Chapter 81

Miranda thought she was compromising and called over to the nearby officer, “The M&A department director lost the USB drive. We can pin the blame on Brielle alone for this matter. There must be a backup of that thing. Don’t escalate the situation. Call your people back now, and don’t go look for Ms.

Rowland at this hour. She’s probably already asleep.”

The policemen exchanged glances before all eyes turned to Brielle, waiting for her to make the call.

Brielle couldn’t help but laugh, pressing her leg down slowly. The unbandaged wound throbbed with pain, but it also sharpened her mind. “Pin the blame on me alone? A hundred–billion–dollar business secret–what do I have to answer for that?”

Miranda hadn’t expected such a firm stance from her. Her face soured, “So what do you propose we do? You really want to stir up trouble with the Rowland family? How can you be such a troublemaker!”

“Me, a troublemaker? If it wasn’t for someone from the Rowland family bribing another to target me, how would the police have found evidence in her accounts? She brought this upon herself. I will not settle this quietly, no matter what anyone says. Officers, please proceed as necessary. Mr. Dorsey is awaiting my updates.”

Miranda, too angry for words, pointed a trembling finger at Brielle, but couldn’t manage to spit out a coherent sentence. “How could I have raised a daughter like you!”

After a moment, Miranda’s lips trembled, and she raised her hand as if to strike Brielle. Lillian, standing behind her, stepped forward, pretending to intervene. Yet, her fingers reached past Miranda, pulling off Brielle’s scarf. As the scarf floated gently down, marks on Brielle’s fair skin were exposed for all to see.

Everyone present was an adult. They all knew what those marks meant. Miranda’s mind buzzed, and her reason crumbled in an instant. Her raised hand changed direction, and in a fit of rage, she seized Brielle by the neck.

“How many men have you been with? How can you have so little respect for yourself! What have you turned yourself into?!”

The burst of strength was formidable, and Brielle couldn’t push her away, feeling the imprint of fingers around her neck.

Finally, overwhelmed, Miranda’s world went dark, and she fainted.

“Mom!”

“Miranda!”

Cameron hurried to support her, the disgust in his eyes piercing Brielle like daggers.

Brielle touched her neck, aware that Lillian had done it on purpose. Her aim was achieved.

Lillian, too, supporting Miranda, had tears welling up in her eyes, her voice shaky with sobs, “Cameron, what do we do? I didn’t mean for this to happen. I was just scared that Miranda and Brielle would get into a fight, so I intervened. I didn’t mean to pull off the scarf, nor did I expect this. We should get Miranda to the hospital first.” Cameron gave Brielle a dark look, his mind going to the sleazy man at the police station, and he felt nauseated. Brielle was raised in the Haywood family. How could she stoop to such men?

He recalled her talk of male prostitutes, the thought making him want to retch. She was indiscriminate.

“Brielle, why are you acting so cheap? What do you think of yourself? With such an incident again, it seems Grandpa has to come over personally to beg you before you’ll behave.”

Brielle’s heart clenched, and she bent slightly in pain, “Grandpa is not in good health. Aren’t you afraid of causing him harm by using this matter to provoke him?”

“The mess is of your making. If grandfather becomes ill, it will be your doing.”

15.00 Cameron supported Miranda, no longer sparing Brielle a glance. “You’d better take the chance to get a healt check at the hospital. With all this recklessness, aren’t you afraid of catching something? Don’t blame us fo favoring Lillian. Look at what you’ve done, and what she’s done.”

Lillian, gripping Miranda’s other hand, choked up at Cameron’s words, “Cameron, stop it, please.

Getting Miranda to the hospital is what’s important now.”

“Alright.”