Chapter 167 The Fraud Exposed
Clara was mortified by the public humiliation, clutching her purse so tightly her knuckles went white, unable to find words.
Daphne's expression darkened as well, but before she could speak, Heath Garcia hurried over and grabbed Elodie's arm, hissing under his breath, "Elodie! Watch your tongue! Where are your manners?"
He turned to Daphne and Clara with an obsequious smile, "Ms. Campbell, Ms. Johnson, my apologies. My daughter is young and thoughtless. Please don't hold it against her."
Elodie jerked free from her father's grip, defiant, "Dad! How am I being thoughtless? Do you have any idea who Clara really is?"
Heath glared at her and said, "Of course I know! Ms. Johnson is Ms. Campbell's niece, a part of theCampbell family! Tonight's reception is specifically to welcome Ms. Johnson back to the family! You apologize to Ms. Johnson right now!"
Elodie burst into laughter as if she'd heard the world's biggest joke, "A part of the Campbell family? Dad, don't let her fool you! She's not a member of the Campbell family—she's an illegitimate daughter! Her mother, Celeste, was Simon's mistress who only got into the Johnson family because she gave birth to Clara!"
As soon as those words were spoken, everyone fell silent.
Every eye in the room fixed on Clara—some shocked, some contemptuous, others hungry for drama.
Clara's face went deathly pale, her whole body trembling as she pointed at Elodie, "You... you're lying! I'm not an illegitimate daughter! My mother is Simon's legal wife! I am a Campbell! Stop spreading lies!"
"Am I lying?" Elodie sneered, stepping closer to Clara with undisguised disdain. "Clara, dare you claim your mother, Celeste, wasn't a mistress? When your mom was getting involved with Simon, Emily's mother was still alive! Your mother schemed her way in, drove Emily's mother to her death, then took her place! Everyone knows this story—I certainly do! Half this room is laughing at you behind your back, and here you are still pretending to be a part of the Campbell family!"
She paused, turning to Daphne, "Ms. Campbell, don't let her deceive you! That paternity test she showed you has to be fake! Think about it, if she were really your niece, why wait all these years to find you? Why surface now? She's just using the Campbell family's name to climb the social ladder!"
Daphne's expression darkened completely, suspicion flooding her eyes as she stared at Clara, "Clara, is what she's saying true? Tell me the truth!"
Clara panicked under Daphne's scrutiny, tears streaming down her face as her voice cracked, "Aunt Daphne, I haven't! Elodie is deliberately attacking me—she's Emily's best friend, Emily must have sent her to frame me! Don't believe her!"
Elodie scoffed, "Frame you? I don't need to frame you—you know exactly what you are!"
Clara stumbled backward in terror, nearly falling before a nearby server caught her. Seeing the contempt in every face around her, hearing the whispered gossip, panic, and fear consumed her.
Was her carefully woven web of lies about to be torn apart by Elodie's few words?
Charles and Emily stood watching the drama unfold with perfect composure.
Charles gently squeezed Emily's hand, murmuring, "Looks like we're in for quite a show."
Emily nodded, a faint smile playing at her lips.
Clara's beautiful dream was about to become a nightmare.
Daphne looked toward Charles, who seemed detached from the chaos, and suddenly many things clicked into place. She remembered Charles had specifically visited the Scott Manor because of Emily, making cryptic comments that had puzzled her at the time.
"Mr. Windsor, you knew about Clara's situation all along, didn't you? Those things you said to me at the Scott Manor, you were trying to warn me, weren't you?"
Charles nodded slightly, "Yes. I had Nathan investigate Clara's background long ago. She's not Campbell family bloodline—that paternity test was forged using Emily's stolen hair. I tried to warn you, but you didn't take it seriously."
The words hit Daphne like a physical blow.
"You're lying!" Clara suddenly shrieked, grasping at her last straw, "Charles, Emily must have deceived you! This is all Emily's conspiracy—she's jealous of me, so she convinced you to do this!"
Her desperate attempt to shift blame made several guests frown in disgust.
Anyone with eyes could see Charles's genuine devotion to Emily. Besides, Clara's past connection with Charles was just her one-sided obsession—there was no need for Charles to seek revenge.
Emily watched Clara's hysterical performance and finally stepped forward, her voice cutting with cold mockery, "Clara, you're still lying. Let me ask you something—you claim to be the Campbell family's bloodline, so tell me: who exactly was your mother? What's your relationship with Celeste? You can't keep dodging the question forever."
Clara's eyes darted nervously, her throat working as she stammered, "Celeste is just our housekeeper! After my mother died, she came to the Johnson family to take care of me! My mother was Ms. Campbell's real sister—I'm a Campbell! Stop trying to confuse the issue!"
Emily laughed coldly, her voice dropping several degrees, "Housekeeper? Clara, you're truly shameless. All these years of Celeste's devotion, is that how a housekeeper treats an employer's child? She schemed to harm me for your sake, forged pregnancy reports to deceive Simon, even had me kidnapped to ruin me—this is your idea of a 'housekeeper'?"
Elodie jumped in, stepping forward with challenge in her voice, "Since you claim to be a Campbell, dare you take a DNA test right now? Ms. Campbell is standing right here. Get tested immediately, and we'll know if you're really related! If you refuse, it proves you're guilty and nothing but a fraud!"
"I won't do it!" Clara refused without hesitation, panic flooding her voice as she clutched her dress so tightly her knuckles went white. "I already gave Aunt the test results. Why should I do it again? You just want to humiliate me! Emily, you can't stand that I'm a Campbell, so you and Elodie are framing me!"
She knew better than anyone that a real DNA test would immediately expose her lies.
But her refusal only made her look more guilty, and the murmur of voices grew louder, every glance filled with contempt and mockery.