Chapter 18
Rachel stood there, cool as a cucumber, even with all those curious eyes on her.
She shot a half-smile at Michael, who was kneeling, then turned to Charlotte with a laid-back vibe. "First off, sorry for crashing the party. Second, who's to say that video all over the news is legit? If you're blaming me for that accident six years ago, then I've been seriously wronged."
Her eyes flicked to Mandy, who looked like she'd seen a ghost. Mandy quickly ducked behind Michael, and the crowd started buzzing with disapproval.
One guest muttered, "This chick's got some nerve, showing up after what she did six years ago."
Another added, "Yeah, poor Miss Brown looks terrified."
Seeing her daughter's fear, Charlotte lost any desire to play nice. "If you think you're innocent, go tell it to the cops."
As Charlotte reached for her phone, Michael finally spoke up, his voice steady. "Rachel, this isn't the place for you."
Rachel's lips curled into a sarcastic smile. "Where should I go then, Mr. Smith? We were married for six years. You never treated me well, but I never did anything to wrong you. Spreading fake videos to trash my name—are you trying to ruin me?"
Michael's grip on the brocade box tightened, his frustration clear. David, about to jump in, was stopped by a look from Michael.
Michael's eyes were deep and thoughtful. "Mandy won't press this. You don't need to make a big fuss."
Rachel let out a bitter laugh. "You think this is a joke?"
She looked around at the crowd, then slowly sat down in a nearby chair. "Robert, show Miss Brown the gift I brought."
Everyone watched as Robert stepped forward and projected a video onto the wall. The crowd gasped; it was nothing like the news they'd seen.
Ethan, his gaze serious, cut in. "Miss Williams, how can you prove this is real? With today's tech, anything can be faked."
Rachel had expected that. She glanced at Robert, who made a call. Soon, someone got out of a car at the entrance. Most people recognized him; he was a well-known tech expert from Summit Ridge District. His word was gold.
"I can confirm," the expert said to the crowd, "that Miss Williams' video is legit, and the one online has been tampered with."
Murmurs spread through the room as faces shifted from curiosity to shock. Michael's expression was a mix of confusion and anger, his voice cutting through the noise. "Rachel, haven't you had enough?"
John, arms crossed and smirking, chimed in mockingly. "Michael, it's sad how you've been played. If you'd checked with the officers from back then, you'd know the truth."
Michael's already grim face darkened, his icy eyes locking onto Mandy with menace. Mandy panicked, her voice shaking, "I didn't lie to you, Michael, please, let me explain—"
But it was too late. The truth was out, and no words could change it.
John's satisfaction was clear as he continued, "Michael, there's more. While Mandy was in a coma, Rachel visited the hospital regularly to donate blood. If she wanted to hurt Mandy, why would she do that? She did it for you. And here you are, thinking you're so smart, but you've been blind."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
