Chapter 21
Chapter 21:
If she owned up to her oversight, would Janice consider asking JE for assistance?
“Mom, it hurts,” Delilah whimpered, drawing Laurie back from her reverie. “Mom, why is this happening? Janice gave me the design. Why then is she trying to humiliate me? She’s fully aware your company is falling apart. Why hasn’t she reached out to JE? Is Janice really this cruel?”
These words extinguished the nascent guilt stirring within Laurie. “She’s nothing but an ingrate who despises seeing us succeed.” Laurie shot Janice a look filled with deep scorn. “Are you happy now? Do you need Delilah to collapse right here for your satisfaction?”
Janice returned her gaze with a mocking smile. “If she passes out, I’ll send her to the hospital. You don’t need to worry.”
“Mom, my head is throbbing. I just want to go home,” Delilah moaned, pretending to be ill. Inside, a storm of rage brewed, her desire to dismantle Janice growing stronger by the second. This day was meant to be her shining moment, one where she would soak in everyone’s admiration. Instead, Janice’s scheming had shattered her image, likely ending her aspirations in the fashion industry.
Laurie, too, had nearly succumbed to a pang of unwarranted guilt toward Janice. If she hadn’t caught on quickly and extinguished those feelings, Laurie might have fallen prey to Janice’s manipulations.
“Okay! Let’s head home,” Laurie agreed, steadying Delilah as they moved to leave.
“Wait just a moment!” Janice called out, stepping in front of them with a cold, impassive face. “It seems you’re forgetting something.”
“Janice, what else could you possibly want?” Laurie’s voice crackled with fury, her patience thinning under Janice’s relentless pressure. “Delilah is in pain and needs medical attention immediately.”
“Her headache is none of my business,” Janice stated coldly, her gaze icy as she looked between the two. “She still owes me for our bet.”
Delilah’s expression changed. “Janice, I’ll honor it. But my head is throbbing right now.”
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“Oh please, cut the act,” Janice scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. “You don’t have a headache. You’re just too embarrassed to show your face around here.” The surrounding crowd started to snicker and boo.
“Werent you all high and mighty earlier? And now, caught red-handed for plagiarism, you hide behind a fake illness? Who do you think you’re fooling?”
“I swear, I’ve seen some actors in my time, but your performance tops them all. You’re settling that bet today, come what may!”
“Shame on you, Mrs. Edwards. Your precious daughter isn’t so perfect after all. A thief and a sore loser—does the whole Edwards family revel in disgrace?”
Faced with a loud, jeering crowd, both Laurie and Delilah found themselves in a difficult position.
“I’ll eat mangoes!” Delilah weighed her options and realized that she had very little choice in the matter. She knew that if she reneged on the bet, she might as well say goodbye to the fashion industry.
“Although I feel terrible, I need to hold up my end of the bet.”
“Don’t be rash, Delilah!” Laurie interjected, her brows furrowed in concern. “This is a trap Janice has set for you!”
Delilah shook her head and blinked several times to force the tears out of her eyes. “It’s okay, Mom. As a member of the Edwards family, I can’t bring shame to our family name. It’s just five kilograms of mangoes, right? I can do it!”
“Delilah…”
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