Chapter 163: It Was My Misjudgment of Character

Scarlett’s harsh words stunned her mother. Her mother had never believed her daughter capable of abandoning her.

"What's all the fuss?" Bartholomeo said sternly. "Once your cousin makes some money, he'll pay you back."

Scarlett scoffed. "That loser? Are you still dreaming? He's squandered it all by now."

Sienna and Bartholomeo's faces flushed with anger and embarrassment. "What's the big deal about losing money?" Bartholomeo sputtered. "You can earn it back!"

"That's my money!" Scarlett retorted, her mercy gone. "I won't argue. Leave. If my money isn't returned by tomorrow, I'm filing a lawsuit."

Bartholomeo and Sienna panicked.

"Lettie, we don't have the money," Sienna pleaded. "Your cousin invested it all. We can't get it back. Please, give him another year… three years. We'll pay you back."

Javier, pale and clutching his arm, entered the hospital room. His eyes darted to Scarlett and her family, his lips trembling.

Isabella inwardly chuckled at Javier's anxious expression. Oh, look at you, she thought, all anxious! You've discovered Scarlett's money was transferred. Even blackmailing her with those photos won't get you a penny. Quite despairing, isn't it?

Christopher silently chuckled at Javier's dumbfounded demeanor. Javier's tense face, his veins seemingly about to burst, only amused them further. He didn't dare confront Scarlett.

"Whatwhat have you done to Scarlett?" Javier stammered, interrogating Sienna and Bartholomeo.

Others saw Javier's questioning as an act of love, but Sienna and Bartholomeo felt unable to face him. Scarlett, however, remained calm.

"Javier," she said, "when we were together, why did you secretly take pictures of me? Did you share those photos?"

Everyone turned to Javier. The confusion quickly shifted as they realized Scarlett's suicide attempt might not be so straightforward.

"What photos?" Freya asked. "Secretly taken?"

Javier hadn't expected Scarlett to reveal this publicly. He stammered, "Lettie, I didn't know. My phone was off. I only saw your messages after hearing what happened. I wasn't avoiding you."

His acting skills are top-notch, Christopher thought, watching Javier feign innocence.

Scarlett glared at him. "You didn't answer my question. Why did you do this?"

"Javier, what have you done?" Freya cried.

Danielle, however, understood. "Are you referring to the explicit photos circulated by those haters?"

A shudder ran through Scarlett. "Danielle, the internet…?"

Danielle showed Scarlett her phone. "They're provocative photos. If they're you, it's not a big deal. We can handle this with PR."

Seeing the photos, Scarlett was puzzled. Had her suicide attempt caused such a commotion that the blackmailer had stopped?

Freya grabbed the phone, her expression darkening. Her gaze fixed on Javier. "Did you do this?"

Javier's legs weakened. Sienna and Bartholomeo gasped upon seeing the photos.

Sienna hissed, "Scarlett, what were you thinking? How could you do such a disgraceful thing!"

Everyone was surprised by Sienna's reaction.

Isabella thought, Are their heads empty? They're blaming Scarlett! Some parents always blame their child. "Mrs. Swanson," she said, "you're biased! You favor your own family and the perpetrator. Your daughter means less to you."

Bartholomeo's face flushed. "What nonsense are you talking about!"

"It's clear someone took advantage of her while she was asleep. She's the victim," Isabella retorted. "Instead of sympathy, you scold her! As her mother, are you not allowed to call her out when she makes a mistake? It's her own fault for being careless."

Bartholomeo glanced at Javier, but still reprimanded Scarlett. "What a lack of self-love!"

"She's an adult in a relationship. Is it her fault she was secretly photographed without consent?" Isabella asked. Javier looked uncomfortable.

Scarlett said, "It's my fault for misjudging his character. This has nothing to do with you two. Get back and return my money! I've experienced death; I'm not afraid of anything now!"

Sienna and Bartholomeo stared, speechless. Scarlett turned her fierce gaze to Javier.

Javier attempted an explanation. "Lettie, I apologize. I don't know how those photos got out. I… I liked you, so I took some photos. It might be related to my phone being lost. I didn't do it on purpose."

Scarlett felt a sense of resignation. "It's not just photos. There are videos. I was blackmailed. They threatened to release the videos and sell them if I didn't pay sixty million."