Chapter210 Miranda Presents Evidence
Isabella was caught off guard by the question. Her lips parted, panic flashing quickly through her eyes before she calmed down.
"Because she's jealous of my close relationship with Clifton."
Hearing this, Miranda nearly laughed from anger.
She took a step forward, looking at Isabella, her red lips curving upward.
"I'm jealous of you?"
"You're just my husband's friend's sister. An outsider." Miranda paused, her voice continuing, "While I'm his wife. We're the closest people to each other. Why would I be jealous of you?"
The sympathetic gazes around her now became complicated, even carrying a hint of doubt.
Seeing she was about to be questioned, Isabella cursed inwardly but continued speaking. "Someone like you who's divorced and barely managed to cling to the Prescott family would never easily—"
"Enough."
An ice-cold voice rang out, blocking all of Isabella's remaining words.
Clifton stood beside Miranda, his gaze sweeping across everyone present, including Arthur.
"Miranda is the wife I chose to marry, the woman I, Clifton, wanted to marry."
"There's no clinging involved. I trust that my wife wouldn't lie about what happened today."
The powerful aura emanating from the man's very bones pressed down on everyone present, leaving them breathless. Those who'd been whispering moments ago now fell completely silent.
Miranda stood at his side, looking at the man's resolute profile, warmth flooding her heart.
Being protected so unconditionally felt truly wonderful.
However, she had no intention of letting Isabella's false accusation slide.
Her gaze returned to Isabella's pale face, her voice calm. "Isabella, I'll ask you one last time. Are you certain I pushed you down?"
"It was you!" Isabella still refused to admit the truth.
Arthur looked at Miranda, disgust practically overflowing from his eyes. "Miranda! Stop being so aggressive! My sister wouldn't falsely accuse you for no reason!"
"Fine." Miranda nodded, those clear eyes showing no emotion. "Since we each have our own version, let's let the evidence speak."
She curved her lips in a meaningful smile.
"I hope you can stick to your story when the time comes."
With that, she turned and walked toward another area of the lawn without even glancing at everyone's shocked expressions.
Watching her retreating figure, Isabella felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.
Evidence? There weren't even any cameras here. What evidence could she possibly have?
With this thought, Isabella's heart settled again.
Several minutes passed, and Miranda still hadn't returned.
Celeste pursed her lips, speaking sarcastically. "Don't tell me she felt guilty and just ran away instead of coming back?"
Hearing this, Arthur's expression darkened further. Supporting Isabella, he ground out through clenched teeth, "She hurt my sister. I absolutely won't let her off!"
"Be quiet."
Clifton's cold gaze swept over, and just those two words made Arthur swallow all his remaining threats.
The warning in that look was too strong, sending a chill down his spine and making him afraid to say another word.
After waiting a few more minutes, just as everyone's patience was wearing thin, Miranda's figure finally reappeared in view.
She wasn't alone.
Behind her followed a casually dressed young woman holding the leash of a bouncing golden retriever.
Around the dog's neck was a small black action camera.
Everyone looked on in confusion.
The woman with the dog approached and smiled politely at everyone. "Hello. I just learned what happened from this lady. My dog was playing on this lawn earlier, and the pet action camera on its collar should have recorded everything that just happened."
These words exploded in Isabella's mind.
A pet action camera?
She was completely dumbfounded, all color draining from her face as she pointed at Miranda, her voice breaking. "You... you're lying! Don't try to get someone to act and deceive everyone. I didn't see any dog just now!"
Miranda ignored her, only smiling politely at the woman. "Thank you. Could you please open the video now and show everyone?"
"Of course."
The woman began pulling out her phone to connect to the camera.
Seeing the woman about to play the video, Isabella realized that once it played, not only would her attempt to frame Miranda fail, but her vicious intent to push someone would be completely exposed to everyone.
Then Clifton would definitely hate her.
No! Absolutely not!
Isabella closed her eyes and collapsed straight into Arthur's arms.
She "conveniently" fainted.
This sudden development stunned everyone.
Arthur, seeing his sister in this state, felt somewhat displeased.
He wasn't an idiot.
His sister's act was obviously fake, which meant her claim that Miranda pushed her was likely a false accusation.
A wave of fury at being deceived and shame at being humiliated surged through him.
He felt like everyone around was looking at a joke—at him and his sister.
Taking a deep breath and forcefully suppressing the complex emotions in his heart, he suddenly spoke. "Never mind!"
He picked Isabella up horizontally, not even looking at Miranda, his tone stiff. "I believe you didn't push her, okay! My sister is injured. I need to take her back to the car to treat her wounds."
With that, he carried Isabella and left quickly, leaving the rest exchanging bewildered glances.
For a moment, everyone's perception of Miranda changed—from earlier contempt and suspicion to current scrutiny and a trace of... awe.
This woman was not to be trifled with.
With the parties involved gone, the woman with the dog looked at Miranda, asking somewhat awkwardly, "So... should I still play the video?"
"No need, thank you." A genuine smile appeared on Miranda's face.
The woman also breathed a sigh of relief, saying with a smile, "You're welcome. You paid me, so this is what I should do. Since things are resolved, I won't disturb you further. I'll be going."
With that, she led her golden retriever away.
After the woman left, the atmosphere fell silent again.
Clifton turned to look at Miranda beside him.
"Tired?" His voice was low but tinged with gentleness. "The food is ready. Come rest with me over there."
Miranda nodded, her lips curving as she followed him.
The others behind them finally breathed sighs of relief and hurried to follow, not daring to mention anything about what just happened.