Chapter 173

Brielle couldn’t fathom the kidnapper’s rationale. First, they had their sights set on Sophia, and now her? Aside from a complicated past, there was no connection between her and Sophia.

Until the cops showed up, Brielle’s heart was in her throat.

The officers were polite. After all, they had just seen her the night before. “Ms. Brielle, please come with us to the station to give a statement.”

She nodded, handing over her phone as evidence, knowing that her planned business trip would have to be put on hold. Safety came first.

Riding in the back of the squad car, she arrived at the precinct only to see Miranda and Cameron there to bail out Lillian.

Their faces were storm clouds, especially when they caught sight of Brielle. It looked like they wanted to tear her limb from limb.

Miranda’s lips quivered with rage as she stormed over. “Brielle! Isn’t it enough that you’ve framed Lillian and had her thrown in jail? You’re downright evil. Are you coming to the police station at a time like this to add insult to injury?”

Her finger was almost poking Brielle’s face, her cheeks flushed with anger.

“Ms. Miranda, you’re barking up the wrong tree. I couldn’t care less about Lillian’s case.” Brielle replied coolly, heading toward the entrance of the building.

Miranda snorted. “Couldn’t care less? If you hadn’t meddled years ago, how would the Haywood family ever have acknowledged you? It seems you’ve orchestrated this whole. charade, luring Lillian into a trap just to expose her on the day she was to be recognized by the family. You’re downright sinister.”

Brielle felt she had nothing to say to the Haywoods and ignored Miranda, but then Cameron chimed in.

“Brielle, have you considered how Grandpa would react to this news?”

It was the second time Cameron had used Michael as leverage against her.

“Cameron, don’t you see the irony? I’m not a Haywood. You’re using your grandfather to threaten an outsider. What’s your game?”

“It doesn’t matter what I think, as long as it works. The fiasco at last night’s banquet will soon reach Grandpa’s ears, and you wouldn’t want him to worry about Haywood affairs in his twilight years, would you? If you don’t want to upset him, it’s best you keep quiet about Lillian.”

His tone softened whenever he mentioned Lillian.

Brielle felt a chill. Knowing full well that Lillian was his sister, yet he was still so fixated.

A man like that was destined to be manipulated by Lillian.

14:10 As the three faced off at the entrance, the cops brought out Lillian, who looked as though she had been through hell and back. Just one night in lockup had left her gaunt, her vitality seemingly drained.

The moment Miranda saw her daughter, her heart clenched, and she quickly supported Lillian.

“Lillian, are you alright?”

Lillian’s lips were pale, and when her eyes met Brielle’s, they were filled with venom.

Her chest felt like it was about to burst with fury, and she looked like she wanted to claw Brielle’s face off. “What are you doing here, Brielle? Here to gloat?”

The previous night’s events had nearly broken her, and the overnight stay in jail had eroded what little sanity she had left.

“I’m telling you, don’t get smug.”

She didn’t bother hiding her malice, “You haven’t won. Just wait and see.”

Brielle wasn’t intimidated by the harsh words. Instead, it was Miranda who flinched, as if she no longer recognized her daughter. In her mind, Lillian had always been gentle, always considerate of others, even when hurt.

But then Lillian’s eyes welled with tears, and she whimpered, “Mom, I just want to go home and rest.”

She then turned to Cameron with a weak plea, “Cameron, can I ride back with you?”

Cameron nodded, and as he helped Lillian into the car, he didn’t forget to admonish Brielle.

“Let’s leave it at this. Mom and Dad will surely discuss this with you later. There’s no need for you to come all this way to the station just to rub salt in the wound. No matter what, Lillian is a daughter of the Haywood family, and the wealth she has, you couldn’t earn in a lifetime at Dorsey International. Brielle, you’re studying finance, and you should know better than to fight capital.”

The implication was clear: the Haywood family had Lillian’s back, but Brielle had no one.

Moved by his words, Lillian leaned into Cameron. “Cameron, thank you.

Brielle couldn’t help but laugh, “A lifetime’s salary at Dorsey International isn’t enough? How do you know the Haywood family won’t go bankrupt?”