His assertive walk and authoritative aura defined him as a man who commanded every situation.
He paused in front of Corrine, offering his hand.
“Care to join me inside?” Locking eyes with him, her expression softened into a warm smile.
“I’d love to.” Their fingers intertwined, sparking an unexpected warmth in her chest.
At the Ashton residence, Rita stumbled upon a hot topic on social media and dashed from her room to the card room.
“Mom, you’ve got to see this! Corrine’s trending!”
At the mention of Corrine’s name, Tracy’s smile dimmed, her expression souring.
“Please, let’s not talk about her. Just her name irks me!”
The ladies at the card table exchanged knowing looks, their faces reflecting a mix of emotions. Despite Tracy’s efforts to dismiss Corrine from their memories, everyone in the room was aware that Corrine had once saved the Ashton family from social ruin
Now, with the Ashton family celebrated as the top new socialites in Lyhaton, the guests preferred to keep their thoughts private.
“It’s been forever since I heard that name.”
“Right, she seemed to disappear after her split from Bruce.”
“People ought to be grateful. Without Bruce’s intervention, who knows what her fate would have been? Yet, despite his acceptance of her background, she scorned him. After tasting a finer life, she seemed to forget her roots.”
Though the remark of the last person was likely unintended, its implications resonated deeply. Tracy perceived it as a subtle slight against her family, as if to mock them.
The mood at the card table grew tense, and Tracy’s interest in the game waned. After completing the hand, she quickly found a reason to dismiss her guests.
“Did I make it clear that Corrine’s name should not be mentioned in front of other people? Do you think my words carry no weight?” Tracy fixed a stern look on Rita, irritation evident in her tone.
She had anticipated that Corrine’s exit from their lives would finally allow her to emerge with dignity, yet she remained dissatisfied. The shadow of Corrine’s reputation stubbornly lingered over the Ashton family, seemingly impossible to escape.
“But this situation is unlike any other!” Rita interjected, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
“She’s been implicated in illegal activities. It’s unlikely she’ll recover easily from this.”
The memory of Corrine slapping her at the hospital still stung Rita, who also resented the isolation at home imposed because of her. Her disdain for Corrine had deepened over time, and she relished cursing her daily. With Corrine now facing public scandal, Rita’s sense of delight was evident.
“Caught in illegal activities?” Tracy’s interest was immediately captured. A wicked grin spread across her face as she scrolled through the ruthless comments on her phone. Her amusement only grew.
“At the end of the day, she’s just a rough country girl. Does she really think owning Timeless Treasures lets her do whatever she wants? Now, she’s been caught red-handed!” Tracy was eager to see how Corrine could possibly maintain her pride after this.
“What did you just say?” The voice of Farris cut through the conversation abruptly.
Tracy’s eyes flickered with a cunning glint.
“It’s nothing significant.” Even though Farris was advanced in years and generally uninterested in the buzz of social media, he picked up on the sarcasm in Tracy’s voice.
“What has happened to Corrine?” He directed his questioning look toward Rita, seated comfortably yet maintaining an air of defiance.
“Corrine has been arrested by the police on charges of illegal transactions,” Rita responded sharply, still bitter about Farris hitting her with his cane.
“Grandfather, you should be cautious. The pen holder she’s given to you might be proceeds from her illicit activities!”
“What were the illegal activities involved?” Farris questioned, his brow furrowed in confusion.
With a smirk, Rita replied, “You’re out of the loop? She was arrested with a gang involved in fraud. It’s all over the media now, and there’s significant public interest. It seems unlikely she’ll ever recover from this scandal. At least she won’t have to be alone in Lyhaton; she’ll have her cellmates.”
Farris moved to the couch, donned his reading glasses, and started flipping through news on his phone.
Tracy, who had remained silent up to that point, chimed in, “Farris, dwelling on this will only distress you. We’ve extended far more help to her than necessary. The Ashton family has bent over backward for her, and we owe her nothing. She was the one who broke off things with Bruce and even refused his financial aid, trying to seem gracious. Luckily, she’s distanced herself from us. Otherwise, her troubles might have implicated us too. Given her arrest, the accusations against her are likely to stick. We should keep her away from the anniversary event. Her presence could only bring shame to our family.”
Farris looked up, his demeanor turning grave.
“You may scorn her background, but don’t forget the vital role she played as a strategist for our family. Without her efforts, the Ashton family wouldn’t be where they are today. She deserves to be at the anniversary celebration.”
Tracy diverted her gaze, hiding the coldness that flickered in her eyes.
Rita’s youthful impulsiveness sharply contrasted with Tracy’s calm and composed nature.
When Farris defended Corrine, Rita couldn’t hold back and retorted, “What hold does Corrine have on you that makes you defend her so fiercely? You act like she’s your own family!”
A touch of bitterness tinged her words.
Farris put down his reading glasses and glanced over; despite his old age, his eyes held a hint of sharpness.
“Getting heated will only complicate things for you in the end.”
He knew Corrine’s situation was more complicated than it appeared. Considering Corrine’s ownership of Timeless Treasures, she had plenty of ways to earn honestly. The question remained: why get involved in forgeries and illegal dealings, risking so much? The full truth was yet to be uncovered.
Feeling unfairly treated, Rita’s emotions swelled, a mix of frustration and grievance rising inside her. Tears welled up in her eyes, but before she could retort, Tracy took her hand in a soothing grasp, patting it as a signal to remain composed.
“Do you not see what Rita is like?” Tracy asked Farris softly as she looked at him.
“She has a habit of making quick judgments, a trait she’s had since childhood. Even her grandmother couldn’t curb her impulsive nature. Rita struggles with understanding the nuances between right and wrong. I promise to help her improve.”
Farris responded with a slight nod, indicating his approval.
“Guidance is indeed what she needs to steer clear of future mishaps.”
Tracy offered a forced smile in agreement.
“Exactly.”
Still, deep down, she scoffed. With the internet turning against Corrine, her guilt seemed almost undeniable. Once Corrine’s verdict was announced, Tracy was curious to see what reasons Farris would have to still include Corrine in the Ashton Group’s upcoming anniversary.
Rita, visibly upset, abruptly withdrew her hand with a frown.
At that moment, a notification from a live stream popped up on her phone. She glanced at the screen, which displayed an alert from the police’s live broadcast.
“Check this out-a live broadcast!” she said, her eyes lighting up with interest.
As she watched the drama unfold on her phone, a glint of wicked satisfaction flashed in her eyes. Comment after comment scrolled across the live chat, each echoing the same sentiment-fraudsters must be brought to justice!
Worried Farris would miss out, Rita quickly cast the stream onto the large TV in the living room. Turning her attention toward Farris, she noticed him slowly donning his reading glasses, his face set in a serious expression as he focused on the screen.
Meanwhile, in the interrogation room, Corrine occupied a chair. She sat with crossed legs, her hands resting relaxed on her lap, exuding an air of indifference and subtle defiance-hardly the image of a typical suspect.
It almost seemed as though she was the one conducting the interrogation, not the one under scrutiny.
The officers in front of her felt the tension, standing taller as they tried to maintain their authority in her commanding presence. This was a first for them-facing a suspect as bold as Corrine.
With a steady and composed look, Corrine surveyed the room and said, “Now that we’re all here, let’s discuss the matter at hand.”
“Alright,” everyone instinctively responded.
Then they realized it wasn’t right. This was an interrogation, and they were supposed to lead it-how had the roles reversed?
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.