Chapter 677
Caitlin and her group stopped and turned. Liliana strode toward them with her chin lifted, her expression proud and full of hostility.
“Oh? So it’s you.”
Caitlin let out a light chuckle, a faint smile on her face.
Liliana stopped in front of her, glaring sharply.
“Well? What do you want with me?”
“Yesterday you disguised yourself as Prince Magnus’s aide and slipped into the Jonathan estate. You got what you wanted–you’re living here now. I want to know, what’s your relationship with His Highness Magnus? Does he know you were pretending to be his aide?”
Liliana needed to know exactly where Caitlin stood with the prince. Otherwise Caitlin could keep meddling.
“I doubt he knows. As for what relationship I have with Magnus, that’s none of your business.”
“He doesn’t know? Then you impersonated his aide. Do you realize the crime you’ve committed? Can you bear it?” Liliana pressed aggressively.
“That’s my problem. What does it have to do with you?”
Caitlin brushed her words aside with ease.
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll report you to His Highness?
”
“Afraid? If you could see him, you’d already be at lunch with him instead of standing here bickering with me. Which means you didn’t see him, did you? He stood you up, didn’t he?”
The corner of Caitlin’s lips curled into a mocking smile. Liliana’s rage burned hotter.
“This is all your fault! You ruined everything! If not for you, I’d already be close with His Highness.”
Her eyes flashed with malice, her fists clenched. If not for maintaining her lady–like façade, she would have lunged at Caitlin and clawed her hateful face.
“You can’t win the prince over, and somehow that’s my fault? What a joke.”
Caitlin sneered and turned to go, but Liliana blocked her path.
“What now?”
“This won’t end here! If you don’t want me to expose you, then do me a favor.”
“What favor?”
16:03 Fri, Oct 3
“Help me get an appointment with the prince. You managed to get near him once, so you must have a way to
arrange it.
Liliana wanted to exploit Caitlin’s cleverness. She knew Caitlin could make it happen if she wanted to
“Sorry, why would I help you? I came all the way here for the fragrance competition, and you wouldn’t even let me through the door. And now you want my help?*
Caitlin wasn’t someone who forgot grudges. Liliana had sabotaged her before–now she expected Caitlin to open doors for her? Impossible.
“Yes, you registered late last time. I couldn’t open a back door for you. But if you help me now, I can make an exception and give you a slot in the final round with the top ten perfumers. Isn’t that tempting?”
Liliana thought she was offering enough. A fast track into the finals was no small prize.
But Caitlin scoffed. “Oh, I’ve lost interest in special treatment. Strange, I’ve suddenly lost interest in the whole competition, actually.”
Not wanting to waste more words, she stepped forward, but Liliana grabbed her sleeve angrily. “Caitlin, don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!”
Caitlin turned her head, eyes locking on Liliana’s. She yanked her hand free and said evenly, “I remember meeting you in Paris at a perfume competition. Back then, you weren’t like this. You treated me kindly. Why has your attitude toward me changed so drastically in such a short time? Why are you like a different person now?”
Liliana froze. Her heart skipped a beat, her face pale. She sucked in a sharp breath, speechless.
Caitlin gave a cold smile. “With your reputation as Liliana of the Jonathan family, are you really afraid of not finding a good man? Your mother is resourceful enough on her own. Why come to me, a distant relative who barely knows anyone here? I can’t help you.”
With that, Caitlin walked into Moonstone Court.
Liliana snapped back, seething. Caitlin’s sharp tongue cut deeper than a knife, leaving no blood behind.
Murder with words.
Back in her room, Caitlin replayed the video she had just taken.
Zinnia leaned in curiously. “Who do you think that woman was? Why kill her and dump her in the pond?”
“In a mansion like this, all kinds of dirty little secrets happen. I can’t say what his motive was, but pushing her into the water was just to cover up the murder. To make it look like she drowned.”
“Mm.”
Zinnia nodded thoughtfully. “So what do we do next?”
“Wait and watch. Paper can’t cover fire. This has nothing to do with us. We just need to conserve our strength and wait for the right moment.”
Caitlin was sure it wouldn’t be her losing sleep tonight–it would be Fletcher.
After finishing his “business,” Fletcher returned to Hector’s chambers, where the old man was awake and Nicoletta sat by his side.
“Fletcher, it’s done?” Nicoletta’s words carried a hidden meaning that only he understood.
“All taken care of. I’ve got a meeting at the capital hall this afternoon.” Fletcher’s face was calm, as though nothing had happened.
“Good. It’s about time for dinner. Let’s head to the dining room.”
Hector suddenly asked, “Where’s Uzma? Where did that girl run off to?”
“Who knows, probably off lazing around again. Don’t wait for her. I’ll help you up.”
Nicoletta quickly got to her feet and supported him out.
At the dining room, Nicoletta spotted her daughter approaching, her face stormy. Nicoletta frowned. “Liliana, why are you back so soon?
“Mom!”
Liliana stormed up, cheeks puffed in anger, tugging at her mother’s sleeve.
Nicoletta let Fletcher escort Hector inside, while she stayed to ask, “What happened? What’s wrong?”
“Mom, it’s Caitlin again! She sabotaged me, ruined everything with the prince. I didn’t even get to see him!”
Nicoletta’s brow furrowed. “Unbelievable. She’s already thrown this family into chaos, and now she thinks she can control everything? I don’t think so.”
After a moment of thought, Nicoletta softened her tone. “Don’t be upset. You’re the Jonathan family’s princess, high above her. Don’t stoop to her level. I’ll find the right chance to teach her a lesson.”