The Bride Who Said No: Escaping the Shadows of Yesterday

Chapter 65

Audrey walked straight to Eloise, her presence commanding the room. "Ms. Harwood, why don't you clarify your relationship with my grandson?"

Eloise bit her lip, her gaze involuntarily flicking toward Kieran, who frowned deeply, clearly uncomfortable with the situation unfolding.

He stood up, attempting to diffuse the tension. "Eloise and I are merely friends."

"That's not for you to say!" Audrey snapped, turning her frosty gaze back to Eloise. "Let Ms. Harwood speak for herself."

"Kieran and I are just friends," Eloise said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"But isn't there a rumor, Ms. Harwood, that you were so infatuated with Kieran you even tried to harm yourself?" Audrey didn't skip a beat as she grabbed Eloise's left hand and held it up for everyone to see. Eloise paled, and her wrist wrapped in white bandages seemed to tell a tale of distress.

Without sympathy, Audrey ripped off the bandages, revealing... absolutely nothing. Eloise's wrist was unmarked, devoid of any injury. The room erupted into murmurs and gasps.

Audrey sneered, "The dramatic tales of self-harm were nothing but a farce. Ms. Harwood's wrist is as pristine as can be."

closer together at this

herself to meet Kieran's eyes, her gaze darting

Freya was stunned into silence, having expected some proof of Eloise's alleged desperation,

streaming down her face, Eloise fled the

cold,

his signal, Jarrett promptly escorted the journalists out and offered them parting gifts on behalf of the Sutton

gestured for her to stay. Together, they retreated to a

Audrey, seated comfortably and sipping coffee, fixed Kieran sternly. "Do you see now? The kind

a mask

even if Ellie didn't harm herself, was there a need to humiliate

a need t

everyone like that?"

"Humiliate her? She's been

cold and without humor. "She pretended to hurt herself at the engagement