they were with the Sinclair family.
Then Celeste shot her a glare, a smirk tugging at her lips. “You’re pretty sure I have nothing, huh? What if I have more than you? What if this little game of yours backfires on you?
Hearing this, Isolde couldn’t help but laugh. She’d done her research Celeste’s background was nothing special, and her parents were Laborers. She’d gone to a mediocre school and lived near a rundown neighborhood.
She has almost nothing, so how dare she claim to have more than me? This foolish girl probably can’t even compare to her little finger, holde muttered.
22
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