Leilani stands in the center of the room and everyone stares back at her. Waylen thinks she looks utterly alone, like a tired swimmer in shark-infested waters. He wants to cross the room and take her in his arms; he wants to protect her from whatever trouble she may have gotten herself into, but her cool expression tells him she doesn’t give a damn about what he wants.
With an arrogant shake of her head, she unlocks her phone.
“According to this phone, the timestamp on the message is 3:17 PM,” Leilani says, “At that time, Janetta was in this very room sewing the dress she tore.”
Waylen’s pupils suddenly dilate.
“Did Janetta tear the dress?” he wonders, “If that’s true, Leilani didn’t give it away—she just gave it to her sister to mend it.”
With this thought, a ripple of happiness spreads from his heart through his body. He wants to hug and kiss Leilani.
“Vanessa was applying a facial mask in her room. I was in the living room and Gabrielle was making a smoothie in the kitchen,” Leilani continues, “We all had witnesses who saw us. But where were you, Kathrine?”
A bead of sweat appears on Katherine’s forehead and runs down to the tip of her nose. She doesn’t know how she can explain her way out of this—she never expected Leilani to be so smart.
Waylen keeps his eyes locked on Leilani like a snake under the spell of a charmer. He can’t believe her pull is so magnetic.
“Sir, he’s here,” Robert announces.
A bodyguard enters the room dragging a man by his collar. Waylen looks away from Leilani, and his face takes on its normal cold and harsh expression.
“Beat him until he tells the truth,” Waylen commands.
The man is so frightened that he kneels on the floor. He gives Kathrine an anxious look. She ignores him and places her hand on the arm of the sofa, revealing enlarged blue veins on the back of her hand.
“No, I’ll tell you everything,” says, covering his head protectively with his hands, “I work for Light Times.”
Leilani almost gasps with amazement. She can’t believe that Waylen found the journalist colluding with Katherine so quickly.
“Mrs. Peters sent me those photos,” the man says, “I don’t know anything else.”
“Nonsense! You’re making baseless accusations,” Katherine hisses.
Kathrine struggles to her feet, clutching her pregnant belly. The stress and exertion upset the baby, and it kicks her powerfully. She sinks weakly back down onto the sofa.
“We have a witness and hard evidence here, Katherine,” Leilani says coldly, “It seems that you’re the one who has been making false accusations. Father, our family gave up a lot to throw this party, and we invited important people, but their actions spoiled the party and humiliated the family. I don’t know what game they’re playing. Has Katherine forgotten that she’s a Peters too?”
Katherine points a shaky finger at Leilani and moves her mouth as if to speak, but she finds herself too weak and tired to continue. She lowers her hand and rubs her belly.
“Katherine, you’re a pregnant lady,” Leilani says, “Be careful, we don’t want anything to happen to the baby. If I were you, I’d focus on that. If it’s a boy, you know what joy and happiness that would bring to this family, though of course, it’s not up to you what you’ll get. Luck favors the kind. After all this, do you think luck still favors you, Katherine?”
“Leilani, she’s your stepmother,” Anthony reproaches her, “Show her some respect.”
“Sorry, I can’t help it,” Leilani says insincerely.
She turns and looks at Waylen.
“Is this proof enough for you?” she asks, “Can you send your men to retrieve Gabrielle now?”
Waylen nods at Robert and the butler gives instructions to the bodyguards. Leilani feels relief, but she knows that her ordeal isn’t over. She’s helped Gabrielle, but she still has to settle the score with the rest of her family.
“If I remember correctly Katherine said that the person responsible for this betrayal should be disinherited from the family and banished from our home.”
Katherine clutches her belly and makes a pained expression.
“Oh no, my baby!” she m.o.a.ns.
“Call an ambulance,” Anthony commands.
“What’s the hurry?” Leilani asks, looking down at Katherine, “She’s not bleeding, is she? Besides, there may be an alternative if she doesn’t want to break off with our family.”
Though Katherine’s face is distorted, she stops her howling long enough to listen to Leilani.
“Waylen said that you could all swimming in the estuary,” Leilani says with a smirk.
“Leilani, can’t you let it go?” Anthony shouts, “She’s pregnant for Pete’s sake. Can’t you leave her alone? If you can’t do it for her sake, can you do it for me?”
“When was she ever willing to leave me alone, hmm?” Leilani asks.
“What do you want?” Anthony asks.
“Kathrine is pregnant so she is unfit for that kind of punishment,” Leilani says, walking towards Janetta, “But she’s not the only one responsible.”
Janetta feels chills run down her spine.
“When did Leilani become so cold-blooded and ruthless?” Janetta wonders.
“Leilani, I was just curious about the file,” Janetta whimpers, “I didn’t mean to send pictures to anyone.”
“Why are you so upset?” Leilani asks, staring pitilessly at Janetta, “If you’re willing to take Katherine’s place, then she doesn’t have to suffer. You should be happy to protect her in this way.”
“No! I won’t do it!” Janetta insists, shaking her head violently back and forth, “She can do it herself for all I care. I won’t take the fall for her!”
“She’s your mother,” Leilani says.
“So what?” Janetta snaps, “Why doesn’t she take my place instead?”
“Family in need is family indeed,” Leilani says ironically, “How do you feel, Kathrine?”
“Leilani, don’t you try to drive a wedge between us,” Janetta says.
“Oh, that’s rich coming from you,” Leilani says lightly.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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