Chapter 86
“I get it. I messed up with the jewelry contest. I understand why you’re upset. If you’re mad, take it out on me. But why’d you go and tell someone with such a volatile personality? You pushed him to come after Sandy and me.
“If Charles hadn’t picked up my call and rushed over, who knows what could’ve happened to us today? Evelyn, is it really that hard for you to tolerate Sandy and me?”
“Got any proof?” Evelyn pulled her hand away from Dahlia and shot back coolly.
“Proof? Do we really need it? Tonight at Debbie’s Garden, you brought it up in front of Charles. Besides us, you were the only other person present. Who else could it be?” Dahlia accused, her eyes red with emotion, fixing her gaze on Evelyn. She believed Charles would take her side over Evelyn.
“Weren’t you there too?” Evelyn’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
Dahlia’s eyes widened, tears welling up as she looked to Charles for support. But Charles stayed silent. Tears streamed down Dahlia’s face as she fumed, “Evelyn, you’re lying about me! Do you think I’d act like you? You use Charlie to win over Charles, and you think I’m the same?”
“Slap!” Evelyn’s hand came down hard. Her eyes looked fierce. “Dahlia, I warned you, mention Charlie again, and I’ll shut you up!”
“Hit a nerve, did I?” Dahlia clutched her cheek, crying even harder.
“Ha! Do you think I’m like you? Dahlia, we both know what’s really going on!”
“That’s enough!” Charles cut in, his voice firm. His eyes bore into Evelyn with an icy glare. That look was all the judgment she needed. He believed it was her! That she orchestrated this by leaking everything to that man, putting Dahlia and Sandy in harm’s way. Perhaps, even at Oakwood Manor, Charlie’s painting was a pert of her plan. It looked like she used Charlie to stir up his guilt. She pretended to take him to Charlie, keeping him from Dahlia’s calls-just to stall him.
When it came down to it, he’d
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always choose Dahlia. Evelyn knew that. Yet, her heart still writhed in agony. Evelyn clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms. Her gaze swept past Dahlia, smug with victory, and landed on Charles with a cold stare, her lips curling into a frosty smile. She didn’t bother to defend herself. Her words would only sound like excuses to a man who’d already judged her.
Too often, Evelyn had made a fool of herself. She wasn’t doing it again. Feeling faint, Evelyn leaned against the door for support, but her spirit was unbroken. Her tone was biting, “You don’t have a shred of evidence. Just based on your words, you want tépin incitement to murder on me? Who do you think you are?”
your
Dahlia stared at Evelyn, stunned, her eyes brimming with tears. “Evelyn, I can’t believe you still show no remorse! At first, I thought I was wrong about the contest, and anger and impulsiveness led you to this. Thankfully, Charles came in time, and Sandy wasn’t badly hurt.” She glanced at Sandy with affection.