Chapter 620

She looked at Lauren, a faint, knowing smile playing on her lips. “The word of a single maid is enough to prove my guilt? If I recall correctly, this maid was always quite friendly with you. What if I were to say you bribed her? Would you confess immediately?”
“And let’s not even talk about the past. Right now, based on nothing but a few unsubstantiated claims from a servant, you’re already jumping to call me a murderer. Lauren, are you that desperate to see me ruined?”
She paused, her eyes glinting. “Ah, but that makes sense, doesn’t it? If something were to happen to the rightful heiress, all of my things would become yours, wouldn’t they?”
Her insinuation was deliberately malicious, but given Lauren’s track record, it was also entirely plausible. As expected, the other guests began to look at Lauren with suspicion. Whether Anastasia was guilty or not, Lauren’s eagerness to condemn her was certainly suspect.
Lauren’s face darkened. “I wouldn’t have spoken up if I didn’t know for a fact that she’s telling the truth!”
Before Anastasia could respond, she raised her voice. “Anastasia, you know exactly what you put in Grandfather’s soup last night!”
Anastasia remained unfazed. “Oh? And what did I put in it?”
“Raw monkshood!” Lauren declared, her eyes sharp and certain. “I saw you with my own eyes last night. I thought it was strange at the time, but I told myself you couldn’t possibly be that wicked, that I must have been mistaken. So I said nothing.”
“But I never imagined you could be so vile as to poison your own grandfather! To try and take his life!”
A wave of shock rippled through the guests.
Lauren scoffed. “I know you’re going to accuse me of making baseless claims again. But you’re out of luck. I have concrete proof!”
“Last night, I secretly saved the bowl Grandfather drank his soup from. There was still some residue left had it sent for testing first thing this morning, and I just received the results. The soup contained traces of raw monkshood!”
She looked around at the stunned faces. “The evidence is undeniable. Are you
still going to claim you’re being framed?!”
Lauren’s conviction was so absolute that the guests began to believe her.
“If it was monkshood, that would explain Mr. Brennan’s symptoms
“Could Anastasia really have
With Lauren being so bold, it seemed likely that she was telling the truth. If Anastasia couldn’t produce irrefutable evidence to clear her name…
Benson and Juliet were frantic. They didn’t believe a word Lauren said, but what could they do?
The tension was palpable when a new voice cut through the silence.
“Mr. Harrison Lancaster!”
All eyes turned to see Harrison
descending the stairs with a slow et
deliberate pace. The sheer form of
his presence was enough to silence
the entire chaotic hall.
“Is that really him a young woman whispered, her hand on her heart, her face flushing.
Harrison was no longer the
complete mystery he had been
when he first arrived in Fairhaven, but he rarely appeared at public event like this. For many, it was their first time seeing him in person and several were instantly captivated, casting envious glances at Anastasia. Thɪs chapter is updated by