Chapter 330
Chapter 330:
His eyes flicked to the clock, a malicious grin spreading across his features. “Finally. Your wife should be arriving any moment now.”
“Bart, how could you have known I’d be here?” A sharp, distinct voice cut through the tension, halting Bart in his tracks. His smirk wavered as fear and shock overtook him.
In the doorway stood a woman, poised and imposing.
Her crimson lips curled into a subtle, assured smile, her eyes captivating, capturing the attention of everyone with just a glance.
She overlooked the rest of the room, focusing only on a solitary figure in a wheelchair, to whom she offered a tender smile. “Aiden, it’s been ages.”
At Janice’s entrance, Aiden’s heart skipped a beat. The anxiety that had gripped him for days melted away instantly. While he had faith in her skills, his concern was relentless.
Unbeknownst to him, he had developed a profound care for a woman for the very first time.
“It’s been ages,” Aiden whispered, his voice a gravelly whisper that was surprisingly gentle.
Braylen, observing from just behind him, felt an unexpected pang of emotion. Aiden was undeniably smitten with this woman. Even Braylen, with his rugged demeanor and lack of understanding about love, couldn’t miss the connection the two shared.
“No way! What are you doing here?” Bart gasped, staggering back as though struck. “Andrew was meant to be the one to walk through that door, not you!”
“Bart, weren’t you the one who insisted I should be here? What’s the problem now? So the moment I show up, you think I shouldn’t be here? Tsk, you’re so inconsistent,” Janice retorted with a smirk, gliding effortlessly to Aiden’s side, her presence a soothing balm to his tumultuous spirits.
“No, this is all wrong!” Bart’s voice cracked, his face twisting in rage as his eyes sparked with fury. “Andrew was supposed to rape you! He was meant to come here today, flaunting photographs of you to disgrace Aiden! But you…”
“And yet, here I stand, unscathed and destroying your cruel plot,” Janice declared, her voice low yet piercing, cutting through the tension like a knife. Her words sent a cold shudder down Bart’s spine.
“Bart, pull yourself together,” Leonie commanded sharply, her expression stern as she eyed his crumbling demeanor. “If this is truly the extent of your efforts, I may well need to withdraw my support.”
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Bart shot a sharp look at Leonie, her eyes blazing with indignation, a sight that jolted him into a clearer state of mind.
Yet, frustration still simmered in his chest. His plan had been impeccable; how on earth had Janice slipped through unscathed?
“How did you manage to slip away?” he demanded, his tone thick with disbelief.
Janice allowed a slow, knowing smirk to curl her lips. She propped her elbow on the table, her chin resting thoughtfully on her palm as she gazed at Bart with mocking amusement. “Ask nicely, and maybe I’ll tell.”
“Don’t tempt fate, Janice,” Bart retorted sharply, his voice rough like gravel, his eyes shrinking to furious slits. “Do you truly believe you’ve won? Have you even glanced at the tidal wave of public disdain crashing over you online? The moment you leave this room, the press will tear you apart. To them, you’re just a disgrace—a woman who betrayed her family, hurt her brother, and used others for your own gain.”
Aiden watched this exchange with a keen eye, acutely conscious of the vicious smear campaign orchestrated by Dotson.
With Janice remaining out of sight and silent, the lies had taken on a life of their own.
Originally, Aiden had toyed with the idea of stepping forward to defend her, but a cautious text from Leah had stayed his hand, suggesting that Janice was more than aware and perhaps even prepared.
Now, with everything unfolding, Aiden’s interest was piqued. How would Janice turn these dire straits to her advantage?
“Bart, my online reputation is none of your concern,” Janice said, her tone measured and calm. “What you should focus on now is figuring out how to deal with the mess you’ve created.”
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