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.

you’ve lost, you lecture about morality? Enough. Both of

spoken, her command carried a bone-chilling authority

Leah’s and Rita’s faces. The mere suggestion of kneeling—here, before countless witnesses—was unconscionable. Their positions as scions of the Ashton and Burgess families made

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

you to demand I

narrowed to dangerous slits as she

a world

retreated, but

of palm meeting cheek echoed through the suddenly silent room. The force sent Rita reeling

awareness returned, she clutched her stinging face, eyes blazing with murderous

that, you

grace, she caught Rita’s flailing arm and delivered another