The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 315

“I’ve already had the evidence submitted to the police. I trust there will be a result very soon.”

Milford’s gaze darkened. “Mr. Langley, are you determined to interfere?”

Callahan glanced at him indifferently. “I just want to get justice for her. If you find that inappropriate…”

His tone turned chilly. “…you can try to stop me.”

The air instantly stagnated. Both sides were locked in a stalemate.

Fitch’s face had gone completely dark, while Milford’s eyes were gloomy, his’knuckles white from tension.

Having made his position clear, Callahan didn’t want to waste any more time with them. He turned to leave with Leilani.

The Sloan family, however, wouldn’t let it go. Clive rushed out from the crowd, his face flushed red and his voice shrill.

‘Mr. Langley! We haven’t finished explaining! You can’t just take Leilani away! Tamara is innocent! This is all Yvonne spouting nonsense!”

‘Leilani, just because you found a new sugar daddy doesn’t mean you can pull your old tricks again after framing Tamara for years! Don’t you dare!” Fuelled by old grudges and new hatred-and the fact that he and Tamara had grown up together and were closest-Clive snapped. Seeing his beloved sister faint on her wedding day and now facing ruin made him emotional. He even reached out to grab Leilani’s arm.

But Josiah blocked him abruptly.

“Clive! Shut up! Isn’t the situation chaotic enough?!”

Josiah scolded him in a hushed voice, glaring at him with a warning in his

eyes.

Clive was unconvinced and wanted to argue. “Josiah! Do you actually believe Leilani? She-”

“Enough!” Josiah interrupted sharply, forcefully dragging him backward. “Haven’t you figured out what kind of people they are yet?! If you don’t wise up, don’t blame me for not warning you later!”

Callahan and Leilani were cut from the same cloth. Both were vengeful, stubborn, and completely disregarded familial face. The Sloan family was already in a terrible position. And Clive was foolish enough to try and provoke Callahan.

Clive stumbled as he was dragged back, glaring indignantly at Leilani while muttering under his breath. “I grew up with Tamara. I know her character best. She couldn’t possibly do something like that…”

Callahan’s eyes went cold, and the temperature around him seemed to drop to freezing. He glanced sideways at Clive, his voice low and dangerous. “Clive, are you sure you want to defend a murderer here?”

Clive was cowed by his gaze and instantly went silent, though he still stiffened his neck, refusing to bow his head.

Seeing this, Leilani gently tugged on Callahan’s wrist, pressing her fingers lightly against his palm to signal that he didn’t need to waste time on them.

Callahan looked down at her, the frost in his eyes receding slightly. He spoke softly. “You want to let them off just like that?”

Leilani’s lips curved up slightly. Her voice was quiet, but clear enough for him to hear. “There’s no need to tangle with them any longer. My goal for coming here today has already been achieved.”

Leilani had come for two reasons. One was to prove her innocence in front of everyone. The other was to expose Tamara’s hypocritical facade. With Yvonne’s explanation, both objectives had been realized.

The reactions of the Sloan and Sherwood families, however, had revealed even more to her.

Her gaze swept over Fitch’s fake, polite face, then glanced at the

panicked expressions of the Sloan family. A trace of mockery flashed in her eyes.

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