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."

knitted even closer

couldn't bring herself to meet Kieran's eyes, her gaze darting around the room as if

expected some proof of Eloise's alleged

streaming down her

cold, "This press

journalists out and offered them parting gifts on behalf of the Sutton

leave, Audrey gestured for her to stay.

coffee, fixed Kieran sternly. "Do you see now? The kind of woman you've

face was a mask of

if Ellie didn't harm herself, was there a need to humiliate her in front

a need t

everyone like that?"

"Humiliate her? She's been

family!" Audrey's laugh was cold and without humor. "She pretended to hurt herself at the engagement party