Chapter 176
Everyone was watching them, all eyes drawn to the group at the center of the chaos, especially Albert and Latham. Their rivalry was practically legendary and every glance between them crackled with old grudges and tension.
Most people in the room had no clue about whatever history was tangled up between Dorothea and Albert. That secret hovered between them, unspoken.
Carola’s eyes were rimmed with red, wild with anger and humiliation. She glared daggers at Dorothea from across the room, her gaze full of raw accusation. It had to be Dorothea. Only she could have set all this in motion and destroyed her wedding in one brutal stroke.
Albert didn’t even have a chance to ask what anyone meant by calling Dorothea his “love.” Carola latched onto his hand, her voice trembling as she looked up at him, desperate and wounded. “Albert, those videos are fake. I never bullied anyone. She’s behind all of this p>
There was nothing gentle in Carola’s eyes. She pointed straight at Dorothea, her arm steady and accusing, not bothering to hide her hatred.
Layton saw things spiraling out of control. He grabbed Elise, who was still frozen with shock from what she’d seen. “Elise, are you just going to stand there? Are you going to do something about Dorothea or not p>
It took Elise a moment to process everything. The video had left her reeling. She finally snapped out of it and nodded. “I’ll talk to her now p>
She crossed the distance, trying to sound stern but coming off more desperate than anything. “Dorothea, stop this. Do you have any idea what you’re doing? This is defamation. Layton and Carola could take you to court for this p>
Dorothea’s face stayed unreadable. “Elise, you really think those videos are fake p>
She paused, her voice quiet but sharp. “It’s sad. Some of those girls aren’t even alive anymore. Some are just now starting to heal from what happened. Others still can’t get through a day without their medication. And the one person they all have in common is your so-called perfect daughter, Carola p>
Getting that footage hadn’t been easy. Carola and her friends always found places without cameras, thought they were untouchable. But they never expected that one girl, the one they’d kicked out, would record everything.
Dorothea had tracked her down with Latham’s help. They found the old group member, got the evidence, and then Dorothea reached out to every girl in those videos. Only a few. were brave enough to go public, bu those few had agreed to let the truth out. S
“Some of these girls have already filed lawsuits, Dorothea said, looking straight at Albert, a small, knowing smile tugging at her lips.
your sweet little daughter is about to get a lot of subpoenas. And so is your wonderful new wife p>
She let the words hang there for a moment, then turned to Elise. “Do you know why stopped going to your hou after turned six? It’s
because Carola treated me the
same way she treated those girls p>
Dorothea had gotten out early, before things got really bad. Back then, Carola was just a kid, not quite the monster she’d become.
Carola’s voice broke through the tension, frantic and loud. “You’re lying! All those people are just your friends helping you set me up. Mom, don’t listen to her, please p>
But Elise just stood there, looking lost. For the first time, she let herself wonder if Carola really had done those things to Dorothea.
Suddenly Elise’s chest tightened and she struggled to breathe. She didn’t want to believe any of it, didn’t want this to be real.
“Carola, I believe you,” she said softly, but as she spoke she gently pulled her hand away from her daughter’s grip.
Latham saw right through them. “Don’t worry. We have all the evidence. I’ll make sure no one can sweep this under the rug or protect a bully p>
He looked over at Albert, his tone mocking. “Congrats, Albert. Looks like your brand
new wife might be headed to jail soon. Excited p>
Albert’s face was cold, his lips pressed together in a hard line, refusing to show a single emotion.