Chapter 9
Instantly, everyone’s attention—including the Mercers’—was fixed on the wall.
In the video, Mira was walking upstairs. She looked up and saw Mara coming down. The two were face to face.
When they were still about a yard apart, Mara suddenly clutched her head and rolled down the stairs.
Mira had deliberately slowed the footage down. The image was perfectly clear; even the expressions on their faces were visible.
The guests here were all wealthy, influential, and sharp-witted. Seeing this, what was there not to understand?
Mira was facing upstairs, looking at Mara. How could she have pushed her down?
Especially when there was still a clear gap between them.
“How could Adrian have gotten this so wrong p>
“So it was a ploy by the newly returned daughter to frame her p>
“If you ask me, Mara was in a much better position to do the pushing p>
“Good heavens, what if the new one tried to push Mira, lost her footing, and ended up falling herself p>
“Exactly, that must be it. She tried to hurt someone else and ended up framing herself instead p>
“That’s what you call karma. Serves her right p>
“And to think someone was just spreading lies a minute ago. I can’t believe we fell for it p>
“I never believed it for a second.
We watched Mira grow up. I can believe she’s a bit willful, but that girl has a kind heart.
I’d never believe she was capable of hurting someone like that p>
“She used to be such a lively, adorable girl. Look what they’ve done to her. It’s just cruel p>
“It’s clearly the new one who’s got a twisted mind. Did you see how fake she was acting when she was giving her speech p>
The guests were all talking at once, their voices a rising tide of accusations against the newly returned daughter and Adrian for his unfair judgment.
Meanwhile, the expressions on the faces of the Mercer men were as ugly as they could possibly be.
Mara had collapsed weakly into Lacey’s arms, her face pale as she muttered over and over.
“It’s not like that, it’s not like that p>
Lacey was about to scold Mara, but when she looked down and saw her daughter’s tear-streaked, pitiful face, she swallowed the words.
Adrian, however, had recovered, his face like iron as he stared at Mira.
“If you had proof, why didn’t you present it at the time p>
As the chairman of the Mercer
Group, his most urgent priority was
controlling the situation and
minimizing the fallout, not figuring
out which of his daughters was right or wrong.
One of the main reasons for this banquet was to bolster the Mercer Group’s reputation and boost its stock price.
“And since you had no evidence, why did you believe her side of the story and nothing else p>
And punish her so severely? There was no hint of family affection.
Earlier in the banquet hall, when people were spreading rumors and ruining her reputation, they had done nothing.
It only proved one thing: in their hearts, there was no longer any room for Mira.
Ethan watched Mira with a complicated expression, while Julian just looked completely baffled.
Mira ignored them and turned back to the audience.
“Distinguished guests, ladies, and gentlemen, please don’t rush to judgment just yet. There’s something even more interesting to see p>
“That’s enough! How long are you going to keep making a scene p>
Damon snapped, his face tense. He found today’s Mira completely alien. She had always been so eager to please; when had she ever dared to defy them like this?
“I know you care a great deal about our family’s reputation, third brother, but
wouldn’t hiding the truth from our guests be even more improper p>
*Don’t have the courage to face the consequences of your actions? Fine. I’ll expose everything you’ve done for the world to see. As for the Mercer family’s reputation what does that have to do with me anymore p>