The manager immediately pulled up the security footage from outside the lounge.
Eddy could be seen rushing out of the lounge, but between the time he left and Jeannette followed, no one else exited the room.
“This can’t be right! I saw them leave the break room with my own eyes–they ran out before I did,” Jeannette protested, staring at the footage in disbelief. She grabbed Eddy’s sleeve, desperate. “Please, you have to believe me–I swear I really
saw-
Her sudden outburst drew suspicious glances from those nearby.
Just then, a housemaid from the Anderson family seized her wrist. “Madam, the matriarch requests that you freshen up–the engagement ceremony is about to start.”
“Eddy!” Jeannette tried to explain further, but the maid was already dragging her
away.
Eddy watched the footage on his phone again and again, but couldn’t find a single clue. He turned to the manager. “Send this video to the main office. Have our tech team check for any irregularities.”
The manager nodded and hurried off.
Margaret approached. “Eddy, from now on, I want you to stay out of Kelvin and Jeannette’s affairs.”
“This farce ends here.”
Knowing he was in no position to argue, Eddy lowered his head in silent assent.
Backstage, in the lounge, Jeannette was forced to her knees by the servants.
Margaret pressed her cane down on Jeannette’s hands, gradually increasing the pressure. “You little wretch, do you think I don’t know exactly what you’ve done?”
“Ungrateful girl, still have the nerve to be picky? Marrying into our family is the greatest fortune you’ll ever know, yet you dare to flirt with Eddy right under our
noses!”
“If I catch you again, I’ll beat you again.” She pressed harder, and Jeannette let out a cry of pain.
Lara, who’d been standing nearby, threw herself at Margaret’s feet, sobbing.
Chapter 118
y mom!”
“Grandma, please, don’t hurt my
“If someone has to be punished, let it be me.”
Her small, trembling voice echoed in the room. Margaret narrowed her withered
eyes, her face expressionless but a hint of approval flickering in her gaze. “At least. you raised a loyal child.”
“Stand up. I won’t punish you.”
“What the adults do isn’t your fault,” Margaret said, and a maid quickly helped Lara to her feet.
“As long as you behave yourself, you’ll always be the Anderson family’s little princess. But if you step out of line, I’ll have you out of this house in a heartbeat.” Margaret’s words were cold and clear.
Lara shrank back, remembering her mother’s advice: if she wanted her father to come back, she had to stay in the Anderson family and call Mr. Kelvin “Dad.”
She nodded obediently.
Margaret seemed satisfied and waved the maids away.
Jeannette was yanked to her feet. She dared not show a hint of resentment, though hatred churned inside her.
“Enough. Change out of those clothes and clean yourself up. I expect you
presentable.” With a final glare, Margaret swept with her entourage.
Jeannette bowed her head respectfully until they were gone.
She slipped into the break room, searching every corner, but found nothing out of the ordinary.
Lara, not sure what her mother was looking for, mimicked her movements–looking around with exaggerated seriousness. Suddenly, her eyes lit up as she spotted. something in the corner. She picked up a Cartier bracelet, its diamonds glittering. “Mom, look! Isn’t this beautiful?”
The
hparkling G and S initials caught Jeannette’s eye, stinging her with sudden
Evidence. Let’s see how Blanche talks her way out of this.
After the engagement ceremony, Eddy dismissed the security detail and hurried to the hospital.
21:40
Meanwhile, in the back of Fernando’s town car-
Blanche shut her laptop and handed it back to Hugo Black.
She had just finished reviewing the security footage from the pool incident, realizing that Jeannette must have seen them leaving the break room. As soon as they left the hotel, she’d already spliced the lounge entrance footage, using the opportunity to strengthen their digital defenses.
“Miss Griffiths, you’re incredible!” Hugo looked at her with stars in his eyes. “Can I be your apprentice?”
21:40 1
