Chapter 364
Shirley was sure of one thing. Even if the truth came out, she wouldn’t be left on her own. Someone would have her back.
Camilla looked at her, unimpressed. “Friends? Shirley, you’re well-educated, respected, and you suddenly want to cozy up to Davina, who’s barely had any schooling. Who’s honestly going to buy that story? You really thought someone like Davina could help you hide all this? She’s already spilled everything to me to protect her husband. Shirley, before you start covering for other people, maybe try looking out for yourself p>
Shirley couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Davina had been furious when she caught Barnard with Camilla. She looked like she might tear him apart right there. That was why Shirley never doubted it would work when she gave Davina her plan. Who would have thought Davina would not only bungle it all, but also throw her under the bus for her own man?
Camilla didn’t give her a moment to recover. “You told her to start rumors and spread lies. She’s already confessed and put your name at the center of it. I am going to the police, no question. From what I hear, your job isn’t exactly secure right now. I just wonder… if your boss finds out the kind of things you’ve been up to, and that you spend the night in a cell, will they still want to keep you around p>
Shirley’s confidence melted away. Her face was panic-stricken, and she looked at Camilla with desperate eyes. “Camilla, don’t turn me in. Please, I know it was wrong, but I did it all for Sarah. Lance, please, I’m begging you… for all the times I went out of my way for Sarah, can you ask Camilla to let this go p>
Her plea just made it all worse. She had already admitted her reason for everything. Trembling, she looked to Lance for help.
Lance couldn’t help himself. He just laughed. “Are you actually asking me to help you? After you encouraged someone to target the person I love? You should be glad Camilla’s here today. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have let you go on like this p>
Shirley’s eyes widened in shock. “Lance, I did it for Sarah. You two grew up together. She’s been treated so unfairly. Can’t you see that? And she was supposed to be your fiancée. You’re the one who fell for someone else while she was away. Aren’t you even a bit sorry for how you treated her p>
“That’s the story Sarah told you?” Lance raised an eyebrow. “Wow, you really believed that? How many days do you think I spent in Cabinda, honestly? She did live with the Charles family, but I barely ever saw her. The butler probably spent more time with her than I did. So much for growing up together. And the whole fiancée thing? Total fantasy, all made up in her head. Only someone really gullible would actually buy into it. Feel guilty? Why? To me, she’s barely more than a stranger. Why would I feel guilty about dating someone else p>
He laid it all out, holding nothing back. With every detail, Shirley’s face turned paler and paler.
Was it all fake? Every word Sarah had ever told her—was it all a lie? Had their whole friendship just been one long manipulation? Was that why she never told her a single honest thing, only using her whenever she needed backup?
Camilla ignored her stricken expression. “Shirley, if I were you, I’d tell her to come here and deal with this face to face p>
Shirley pressed her lips together. She looked like she still couldn’t quite make up her mind.
Camilla just shrugged. “Or, if you’re really as loyal as you say, you could just take blame for the whole thing. We can walk into the police station together right now p>
“Wait!” Shirley finally broke. Camilla’s relentlessness had shaken her completely. When it came down to it, Shirley was just an ordinary employee following Sarah around. If she really ended up reported to the police and got fired, her life as she knew it would be over.
“I’ll call Sarah. If I get her to come, will you promise not to make this any worse for me?” Shirley asked, her voice small.
Camilla didn’t promise anything. She just looked at Shirley, her eyes full of amusement.
In the end, Shirley couldn’t handle the pressure. Her hands shaking, she called Sarah. Sarah picked up quickly, asking what was going on. Guilt and anxiety flickered across Shirley’s face. She just couldn’t spit out the truth, so she made up some flimsy excuse to get Sarah to come over. Sarah sounded exasperated and reluctant, but after Shirley pleaded a few times, Sarah agreed—wanting, as always, to keep up her image as sweet and understanding.
Camilla and Shirley waited in a private booth at a nearby restaurant. Half an hour later, Shirley’s car appeared outside. Soon after, there was a knock at the door and Sarah’s voice followed.
“Shirley, I’ve told you I have piano today. Why did you need me to come so urgently p>
She pushed the door open. The moment she saw who was waiting in the room, her voice cut off completely.