âWait.â
For some reason, the conversation irritated Jasper. Sternly, he asked, âMs. White, donât you owe Liana an apology?â
Landon sighed helplessly, resisting the urge to stuff his socks into Jasperâs mouth.
A dull pain throbbed in Alyssaâs heart. She turned around to cast him a blank stare.
Her disappointed gaze pierced Jasperâs soul.
âShe didnât do it! Alice didnât do it!â
Just at that moment, a sweet, gentle voice cut through the air. It arrived unannounced, like lightning on a clear day, foiling the plot that had been carefully planted.
When Alyssa turned her gaze toward the source of the voice, there was a glimmer in her eyes.
âLauren!â
A girl clad in a simple white dress was hurrying toward them. She was sporting a ridiculous crown of dense curls, which was Bettyâs doing.
Lauren had always been Bettyâs imaginary enemy in their family. Betty envied her little sisterâs beauty. She always looked for new ways to bully her.
Whenever they appeared in public, she would try to make her sister look bad. She was afraid that her sister would steal her limelight.
Lauren, on the other hand, was autistic. As a result, she was relatively introverted and timid. In the presence of strangers, her shoulders were always hunched, and she was always silent.
Little did anyone know, for the three years that Alyssa was part of the Becketts, Lauren was the only one, aside from Mrs. Rosie, who treated Alyssa kindly. The only one who cared for Alyssa was Lauren, whom the rest of the family generally ignored.
After Alyssa left the Becketts, she always worried about Lauren. To her surprise, they met that day, and it delighted her.
âSilly girl, why are you talking nonsense?â Betty glared fiercely at her sister. âNo one was in the bathroom except Liana and her. If it wasnât her, then who else could it be?â
âNâNo, it wasnât Alice! It wasnât her!â Lauren pleaded desperately. Her words were an incoherent.
jumble.
âLauren, this is none of your business. Go play somewhere else!â Sophia was wearing an ugly Lauren clenched her tiny fists and walked up to Jasper. She looked up at his tall, looming figure nervously.
âJasper! It wasnât Alice who did it!â.
âLauren, why do you say so?â Jasperâs tone was unusually gentle.
âI saw it! 1âI was in the bathroom too! I saw it!â
Everyone was shocked by the revelation.
Lianaâs face paled.
Even Alyssa was stunned. She never expected that Lauren was also present when Liana confronted her.
âI saw Ms. Gardner coming into the toilet to argue with Alice. Alice wanted to leave. But Ms. Gardner stopped her. She pulled Alice and snatched her bracelet away. Then⦠then the bracelet broke, and then⦠then Ms. Gardner started yelling and ran out. Alice didnât touch Ms. Gardner! I saw it!â
While explaining, Lauren gestured with her hands, tears of anxiety swimming in her eyes.
âLaurenâ¦â Alyssaâs heart ached as her eyes watered.
Given Laurenâs timid nature, Alyssa knew Lauren was forcing herself to speak the truth to clear her name.