Chapter 23
Prunella, seated next to Elliot, frowned in confusion. “What is it!”
Looking both disgusted and shaken, Elliot shoved the phone toward her as if it were cursed. “See for yourself.”
Caught off guard, Prunella fumbled, and the phone slipped from her hands, landing screen–up on the carpet.
Heads turned, curiosity overcoming decorum as everyone leaned in to catch a glimpse. The moment they saw the image, they recoiled, expressions ranging from shock to horror.
The room fell into a suffocating silence.
George, who had already guessed what was on the screen, went through a whirlwind of emotions–his face flushing red, then draining white, before settling into a dark hue.
“This is… absolutely disgusting. Elliot muttered after what felt like an eternity.
Standing farther back, Regina noticed the strange looks darting her w
way. Bewildered, she stepped forward to see for herself.
One glance at the screen, and her knees almost buckled. Displayed on the phone was a photo of her and George, completely naked and tangled together in a very compromising position.
Regina’s face burned with humiliation as an icy wave of dread swept over her. Never in her worst nightmares had she imagined Laurel would have such photos.
Before coming to the Lynch Mansion, she had considered all the ways Laurel might try to expose her affair with George. But this was beyond anything she had prepared for.
The mere thought of Warwick, Elliot, and everyone else in the room seeing such a photo made her want to disappear. Fury and shame surged through her in equal measure.
“Laurel!” Regina’s voice trembled as she practically screamed. “How much do you hate me to fabricate such a disgusting fake photo just to humiliate
She clung to the hope that if she denied the photo’s authenticity, some might suspect that it was fake.
But Laurel didn’t flinch. “And how exactly are you so sure it’s fake?” she retorted, her voice steady and confident. “Besides, who would dare show a fake photo to Warwick
“If anyone doubts it, we can have it examined by experts. If it’s proven fake, I’ll apologize right here.”
Her calm demeanor and resolute tone made everyone in t
the room pause. Laurel’s confidence was unshakable, and not a trace of guilt crossed her face.
It was hard to believe someone would risk presenting a forgery to Warwick. With today’s technology, a fake could be uncovered in minutes. No one thought Laurel would be foolish enough to take that risk.
Regina, however, wasn’t ready to back down. She opened her mouth to argue, but Laurel cut her off with an almost casual remark. “There are more photos like this in your private album, aren’t there?”
Regina froze, her breath hitching as an icy chill spread through her chest. She stumbled back a step, her composure cracking.
Her confidence had rested on the belief that this photo was fake–a composite at worst. After all, the image looked like one of the intimate photos stored securely in her phone’s private album.
Regina hadn’t shared those photos with anyone. Her phone had been with her at all times, and she was certain it hadn’t been compromised. However, Laurel’s words weren’t just a guess–they were too specific.
Not even George knows about my private album, Regina thought, panic rising. “How does Laurel know? How did she get those photos without me noticing?
The more she tried to make sense of it, the more unnerved she became.
She knew Laurel was capable; George and her parents often mentioned it.
8:22 PM c d
Chapter 23
But for years, Regina had dismissed Laurel as nothing more
ore than a pushover, someone blindly loyal to the Lambert family and George.
Now, faced with Laurel’s unshakable composure and apparent ability to uncover her secrets, Regina felt her confidence shatter.
Her voice cracked as she repeated. The photos are fake. They have to be.”
But her protest rang hollow. Her trembling hands and panicked expression betrayed her.
George closed his eyes briefly as if resigning himself to the inevitable. Then, with a deep breath, he stepped forward and bowed his head to
Warwick
“Grandfather, when Laurel showed the video at the engagement party yesterday, I knew I’d made a terrible mistake.” he said. “I tried to reach out to her to explain and ask for forgiveness, but she wouldn’t take my calls-
Warwick’s icy stare didn’t waver. “You should be saying this to Laurel,” he said coldly
George was stunned. Warwick didn’t even bother to reprimand him, showing how utterly disappointed he was.
At this point, Laurel was his last hope. If he could earn Laurel’s forgiveness, Warwick–who held her in such high regard–might eventually forgive
him.
But getting Laurel’s forgiveness now seemed like a pipe dream.
Gritting his teeth, George dropped to his knees in front of her.⠀⠀
The room collectively gasped, startled by his sudden action
F
“George, what are you doing?” Prunella shrieked, rushing to pull him up, but he held up a hand to stop her.
“Mom, this is my fault, all of it,” he said firmly. “I need to take responsibility.”
Then he turned to Laurel, his voice trembling with what sounded like sincerity. “Laurel, I know I messed up, and I regret everything. For the sake of everything we’ve been through together, I’m begging you–please forgive me, just this once
He continued, his tone growing more desperate, “I swear to you, and to everyone here, that I’ll never look at another woman again. From now on, I’ll love only you, stay loyal to you, and do whatever it takes to make things right. Please, Laurel”
Roderick hadn’t anticipated George would go so far as to kneel and beg just to salvage the situation
It was clear now that George had no moral bottom line–or rather, he was willing to do whatever it took to achieve his goals.
Roderick’s expression darkened as he turned his gaze to Laurel, his thoughts unreadable. Everything about their partnership now hinged on how she would respond to George.
Laurel stared down at George, her emotions swirling. She hadn’t expected this. She’d imagined George might lash out at her in anger or try to shift the blame.
She’d braced herself for arguments, denials, or even defiance. But this–seeing George, a man so proud of himself, on his knees–left her momentarily stunned.
Then, as her eyes caught the fleeting glances George sent toward Warwick, understanding dawned.
“So that’s his plan, she thought bitterly. ‘He’s playing the sympathy card:
It was clear George wasn’t apologizing out of genuine regret. He’d realized he was cornered and was banking on her forgiving him to regain his footing.
With Warwick’s affection for Laurel, George knew that if she let him off the hook, he might still salvage his standing.
As long as Laurel remained on his side, Warwick’s disappointment wouldn’t last forever. And as long as Warwick’s favor could be regained, so could
his ambitions.
A man like George, willing to throw away his pride and play the victim when convenient, was the last person who should ever hold power over the Lynch family.
Warwick and Winona seemed to have reached the same conclusion. They exchanged a brief look, and in that glance, their mutual disappointment in George–and concern for the family’s future–was painfully clear.
Yet neither of them spoke. Both turned their attention to Laurel, silently waiting to see what she would do.
