Chapter 227
“I get it, you all like Miranda now. But does she even acknowledge you? Would she treat you like I do? Have you all forgotten she went to jail? Because of her, you’re giving up on me now?”
Her voice cracked more with each word, her body trembling with emotion. It was a sight that could tug at anyone’s heartstrings.
Orion and Lysander exchanged a glance. Lysander spoke coldly, “Cut the act, it’s disgusting. I didn’t see it before, but every time you’re around Miranda, you’re like a different person.”
Orion added, his voice icy, “The best thing right now is to distance ourselves from her. That way, the family won’t get dragged down.”
Arabella’s eyes widened in panic at their decision. “No! How can you do this to me? Don’t forget, you were accomplices two years ago! If I leave the family, you’re all going down with me!”
She blurted out her thoughts in a moment of fear, terrified of being cast aside.
As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized the gravity of her admission, feeling as if her carefully constructed facade had just crumbled, revealing her most vulnerable and ugly truth.
At the sight of her brothers‘ cold stares, Arabella’s heart sank.
“No, I didn’t mean it.” she stammered, desperate to explain. But Dorian cut her off sharply.
“About Sunny, what was exactly going on?” His voice was low, each word laced with suppressed menace.
“Is there any truth to what’s been posted online?” His gaze was steely and unforgiving. “At school, were you the one leading the charge against Miranda?”
With each question, Arabella’s guilt grew, her fists clenching involuntarily. Orion narrowed his eyes further.
“Did Cathy fall by accident, or did you push her? I checked the accounts of the two people who posted, they were your friends and wouldn’t lie.”
Arabella went pale. Her voice was barely above a whisper, trembling with hurt. “You don’t believe me.”
As the Hawke family was thrown into chaos by the online revelations, Miranda received word that her jewelry purchases had been paid for by someone else.
“Did you find out who it was?”
Miranda frowned. “Him?”
The person who covered her bill that night was Sebastian. She was sure it was her account that was charged, assuming a delay in processing. How did it end up being Sebastian who settled it?
She called the event organizer again. The person on the other end revealed with a smile, “Mr. Everhart asked us to charge it to him and not to tell you. Now that you know, don’t say it was from me. Mr. Everhart is quite thoughtful.”
Miranda hung up and called Marion.
“Can you check Sebastian’s account and send him a payment?”
Wendy watched Miranda make calls and couldn’t help but ask, “Miranda, is everything alright? Did something happen?”
After ending the call, Miranda thought for a moment, shook her head, and continued walking. “It’s nothing, does your friend live here?” she asked while observing the building in front of them.
Wendy nodded, her expression wistful. “She’s been staying here ever since the incident. I come by every week to check on her, just to make sure she’s okay.”
As she spoke, Wendy unlocked the door with practiced ease.
7/2
08:13
“Miranda, please, keep your voice down. We don’t want to startle her. She’s very sensitive right now, Wendy cautioned softly.
Miranda nodded in understanding. As Wendy opened the door, Miranda followed her inside.
Miranda had promised Wendy she’d meet her friend, and today, Wendy had called saying she’d be visiting, so it was the perfect opportunity to bring Miranda along.
Miranda had been meaning to see Sunny, but things had been hectic recently. No time like the present, she thought, curious to see how Sunny was doing.
Her phone buzzed suddenly. Hannah had sent her a message with two links. They were posts exposing Arabella for bullying at school.
Miranda recognized the work of Judy and Nora. With the deadline approaching, they had timed it perfectly, taking advantage of the Hawke family’s being trending topic and Arabella’s current scandal to release the dirt. Clearly, their grudge against Arabella was deep. This was a calculated move to take her down.
Miranda wasn’t worried they’d stray from the plan. Given the choice between exposing Arabella or incriminating themselves, Judy and Nora would surely choose the former.
After all, they could present themselves as victims under duress. But if Miranda revealed the recordings instead, that would be a different story.
Miranda put her phone away, focusing on the small apartment in front of her.
The space was cluttered, and Wendy instinctively started tidying up. At the sound of their arrival, someone rushed out from inside.
“Wendy!”
Her hair was disheveled, her face pale, clad in pajamas, and she looked frightfully thin. Upon seeing Miranda, a stranger, she recoiled, screaming in terror.
Wendy quickly went to her side, holding her close to calm her down. “It’s alright, Sunny, it’s okay. She’s my friend, here to see you. You have nothing to fear!”
But the girl seemed not to hear, her red eyes wide open like a ghost, crying and shouting at Miranda as if haunted. “Don’t do this to me, don’t do this! Please don’t!”
Wendy joined in her tears. “Sunny, don’t be like this. Don’t be scared, no one’s going to hurt you. It’s me, Wendy! I’m here to protect you!”
Miranda calmly watched Sunny, who now resembled a withering flower, slowly fading away.
08:
