Chapter 550
“Cora, have you even thought about Lauren lately?” Erin’s voice was sharp with accusation. “She’s only been gone a short while. Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten her.”
Her words were a clear jab at Cora for so quickly switching her allegiance from Lauren to Anastasia.
Cora bristled. “What’s with the passive-aggressive comments, Erin? I can’t choose my own friends?”
“You can choose your friends, but you should look at what kind of person they are!” Erin shot back, not bothering to lower her voice. “Have you forgotten why Lauren can’t come to the institute anymore? It’s all Anastasia’s fault! The least you could do is not defend Lauren’s enemy. Instead, you’re becoming friends with her? It’s like you’ve completely erased Lauren from your memory!”
Before Anastasia’s arrival, Erin and Cora had been Lauren’s closest confidantes, an inseparable trio. But Anastasia had driven a wedge between them, and now that Lauren was gone, the group had disbanded entirely, with Cora siding with the enemy. Erin had been stewing for days, seeing Cora accept a position at Unison Pharma, and now this-seeing them acting like best friends-was the last straw.
“So Lauren’s situation is my fault?” Anastasia spoke up before Cora could respond. “That’s news to me. Since you seem to know so much, Erin, why don’t you enlighten me?”
Erin flushed with anger. “You know exactly what you did! Stop playing dumb!”
“I honestly don’t,” Anastasia replied, a cold smile touching her lips. “If you’re talking about her losing her assistant position, that was her own doing. Her plan to frame me blew up in her face. And if you’re talking about her being barred from the institute, that’s even more ridiculous. You’re here fighting her battles, but do you even know what really happened?”
“She faked her own injuries and accused me of having her beaten up. She tried to sabotage my company. All that’s happened now is that her true colors have been exposed, and she’s facing the consequences. And somehow, that’s my fault?” Anastasia’s voice wa dripping with scorn I see why you and Lauren get along. You’re both incapable of telling right from wrong. When your schemes fail, you blame the victim for fighting back. You two are shameless.”
“You-!” Erin sputtered, her face turning a mottled shade of red.
“Am I wrong?” Anastasia asked, her gaze cool and unwavering. Fınd the newest release on.net
“Anastasia is right!” Cora added, her own anger flaring. “Were you blind to what Lauren was doing, Erin? Lused to admire her, but now… tell me, what’s left to admire about a petty, conniving person like her?”
Her disillusionment hadn’t happened overnight. She had made excuses for Lauren time and again, but eventually, she could no longer lie to herself. She had been deceived by a carefully crafted facade. The real Lauren, who would stoop so low as to try to steal another woman’s inheritance from her own mother, was not someone worthy of her loyalty.
Cornered and speechless, Erin glared at them before turning and stalking away.
Cora took a deep breath, pushing down her disappointment. “So,” she asked again, “shall we head over together later?”
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