Julian shoved Victor aside. “Don’t let her fool you. She always plays the sympathy card!” He glared at riens “only to you la kneeling acting a drapped you through fire!”
Elens lifted her head to look at him, her face chalk white, and asked, “Julian, have you forgotten already? Last night you showed me onto those splintered bowl shards one of them drove straight into my knee.”
Julian’s pupils jerked violently at her words, only then did he freeze, the memory of the previoon night flooding back in a nish.
Victor Whitmore scooped her up at once, settled her onto a chair, and carefully lifted the hem of her trouser leg
The cut on her knee had already clotted, yet the fresh impact tore it open again, a thin line of blood sliding down her thin.
A flicker of gutt and anguish crossed Julian Bennett’s eyes
Just then Annabelle let out another sobs, and Julian immediately remembered the wrongs she had suffered.
Julian shouted, “Serves you right for getting hitt Victoris Annie’s fiancé–how dare you shamelessly try to seduce her boyfriend?”
“Enough!“Victor Whitmore barked, his voice low and forbidding.
“When has she ever tried to seduce me?”
Julian scoffed, “Isn’t that exactly what happened? You’re still defending her even now?”
Victor answered evenly, “She came only to ask whether Grandpa had approved my engagement to Annabelle. She even offered to speak with him herself to ease his prejudice, hoping our engagement could be settled soon and silence all the possi
Every member of the Bennett Family stared at him in stunned belie
Adaline looked at Elena’s blood–drained face. “Elena did we did we misunderstand you?”
Julian’s brows knitted tight; almost involuntarily he glanced at his own palm.
Only then did it hit him–he had struck her again.
Grinding his teeth, Julian raked a restless hand through his hair. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
Elena Bennett pulled her lips into a bleak smile. “And what good would that have done Your slap landed the moment you walked in.”
Julian’s fingers quivered.
Snapping out of her shock, Annabelle shook her head. “Impossible… that can’t be! She’d never be kind enough to help me she wants nothing mo than for me to lose everything!”
She glared at Elena with vicious eyes, her delicate face twisting into something feral.
Victor frowned.
Elena asked quietly, “Sister, was it you who told Mom and Dad–and Julian–that I was seducing President Whitmore? You didn’t even hear what y talked about. Why were you so sure!”
Only now did Annabelle realize she had fallen Atraight into Elena’s trap
Heartbroken but resolute, Elena looked at ber do you want from me?”
ww already agreed to break off the engagement and give President Whitmore to you. What more
107
Chapter 47
For the first time, Annabelle tasted the bitterness of swallowing her own humiliation.
Unable to out–argue Elena, the plunged into Adaline’s arms and wept in wounded grievance.
Adaline stroked her back and cooed, “Don’t cry, Annie. Mom knows you didn’t do it on purpose
Lawrence Bennett snapped, “Elena, that’s enough! Annie misunderstood only because she loves Victor so much–must you drive your sister in tirars?”
Suddenly Victor felt as though a heavy lid had clamped over his chest.
To be precise, the suffocation was for Elena’s sake, in this house,
e, anyone seemed free to stab her at will,
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.