Chapter 38 The Act Worked
Finished
His words settled the matter, signaling that the disgrace Leah had brought upon the Nelsons was, for now, laid to rest.
Leah blinked, her voice uncertain. “The Quinns?”
“Yes,” Olympia said, her tone light as she placed a hand on Leah’s. “Not long after you fainted, someone from their family showed up at the company. Your brother signed the contract with them.” A faint smile tugged at her lips. “That young man from the Quinns seemed quite concerned about you.”
Leah’s face flushed pink. “Mom, we’re just friends.”
“Of course, just friends,” Olympia replied with mock seriousness. “Once you’re feeling better, though, invite your friend over for dinner. We owe him a proper thank–you.”
Leah gave a small nod. “Alright, I will.”
After a brief pause, her voice softened. “Did Charmaine … did she get first place?”
The warmth in Olympia’s expression vanished in an instant. “Don’t bring her up.”
Willard, seated nearby, scowled.
The mention of Charmaine darkened the atmosphere like a sudden storm cloud.
If Charmaine had stayed in her lane, none of this chaos would have unfolded. Her meddling had turned a tense situation into a public spectacle.
And now, the internet buzzed with vicious comments about Leah and the Nelsons, contrasting sharply with praise lavished upon Charmaine.
People couldn’t seem to stop comparing the two. They talked of how one girl brought glory to her family while the other dragged them through the mud. Willard and Olympia had seen enough to make their blood boil.
Those online critics didn’t understand anything.
Charmaine was the true thorn in their side.
Breaking the silence, Milo spoke. “No, she didn’t win. Yaris Group released the results. Charmaine withdrew, and they went with the third–place contestant instead.”
Leah’s jaw dropped, disbelief flickering in her eyes as her nails dug into her palms.
That–witch!
Charmaine had stirred up so much trouble, only to drop out?
Was she doing this on purpose–just to see Leah humiliated?
The pieces began to fall into place, and a thought burst from Leah before she could stop it. “Doesn’t it seem like too much of a coincidence? Charmaine leaves, and right after, Ydris Group pulls out of their deal with us. Their competition ends up using her design sketches. And that day… the Maybach she got into …
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Chapter 98 The Act Worked
Finished
Her words hung in the air, unspoken conclusions echoing in the silence. The Nelsons weren’t fools; they understood what Leah was implying.
Willard’s eyes narrowed, his mind working swiftly. Years of navigating the business world had trained him to see through veils of coincidence, and he didn’t miss the connection.
He kept his thoughts to himself, but the tightness in his jaw betrayed his anger.
Milo, ever the voice of reason, spoke again, “Leah, even if Charmaine and Rex are somehow connected, they couldn’t have predicted you’d submit the same design she did.”
Leah watched Milo, a pang of surprise striking her. He wasn’t offering his usual, unwavering support. Instead, he seemed to be making excuses for Charmaine. A tight knot of unease settled in her stomach.
This was bad.
Milo’s allegiance no longer felt so certain. That was something Leah could never allow.
She bit her lip, trying to keep her voice even. “Thanks for everything today. I’m fine now. You and Dad should go home and get some rest.”
Willard paused for a moment, then nodded. “It’s getting late. There are two caregivers outside. If you need anything, just tell them. Call your dad or brothers if anything comes up.”
He said a few more things before walking out with Olympia, leaving the room.
Bennett and his wife exchanged a glance. They nodded to Leah, signaling they’d check in later.
One by one, they left, with Milo lingering behind.
Leah called out softly, “Milo.”
Milo hesitated for a second, then walked over to her bed and squatted down beside her.
“Leah, you need to rest,” he said quietly.
Leah’s voice dropped. She couldn’t help it. “Milo … are you upset with me?”
Milo quickly shook his head. “What? No, of course not. I’m just happy you’re okay.”
“But today, you kept defending Chara,” Leah said, her voice trembling slightly.
Milo was caught off guard. He hadn’t expected her to confront him like this.
“I’m not picking Charmaine over you,” he blurted.
As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt the weight of their emptiness.
It wasn’t about choosing Charmaine. It was about not automatically choosing Leah without thinking it
through.
In the past, he wouldn’t have hesitated. He would have backed her up without a second thought, calling out Charmaine’s faults.
But this time something felt different. Something didn’t add un and it was hard to ignore
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Chapter 38 The Act Worked
Mile turned his gaze away from Leah, not able to face her eyes anymore.
Leah knew then. She understood.
Finished
“It’s all my fault,” she whispered, her voice heavy with guilt. “I thought I could fix everything. I thought I could make Chara happy again, give her back the confidence she lost. I thought I could protect her from the rumors, from everything she went through in South Aspus. But it’s all because of what my parents did. I can’t fix any of it. I’m useless. I can’t do anything right. Every time I try, it just makes everything worse.”
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