Chapter 824

Before either Charlene or Stewart could reply, Corinne let out another scornful laugh directed at Charlene. “Actually, Ms. Ross, the truth speaks for itself. No one here is going to fall for your lies anymore. So save your breath. Wouldn’t you rather keep whatever tiny shred of dignity you have left?”

Charlene barely reacted, but Stewart chuckled. He looked at Corinne and said, “The truth speaks for itself, indeed.” He then shot a glance at Raleigh up on the stage. “I genuinely admire how righteously the two of you have rushed to your friend’s defense. But you know who I admire the most? Ms. Hawkins.”

His gaze shifted, pinning Vesta in place. “Ms. Hawkins, it seems Raleigh genuinely adores you, and Ms. Lancaster considers you a true friend. Yet you’ve deceived them so completely. How do you sleep at night?”

Before Vesta could even open her mouth, he smiled again. “Oh, my apologies. I forgot you don’t actually have a conscience. After all, that’s a family trait.”

Vesta’s face paled.

But she ignored Stewart entirely, her eyes darting straight to Charlene as if frantically trying to confirm something.

Corinne, Raleigh, Dalton, and Moran had all assumed that at this point, no amount

of lying from Charlene could sway public opinion.

After all, Thorne was the only witness, and his testimony had already been

completely discredited as a desperate cover-up for his daughter.

They knew Charlene and Stewart wouldn’t go down without a fight.

But Stewart’s sudden pivot was something none of them saw coming.

The smug looks vanished from Corinne and Raleigh’s faces.

Gaylord, Granger, and York all knew the current situation looked grim for Charlene. Hearing Stewart say that, they were totally floored, completely blindsided by his words.

Before they had time to process it, Corinne snapped. She laughed coldly. “Mr. Ferguson, I didn’t expect a grown man like you to not only be entirely blind to the truth, but to stand in public and hurl such vicious insults at a woman. You-“

“Hah!” Stewart barked a laugh. “Ms. Lancaster, vicious insults? Did I do that? I’m a man of high character. I’d never do such a thing.”

“You-“

“I simply stated that she and her entire family have no conscience. That’s just a plain fact.”

“You!”

At his blunt words, the color completely drained from the faces of Vesta, Maureen, and Henley Hawkins.

For some reason, they all shot panicked looks at Charlene.

Raleigh and Dalton also looked stunned. Raleigh ground his teeth. “Stewart, you—”

Stewart completely cut him off.

“Raleigh, Corinne, Ms. Hawkins told

at

you that our Charlene bullied her. She told you she oppressed her every turn. But did she ever happen to mention that she grew up as an illegitimate child? Did she mention that her mother was the original homewrecker? That her mother only took power after she ousted the lawful wife and drove her absolutely insane?”

That explosive revelation silenced the room.

Vesta and Maureen looked as though they were going to be sick.

Corinne, Raleigh, and Dalton stood frozen in shock.

They actually knew very little about Vesta’s family background. They had no idea if

Stewart was telling the truth or spinning a wild lie.

Corinne was the first to recover. She

hissed through her teeth, “Mr. Ferguson, don’t know if what you’re saying is true or not, but we are currently discussing someone else actions. What gives you the right to suddenly bring this up and change the subject? Are you dragging out these chaotic, baseless lies just to distract everyone because you know you’ve lost?”

“It does seem a bit unreasonable,” Stewart smiled, before his voice dropped into an icy chill. “But what if told you that the lawful wife who was ousted and driven insane by Ms. Hawkins’s mother… was Charlene’s own mother?”

His words hit the crowd like a bomb.

Forget the whispering guests, or even Corinne, Raleigh, and Dalton—even Moran, Granger, Gaylord, and York were utterly paralyzed by the sheer magnitude of the revelation.