CHAPTER 78
The sight inside the room sent a fresh wave of gasps rippling through the crowd.
There stood Piper, her attire disheveled and barely covering her, clutching onto a clothes rack for support. Her demeanor exuded a mix of intoxication and disarray that was utterly uncharacteristic.
The initial shock quickly morphed into murmurs and gossip that spread like wildfire among the guests.
"My, my, the Schmidts certainly know how to put on a show. After all that talk about their enduring love, here's the husband caught in the act of betrayal!"
"And their daughter, hiding away in some scandalous affair upstairs. How starved for attention must they be?"
The room buzzed with speculation and judgment, each whisper adding another layer to the scandal unfolding before their eyes. The air thickened with tension as the once-elegant soirée descended into a spectacle of public scrutiny and moral debate.
"Their so-called perfect relationship? It's all smoke and mirrors. Just goes to show, the louder they shout about love, the shakier the foundation."
"If I were them, I'd never show my face again. Might as well vanish into thin air after this debacle!"
"Tonight's been a riot. Who knew a silver anniversary could turn into a soap opera?"
Violet stood in stunned silence, her mind unable to grasp the reality unfolding before her. She paced back and forth, as if hoping to shake off the disbelief that gripped her like a vice.
This was beyond anything she could have imagined, and it threatened to unravel the carefully curated facade she had spent years building.
Unfortunately, the laughter of the crowd pierced her ears like a thousand needles, igniting a sudden surge of rage.
"Out! Get out, all of you! Leave this instant!!!" she screamed, her voice cracking with desperation.
But her commands fell on deaf ears. The mocking continued to escalate, voices overlapping with laughter and taunts. Phones were raised, capturing the humiliating scene for eternity.
The room, once filled with warmth and celebration, now felt like an icy tomb. Violet shivered uncontrollably, her body betraying her facade of composure.
Each derisive laugh felt like a dagger to her heart, plunging her deeper into a pit of humiliation and despair.
How could this happen...? How...
This was supposed to be her triumphant moment, standing proudly on stage, basking in the admiration and congratulations of everyone. Instead, she found herself humiliated yet again in such a short span of time.
Nothing had ever escaped her grasp before.
She had always succeeded, always maintained control. How could she now find herself facing such a wretched situation?
For the first time in her life, Violet felt utterly lost and desperate. The certainty and confidence that had defined her existence seemed to crumble around her, leaving her vulnerable and exposed to the scorn and mockery of those around her.
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Arianna observed Violet's range of emotions flickering across her face from her concealed vantage point behind the closet door. A subtle smile curved her lips as she witnessed Violet's unraveling, frenzied expression.
‘Your malicious plans and cunning schemes have come crashing down, haven’t they?’ Arianna thought to herself, savoring the moment of vindication.
Just as she was lost in these reflections, a sudden movement in front of her snapped her back to reality. Arianna quickly refocused her attention on Xander, who stood leaning against the cupboard wall, a few inches away, his expression tense yet resolute.
Arianna had suspected Violet's intentions from the outset. When the critical moment arrived, she deftly utilized her cell phone to hack into the video player downstairs, swiftly redirecting the broadcast to Justin and Sheena’s compromising footage.
Arianna had previously withdrawn her legal action against Sheena because she understood Sheena's combative nature. However, she never anticipated that Sheena's ambition would lead her straight to Justin!
As for their scandalous affair, Arianna happened to notice the two of them sharing meaningful glances during the banquet before slipping out of the hall together. She discreetly followed them and eventually caught them in an intimate embrace, seemingly inseparable.
Arianna made a quick decision to discreetly attach a tiny camera to the outside of Sheena’s bag.
It
turned out to be quite useful in the end.
The live broadcast downstairs brought relief to Arianna's own precarious predicament. She emerged from her hiding spot, swiftly pushing Piper aside to prevent her from being seen.
Initially, Arianna intended to guide Xander out of the room, but Violet's persistence caught her off guard. As Violet approached with others in tow, Arianna had no choice but to usher Xander back into the closet for safety.
Unfortunately, Xander had already been exposed to the aphrodisiac, and its effects were beginning to take hold. Now, Arianna found herself in an increasingly dire situation, a consequence of her own actions.
