Chapter 74
damine, zinkers with test has 10s bar w
It read letting the implatione chit is
almost laughest at loud, William Parbor had slaves top does show 106 Buhke of Hatay manicher, which and why
wal cameras in bey positions. The rest were purely destrutile, munat to Keyey dok su lukuere elffinit denially insane
of the change felt almost the periert
Watching Lawn’s reaction was like witnessing & missterclass in real time character transformation. The name muddenly died in game Marking before she could merk it. Her perfect complexion, mouilly glowing with practiced radiance, turned ashen
“Miss Rose.” Charles continued. “If the guard truly wronged you, we’ll terminate his employment immediately
Felix chimed in. And if Miss Rose is the one lying?”
I couldn’t help but add my own barb, letting a pointed smile play across my lips. “Surely a Hollywood actress of Miss Rose’s caliber about a security guard?”
The moment the words left my mouth, Laurel’s entire demeanor shifted. Her shoulders slumped as she turned to Blake, her voice suddenly weak and trembling. “Blake darling, I’m not feeling well. Could you take me to the hospital?”
Blake’s response was immediate, concern flooding his features. “Is it hurting again?”
She nodded tearfully, pressing one delicate hand to her chest. “Yes!”
“Alright, I’ll take you to the hospital.” Blake moved to support her, but William Parker’s cold laugh stopped him short.
“Not yet.” The old man’s voice carried a kind of authority. “The footage will be here soon. The hospital can wait.”
Laurel bit her lip, seeming to gather her resolve before looking up at William. “William, there’s no need to check the footage.”
She paused, letting a tremor enter her voice. “I know that after what happened three years ago, nothing I say or do will change your opinion of me. Even if I’m innocent, you’ve already decided I’m guilty. The footage won’t change that, I—*
“Got it!” Charles’s triumphant exclamation cut through her performance like a knife through silk as his fingers had already pressed the laptop’s playback
button.
The room fell silent as the security footage began to play-
“How dare you stop me? Do you know who I am? I’m Laurel Rose, Blake Parker’s future wife!”
“I’m going to be Mrs. Parker. Can you afford to offend me?”
“If you don’t let me in now, once I become Mrs. Parker and take over this house, you’ll be the first one fired!”
The contrast between the imperious woman in the footage and the delicate flower currently wilting in Blake’s arms was chilling. I watched as mortification painted her face a deep purple, the color spreading down her neck in blotchy patches that no amount of expensive foundation could hide.
Blake’s hand, which had been resting protectively on her shoulder, slowly withdrew. The silence that followed felt heavy enough to crack the mansion’s
1/2
Chapter 74
marble floors.
William Parker’s cold laugh shattered the silence. “Is this what you meant by the guard wronging you?”
For someone who was just having trouble breathing and stomach pains, Felix observed with deadly precision, Miss Rose seems quite energetic in that footage. His gaze flickered to me before adding, “She sounds healthier than you in the video.”
Charles turned to the guard who’d been standing quietly in the corner, dignity intact despite the accusations that had been hurled at him. “You can return to work. No termination needed.”
Watching the honest guard’s retreating figure, I couldn’t help but frown. This morning’s scene at Lunar Mansion flashed through my mind – Laurel pushing me down the stairs, yet Blake demanding 1 forgive her. These injustices seemed to be a recurring theme, each one more bitter than the last.
Something sparked inside me, a flame of resistance I thought had been extinguished long ago. Before I could second–guess myself, I called out, “Wait.”
The guard paused, turning back with uncertainty written across his weathered features.
I fixed Laurel with a cold stare. “If Mr. Parker hadn’t installed those cameras, this guard would have lost his job because of your lie. Each word felt like ice on my tongue. “Don’t you owe him an apology?”
Why did Laurel never have to apologize for hurting others? Just because Blake protected her?
A deafening silence fell over the living room. Laurel stood rooted to the spot, her manicured fingers twisting in the delicate fabric of her blouse. “I know I was wrong about this…” Her voice trailed off into uncertainty.
“Please.” Felix’s laugh carried Arctic temperatures. “Let’s not pretend Miss Rose would ever genuinely apologize to someone she considers beneath her. His eyes glittered with undisguised contempt. “Wouldn’t want to tarnish that carefully crafted image, would we?”
“Exactly!” William Parker’s voice cracked like a whip. “Just like three years ago – quick to act, but never to accept responsibility.” His weathered features hardened with disgust. “Some things never change.”
Each word seemed to chip away at Laurel’s porcelain composure. She put her hand on Blake’s arm, her face a masterpiece of calculated distress. “Blake darling…”
Her voice quivered as tears spilled down her cheeks. “Remember those medical records you asked for? From Europe? I had them rushed here the moment they arrived…”
“Do you know how hard it was to expedite international medical records?” A delicate sob punctuated her words. “I came straight here to tell you, but at the gate…” Her voice cracked artfully. “I just… I lost myself for a moment…
“I know what I did was wrong. The lie… I only wanted to save face…”
Before anyone could react, she wrenched away from Blake and rushed toward the guard.
In one fluid motion that would have made her acting coach proud, she sank to her knees her white dasian–
