Chapter 74
“Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Austin Hayes‘ death was so sudden. Did he die of anger because of you?”
“Mrs. Hayes, everyone heard what you said last night. Is there anything you need to explain?”
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守,88%止
Matilda was flooded with questions, and the interrogation did not end until the police confirmed that the death occurred naturally. When she thought that the matter was finally ending, she did not expect to be involved in another case of infringement and stealing confidential information from Starlight Design Studio
After much effort, she was finally bailed out, and the trial would be held in a few days. However, she did not expect to be surrounded and questioned by
reporters
Matilda was already exasperated. Right then, she could not hold it in any longer as she looked around to vent her pent–up frustrations.
Ignoring her image as a noblewoman, she cursed out loud.
“You, pieces of trash! How dare you say that about me? What does Austin’s death have anything to do with me? He deserves to diel He could’ve died sooner or later, but he went and kicked the bucket yesterday instead. How unfortunatel
“Shut up!” Horace glared at Matilda furiously, “What nonsense are y
are you spouting?”
Matilda flinched from the man’s roar and only realized how treasonous her words were.
With those words out of her mouth, it was broadcast to not only the entire Jacaster but the whole country as well. At that moment, the Hayes family’s company, which was being pressured, would be in more jeopardy.
Horace smiled apologetically to the crowd. “I’m truly sorry. My wife has been through a lot recently and said some unpleasant things. Please show some sympathy and not spread this.”
“It can’t be that she’s following Florence’s footsteps by going to the psychiatric hospital and claiming to be depressed, can it?”
“Yeah! They’re playing the same trick again. The Hayes family is pretty good at it.”
“That’s right! Do they think everyone is stupid? Florence could be discharged from the psychiatric hospital, which might be because they used Mr. Hayes to threaten Stephanie to withdraw her lawsuit.”
“What a bad look for the Hayes family! No wonder their biological daughter wants to cut ties with them.”
“Even though they’re twins and should be equally precious, they treated both daughters differently. Stephanie
ephanie truly doesn’t resemble them at all.”
“Florence, don’t you feel guilty for plagiarizing Stephanie’s rough sketch?”
“I agree. She even made a bet last night. In the end, she had to beg for mercy. How embarrassing!”
“Mr. Fletcher, don’t you feel incredibly
ly regretful for choosing Florence instead of Stephanie after what happened last night?”
“Mr. Fletcher, do you know anything about the rough sketch from last night?”
Douglas‘ face looked particularly ashen. Pressure was being cast onto Fantasy Boutique from all sides. He had planned to use the product launch to put themselves in the spotlight, but that idiot, Florence, cornered him.
As a result, not only was he forced to apologize to Stephanie in public, humiliating himself, but he also put Fantasy Boutique in crisis once again.
Chapter 74
30 May
Douglas shot vicious glares at Florence, raised his hand, and slapped her across the face.
Florence stared at the man in shock, “Can you blame me for that? You’re the one who insisted on graveling
for forgiveness!”
Douglas was infuriated, cursing inwardly, “This bitch dares to push the blame on me and play the victim Wasn’t she the one who started all this?‘
Douglas tugged on her hair directly. “If you hadn’t told me you drew those rough sketches, would I have made the bet with Stephanie? You have no real skills and only steal from her Tell me one thing good about yourself, I must’ve been blind back then, treating garbage like gold by choosing you! I want to break off the engagement with you!”
Florence flared up in anger. “It’s your fault for being vaini Didn’t you choose me because you thought I was useful? Now, you dare say I’m without skills! Then, do you have it? What do you know? In the end, you simply relied on the Fletcher family to establish Fantasy Boutique. Now that you’re being kicked out of the Fletcher family, you’re nothing!”
She sheered and looked at the crowd. “Let me get you in on another secret. Douglas is impotent and can only rely on sadomasochism to vent his desires!
He’s no different from someone who has been castrated!”
Florence spat fiercely. “Even if you don’t break off the engagement with me, I’ll do it, tool Don’t think I don’t know you’re fooling around with other women outside. You deserved getting sick! It must be because you’ve gone too far
Douglas put his hands around Florence’s neck. Simultaneously, Horace and Matilda clenched Douglas
For a moment, the scene was a chaos.
No reporter stepped forward to pull them apart. All of them adjusted the angles of their phones or video cameras to capture the best shots.
Ultimately, the people were taken to the police station by the authorities. They were all detained on the charge of public safety violations
When they were released, it was already noon on the day after.
Douglas glared fiercely at Florence. “How do you want to die?”
Matilda protected Florence behind her. “No matter what, you and Flore have been together for many years. Once a married couple, always a married couple. You shouldn’t have spoken harshly to each other.”
Douglas sneered. “If I weren’t attracted to her singing and design talents, do you think she’d be by my side? I didn’t expect her to be mediocre and a swindler with nothing. Hmph! I’m pretty confused, too. Both of you come from the same womb, but how can your intelligence differ so much as sisters?”
Matilda was so pissed off she wanted to finish off the man before her. “What’s wrong with Flore? She’s not far off from Stephaniel”
Douglas let out a snarky scoff. “Not far off? There’s a world of difference between them! Florence, you are no longer an employee of Fantasy Boutique starting today. I’m interested to see who’d be willing to hire a miserable and foolish woman like you in Jacaster.”
Florence snorted. “I’m still pretty, so it’s easy for me to find a man–unlike you. You no longer have the right to be a mant
Douglas” lips curved into a seductive yet charming smile. “Florence, I might as well let you know I hold a secret about you. You’d better pray that I’m in a good mood, or you’ll be done if I tell others!”
Florence rolled her eyes, thinking, “The most he has are photos and videos of me. So what?”
Her reputation was already in the dumps, and she could not be bothered to care anymore.
Being a streamer on that kind of website would bring in a high revenue simply through donations.
She had an alluring figure and was certain she could find a rich man.
“Do as you like. It’s useless trying to scare me. I don’t care at all.”
“Fine! Just you wait and see. You’ll regret it!” Douglas ground his teeth and hissed. After saying that, he turned and left.
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Chapter 74
30 May
Gazing at the man’s silhouette, Horace felt a little uneasy. “Douglas is a petty man. We should be cautious”
Matilda sported indifferently. “What should we be afraid of? He’s just a loser.”
Florence agreed with the sentiment. “He’s a spent bullet and won’t be able to make a name for himself. Those are just empty threats to scare us.”
Horace frowned, insecurity filling his heart.
Not long after, his worry was warranted following the exposure of news that pushed the Hayes family to its doom.
They were like mud smashed to the floor, unable to stand up again.
The Hayes family heard that Austin’s funeral would be held on the second day.
Although they did not want to go, they still went under the pressure of public opinion.
The
e next day was a cloudy one. At around 5 a.m., thunder boomed, and light rain started to patter at 6:30a.m.
The funeral home had funerals every day, and there were particularly many people that day.
Many of Austin’s friends came to mourn.
Standing at the side of the crystal coffin
in were Stephanie and Vincent, who greeted the guests who came to present their condolences
At nearly 7a.m., the Hayes family rushed over.
Some highly respected elders reprimanded the three.
“Why are you here so late? You’re even later than us, who are here to give our condolences! How disrespectful of you!”
“Hmph! Do they even know respect? They must’ve pissed Austin off so much that he passed on.”
“Stephie didn’t choose to give Austin an autopsy to protect his final dignity. They might’ve found some clues if they had gotten an autopsy.”
“The Hayes family is so unlucky to have such a daughter–in–law, Austin’s death must have something to do with her.”
“How dare they show their faces? I bet they’re here to pray that Austin looks over them in heaven.”
Florence greeted her teeth and hissed inwardly, ‘Why don’t these old geezers go to hell?”
She looked at Stephanie, the latter looking so stunning that she invited jealousy. Moreover, the man in the wheelchair appeared so noble and elegant,
Although he was sexually impotent like Douglas, the man was a money maker and the head of the Fletcher family.
Florence was not so different from Stephanie. In fact, the former was more voluptuous.
There was no man who did not lust over her body. As sexually impotent as Douglas was, he was still a man with weaknesses. No man was completely loyal, and Florence was adamant about conquering Vincent.
She walked over as she sniffled. “Stephie, I’ve reflected deeply these past few days. I know I’m wrong. Can you forgive me?”
Stephanie raised an eyebrow, shocked by Florence’s show of weakness.
Florence began to sob, and her body fell toward Vincent’s.