Chapter 234 I Did Not Swap
After Calista was thrown out by the Nightingale family's bodyguards, she was furious. She stood by the roadside cursing Elizabeth, "Elizabeth, I hope you get hit by a car!"
She had come to Border Ridge City thinking she could squeeze some money out of Elizabeth.
But not only did she come away empty-handed, she was also kicked out by the Nightingale family.
Calista felt her pocket - there was barely any money left, not even enough for the trip home.
With no other choice, she decided to take the bus to the train station.
The bus was packed with people.
Calista stood holding onto a handrail.
When she got to the train station and got off the bus, she felt her pocket and froze - her money was gone!
She cursed angrily, "Who's so heartless to steal my money! That was my fare home!"
Calista was both hungry and anxious. Without money, what would she do tonight? And she couldn't reach Ron because his crappy phone was with her and had just been stolen on the bus too.
She was completely helpless.
Meanwhile, Timothy at the Nightingale family banquet replied to several messages.
One of them instructed someone to drop Calista off on the highway outside the suburbs and let her slowly walk back to the train station herself.
The banquet had just started when Freya excused herself, saying she wasn't feeling well, and left early.
At six in the evening, the banquet ended.
Russell personally saw the guests off with Elizabeth.
In the Nightingale Mansion living room.
Beau personally served tea to the family members, then left the living room.
Freya sat with an unhappy expression. She had never been so embarrassed in her entire life.
Thinking about how the guests had looked at her today with such curiosity made her chest feel tight and her breathing difficult.
Russell knew Freya must be very angry, but he really hadn't anticipated this happening.
He looked at Timothy sitting beside Elizabeth, his mouth twitching slightly.
Russell looked down at the two paternity test reports in his hands. These two were the switched reports - he had asked the hospital director to add a very subtle letter marking to the original reports.
The atmosphere in the living room grew quieter and quieter.
Timothy picked up the teacup for Elizabeth to wet her throat. Elizabeth silently thanked him.
Russell's eyes were sharp as he stared at Herschel and asked in a heavy tone, "Herschel, after you got these two reports, who touched them? Or who did you see?"
As soon as Russell asked this, Emma, who was sitting on the sofa with her head down, nervously bit her lip.
Herschel wasn't stupid. Although he didn't know exactly what had happened, he knew it was serious.
He looked at Emma with confusion, "I only saw Emma."
Russell laughed coldly and asked sternly, "Emma, did you switch the reports?"
Emma nervously shook her head, a flash of panic in her eyes, "Godfather, I didn't."
Freya looked at Emma with confusion, then at her husband, her tone puzzled, "Honey, are you saying the test reports were switched?"
Russell nodded, "Yes, I didn't expect someone could switch the reports right under Herschel's nose."
This was something he hadn't anticipated.
Unless it was someone familiar, Herschel wouldn't have been so careless.
"You suspect Emma switched the reports?" Freya looked at Emma in shock, "Emma, why would you do this?"
Emma's left hand gripped her right hand tightly, her heart full of anxiety.
She still tried to defend herself, "Godfather, godmother, I really didn't do such a thing. You can't accuse me falsely."
Russell's tone became stern, "Emma, it was also you who led my wife to do the paternity test with Wendy, and Herschel only saw you when he picked up the reports. In this whole thing, you have the strongest motive. How has the Nightingale family wronged you?"
Russell threw the two fake reports onto the table.
Freya looked at Emma in disbelief.
Emma suddenly stood up angrily, her eyes red, her tone agitated, "Godfather, it really wasn't me! I don't have the ability to prepare fake test reports, and how would I know which hospital you went to for the test?"
Elizabeth nodded and put down her teacup, "You make a good point. You don't have that ability."
Emma looked at Elizabeth with red eyes, full of anger and grievance.
Elizabeth smiled slightly, her tone gentle but sharp, "But we can ask the person behind you."
"What person behind me?" Emma's tears rolled down. She turned to look at Freya, her tone pleading and desperate, "Godmother, I really didn't do such a thing!"
There was no evidence to prove that she, Emma, had switched the reports!
As long as she insisted she didn't do it!
Freya saw Emma's desperate expression and felt somewhat sad and angry, but mostly disappointed.
Russell's eyes remained sharp. He said coldly, "Emma, no evidence doesn't mean you didn't do it. After all, your motive is too obvious."
Timothy added calmly, "Does she think that without evidence, you can't do anything to her?"
Russell said coldly, "It doesn't matter if you don't admit it. From now on, the Nightingale family has nothing to do with you. The Nightingale family will no longer protect you."
Emma stood there, her face turning very ugly. She realized she had completely failed.
Russell's words were like a heavy blow, shattering all her hopes.
Timothy might send her back to the psychiatric hospital, or might not let her live at all.
No, that can't happen. Elara can still help her!
It was all Elara's fault for her plan. If they had just tampered with Elizabeth and Russell's test report from the beginning, none of this would have happened!
Emma covered her face, crying as she ran out of The Nightingale Mansion.
Elara could definitely save her!
Timothy squeezed Elizabeth's hand, reassuring her that Emma couldn't escape.
Freya stood up with an ugly expression. Without even glancing at Elizabeth, she left the living room and went upstairs.
Russell sighed helplessly. Freya was too soft-hearted and naive. "Elizabeth, about today, I apologize to you on behalf of your mother."
Elizabeth smiled, "Dad, don't worry. I won't hold it against Mrs. Nightingale."
She didn't even call her "Mom" anymore.
"Dad, it's getting late. We'll be going now."
Timothy naturally intertwined his fingers with Elizabeth's. Before leaving, he said to Russell, "Mr. Nightingale, you should replace your driver."
Russell's expression changed slightly.