Chapter 41: The Petty Schemes

When Lara and Amelia emerged from the mansion, Shay struggled out of her chair and ran toward Lara. She ran too fast, and Sarah could not catch up.

“Mommy, you’re back.” Shay’s cheerful voice reached Lara’s ears. “Where have you been? Why did you disappear for so long?”

Lara picked her up and held her in her arms.

“I just went to the restroom.”

Shay snuggled to Lara.

“Hmm, Mommy, you smell so nice,” the little girl said innocently.

Heads turned toward the table where Lara was. Even Ares, who joined Liam’s circle, looked back.

Despite herself, Lara was embarrassed.

They went past the arched entryway. Lara returned to the table where Madeline and Shay was.

And then the party had acquired a peculiar stillness.

Not the restful quiet of routine, but the attentive hush of observation.

Amelia noticed it at once as she walked beside Lara and Shay.

Conversations faltered and people turned their heads toward their table. A pair of maids who had been whispering fell abruptly silent.

A waiter glanced at them, then quickly looked away, as though caught staring at something indecorous.

Amelia’s stomach tightened without warning.

Not from pain but instinct.

The quiet kind of alarm that rose before the mind understood why.

Something was wrong.

She folded her hands together to keep them from trembling.

“Something feels off,” she murmured.

“Do not be anxious,” Lara said quietly. “I am here.”

Her voice was steady, reassuring.

But Amelia noticed what others would not.

Lara’s shoulders had drawn back. Her gaze had sharpened. Like someone preparing for impact.

Amelia tried to breathe evenly, but the air felt thick.

Then—

A faint click echoed from the front of the VIP tables.

The large LED screen mounted behind the makeshift platform flickered. The cheerful birthday banner vanished.

Several guests glanced up absently, expecting a slideshow or greeting.

Instead—

A video filled the screen.

A restroom.

A young woman sat on the floor, knees pulled tightly to her chest, face buried in her arms.

Her shoulders shook.

She was crying.

Beside her, stood another woman dressed in black.

From the camera’s angle, she appeared to tower over the girl.

Amelia gasped. Her eyes widened in horror.

“How could….” She could not continue her words.

Lara’s eyes narrowed. She clenched her cell phone.

Liam, Logan, and Lucas, who were stationed at different tables, showed similar reactions. Their handsome faces distorted in fury.

Of course, they recognized the room. It was the guest restroom on the ground floor of their mansion. How could a video be taken from there? There was no CCTV in the room.

Whispers spread, quick and contagious.

“Oh my! How awful—”

“Is she bullying her? Look at how piteously she cries.”

“How heartless…”

The mayor’s wife clutched her pearls. “What a vicious woman. Look at that poor girl.”

“She’s towering over her,” another muttered. “Disgusting.”

“That’s the governess, isn’t it?” Natalie said clearly— far too clearly.

Her voice carried with perfect precision. Every syllable placed.

“Larissa Reyes.”

Natalie’s voice was loud. She intended for everybody to hear.

Ares, who was talking to a colleague, lifted his head and looked at where everyone was looking. Indeed, it was Lara.

He narrowed his eyes as he continued to watch.

Liam’s ears perked up. He had already noticed the peach dress, but her attention was on the woman in black, and it did not occur to him that it was Amelia.

Why was she sitting on the floor and crying? He looked around trying to find her, but couldn’t.

Amelia was hiding behind Lara.

Liam gestured to the technician manning the TV. The video on the screen disappeared, replaced by a mash-up of General Leonard’s photos.

However, the damage was already done. People who watched the video reached a verdict: Larissa Reyes was a bully, and Amelia was weak.

…

A little while later…

Layla and Summer arrived.

Layla noticed a tense atmosphere. Her smile widened as her gaze landed on Lara and Amelia.

“Amelia,” she said, her voice carrying easily across the lawn, “there you are.”

Amelia felt heat rise to her face.

Is she going to humiliate me? The thought made her palms clammy.

“So fortunate,” Layla continued pleasantly, “we found you before dinner begins. How about you join us in our table? Surely you will not sit here with Mom? Dad and his guests would be coming out soon.”

Her eyes flicked to Amelia. She was smiling with her lips but not with the eyes.

It looked soft and yet cruel.

Layla gestured dramatically.

“Come sit with us.”

It wasn’t an invitation. It was a summons.

Amelia instinctively stepped back and hid behind Lara.

“The video, is it your doing?” Lara’s voice was calm. Too calm that Layla felt the hair on her arms stood on their end.

“What are you talking about?” Layla asked innocently.

“The video, were you the one who played it in?” Lara asked, her voice has become colder.

“Layla, everyone saw the video of Lara and Amelia in the restroom, and it did not look good,” Madeline said, looking at Layla disappointingly. She guessed that it should be her.

Layla frowned. She could feel every eye on her.

“Mom, I might have accidentally uploaded it when I was uploading the birthday videos for Dad.” She replied matter-of-factly.

Madeline’s disappointment grew deeper. Then she remembered something.

“Amelia, dear. Why are you crying inside the restroom?” Her voice was gentle.

Amelia fidgeted. She wished the ground would open and swallow her whole.

Could she tell her that she was heartbroken?

“It..it is nothing, Auntie. I just feel sad.” She said honestly. She wanted to say that sand got into her eyes, but who would believe that when the video showed something totally different?

“People think that Lara bullied you.”

“No, she didn’t.” Amelia’s voice was loud and crisp.

All eyes turned to her.

“If she is coercing you, just tell us.” It was one of Liam’s friends.” Then, he looked at Lara with judgmental eyes.

Stripping her dignity piece by piece.

Lara stared back, brows raised.

The man withdrew his gaze. He could not withstand the intensity of that gaze.

Summer smiled gently. “Amelia was not bullied by Larissa. Perhaps she was lonely, abandoned by someone, so she was crying hard in the restroom.”

“Are you finished?” Lara asked.

She was calm. There was no anger in her voice, which somehow unsettled Summer more than shouting would have.

Summer blinked. “Excuse me?”

“If this performance is finished,” Lara said evenly, “you can go to your table. Do not ruin the general’s birthday.”

Performance.

A few guests shifted uncomfortably.

Layla’s smile faltered. Just a hair. She’d expected tears and embarrassment but she got indifference.

Summer’s eyes sharpened.

How dare she!

Lara stood. Then she turned to Amelia and held out her hand.

The same way she had in the restroom.

Amelia took it. This time, she didn’t hesitate.

“Auntie, we will sit over there. I heard the guests are already coming.”

Madeline nodded.

They walked out together.

Backs straight. Not rushing. Not shrinking.

Layla stared after them, jaw tight, malice in her eyes.

She wanted them to disappear.

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