Chapter 33
“Heh p>
Bryce let out a cold chuckle, his whole vibe turning sharp in an instant-like a blade slicing straight at Amber. “So tell me, as Lise’s brother, what do you think I should do to someone who set her up like that p>
Amber bit her lip hard, her tears falling without restraint.
She sniffled for a moment, voice trembling. “Bryce, you’re getting it all wrong… I’ve known Lise forever, we grew up together – how could I possibly p>
Smack!
Bryce flung a stack of documents straight at her without mercy.
“Ow p>
Amber gasped, hand going to her arm in pain.
He’d actually thrown something at her. Was this really the same polished, gentle heir of the Cavendish family?
She tried turning on the pity-eyes wide, lips trembling, that helpless look she always used when she wanted his protection. But no matter how long she stared at him, there was nothing. Not a flicker of response.
Eventually, she gave up. She glanced at the documents scattered across the floor, then at Bryce, before crouching down to pick them up.
The papers exposed everything – bribing reporters, secretly snapping photos of Lisette… Her eyes flew open in shock.
“No way she murmured, shaking her head, voice cracking as she grabbed at Bryce’s arm. “Bryce, it’s not me, I swear it’s not p>
She shoved her phone into his hands. “Go ahead, check my call logs! I didn’t do any of it! I’m being framed! Someone’s totally setting me up p>
Amber choked on a sob, cheeks streaked with tears. “Bryce, you’ve got to believe me! I wouldn’t do this, I really wouldn’t. Think about it – for something like this to happen, only Lise and I had access to that private hot spring area. If the plan backfired, I’d be the first suspect! If I seriously wanted to take her down, would I be stupid enough to hand-deliver evidence on myself p>
Didn’t matter what came out of her mouth – Bryce looked completely unmoved, like he’d already made up his mind. Some tears and excuses wouldn’t sway him now.
“You bribed a reporter crew from the My Beloved Muse set, jacked Lise’s clothes, then directed them to photograph her in a compromising situation at her own private cottage p>
He paused, staring her down. There was something strange in his eyes now – something deeper than just anger.
“Amber, we grew up together. We welcomed you into our home, treated you like one of us. I got these files the morning after her scandal hit the top of Twitter. I couldn’t believe it, didn’t want to believe it p>
“What happened to the quiet, sweet girl who always seemed so gentle and defenseless? When did she decide it was okay to hurt someone she called family? Do you even realize what would’ve happened if those pictures fully made the rounds?
“If Tobias hadn’t been there in time, Lise would’ve been torn to shreds online, humiliated across Sion. People would’ve picked her apart without a second thought. Did it ever even cross your mind how she’d handle that kind of pressure p>
The more he said, the easier the rage showed on his face, like it was bubbling over.
His voice lowered, shook just the tiniest bit. “I wanted to believe it wasn’t you – God, I really did. So I didn’t act right away. Spent two whole days checking and double-checking every damn detail myself. And in the end, all I felt was disappointment p>
Bryce was never one to second-guess or hesitate. No matter how much this tore him up, now that the truth was out, he didn’t plan to sit in that pain.
You mess with what matters to him? Prepare to face him at his worst.
“Amber, my sister’s worth more than you’ll ever understand. She’s not someone you can just trash and walk away from. I already gave you the last shred of decency. From now on, stay the hell away from Lise p>
His voice held no room for doubt – Amber couldn’t shake his decision.
And his heart? She’d lost it for good.
Realizing this, Amber finally dropped the pitiful act. Her eyes turned sharp as she clenched her fists, glaring at Bryce. “Fake as hell! Your whole Cavendish family is just full of hypocrites! All that crap about treating me like one of your own? Total BS! If I really mattered to you guys, then why was I always the one left out while Lisette got treated like a freaking princess?
“At eighteen, she got the most luxurious coming-of-age bash thrown by Daphne, Marshall gifted her Phoenix Crest Estate, and you three brothers couldn’t wait to dump every rare treasure on the planet at her feet-two entire truckloads of luxury gifts!
“Me, though?” Amber gave a cold laugh, drenched in jealousy and resentment.
The hatred she’d bottled up for years now spilled like unraveling threads. “All I got was a car and some measly two-hundred-square-meter apartment. And you, Bryce? You tossed me a jewelry set like I was some distant acquaintance. Your two brothers didn’t even show their faces. They just wired over some cash and called it a day. Disgusting p>
Her stream of furious accusations hit Tobias like a bolt from the blue. He blinked – what the hell?
With a smirk pulling at the corners of his lips, his eyes gleamed with cold disdain. “You’ve got some nerve. The Cavendish family owes you nothing. Treating you kindly was generosity, not a job description. You really think you deserve the same as Lisette p>
That one line? Immediately flipped Amber’s anger toward him. At this point, she had nothing left to lose. So what was there to be scared of?
Narrowing her eyes with a twisted grin, Amber snapped, “Tobias, bet you didn’t know – the ’legit’ Cavendish heiress you married isn’t even their real daughter. She’s just some orphan they picked up from a welfare house to seal the deal with your family.
“Born with nothing. If not for that pretty face, what does she even have over me? Why should she get everything while I get scraps? If the Cavendishes were gonna spoil someone, it should’ve been me p>
“Shut your damn mouth!” Bryce shouted, voice like a whip crack.
Before, he was just angry at her constant scheming, but now – any last bit of mercy he had was gone for good. The way he looked at Amber now? Like she was already dead.
Tobias froze. Bryce wouldn’t have lost it like that if she were lying. So, Lisette really wasn’t biologically a Cavendish.
But about the marriage p>
His eyes shifted to Lisette, still sitting calmly, her gaze icy as she quietly watched Amber unravel.
Amber caught that look, and her heart nearly leapt from her chest.
He knows! He finally knows!
Tobias must think he’s been played by the Cavendishes-he has to be pissed!
He’ll probably dump Lisette, blow up at the whole Cavendish family.
Even though the Cavendishes are powerful, Tobias isn’t someone you mess with. In all of Sion, there’s barely anyone who could suppress them, but Tobias? He’s definitely one of those few who can.
And if that happens, she’ll be the hero who exposed the truth!
Tobias will trust her completely-he might even marry her someday out of gratitude!
Buzzing with barely-contained glee, Amber curled her lips into a bitter smile, pouring more fuel on the fire: “Mr. Hastings, the Cavendishes used Lisette to trap you. You’ve got to be careful of their dirty tricks. I couldn’t stand by and watch them manipulate you, so I risked everything – even their retaliation – just to bring you the truth p>
So come on, Mr. Billionaire, protect me already, please!