Chapter 104

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Hannah explained , her voice trembling slightly , “ Even if you and Henry Lester didn’t officially register your marriage , you lived as husband and deleter name and reality , Marrying Liam afterward constitutes bigamy ”
“ Husband and wife in reality ? ” Aria scoffed , her voice dripping with disdain as she locked her gaze onto Hannah and Liam . She spoke dowly , enunciating each word , “ So , you’re saying I was ruined by some old man and should just crawl into a hole – never step foot in Mandino Cily , never return to the Saxor family , and definitely never get married ? is that what you’re implying ? ”
Liam and Hannah’s faces stiffened , stunned that she would so boldly lay everything bare ,
The crowd exchanged uneasy glances , their whispers growing louder as shock turned into contempt
People instinctively sympathize with those who’ve endured suffering . To the onlookers , Aria might appear strong now , but she was still a pitiable figure a girl sold by her foster parents and abandoned by her family .
Hannah hurriedly denied , “ That’s not what we meant ! You’re overthinking it
“ Oh , so that’s not what you meant ? Then what are you trying to say ? ” Aria’s voice was calm , but her gaze was sharp , cutting through their pretense . “ Pretending to be so righteous and above it all – must be exhausting . ”
Liam frowned . “ What’s with that sarcastic attitude ? We’re just stating the facts . If you can’t handle it, why keep coming after us ? ”
Aria sneered . “ Facts ? Oh , really ? Did the indenture explicitly say I was sold to be his child bride ? ”
Liam froze , momentarily at a loss . The indenture didn’t say that , but Henry had admitted it himself .
“ A single old man buying a little girl – what else could it be if not to make her his child bride ? ” Liam retorted , his jaw tightening .
Amanda , unable to stay silent , stepped forward and said calmly . “ Why assume “ child bride ‘ ? Couldn’t it just be adopting her to care for him in his old age ? ”
Vanessa , barely holding back her anger , snapped , “ Wow , you guys are really something . Can’t find any dirt on Aria now , so you’re making up stories about her childhood ? Picking on a ten year old – how low can you go ? ”
“ That’s not true ! ” Liam denied it , but the crowd’s expressions had already shifted . Forced to explain , he added , “ Everything we said came straight from Henry Lester . We’re not making anything up
Aria raised an eyebrow . “ Really ? So you’ve met Henry Lester ? ”
Liam nodded firmly . “ Yes ”
Aria’s lips curved into a faint smile , her tone light yet sharp . “ Thanks for finding him for me . Looks like you’ve done all the work – evidence and everything ”
She turned to Hannah , her voice dripping with mockery . “ Ms. Gibson , you’re so kind . I’m sure you’ll help me report this to the police , right ? ”
She smiled faintly , completely unbothered , as if the term “ child
hild bride ” didn’t faze her at all .
Someone said , “ Buying a girl ? People who’d ever do that deserve to rot in hell ”
“ The Saxon family raised Silvia Saxon wholeheartedly , but her biological parents sold /
Aria Saxon for money . I wonder if the Saxon family knows about
this , someone muttered .
Another one said , “ And even if they do , what difference does it make ? They’ve already cut ties with Aria Saxon ! ”
Someone chimed in , “ Neither her biological parents nor her foster parents cared for her . Poor Aria Saxon – her life is just too tragic . ”
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From the crowd , a girl cupped her hands around her moulland deliberately shouted , “ Ms. Gibson’s always been to charitattas this , she’ll definitely help Arla Saxon report 11 ,
an , there’s evidence and witnesses “ : ”
Some people nodded . “ Exactly ! Ms. Gibson and Mr. Cole are both in the medical hold they’re supposed to be compassionate people . “ .
The mumsured discussions reached Hannah’s ears , and her face flushed with embarrassment and anger . She had planned to expose Arla for bigamy , búa now everyone expected her to help report the crime . “ How did things turn out like this ? ‘ Hannah fumed inwardly
Aria had orchestrated this moral dilemma in front of everyone , forcing Hannals to take action against Henry and Aria’s foster parents .
Liam , now fully aware of Aria’s ploy , looked livid , “ We’re divorced Why should I bother with you ? ”
Vanessa glared at him and Hannah , “ Then what’s your excuse for deliberately framing and tarnishing your wife’s reputation ? What’s your real motive ? ”
Triggered by Vanessa’s earlier comment calling them “ a scumbag and his side chick , Liam , already furious , lost all restraint in his words . “ This has nothing to do with you , you shameless actress who slept her way to fanse …
What responded to him was a slap , which echoed , loud and sharp .
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