Chapter 179: Too Powerful to Cross
Diana grabbed the maid’s arm and questioned her. In truth, she had already bribed the maid behind the scenes. The maid’s mother was seriously ill and needed money for treatment—a vulnerability Diana had perfectly exploited. They had carefully rehearsed their story: the maid would claim she’d seen Claire in her room with a man, apparently under duress.
“Yes, I’m afraid Ms. Prescott is in danger! I heard a man’s voice and Ms. Prescott crying out. Please, you must break in and save her!”
The maid played her part perfectly, even working up tears of distress as they had planned. Diana made sure to emphasize the critical point in her retelling—Claire was alone in a room with a man.
Elizabeth, who led the group, stood before the door with furrowed brows after hearing both accounts. Having lived as long as she had, she’d seen it all. There were only two possibilities: either Claire was genuinely in danger, or this was an elaborate setup.
Chapter 179: Too Powerful to Cross
Given how worked up this Hawthorne girl was, she probably had a hand in all this.
“Hmph, what nerve! Causing trouble at a Prescott family gathering! They must have a death wish!”
“Indeed! How dare they lay hands on Ms. Prescott! We must rush in and save her, then make sure these criminals face justice!”
Behind Elizabeth stood a crowd of eager spectators drawn to the drama. After all, the Prescott family had dominated Kingstown’s economy for years, controlling numerous industries. Four years ago, the scandal of the switched heiress and Anna’s death had allowed the Titan family to rise as their equal, but even now, they still split the city’s wealth between them. The Prescott family maintained their position as Kingstown’s wealthiest, with their fingers in every economic pie across the city. Among the onlookers were those desperate to curry favor with the Prescotts, hoping to catch their eye and secure a golden opportunity. Even if they weren’t the sole power anymore, the Prescotts still controlled half of Kingstown’s economy—not a force to be taken lightly.
Diana fell silent as she watched person after person chime in. She might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but even she could read the room.
Chapter 179: Too Powerful to Cross
Now, all that remained was for everyone to burst in and catch Claire and Gregory in their shameful act. After that, regardless of the circumstances, Claire would never be able to be with Frederick again. If Elizabeth wanted to salvage anything from this mess, she could push Claire to marry Gregory. Since Gregory had always carried a torch for her, Diana could encourage him to make Claire’s life a living hell after marriage. Even without the marriage, Claire’s reputation would be destroyed beyond repair. Unlike the hushed-up scandal from four years ago, this would be too public to ignore. Nathan would never allow Claire and Frederick’s engagement to continue. No, even being in the same room would become impossible. Frederick would have no choice but to kick Claire out of the Halfmoon Manor for good.
At that moment, she knew she’d hire some thugs. No, not just some—a whole gang! Just like how Claire had hired thugs to rape and kill Anna, she would employ ten times as many. She’d make sure Claire suffered a thousand times more than what Anna had endured.
Chapter 179: Too Powerful to Cross
At the back of the crowd, Caroline hung back, eagerly waiting for the drama to unfold. She was already daydreaming about being in Frederick’s bed after today’s events. Harrison stood nearby, unusually quiet. He alone wondered who was really behind that door—Frederick or Gregory. He’d locked Claire in that room to help Diana’s plan succeed. But when he’d tossed away the key and tried to leave, he’d run into Frederick. He’d made up some excuse on the spot, but if Frederick and Gregory happened to meet… Still, things had gone too far to stop now. He found himself hoping Gregory was the one in the room. That way, he could maintain his alliance with Frederick. Frederick was the kind of man who made a perfect friend but a terrifying enemy—too powerful to cross.
“Mom, what are you waiting for? Just say the word and I’ll break down that door!” Robert blurted out.
Robert and Margaret, the couple who’d been greeting guests, rushed over to join the growing crowd.