Ophelia replied, "I just promised Bethany that anything she custom-orders from our store will be ready for pickup a month earlier than anyone else''s,"


    "And that was enough for her to agree?" Chloe still couldn''t believe it.


    Ophelia continued working while exining. "The Carnegie family were just nouveau riche before they became one of Denex''s elite three. They''ve got more money than they know what to do with, but what they crave is validation of their status


    "The Carnegie family has been involved in charity auctions and fundraisers for years, all in an attempt to elevate their status even higher. Every wealthy person enjoys wielding power, but even more so, they love having privileges others can''t touch. I offered Bethany that exclusivity-this privilege is hers alone."


    Chloe nodded, admiration and pride shining in her eyes as she looked at Ophelia. Yeah, that''s something to brag about for a lifetime, Chloe thought.


    "Oh, Chloe, I need your help with one more thing," Ophelia added.


    Over the next two days, several online ounts began digging into the origins of the initial posts and audio that had sparked the whole scandal. It didn''t take long for them to trace the posts back to Hannah''s secondary ount.


    Given the past incident with the Hall family, it was quickly confirmed that nnah had fabricated the rumors to divert public scrutiny away from the Hall family.


    z out of


    At first, Hannah brushed it off, thinking it was no big deal. But once the online bacsh and hate started spiraling control, she realized the situation was getting worse by the minute.


    In the early morning. Hannah sat at the table for her breakfast, too scared to even breathe freely. She quietly ate her food. asionally sneaking nces at George.


    Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and momentster, a servant entered the dining room with a delivery. "Sir, there''s a p


    package for


    you.


    It was unusual forpany documents to be sent directly to the house, so George wiped his mouth and tore open the envelope along the perforated edge, and a small recording device fell onto the table. His brows furrowed, but he continued pulling out the rest of the contents, revealing a letter-an official legal notice


    After skimming through the document, George''s expression darkened. He quickly checked thetest news on his phone and then mmed thewyer''s letter onto the table with a loud thud. Hannah, startled, nearly dropped her spoon.


    "Idiot! How did I end up with such a stupid daughter? Stop eating and look at me! George''s hand swiped across the table, sending bowls and utensils crashing to the floor.


    "Oh, my! What''s going on, honey?" Lydia was terrified, her face drained of color.


    "Let your baby girl exin to you, George snapped.


    Hannah was already trembling with fear, too scared to say a word. Lydia looked between George and Hannah and murmured. "Didn''t we settle everythingst time? Hannah knows her mistake...


    "Are you sure she knows? George pointed a shaking finger at Hannah, clearly enraged. I should''ve taken your phone away and you wouldn''t have had time to spread rumors"


    "Rumors What rumors?" Lydia asked, looking confused.


    "I didn''t spread any rumors Hannah protested, though her voicecked confidence. She couldn''t bring herself to look at George, so she hung ber head and nervously exined everything that had happened. George instantly caught the key detail-it involved the Hastings family agam. So this is an attack aimed at me he thought.


    He nced at the recording device on the table and regained someposure. He pressed y, and the conversation from that day started ying-Emily''s voice from the first part of the recording. George listened carefully, his frown deepening, and reyed the recording twice.


    Even Hannah began to piece things together, and she thought to herself, ''No way... Emily is the Hastings family''s adopted daughter? And Ophelia is their real daughter?''


    George recalled that day he went to confront the Hastings. He remembered how fiercely Heather protected Ophelia. Suddenly, it all made sense.


    George said, "Hannah, I know that you did this for your friend, but look, someone used you and turned you into a pawn. You''re going to issue a public statement immediately-exin everything and post the recording too. I''ll handle the rest. And once the school term starts, I''m sending you abroad. You won''t have to worry about any awkward encounters with Emily ever again." Hannah nodded, fury bubbling up inside her. She had been nothing but loyal to Emily, and yet she had been yed like aContent rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    fool.


    By that afternoon, Hannah had not only issued a public apology but alsoid out the entire sequence of events-starting from the gown Emily rented.


    Insiders began leaking what really went down at Emily''s birthday party. Suddenly, the Inte was buzzing with trending hashtags: "Fake Heiress Emily Exposed", "Two-Faced Emily", and "How To Stage Your Own Drama


    Mainstream media ran wild with stories about the Hastings family''s real and fake daughters, and Hastings Group faced a tidal wave of negative press. For a whole week, their stock prices took a nosedive. Even artists under Sungate Entertainment felt the bacsh, getting caught in the crossfire and facing public outrage.


    When the scandal broke, Emily felt her world shatter. Staring at the endless stream of online ridicule, her whole body trembled with rage. Her nails dug into her skin without her even realizing it, and her face was as pale as a ghost.


    She wanted to disappear, feeling like everyone around her was either mocking her or pitying her. Even the artists she used to look down on were now mming doors in her face.


    "Why? I''m Owen''s daughter, but why are people calling me a fake heiress? Why is fate so unfair? It''s all Ophelia''s fault. If it weren''t for her, none of this would be happening." Emily thought.


    "Ophelia!" Emily ground her teeth, and her eyes were filled with hatred and venom.


    Just then, amotion erupted outside her office. "Ma''am, you can''t go in there. This is the director''s office."


    The next second, the door suddenly flew open-


    Already in a foul mood, Emily was about tosh out when someone stormed in and grabbed her by the hair. She let out a loud scream in pain.


    "Emily, I thought we were friends. Is this how you treat me?" Hannah''s shout filled the office. She was tall and strong, and the force with which she yanked Emily''s hair made it clear how furious she was. Before Emily could react, Hannah had already pped her across the face multiple times. Everyone around them gasped-it was more intense than watching a wife catch her husband''s mistress.


    "Ah-Hannah, please, let me exin. I... I didn''t..." Emily cried and struggled.


    "You didn''t? Emily, stop pretending. I''m cursed to have ever been your friend. What a fool I''ve been, Hannah spat, her words sharp, her hand never stopping.


    Emily''s face was now covered in red marks, blood trickling from her lips. She didn''t even have the strength to fight back


    No one dared to step in, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire. At that moment, Emily truly understood what it meant to be abandoned by the world. The second she lost her title as Hastings''s heiress, everyone around her had turned against her.


    It wasn''t until the guards arrived that they managed to pull Hannah away. Emily sobbed, her face tear-streaked. Yet she still tried to maintain her image and told everyone she wouldn''t press charges and let Hannah go


    Meanwhile, Cathy received a letter addressed to Emily-awyer''s letter. She hesitated as she handed it over, afraid of being


    caught in the storm of Emily''s wrath. The letter detailed thepensation owed for the gown-seven million dors.