Chapter 57
Chapter 57:
The staged act at the pool had been an impulsive stroke of genius, but it was flawless. She had even accounted for contingencies, ensuring her plans were airtight.
In the eyes of the gathered crowd, Yelena had already been cast as the villain—the cruel biological daughter unable to accept her adopted sibling.
Unbothered by the silent accusations, Yelena stepped into the living room with an air of quiet confidence. Without saying a word, she picked up the remote and pressed a button. The large television screen flickered to life, immediately drawing everyone’s attention.
The footage began to play, stark and undeniable. It showed Bella initiating the conversation, her gestures deliberate and calculated. She reached out, grabbing Yelena’s arm, and Yelena only gently shook her hand away.
The next moment was almost absurd—Bella stepped backward on her own, dramatically falling into the pool before she started screaming.
The truth, plain and unembellished, was now exposed for all to see.
Gasps rippled through the room as the crowd watched, their previous murmurs of disapproval shifting to shock and confusion.
Bella’s face turned pale as her mind raced. What? How could this have happened?
Her heartbeat thundered in her chest. The camera was supposed to be broken!
Relatives exchanged looks, their curiosity and suspicion now aimed squarely at Bella. She wished for the floor to open up and swallow her whole, her carefully crafted facade crumbling around her.
But she wasn’t one to give up so easily. Taking a shaky breath, she forced her voice into a trembling, pitiful tone. “Yelena, what are you trying to prove? I never accused you of anything! I fell because I lost my balance p>
Yelena’s dark eyes narrowed, her voice cutting like ice. “Oh, so now you remember? Watching the footage jogged your memory, did it? Convenient how it all lines up now p>
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Before Bella could respond, Elianna jumped in, her voice sharp and indignant. “What difference does it make? It was just a minor incident, and now you’re blowing it out of proportion! If you hadn’t shaken Bella’s hand away, she wouldn’t have fallen at all p>
Yelena turned her gaze to Elianna, her lips pressing into a thin line. The absurdity of the accusation left her momentarily speechless. How could she twist the situation so blatantly? Without a word, Yelena calmly rolled up her sleeve. The room collectively held its breath as she revealed her arm.
Against her tender skin, a dark bruise stood out—a silent but irrefutable testament to the force that had been used on her.
“Take a good look,” Yelena said, her voice steady and firm. “If I hadn’t shaken her off, I might’ve ended up with a broken arm instead p>
Everyone was taken by surprise.
Goodness! Just how hard did Bella have to clutch Yelena’s arm to leave a bruise like that? It wasn’t hard to see why Yelena had yanked her arm away—Bella had clearly hurt her.
The room fell into an awkward silence as everyone began casting uneasy glances toward Bella.
Not long ago, they had sympathized with her. But now, seeing the mark on Yelena’s arm, they were suddenly quiet. Donna’s face filled with concern. “Yelena, does it still hurt p>
Yelena shook her head, brushing it off.
Elianna’s expression tightened, her voice sharp as she tried to maintain some decorum. “Bella, you really need to be more careful next time p>
After all, there was a crowd watching, and Elianna couldn’t afford to seem too partial. Yelena and Bella were both her granddaughters, so showing too much favor to one wouldn’t be proper.