NovelStartBetty's breath hitched. The sight of Jasper was like a predator spotting its prey, sending a primal jolt of fear through her. She longed to disappear, to vanish into sdark, forgotten corner.
Javier shot Jasper a cold glance before rising and approaching them. "Dad, why didn't you tellthat you were coming? | could have welcomed you properly." "I'm not a guest here; I'm returning to my own home. | don't need a grand welcome," Newton replied sarcastically, his tone laced with disdain for Javier. Their strained relationship was palpable.
Javier's expression darkened at his father's sharp retort. It was a clear reminder that Seaview Manor belonged to Newton, not him—just because he lived there, it didn't mean that he owned the place.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Grandpa, | heard that Lauren has been recuperating at your place. How is she? Is she feeling better?" Betty hurried over and stood behind Javier. She immediately made herself look like she was showing concern for her sister.
"Lauren is doing much better. She's been eating well at my place." Newton then turned to Jasper with a hint of suspicion. "Jasper, you brought us here. Did you have something to discuss?" Jasper knelt to adjust the wool blanket covering Newton's legs, his gaze piercing and cold.
"Haven't you both been desperate to find the one who conspired with the Harpers, the one who leaked Lauren's diagnosis and attacked the Becketts from the shadows? The culprit is closer than you think," he said, his voice low and menacing.
With those words, Jasper fixed his gaze on Betty, whose face contorted in fear.
"Why... Why are you looking at me?" Betty stammered, panic evident in her voice as cold sweat formed on her forehead. She began to retreat slowly, almost knocking over the expensive tea set on the nearby table in her haste. [x] "What are you implying? Don't tellyou think I leaked that information! Don't scapegoatjust because you can't find anyone else to blame!" Newton and Javier stared at Betty in shock.
Newton widened his eyes, his grip tightening on the armrests of his wheelchair. "jasper. Are you saying that Betty conspired with the Harpers to hurt Lauren?" Javier glared at Jasper sternly. "Jasper, this isn't a small matter! Lauren is your sister, but so is Betty. Even if you have grievances with her because of Alyssa, you can't throw baseless accusations. You need evidence for such accusations!" Betty seized the opportunity to deflect blame. "Exactly! You're just trying to pin this onto appease Alyssa's grudge!" Meanwhile, Alyssa, completely unrelated to the conversation, sneezed, wondering who was talking about her.
Jasper continued staring at Betty without saying a word. Betty felt extremely uneasy.
How laughable was that? The individual harboring nefarious intentions could no longer restrain the anxiety brewing within herself.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"There are only four people who could access Lauren's report—Grandpa, Dad, myself, and Sophia, who's dead.
"I'm certain that Grandpa and Dad wouldn't have done that. Sophia might have made a deal with you and disclosed Lauren's diagnosis report to you," Jasper reasoned calmly but assertively, his demeanor unwavering.
Betty felt like she was suffocating, as if Jasper's presence was wrapping around her throat, depriving her of air.
Unable to accuse Newton and Javier, Betty could only accuse Jasper to deflect blame. "Then it could've been you! During the Jesseltons' dinner party, Zoe exposed Alyssa's inability to conceive, and at the horse racing event, the Harpers and the Taylors clashed! "Maybe you orchestrated this drama to get revenge on the Harpers, even if it meant ruthlessly sacrificing your own sister! And your cutthroat maneuvers against competitors are well-known throughout Solana City. Your reputation precedes you!" "Betty! Don't speak to your brother that way!" Newton reprimanded sharply. "Jasper has worked tirelessly for the family and Beckett Group. Don't insult him! If Jasper is truly as awful as you say, then perhaps there's not a single decent person in the whole family!" Those words ignited a storm within Javier. His expression darkened with each passing moment.
"Grandpa! There has to be a limit to your unconditional defense of him!" Betty stomped her foot, her mind a whirlwind as she desperately searched for a way to defend herself. "Last time... | did make two mistakes. But they were all because Sophia instigated them! She orderedto do those things! She'd tricked me!"
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