Chapter 85 From Now On, We’re Partners
+8 Pearls
Leah smiled softly at Veronica, her eyes shining with feigned concern. “What’s wrong, Veronica? Are you afraid of me?”
Veronica’s voice was sharp, laced with contempt. “Leah, how long are you going to keep pretending?”
After Leah pushed Celeste out without hesitation the night before, both Veronica and Celeste saw through her act. It had become painfully clear just how selfish and venomous the woman they once considered a “close friend” truly was.
Leah no longer bothered with pretense. She had always thought Veronica was a nuisance, but now, Veronica could be just the person she needed.
Getting straight to the point, Leah spoke confidently, “Let’s stop playing games. Let’s team up.”
Veronica scoffed, disbelief evident on her face. “Ha, Leah,” she said sarcastically. “Who would ever want to partner with someone like you? Someone who betrays their friends? I’m not as naïve as Celeste.”
Leah’s smile turned sly. The innocence she had once feigned vanished, replaced by a calculating gleam in her eyes.
“Come to think of it,” Leah continued, “shouldn’t you be thanking me for last night?”
Veronica laughed bitterly, as if Leah had said something absurd. “We were just using each other. You know full well that if I took the fall, Celeste wouldn’t help you.”
“Exactly,” Leah replied smoothly. “You hate Celeste as much as I do. So, in a way, you owe me. I killed two birds with one stone.”
Leah spoke slowly, relishing her words. “Not only did I get someone to take the blame for me, but I also gave you a chance to get rid of the person who’s always made you feel inferior.”
Veronica bit her lip, frustration clear in her expression.
Leah’s tone became more persuasive. “What I’m offering you is a huge opportunity. This could change everything for you.”
With that, Leah pulled out a necklace. It wasn’t fancy, but it was clearly valuable, with a bullet casing hanging from it, cracked down the middle.
“When you meet Mr. Emyr, tell him this necklace was a gift from you,” Leah instructed.
Veronica’s eyes widened. “M–Mr. Emyr?”
Leah calmly explained the situation to Veronica, her voice steady and clear.
At first, Veronica was stunned, then panic set in. “Leah, are you out of your mind? You want me to lie to Mr. Emyr? You’re crazy! Don’t drag me into this!”
Leah remained calm. “This isn’t a lie; it’s the truth. I don’t know why Mr. Emyr is looking for the owner of this necklace, but it’s obvious he has no other leads.
“And let’s not forget, the Jameses erased your three years abroad. When you returned, you claimed you had lost all memory of that time. This will fill in the gap perfectly.”
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Chapter 85 From Now On, We’re Partners
+8 Pearls
Without hesitation, Leah stood up from the armchair and placed the necklace around Veronica’s neck. Veronica froze, clearly shocked.
Leah looked down at her with contempt. If not for all the contradictions, Veronica wouldn’t even stand a chance at such a great opportunity.
Leah’s gaze locked onto Veronica’s eyes. “Veronica, don’t you want someone on your side? Just like Charmaine did last night when she used Mr. Emyr’s influence without a second thought?”
Veronica stood frozen, her mind racing. Leah’s words seemed like a spell, wrapping around her, pulling her
- in.
Inside, Veronica screamed at herself to resist, to not trust this manipulative woman. But despite herself…
Her hands moved without her consent, unable to fight the lure. How could she not?
Her entire life, she had been overshadowed by Celeste.
Even though she was the daughter of the James family–one of the five great families of Eragos–her father’s collateral status left her powerless. Despite the prestigious last name, she had always struggled at the
bottom.
Maybe, just maybe, with the right kind of support, things could have been different.
Veronica’s thoughts swirled as she slowly reached up, trembling, and grasped the necklace. It seemed she had made her choice.
After a long pause, her voice barely audible years?”
she asked, “Do you know where I went during those three
“South Aspus,” Leah replied without hesitation “Just tell Mr. Emyr that you were in South Aspus, but something happened when you came back, and you lost all memory of those years. That clears everything up.”
“But what if the real owner of the necklace shows up?” Veronica asked, her voice shaky. “Do you know who the owner is?”
Leah didn’t answer right away. Instead, she blinked at Veronica and gave a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. When you meet Mr. Emyr, just make sure you don’t take the necklace with you. Just come up with an excuse. No one will ever find out.”
Leaning in closer, her voice dropped to a near whisper. “Besides, you lost all your memories of those three years in South Aspus. How could you possibly remember where you got the necklace from? You’ll just think it’s yours.”
Leah’s words sent a shiver down Veronica’s spine.
She stared at Leah, now fully aware of the depth of her manipulation. “Leah, you’re terrifying. All these years, Celeste and I been nothing but a pawn for you.”
Leah’s expression hardened, her eyes cold and calculating. “That was the past, Veronica. From now on, we’re partners. You’ll have to help me a lot from here on out.”
