Chapter 540



The moment she stepped into the house, Mollie took her hand, her eyes scanning Belinda’s neck with concern. “Does it still hurt? Is the injury bad?” she asked.

Belinda shook her head gently. “It doesn’t hurt anymore,” she replied, her voice calm.

“How did this even happen? What exactly happened? Tell me everything,” Santino said, his tone heavy.

He leaned forward slightly, his brows furrowed.

Belinda hesitated for a moment, pressing her lips into a thin line, and then recounted the events, her voice measured.

When she finished, the room seemed to hold its breath.

Santino and Mollie exchanged a glance, their faces clouded with anger and disbelief.

“That Lucas!” Mollie finally burst out, her hands clenching at her sides. “What the hell was he thinking?”

Her voice wavered with fury, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

Her gaze then softened as it returned to Belinda.

Mollie knew Belinda must have been upset—so upset that she had gone out for a walk to clear her mind.

That was why the incident had happened.

“And your mother,” Santino said, his voice low and grim. “What was she thinking, saying something like that in front of so many people?”

This reignited Mollie’s anger, and her expression hardened. “Exactly! What was going through her head at that time? Was she out of her mind?”

Belinda replied, “She said she was too worried about me to think it through.”

Mollie rolled her eyes dramatically. “That’s her idea of worry? Anyone with a shred of sense would know better! Honestly, if she weren’t your mother, I’d think she did that on purpose.”

Belinda’s eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of doubt crossing her face.

Even though Holley was her mother, Belinda couldn’t help but wonder if Holley had done that on purpose.

But she couldn’t think of a reason.

Why would Holley do such a thing on purpose?

Holley was her mother, after all.

What kind of mother didn’t want the best for her child?

“The problem is, now, everyone thinks Belinda has been assaulted by the rapist,” Santino said gravely. “This is incredibly damaging to her reputation.”

Mollie nodded, her face etched with worry. “Exactly.

We have to find a way to clear this up.”

Just then, the door opened, and Darren walked into the living room.

The moment Darren saw Belinda, he asked, “Belinda, where’s the brooch I gave you? Did you have it on the day you were attacked? Did it record anything?”

Belinda’s eyes lit up when she heard that.

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