Revenge Of The Jilted Bride (Ophelia)
Jilted Bride 25

Chapter 25

Ophelia replied, "I just promised Bethany that anything she custom-orders from our store will be ready for pickup a month earlier than anyone else's,"

"And that was enough for her to agree?" Chloe still couldn't believe it.

Ophelia continued working while explaining. "The Carnegie family were just nouveau riche before they became one of Dellanex's elite three. They've got more money than they know what to do with, but what they crave is validation of their status

"The Carnegie family has been involved in charity auctions and fundraisers for years, all in an attempt to elevate their status even higher. Every wealthy person enjoys wielding power, but even more so, they love having privileges others can't touch. I offered Bethany that exclusivity-this privilege is hers alone."

Chloe nodded, admiration and pride shining in her eyes as she looked at Ophelia. Yeah, that's something to brag about for a lifetime, Chloe thought.

"Oh, Chloe, I need your help with one more thing," Ophelia added.

Over the next two days, several online accounts began digging into the origins of the initial posts and audio that had sparked the whole scandal. It didn't take long for them to trace the posts back to Hannah's secondary account.

Given the past incident with the Hall family, it was quickly confirmed that Elannah had fabricated the rumors to divert public scrutiny away from the Hall family.

z out of

At first, Hannah brushed it off, thinking it was no big deal. But once the online backlash and hate started spiraling control, she realized the situation was getting worse by the minute.

In the early morning. Hannah sat at the table for her breakfast, too scared to even breathe freely. She quietly ate her food. occasionally sneaking glances at George.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and moments later, a servant entered the dining room with a delivery. "Sir, there's a p

package for

you.

It was unusual for company documents to be sent directly to the house, so George wiped his mouth and tore open the envelope along the perforated edge, and a small recording device fell onto the table. His brows furrowed, but he continued pulling out the rest of the contents, revealing a letter-an official legal notice

After skimming through the document, George's expression darkened. He quickly checked the latest news on his phone and then slammed the lawyer's letter onto the table with a loud thud. Hannah, startled, nearly dropped her spoon.

"Idiot! How did I end up with such a stupid daughter? Stop eating and look at me! George's hand swiped across the table, sending bowls and utensils crashing to the floor.

"Oh, my! What's going on, honey?" Lydia was terrified, her face drained of color.

"Let your baby girl explain to you, George snapped.

Hannah was already trembling with fear, too scared to say a word. Lydia looked between George and Hannah and murmured. "Didn't we settle everything last time? Hannah knows her mistake...

"Are you sure she knows? George pointed a shaking finger at Hannah, clearly enraged. I should've taken your phone away and you wouldn't have had time to spread rumors"

"Rumors What rumors?" Lydia asked, looking confused.

"I didn't spread any rumors Hannah protested, though her voice lacked confidence. She couldn't bring herself to look at George, so she hung ber head and nervously explained everything that had happened. George instantly caught the key detail-it involved the Hastings family agam. So this is an attack aimed at me he thought.

Chapter 15

He glanced at the recording device on the table and regained some composure. He pressed play, and the conversation from that day started playing-Emily's voice from the first part of the recording. George listened carefully, his frown deepening, and replayed the recording twice.

Even Hannah began to piece things together, and she thought to herself, 'No way... Emily is the Hastings family's adopted daughter? And Ophelia is their real daughter?'

George recalled that day he went to confront the Hastings. He remembered how fiercely Heather protected Ophelia. Suddenly, it all made sense.

George said, "Hannah, I know that you did this for your friend, but look, someone used you and turned you into a pawn. You're going to issue a public statement immediately-explain everything and post the recording too. I'll handle the rest. And once the school term starts, I'm sending you abroad. You won't have to worry about any awkward encounters with Emily ever again." Hannah nodded, fury bubbling up inside her. She had been nothing but loyal to Emily, and yet she had been played like a

fool.

By that afternoon, Hannah had not only issued a public apology but also laid out the entire sequence of events-starting from the gown Emily rented.

Insiders began leaking what really went down at Emily's birthday party. Suddenly, the Internet was buzzing with trending hashtags: "Fake Heiress Emily Exposed", "Two-Faced Emily", and "How To Stage Your Own Drama

Mainstream media ran wild with stories about the Hastings family's real and fake daughters, and Hastings Group faced a tidal wave of negative press. For a whole week, their stock prices took a nosedive. Even artists under Sungate Entertainment felt the backlash, getting caught in the crossfire and facing public outrage.

When the scandal broke, Emily felt her world shatter. Staring at the endless stream of online ridicule, her whole body trembled with rage. Her nails dug into her skin without her even realizing it, and her face was as pale as a ghost.

She wanted to disappear, feeling like everyone around her was either mocking her or pitying her. Even the artists she used to look down on were now slamming doors in her face.

"Why? I'm Owen's daughter, but why are people calling me a fake heiress? Why is fate so unfair? It's all Ophelia's fault. If it weren't for her, none of this would be happening." Emily thought.

"Ophelia!" Emily ground her teeth, and her eyes were filled with hatred and venom.

Just then, a commotion erupted outside her office. "Ma'am, you can't go in there. This is the director's office."

The next second, the door suddenly flew open-

Already in a foul mood, Emily was about to lash out when someone stormed in and grabbed her by the hair. She let out a loud scream in pain.

"Emily, I thought we were friends. Is this how you treat me?" Hannah's shout filled the office. She was tall and strong, and the force with which she yanked Emily's hair made it clear how furious she was. Before Emily could react, Hannah had already slapped her across the face multiple times. Everyone around them gasped-it was more intense than watching a wife catch her husband's mistress.

"Ah-Hannah, please, let me explain. I... I didn't..." Emily cried and struggled.

"You didn't? Emily, stop pretending. I'm cursed to have ever been your friend. What a fool I've been, Hannah spat, her words sharp, her hand never stopping.

Emily's face was now covered in red marks, blood trickling from her lips. She didn't even have the strength to fight back

No one dared to step in, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire. At that moment, Emily truly understood what it meant to be abandoned by the world. The second she lost her title as Hastings's heiress, everyone around her had turned against her.

It wasn't until the guards arrived that they managed to pull Hannah away. Emily sobbed, her face tear-streaked. Yet she still tried to maintain her image and told everyone she wouldn't press charges and let Hannah go

Meanwhile, Cathy received a letter addressed to Emily-a lawyer's letter. She hesitated as she handed it over, afraid of being

Chapter 23

caught in the storm of Emily's wrath. The letter detailed the compensation owed for the gown-seven million dollars.