Chapter 461 Dinner Invitation
There was an urgent care clinic right at the base of the office building.
Winnie, with the assistance of her aide, ushered Melanie indoors to a comfortable seat where she could receive treatment. The intensity of the pain forced Melanie to grit her teeth tightly.
The assistant was livid, recalling Winnie's words, "Why can't we get justice for Melanie today?! She's burned so badly. When you go back, insist on checking the surveillance footage and show it to Lawrence. Then we can expose Mr. Nelson's deliberate actions!"
Winnie squinted her eyes and let out a cold laugh. "You're thinking too simply. Even if we get the surveillance footage, do you know what Ishara would say?"
Melanie pursed her lips.
Seeing Jannie still confused, Winnie explained, "She'd claim she was startled, thought Melanie pushed her, and accidentally spilled the coffee. A simple 'sorry' to Melanie, and the case is closed. She has a health condition that's an inherent advantage. With Lawrence's favoritism toward her, do you think he'd bear to punish her?
"Furthermore, I publicly challenged him just now; he's too embarrassed to concede a mistake in his judgment of Melanie, don't you think?"
Both Jannie and Melanie experienced a revelation, finally understanding why Winnie hadn't insisted on the surveillance footage. She had foreseen this outcome. "So, you suggested checking the surveillance just to make Ishara squirm, to temporarily ease the pressure she's putting on me?" Melanie inquired.
Winnie didn't deny it.
Melanie realized that Winnie really did think of everything, quietly outmaneuvering Ishara.
Feeling helpless, Melanie expressed her worries, "With Lawrence backing Ishara at ST, it's not just a matter of getting justice; we may have trouble just doing our jobs. I'm so tired of her shady tactics; I've dealt with them since I was little.
"Sick? Ha! Winnie, let me tell you that Ishara is quite the actress."
Melanie's candid comments caught Winnie's attention, and she frowned in concern. "Melanie, what do you mean by that? Wasn't Ishara always frail and sickly?"
Melanie wasn't certain but knew many of Ishara's secrets. "She was healthy as a kid. I remember the Blanchet elders treating us three sisters more or less the same; Grandmother even doted on Angela more. But once Ishara got 'sick,' my maternal grandparents started favoring her, and everything in the house revolved around her.
" I often ponder if she feigned illness to garner exclusive attention and the princess treatment she receives wherever she goes. However, nowadays, she does genuinely take medication daily, though she keeps it under wraps. Don't be fooled by her 'peaceful dove' persona—she harbors plenty of ambition.
"While you were away, she didn't want to work tirelessly for the Blanchet company because she felt it would be hers eventually. She's busy with her own schemes behind the scenes... she's quite the operator."
"What kind of schemes?" Winnie pressed, sensing the weight of Melanie's words.
Melanie hadn’t even begun to answer when they left the clinic and were suddenly faced with a towering figure.
The man looked at Winnie with a smile, "Ms. Winnie, I heard you got burnt?"
Winnie looked up, a flicker of surprise crossing her face.
-
In the ST office.
The doctor was examining Ishara as Lawrence stood by, exuding a chilly presence.
"Ms. Ishara is facing considerable emotional stress and an erratic heart rate; she needs her regular medication," the doctor stated.
Just then, Angela burst in, medications in hand. "Ishara! How bad is it? I've brought your meds. That wretched Melanie, daring to burn you? I overheard people saying that Winnie had a hand in it. Clearly, she's the one who egged Melanie on to harm you. Mr. Lawrence, you've got to stand up for Ishara!
"Winnie is just bitter because Ishara's arrival at the company threatens her shot at the inheritance. She's mean-spirited!"
With a suppressed smile, Ishara realized that summoning Angela would undoubtedly cause a stir. Even though Melanie's attempt to frame her had failed because Winnie checked the surveillance footage and elicited a confession, Ishara had still benefited greatly. Mr. Lawrence had consistently shown her favoritism, a fact unknown to Winnie, which had led her to heartbreak and despair until she ultimately decided to leave him for good.
Moreover, Ishara had purposefully burned her foot at this critical juncture, serving an additional purpose. As she plotted internally, she looked up to find Lawrence responding to Angela, his words laced with a frosty disdain, "Ms. Angela, I do not appreciate gossip. If that's all you're here for, please set yourself outside!"
Angela was startled by his rebuke.
Ishara pursed her lips; he could chastise Winnie himself, but he wouldn't let others do so. Deep down, he was still protective of her.
Ishara chimed in, "Angela, even if Winnie has her sights set on becoming the Blanchet family heiress, she wouldn't stoop to manipulate Melanie into wrongdoing. You're jumping to conclusions."
She then casted a discreet glance toward Lawrence and bit her lip in discomfort before speaking. "Lawrence, please don't be upset with Winnie. My burn will heal. Doctor, I can't take antibiotics for the next few days. Is there a safe topical ointment I could use?"
The doctor nodded briskly. "Miss, I'll write a prescription for you. The pharmacy downstairs should have it."
With a graceful smile, Ishara turned to Lawrence. "It's almost noon, and since Angela's here, would you mind taking me downstairs for lunch and to get the medicine?"
Ishara needed to keep up her nutrition, and Lawrence needed to oversee her every meal. Glancing at his watch, he nodded and reached to help her up, when his phone suddenly rang.
From her angle, Ishara spotted the caller ID – it was Jeremy. Her pupils dilated, and her grip tightened.
Lawrence stepped away to answer the call by the window as he turned to Angela and instructed, "Help Ishara to the elevator. I need to take this call."
As Angela helped her out, Ishara strained her ears to catch Lawrence's low inquiry, "What's the status?"
He was clearly probing into the morning's car accident. Recalling Claire's advice, Ishara pondered over Peter's meticulous clean-up. The vehicle appeared immaculate except for the child's fingerprints—there was nothing else linking them to the scene. As for the unfortunate incident this morning, Peter had handled it. Lawrence won't uncover anything.
Ishara bit her lip secretly, a flicker in her eyes.
-
Downstairs at the ST building, there was a restaurant where Winnie found herself utterly speechless. She couldn't fathom how she ended up there for a meal with Bentley. They had just left the clinic and ran into Bentley at the plaza.
The man was striking, clad in a midnight-blue suit with an air of graceful elegance about him that made him stand out in a crowd.
Mr. Bentley stood inside the restaurant, quite the head-turner, shielding Melanie's sunburned neck from the harsh sun. He kept smiling and making small talk with Winnie, yet his gaze would glide ever so subtly across Melanie's pale face.
"So, you see, it wasn't me who got burned; it's my colleague here. Thanks for your concern, Mr. Bentley. But really, how do you come to know about such minor incidents at ST so quickly?" Winnie asked, seeking clarification on Mr. Bentley's prompt awareness of minor occurrences within the company.
Melanie's assistant, looking a touch guilty, dared not meet Bentley's gaze.
Bentley's eyes swept over Melanie once more, laughing heartily as he replied to Winnie, "Just happened to be handling some business downstairs at ST and overheard the buzz about you. I’ve been quite attentive to your affairs lately! That's why I rushed to get this ointment and bring it to you. Now that you've joined me at the restaurant, why not grace me with your company for a meal?"
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