Chapter 497
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Chapter 497
Soon, Marina stepped out from behind Bette and Elnora. She looked down at Hayley, her eyes devoid of any emotion.
Hayley clenched her fists tightly. Even though Marina’s gaze held no trace of contempt, Hayley could still catch a hint of sympathy she couldn’t quite place in Marina’s eyes.
Marina quickly shifted her gaze away from Hayley and looked at Daron.
Hayley instantly understood what that sympathy in Marina’s eyes meant.
Her sympathy was actually for Daron because someone right by his side was plotting against him.
And the one plotting against him was his own aunt, the woman who’d raised him for more than twenty years.
Hayley took a deep breath and hurried toward Daron.
But before Hayley could get to Daron, Durif’s people blocked her path.
“Ms. Blanchard, Mr. Blanchard wants you to clear up the rumor from today,” one of them said. “If you won’t do it, someone else will step up and do it instead.”
Hayley’s face fell as she glanced at Daron. He just shot her an indifferent look and turned away, obviously agreeing with Durif’s approach.
A sudden wave of panic hit Hayley, and she rushed over to Genny.
“Genny, you-” Hayley tried to speak, but her eyes welled up with tears before she could get the words out.
At the thought that everyone in this crowd would start looking at her like she was some kind of joke after she cleared things up, Hayley felt a sick heaviness settle in her chest.
The words hovered at the edge of her lips, but no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn’t force them out.
Genny noticed how distraught Hayley was and quickly asked in confusion, “Hayley, what’s wrong? Did Daron treat you unfairly to shield Marina?”
Hayley drew a deep breath, tears streaming down her face as she spoke, her voice heavy with utter helplessness.
“Genny, I know you were trying to help, but you didn’t realize your actions have only brought me more trouble. Please explain to everyone that you fabricated everything earlier. It has nothing to do with me.”
Genny’s expression changed instantly, stunned by Hayley’s request.
“Hayley, what do you mean? You want me to take the fall for you?” Genny demanded.
Hayley bit down on her lip. “I told you this couldn’t get out, but you still went around gossiping. Now Daron and the Blanchard family are blaming me for this. You…”
Genny immediately caught the key point, her gaze heavy as she looked at Hayley.
“The Blanchard family?” Genny repeated. “Shouldn’t the Blanchard family be holding Marina and Elnora accountable? Why are they making you put up with all this?
“Or is it that the Blanchard family blamed Marina, and she ran to Daron crying, so now he’s forcing you to grin and bear it?”
5:00 pm P p p p.
Chapter 497
Genny’s voice was loud enough that plenty of people turned to stare.
Hayley’s eyes darted around in panic.
She grabbed Genny’s hand in a rush. “Keep it down.”
As Hayley said this, there was a wild edge in her eyes.
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Genny was stunned by the look in Hayley’s eyes for a few seconds. Hayley was always the picture of kindness, so seeing that look on her face was like seeing a stranger.
“Hayley…” Genny started to say.
Bette came down the stairs with a wine glass in hand, smiling as she strolled over to Genny.
“Mrs. Wright, don’t bother asking. She’s not going to spill the truth to you,” Bette said.
Hayley’s face went stiff, her hands clenched into tight fists at her sides.
“Bette–Hayley started to say, trying to plead with Bette.
But Bette just smiled at her, cutting her off before she could say another word, “Aunt Hayley, you sure didn’t look like this when you accepted my apology just a while back.
“Did you really think fainting would stop the appraisal? We all know you sold my mother’s belongings. And you did it right when Daron was having all that trouble in Frency.”
Hayley’s face went ghostly pale as she shot a look at Daron.
But Daron didn’t even spare her a glance. It was obvious that he already knew the truth and was just letting Bette tear her down.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Hayley said. “The key to the collection room? I already handed it over to Marina. That has nothing to do with me.”
Bette let out a faint smile and spoke in a low voice. “Aunt Hayley, I bet you regretted it when Daron came back safe from Frency, right?
“Not that you regret selling off my mom’s stuff, but you regret screwing up like that. Having Daron owe you for life is way more valuable than a bunch of old heirlooms.
“So you needed a scapegoat. Marina was perfect for that. She never cares about the Zamora family’s matters. Even if she had the key, she wouldn’t notice so soon that you’d already switched out most of the jewels in the collection room.”
Hayley shook her head, trying to deny it, but she couldn’t get a single explanation out.
Marina and Elnora walked over right after Bette.
Elnora stood there, cold and aloof, a chilly smirk tugging at her lips.
“Ms. Blanchard, I just heard a rumor that my sister swiped her mother–in–law’s heirloom and gave it to me just to stroke my ego,” Elnora said.
“Nice try, but this pink diamond is actually a gem that my mother–in–law picked up at an overseas auction. It’s worth a ton, and the auction was just last month. The records are still available. I’ve already had someone retrieve them.
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5:00 pm P P P P
Chapter 497
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“When you gave my sister the key to the collection room, I already had this ring. So clearly, the ring slipped out while you were the one holding the keys. I bet you can’t talk your way out of that.”
Hayley bit her lip hard, her hands shaking slightly from sheer anxiety.
The ladies nearby started eyeing her differently.
Marina looked at Hayley, totally unfazed, and said calmly, “The key to the collection room? I never had it. It’s with Daron.
“I never really accepted the key from you. That same night, the Zamora family brought in experts to inspect every single piece of jewelry.”
Hayley took a sudden step back.
She accidentally bumped into a servant carrying a tray of wine, and the wine all spilled onto her.
The glasses crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces, just like all the lies she’d carefully spun and the flawless persona she’d built up over the years, coming apart at the seams in that very moment.
At first, the folks on the other side didn’t even notice the little scene happening here.
But the sudden crash drew everyone’s attention this way.
Durif frowned.
Daron just stood there, not budging an inch.
Durif glanced at him, his voice grave as he spoke. “After all, she did look after you for years. Go and take a look.”
Daron didn’t move, his voice calm with a hint of raspiness. “Let Bette handle it.”
Harris nodded in satisfaction, smiling at Durif.
“Durif, the young folks have their own way of handling things. Old folks like us should just stay out of it.”
As he spoke, Harris gave Daron a pat on the shoulder, his pride written all over his face.
It was like he was flaunting his handiwork right in front of Durif, showing off just how pleased he was.
Daron had grown up with Harris watching over him. There was no way Daron couldn’t see through Hayley’s games.
It was just that Hayley always held the fact that she’d raised him over his head, making him feel like he owed her and keeping him tied down.
But now, he’d finally lost all hope in Hayley and Zara.
From now on, those two wouldn’t be able to make the slightest wave in his world.
