Chapter 153 Everyone turned to the source of the sound and saw Edwin standing at the doorstep, clad in a sleek gray suit. Disappointment and heartache were. unmistakable in his eyes.
He approached Heidi and, pointing to Victoria standing behind him, demanded, âWho is this woman, and why was she in the basement of the old family estate?â Edwin looked like the epitome of gentleness and sophistication, but Heidi knew better. That was just a facade. When her brother decided to get tough, he was every bit as formidable as lan. Otherwise, he wouldnât have secured such a strong foothold in the Campbells at such a young age.
Heidi shook her head, tears streaming down her face, âEdwin, itâs lan. He doesnât want me anymore. Heâs chosen Clara over me, completely disregarding my wellâbeing. I was just so furious, so I sought out Victoria, wanting to get back at Clara.â
As she wept, she turned toward lan, âlan, ever since I was a little girl, you promised youâd marry me. So why donât you want me anymore? Why canât you see all the good in me, no matter how hard I try? Iâve done all this because I love you too much.â
She collapsed into Paoloâs arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Her deceit was exposed, and denial was no longer an option. So, she resorted to her acting skills to elicit sympathy in the hopes that her brother and lan might forgive her.
lan clenched his fists in anger, his voice as cold as the frost. âSo youâre the one who drugged Clara and arranged her abduction?â
Heidi immediately shook her head in denial. âIt wasnât me; it was your mother. She doesnât like Clara. She didnât want Clara to marry into the Hayes family. She only wanted me to be her daughterâinâlaw.â
At her words, lanâs lips twitched in a bitter smile. His suspicions were confirmed. These machinations were his motherâs doing.
No wonder Clara felt that all her misfortunes were somehow linked to him. The person who had been causing Claraâs pain in the shadows was the one closest to him, his own mother.
1/2 Chapter 153 lan struggled to describe his current turmoil. The pain was something he hat never experienced before. He had explicitly warned his mother not to harm Clara, and yet, she had defiantly persisted.
Just because his mother disliked Clara, and she didnât want Clara to marry him. she was willing to ruin Clara. If her schemes succeeded even once. Claraâs life would be devastated.
Reflecting on these events, lanâs gaze grew colder. He turned to Edwin with a warning. âYouâre the head of the Campbells. If you donât handle this situation properly, even our friendship canât get you out of this.â
His words were icy, each one piercing to the core. Edwin was well aware of lanâs implication; lan was ready to wage war against the Campbells for Claraâs sake.
On the battlefield of business, lan was a beast, capable of turning Northbridge upside down. The Campbells were no match for his might.
Edwinâs gaze was stern as he looked at Heidi. âGo apologize to Clara, and then you will be grounded for three months.â
At his command, Heidiâs immediate reaction was to shake her head in horrQ. âIâm your sister! You canât be this cruel to me.
Edwin. Iâm sorry, Iâll apologize to Clara, and beg for her forgiveness. Please donât ground me.â
Paolo was instantly enraged. âAre you two trying to kill her? Sheâs already suffering from depression. How can she stand being grounded? And is this even her fault? It was your motherâs idea. Without her instigation, I believe Heidi would never do such a thing. If anyone dares lay a finger on Heidi today, theyâll have me to answer to.â