Love in the Limelight (Astrid and Elio)
Chapter 521

[I can't stand people who beat around the bush like this. Spit it out, will you? I'm not about to let Astar get smeared with mud for no good reason, and then have to deal with the backlash from people who don't know jack!]

Astrid had originally intended to ignore Karin, but at those words, her temper flared. "Karin, make yourself clear. What does this have to do with me? I am not about to take the fall for something I didn't do!" Karin retorted with a sneer, "Does playing with people's feelings much give you a sense of accomplishment?"

The comments overwhelmed, [OMG, this is gonna be juicy!]

[Fight, come on!]

[I bet Astar's gonna crush it!]

[Go Astar!]

[This chick's looking for trouble!]

Nathan was about to lose his patience listening to Karin, but before he could interject, Astrid grabbed him by the arm, "Men should stay out of women's business."

With that, she shot Elio a warning look, "Don't you move either."

"Sure, babe," Elio responded, only to receive a stealthy stomp on the foot from Nathan.

It hurt, but he had to grit his teeth and bear it. He couldn't even stomp back.

Astrid approached Karin, confronting her directly, "You're the one who came to the show and aired your dirty laundry. What's that got to do with me?"

Karin wiped away a tear and accused, "Astrid, did you already dig into my past? You knew about my history with Mr. Lampard and my weaknesses, so that little wood carving wasn't something you made on the spot, was it? You prepared it beforehand! Because you knew I was obsessed with wood carvings, you used that to set me up!"

Astrid was flabbergasted, "Karin, what kind of twisted logic is that? I carved that piece during the show. Everyone saw me chopping wood and carving it, didn't they? Besides, you were a surprise guest. I didn't have my phone and had no clue who'd be joining. Am I some psychic to carry around a wood carving for days just to... frame you?"

"Oh, cut the act," Karin scoffed, pulling out the wooden figurine, "You were facing away from the camera when you were carving. It wasn't until it was nearly done that Parrish noticed and the camera panned to you. I adore wood carvings and I've even studied them. Ordinary carvings don't impress me, but the one you gave me was so detailed. It was professional. You can't achieve that in a short time!

If you had studied carving, your hands would show the calluses from the tools, but your hands are soft, which means you don't use carving tools regularly. That carving was prepared long ago, and you just scraped off the top layer with your knife to make it look freshly done."

Karin paused, then added, "The company leaked news not long ago that I might replace Joana for this show. So isn't it normal that you knew I was coming?"

At this point, Astrid felt like applauding Karin for her wild imagination, "So why would I want to harm you?"

Karin stated, "Because Mr. Lampard and I grew up together. You feel threatened."

Astrid was dumbfounded.

Seriously? Karin's ego was off the charts!

Astrid almost laughed but held it back, asking nonchalantly, "So why do you think I've been carrying around this wood carving all this time?"