Chapter 61

Shirley was extremely unwilling to accept it. Her grudge was like a coiling, writhing snake, ready to burst from her chest. She clenched her fingers so tightly that her nails dug into her flesh. Anger and embarrassment made her whole body tremble uncontrollably, and her shoulders shook violently.

She made her last stand, shouting at the screen, "It's fake! All of this is fake! It's all Cynthia framing me!"

She screamed hysterically at the crowd. But the way everyone looked at her grew stranger, as if they were looking at a crazy woman. Some even stepped back disdainfully.

Justin couldn't take it anymore. He strode forward and slapped Shirley. "Haven't you caused enough trouble, Shirley! You've completely ruined the Jones family's reputation!"

Shirley fell silent instantly, and tears streamed down her face. She couldn't understand how things had come to this.

His face flushed, Justin addressed everyone present: "I apologize. My two daughters had a petty squabble and made fools of themselves, turning us into a laughingstock."

He continued, "Today's incident happened because we misunderstood my eldest daughter, Cynthia. I believe my youngest was misled by others. As for the matter of adopting a goddaughter, let us just forget it. The Jones family certainly won't adopt someone with ill intentions."

Justin walked up to Lilian and said, "Ms. Sheppard, please leave. You are not welcome in the Jones family."

Lilian was at a loss. She never imagined that her schemes would be exposed like this, as if she'd been stripped naked and paraded in public. Today, she intended to use her fall to frame Cynthia as malicious and shatter Filip's fantasies. But now, the accusations had fallen upon herself.

She no longer cared about others' opinions. Her mother had humiliated her in public since childhood, particularly during a nasty incident in her teenage years. From then on, she lost her sense of self-respect and shame.

What she truly feared was Filip rekindling his feelings for Cynthia—she feared they would get back together. She had worked so hard all these years to keep them apart.

Lilian looked up at Filip. But Filip's gaze was fixed on Cynthia. He appeared calm, but Lilian could see the storm brewing in his eyes.

Justin was also infuriated to see Filip and Lilian together. If Filip hadn't abandoned Cynthia and hooked up with Lilian, none of today's disgraceful events would have happened.

Justin decided to expel him as well. He said, "Mr. Yates, you are also no longer welcome here."

Filip finally tore his gaze away from Cynthia and Jonathan. He glanced down at Lilian with cold eyes. Without a word, he turned and strode toward the banquet hall doors. Lilian chased after him.

With those two gone, Justin's expression improved slightly. He approached Cynthia and, in a softer voice, said, "Cynthia, I have misunderstood you."

Then, he turned to Shirley and said coldly, "Shirley, come and apologize to Cynthia."

Shirley walked over with gritted teeth and a hand on her face. She knew there was no turning back now. At this moment, she had no choice.

Chapter 62

"I'm sorry, Cynthia. I was just joking with you," Shirley apologized reluctantly.

Justin tried to mediate: "Cynthia, Shirley wasn't raised"

"acted foolishly out of spite. As her elder sister, can you forgive her? She lacks the upbringing and grace of a well-bred lady, but after all, we are family. What deep grudges"

Cynthia had been silent ever since Jonathan showed up. She had a calm expression, like an onlooker.

In a cold and detached manner, she said, "She might have been joking, but I wasn't. Mr. Jones, I have already severed ties with your family. I will not accept your so-called apology. Whatever Shirley did to me today, I will return in time. So, she doesn't need to apologize to me."

Cynthia finally understood. When she was wronged, they never once considered her innocence. They only wanted her to apologize and save the Jones family's face.

Even now, knowing she was framed, they still expected her to forgive Shirley after a few words and maintain a facade of family harmony. Moreover, Justin subtly implied that Shirley lacked upbringing because she wasn't raised by them and that Cynthia had taken her rightful place. Ultimately, they still blamed her.

After losing her faith in familial love, Cynthia refused to be morally blackmailed again.

Justin suppressed his emotions and said, "Cynthia, you may not be my biological daughter, but your mother and I have raised you with love. Don't you care about the affection we gave you throughout all those years?"

He paused. "Shirley is the way she is because she was mistreated by your biological parents. It's sad she had to grow up in that kind of environment. Can't you consider the fact that she suffered while you enjoyed years of good fortune and not hold it against her?"

Cynthia found it ridiculous. "Mr. Jones, what you said is interesting. I was a baby when I was born. What could I control? When the babies were swapped, weren't you, as guardians, responsible in any way?"

She added, "Even if we put aside the fact that it was Rachel's doing, it wasn't like I climbed my way into the Jones family. Grievances should be redressed with those responsible, not blamed on me."

She continued, "Moreover, I believe in karma. Swapping the children was a seed you sowed, but now you lay the bitter fruit entirely on me. In the end, I'm also a victim here. After the incident, you treated me with empty kindness and fake warmth."

She concluded, "If this is the good fortune you speak of, then let Shirley have it all. Mr. Jones, I have nothing to do with the Jones family anymore. I've said it already. From today onward, we owe each other nothing and we won't interact again." Cynthia's words made Justin tremble with anger. "You unfilial girl, this is outrageous…" he scolded.

Suddenly, Jonathan pulled Cynthia into his arms and said, "Mr. Jones, my girlfriend is delicate. She can't take the blame you're trying to put on her."

The final "宙" appears to be a random character and has been omitted. There were also some inconsistencies in spelling and capitalization that have been corrected for consistency.