The Jilted Heiress' Return To The High Life

The Betrayed Heiress' Return to Elegance 293

Chapter 293 Kneel And Apologize

The store hummed with whispered conversations as speculation about Rita rippled through the crowd.

Leah's penetrating gaze bored into Corrine with glacial intensity, as though attempting to pierce through to her very thoughts.

A crushing weight of consequences pressed down on the Ashton family name. Should Rita break her word, they would be branded as untrustworthy. Yet if she submitted to the humiliation of a public apology on her knees, their social standing would suffer an equally devastating blow.

The family was trapped in an impossible position, with both paths leading to inevitable scandal.

Leah drew a measured breath, her teeth clenched behind a facade of gentility as she spoke. “Miss Holland, you understand Rita's impulsive nature. Why harbor such resentment? After years of the Ashton family's unwavering support, surely you could find it in your heart to show mercy? Consider what this public disgrace would mean for someone so young-how could Rita ever hold her head high again?"

"Did such concerns for feelings cross your mind when making that wager?" Corrine's voice dripped with icy derision, her eyes glinting dangerously. "Now that you've lost, you lecture about morality? Enough. Both of you-on your knees!"

Though softly spoken, her command carried a bone-chilling authority that sent shivers through the onlookers.

both Leah's and Rita's

kneeling-here, before

as scions of the Ashton and

unthinkable.

exploded, pushed beyond her breaking point as shame and fury contorted her features.

narrowed to dangerous slits as she

pupils constricted in fear as she instinctively retreated,

palm meeting cheek echoed

Rita reeling into a

she lunged forward with wild abandon. "You'll

fluid grace, she caught Rita's flailing

cry pierced the air as Corrine seized her by the hair, forcing

for this!" Rita snarled through her swollen, reddened

smile.