Chapter 822

The moment Corinne stepped forward, Charlene knew exactly what was coming.

Her expression remained totally placid. She didn’t bother stopping Corinne from speaking, nor did she care to listen. Looking down at Minnie, who had suddenly appeared, she leaned in while Corinne was addressing the crowd and said softly, “Minnie, it’s pretty loud in here. Do you want to head back first?”

Having arrived halfway through the drama, Minnie had no idea what was actually going on. She barely understood Corinne’s speech or the hushed whispers rippling through the room.

Hearing Charlene’s suggestion, she shook her head. “Mom, I’m not leaving. I want to go home with you when the party’s over.”

Charlene frowned slightly.

Minnie’s attention had already drifted away from her mother. Noticing Stewart watching her, she looked back at him.

She had obviously met him before, but it had been quite a long time…

Seeing this, Charlene gently stroked her daughter’s hair. “This is Mr. Stewart. Say hi.”

Minnie obediently spoke up. “Hi, Mr. Stewart.”

Stewart looked at the little girl, a complicated flurry of emotions in his eyes. But he nodded in response. “Good girl.”

Charlene spotted Latonia standing a short distance away, clearly unsure if she should step closer. Charlene turned back to her daughter. “Minnie, go back with Latonia for now…”

Corinne’s speech had been dripping with venom and delivered with righteous fury, sparking pointing and whispering from the crowd. Corinne, Raleigh, and everyone else had fully expected Charlene to panic, to show fear, and to scramble for an excuse.

Instead, they found Charlene standing there completely unfazed. She acted as if the whole spectacle had nothing to do with her, as if Corinne’s words meant absolutely nothing.

Seeing this nonchalance, Corinne’s face darkened, and Raleigh looked equally displeased. The crowd erupted into another round of frantic murmurs.

Kelvin shook his head in disbelief. “To act like nothing’s wrong at a time like this… I gotta admit, her mental fortitude is insane.”

Dalton just frowned in silence.

Watching Charlene’s unbothered demeanor, Corinne let out a cold laugh. “Ms. Ross, why are you in such a rush to send the kid away? Are you afraid she’ll hear about your filthy little secrets and refuse to call you Mom?”

At first, Corinne had wondered why Minnie suddenly showed up.

She had assumed Charlene called the girl over to play the sympathy card.

But now, she was convinced Thorne had brought Minnie here so the girl could finally

see her mother for what she truly was.

Before Charlene could respond, Stewart let out a scoff.

But he ignored Corinne entirely.

He turned his gaze to Thorne, his voice dripping with ice. “Mr. Henderson, I’m sure you heard Ms Lancaster’s little speech just now However, everything requires proof. If she’s making such bold claims, she must have the evidence to back them up. What do you say, Mr. Henderson?”

At this, every eye in the room snapped toward Thorne.

Vesta also looked at him.

Thorne met their gazes and stated clearly, “None of that is true.”

just the

As Thorne’s words landed, it wasn’t crowd that fraze-Charlene.. Stewart Moran and Granger a stared in stunned silence.

Vesta looked the most shell-shocked of all.

Her eyes went wide with pure, unadulterated disbelief as she stared at the man.

Maureen Spencer and her family had a similar reaction.

They all stiffened, turning aghast looks toward Thorne.

Corinne and Raleigh were completely blindsided.

The color drained from Dalton’s face.

Kelvin looked entirely bewildered.

Charlene looked at Thorne, pausing for a second, but she kept quiet.

Recoverom his initial shock,

Stewart kept his expression neutral, his eyes

“Oh Care to elaborate?”

locked intensely t

“She was dragged into it because of me. She had nothing to do with it. If it weren’t

for that, we never would have gotten married.”