spers. The guests, no longer trying to hide their shock, pointed and murmured, their faces a

. She lunged at Frederick, clawing at the lapels of his jacket. "Frederick, you h

him. His mind was at war with itself. The video had been damningly clear, but the image of Ciara as a helpless v

ed police officers stepped inside, their presence immediately rais

been ef

y towards Ciara. "Miss Schmitt? You're wanted for questioning regarding alleg

and hid behind Frederick, her fingers digging into his back.

a choice that made Eveline's heart, the one she thought was already

he officers. "Officer, there must be a misundersta

returning to her lips. This was the man she had wa

. "Mr. Tyler, we ha

demanded, his voice regaining its familiar tone of

ecurity team, were shoved into the ballroom. They looked terrified, their

m. "Who paid you?" he ask

r knuckles white as she c

e. He trembled and pointed a shaky finger towards a woman standing near the staf

oom. All eyes swiveled to the middle

y pale. She shuffled forwa

r of desperate relief. Her father.

down her face. "I did it. I couldn't stand to see Miss Eveline bully dear Miss Ciara anymore. I just wan

erything, a perfect

e that kept his worldview intact. He immediately turned to Eveline, his expression hardening into one of righteous indignati

hed at the sheer ab

y looked at him, her gaze level and p

prickle of doubt. But he pushed it down, clinging to the more convenien

nervingly calm eyes, and the fleeting look of triumph he'd seen on Ciar

er. Ciara had been cleared. But as Frederick looked at her, for the fir