The Jilted Heiress' Return To The High Life

Chapter 376:

What began as a conflict among three women had escalated, with Corrine’s remarks implicating the entire Ashton family in the controversy.

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.

Should Rita break her word, they would be branded as untrustworthy. Yet, if Rita submitted to the humiliation of a public apology on her knees, their 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.

lecture about

command carried a bone-chilling authority that sent shivers through the

before countless witnesses—was unconscionable. Their positions

her breaking point as shame

are you to demand I kneel before

narrowed to dangerous slits as she

a world

pupils constricted in fear as she instinctively retreated, but Corrine’s grip found

cheek echoed through the suddenly silent room. The force sent Rita reeling into a

she clutched her stinging face, eyes blazing with murderous intent

pay for that, you

anticipated the attack. With fluid grace, she