Chapter 175: Let Me Out!

Diana was entirely caught off guard when Harrison suddenly appeared, blocking her path. Time was running out, and she still needed to fetch Claire. Gregory was notorious throughout Kingstown for being a total creep, and Claire, being the princess of the Prescott family, was well aware of his reputation. Sending Gregory to get Claire was out of the question—Diana would have to lure Claire there herself.

“Come on, Mr. Prescott, what’s with the third degree? I just need to use the bathroom. It’s kind of urgent. I’ve got terrible cramps. Could you please step aside? Whatever it is, can’t it wait until I get back?”

Diana played the period card, figuring Harrison wouldn’t dare press the issue afterward.

“Cramps, huh? I’m sorry, Ms. Hawthorne, but I happened to overhear your conversation with Gregory. I suspect you’re not heading to the bathroom at all. You’re going to find Claire.”

Harrison glanced at his watch; the event was about to start, and he decided to cut to the chase.

“You… how did you…”

Diana had thought their earlier encounter was just a coincidence. She hadn’t expected Harrison to know everything.

“Wondering how I know? Why did I happen to overhear?”

Harrison knew time was short and got straight to the point. “Since returning from abroad, I’ve done my research and learned about recent events. In the Prescott family, you lot don’t stand a chance of pulling this off without my help.”

“What?”

Diana was shocked. “Mr. Prescott… what exactly are you saying?”

“You’re such an idiot. Did you really think you could deal with Claire right under everyone’s nose at the party? Forget it. Go back. I’ll escort Claire to her room myself. You’ve been to the Prescott Manor enough times to know where her room is. Have Gregory go there in five minutes.”

Harrison laid it out bluntly, not wanting to waste any more time.

“Alright.”

Diana nodded, though she still seemed uncertain. “Why are you helping me?”

“Why? Because Claire got my own sister killed. She stole twenty years of love and life that should have belonged to Anna. That’s why.”

Harrison’s mind flashed back to Anna’s horrific state just before her death.

Diana fell silent, then turned to leave and find Gregory, planning to lead him to Claire’s room. Before Anna’s incident, Diana had visited the Prescott Manor countless times with her. She knew the layout like the back of her hand, including Claire’s room location. Otherwise, she’d never have dared to make a move here.

Meanwhile, Claire had just stepped away from her admiring crowd with Elizabeth, holding her custom evening gown.

“Oh Claire, you’re too thoughtful. But sweetheart, you don’t have much savings—you shouldn’t be spending money like this. This evening gown costs one hundred thousand dollars! I’ll wire you the money right away.”

Elizabeth squeezed Claire’s hand tenderly, knowing both the gown’s price and Claire’s difficult situation.

“Grandma, please don’t. I promise I can afford it. I’ve been working and saved up quite a bit. Don’t worry about me.”

Claire felt a warmth spread through her chest, tears welling up in her eyes. Ever since she went to prison four years ago, Elizabeth had probably been the last bit of warmth left in her world. Her birth parents were gambling addicts, and her mother, Effie Beaumont, had vanished without a trace after the truth about the switched babies scandal came to light.

Just as she was lost in these gloomy thoughts, Harrison approached.

“Happy birthday, Grandma. Ah, so Claire’s here. I’ve been looking everywhere for her. Perfect timing, I need to discuss something with her.”

Harrison put on an act of having been searching for Claire.

“Go ahead, you two talk.”

Elizabeth nodded, then walked off to greet some other birthday well-wishers who had just arrived.

“What do you want?”

Claire knew both Harrison and Frederick hated her guts. Any time they sought her out, it usually meant trouble was brewing.

“Let’s talk in your room,” Harrison ordered.

“My room? Why can’t we talk here?” Claire blurted out reflexively.

“If you want everyone here to hear what I have to say, that’s fine by me.”

Harrison frowned, waving his phone.

“Fine…”

Claire hesitated before nodding, following Harrison back to her old room in the Prescott Manor. To her shock, the moment she stepped inside, Harrison locked her in.

“Harrison, what the hell are you doing? Let me out!”