Chapter 168


    Brielle paused mid–stride, her lips curling into a cold sneer, “Oh, Lillian, you’ve got some nerve bringing


    up the orphanage. Whonded the poor director in the hospital, huh? You think I don’t know? The old


    man’s still recovering, and here you are dragging him into your little schemes, all to bring up the


    donation issue, right? Beating around the bush is second nature to you, isn’t it?” Lillian’s face turned


    ashen, shrinking under Brielle’s piercing gaze.


    Standing on the floor, Brielle should have been the one looking up to Lillian on the stage, but


    inexplicably, Lillian felt as though it was Brielle who upied the moral high ground, because Brielle’s


    gaze was filled with undisguised contempt.


    “Bri, I wasn’t trying to bring up the donations,” Lillian said, ying the victim as she clutched. Miranda


    for support, her voice quivering. “You’re just being overly sensitive.”


    Now that the crowd had witnessed the forms, Lillian’s act seemed too contrived. But one thing. didn’t


    cancel out the other. Even if the Haywoods had been cruel to Brielle, skimping on charity was her fault


    alone. Miranda was stingy, and that was a fact, as was Brielle’s ingratitude.


    Before the murmurs could even start, Brielle’s voice cut through. “Lillian, since you’re so eloquent, why


    don’t you save it for the police?”


    Lillian thought she was hearing things. The police? What police?


    As confusion spread through the room, timely chatter came from outside the door, and several officers


    entered, their uniforms standing out starkly amongst the sea of elegant gowns and suits.


    The officers showed their badges and made a beeline for Lillian. “Miss Lillian, we need you toe


    with us, please.”


    Lillian’s pupils dted in disbelief, her mind roaring with panic. Why would the police be here for her?


    She quicklyposed herself and forced a smile, “Officer, there must be some misunderstanding.”


    “There’s no misunderstanding. We have all the evidence we need. The charity has filed a report in


    cooperation with Miss Brielle regarding the Sunflower Children’s Home donations. You’ve been making


    donations in Miss Brielle’s name, and now you need toe with us.”


    The charity had joined forces with Brielle to report Lillian? As the words sank in, those who had


    scorned Brielle’s miserliness fell silent. The evidence must have been overwhelming for the police to


    act.


    Faces in the crowd reflected shock and anger. Those who had sided with Lillian against Brielle were


    now utterly speechless. It turned out that Brielle, not Lillian, had been the benefactor all along. And


    Lillian, attempting to bask in this stolen glory, had just tried to publicly shame


    Chapter 168


    Brielle for not donating.


    Lillian felt her world spinning. She wished for the ground to swallow her up. How could this happen?


    She had deliberately brought up the donations to clear her name, and now Brielle had preempted her


    with hard evidence and perfect timing.


    That bitch! She must have nned to ruin her.


    Lillian’s lips trembled, and she dared not meet anyone’s eyes, feeling their stares like knives on her


    skin. She was inplete disarray, her eyes reddening with humiliation, especially with Max witnessing


    her downfall.


    Her lips clenched tight, tasting the bitterness of her blood. Her pride was in shreds. Tonight. she was


    the epitome of disgrace.


    And there stood Robert, looking as if he had swallowed a bitter pill, wishing he could magically dismiss


    all the guests.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    “Miss Lillian, pleasee with us,” the officer said, snapping a pair of silver handcuffs around her


    wrists.


    In that moment, Lillian shuddered and turned to Robert, her voice a desperate whisper, “Dad.” Robert


    felt the sting of ultimate embarrassment. But what could he say with everyone watching? Use the


    Haywood clout to intimidate the police? With Max standing right there, any further outburst would only


    worsen the impression they’d made.


    The Haywood family had lost all pretense of dignity that evening.


    Lillian felt like she couldn’t breathe, wishing she could disappear. This was supposed to be her night of


    triumph, her grand return to the Haywood fold, and now it was all ruined. From now on, whenever


    people thought of Lillian, they would remember her humiliation at this banquet.


    She heard the sneers around her, and the tears flowed freely. She hated Brielle. Brielle had destroyed


    everything!