Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Tristan Sterling Berates Vivian Linton
Holly Sinclair’s statement was so loaded that all eyes instantly fell on her.
"What nonsense are you spouting? I have nothing to feel guilty about!"
Kiera Jacobs shouted, a flash of panic crossing her eyes.
Holly Sinclair smiled but said nothing.
She turned, her piercing gaze landing on the server. "Did you see me place it with your own eyes?"
"Y-Yes..." The server kept their gaze lowered, nodding frantically.
"And the proof?"
"I saw it with my own eyes—"
"Your word alone is not proof. If a mere claim is considered evidence, then couldn’t I just accuse anyone here?" Holly Sinclair’s logic was clear, her words sharp as knives.
A flicker of doubt appeared in Sonia Sutton’s eyes.
She was clearly starting to believe Holly Sinclair’s side of the story.
Seeing this, Vivian Linton quickly came forward and pulled Holly Sinclair’s arm, urging her earnestly, "Holly, just stop trying to argue your way out of this. We should admit when we’ve done something wrong. Apologize to Miss Sutton, and Tristan and I will help smooth things over for you—"
SLAP!
Holly Sinclair raised her hand and slapped Vivian Linton across the face.
"Ah!"
The corner of Vivian Linton’s mouth started to bleed. Her mind went blank from the shock.
"Holly Sinclair!"
Tristan Sterling, furious, grabbed Holly Sinclair’s wrist.
"Tristan..." Vivian Linton leaned against Tristan Sterling’s arm, tears streaming down her face.
She looked like a pitiful victim who had been wronged in every way.
Holly Sinclair’s expression was glacial. She violently shook off Tristan Sterling’s hand and glared at Vivian Linton. "Vivian Linton, can you even get through a single day without trying to sling mud at me?"
"Holly, I was really just trying to help you..." Vivian Linton looked utterly wronged, then turned to Tristan Sterling with a pitiful, choked sob. "Tristan, I didn’t..."
"You don’t have any proof, do you?"
Holly Sinclair took out her phone and waved it at the crowd. "That’s fine. I do!"
Kiera Jacobs’s expression faltered.
"Miss Sutton, you know what they say? Lock your doors against thieves..." Holly Sinclair opened her photo gallery, pulled up a video, and showed it to Sonia Sutton. "...and watch your back with your best friend!"
The screen clearly showed Kiera Jacobs placing a needle under the saddle.
Around noon, she had passed by the stables. The furtive figure she’d seen was none other than Kiera Jacobs.
She had recorded the video and tried to find Sonia Sutton to show her.
But Sonia Sutton hadn’t given her a chance to speak.
During the struggle, her elbow had accidentally slammed into a glass door, and the pain had left her speechless for a moment.
By the time she chased after her, Sonia Sutton had already taken a sightseeing cart to the riding grounds.
Thankfully, she’d managed to catch up to Big White at the last second. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
Sonia Sutton stared at the video on the phone, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief.
"Miss Sutton, I tried to stop you earlier to show you this, but you didn’t give me a chance," Holly Sinclair explained softly.
A flash of regret crossed Sonia Sutton’s eyes.
She had assumed Holly Sinclair was trying to pester her endlessly about the main wedding gown.
She’d been so annoyed that she refused to listen.
Seeing the color drain from Sonia Sutton’s face, Kiera Jacobs forced herself to step forward, feigning concern. "Sonia, what did she show you—"
SLAP!
Sonia Sutton slapped Kiera Jacobs hard across the face.
"Ah!"
Kiera Jacobs was stunned. She clutched her stinging cheek, utterly dumbfounded. "Sonia, you... why did you hit me?"
"What is this?!"
Sonia Sutton’s eyes were bloodshot with rage as she shoved the phone in Kiera’s face.
One glance was all it took. The color drained from Kiera Jacobs’s face as if she had been struck by lightning.
She shook her head frantically, denying it vehemently. "Th-That’s not me... I didn’t..."
"Kiera Jacobs! We’ve been best friends for over a decade! I’d recognize you even if you were burned to ashes!"
Sonia Sutton was beside herself with rage, grinding her teeth.
Kiera Jacobs made a last-ditch effort, crying, "The video has to be fake! Sonia, don’t let her fool you! What reason would I have to hurt you—"
SLAP!
Sonia Sutton slapped her again.
The force of the blow sent Kiera Jacobs tumbling to the grass.
"You want a reason? Fine! I’ll go find out right now!"
Sonia Sutton roared and stormed off.
"Sonia... Sonia..."
Kiera Jacobs, in a total panic, scrambled to her feet and stumbled after her.
...
After Sonia Sutton left, Holly Sinclair also turned to leave.
But as she took a step, she nearly collapsed.
She had twisted her recently healed ankle again.
Seeing her swaying unsteadily, Tristan Sterling reached out to steady her.
But Holly Sinclair wanted none of it.
She swatted his hand away and continued to limp forward.
She didn’t even spare him a glance.
Tristan Sterling’s face was as black as thunder.
"Holly Sinclair." Joanna York ran up to support her. Looking at her tiptoed foot, she frowned with concern. "Are you all right?"
"I’m fine." Holly Sinclair shook her head, gritting her teeth against the pain.
"You’re really going all out for this deal." Joanna York’s heart was still pounding.
That scene just now was terrifying.
Holly Sinclair just smiled without offering an explanation.
’In the face of a human life, nothing else mattered.’
’She hadn’t saved Sonia Sutton for the sake of business; she simply couldn’t stand by and watch a life potentially be lost right before her eyes.’
Hearing Joanna York’s words, Tristan Sterling’s expression darkened even further.
"Holly Sinclair is such a scheming bitch!"
Watching Holly Sinclair’s limping figure, Megan Grayson couldn’t help but curse in anger. "She had the video the whole time and didn’t say a word! She had to slap Vivian before showing it. How malicious—"
"Shut up!"
Tristan Sterling barked.
"Tristan..." Megan Grayson jumped, her arrogance instantly evaporating into meekness.
"You think you’re in the right, making baseless accusations?" Tristan Sterling’s gaze was chilling, his every word like ice.
"I..." Megan Grayson was at a loss for words, not daring to say another peep.
’I really don’t want to go back to being a receptionist at The Sterling Group.’
’I’m a distinguished young lady of The Sterling Family, a socialite! That would be far too demeaning.’
’Baseless accusations...’
Vivian Linton felt the criticism was aimed squarely at her.
Her face instantly paled. With her eyes red-rimmed, she carefully tugged on the man’s sleeve and choked out, "Tristan, Megan and I didn’t mean to... under the circumstances, I was just so worried about Holly..."
"You two head back first."
Tristan Sterling tossed out the sentence dismissively before mounting his horse.
With a squeeze of his heels, he galloped away.
...
Holly Sinclair returned to her room.
Her sprained ankle was red and swollen.
She wrung out a towel in cold water and laid it over her ankle.
The biting cold provided some relief from the pain.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
There was a knock at the door.
She thought Joanna York was back with the medicine.
She hopped on one foot to the door and pulled it open.
"That was fast—"
The words were barely out of her mouth when she saw a remarkably handsome face.
Her immediate instinct was to slam the door shut.
But Tristan Sterling simply pushed it open.
"Ah!"
The door slammed back into her, making her stumble backward.
Her injured ankle couldn’t support her, and she was about to fall.
The next second, she was swept off her feet as he caught her, lifting her by the waist.
"Tristan Sterling, get out! I don’t want to see you."
Holly Sinclair, furious, clenched her fists and pounded on his shoulder.
But he was built like a rock, and her blows felt like little more than a tickle to him.
"You don’t want to see me?"
Tristan Sterling placed her on the bed, eyeing her with a disdainful sneer. "Then who do you want to see? Brandon Sterling?"
"Are you insane? What does Brandon have to do with this?"
Holly Sinclair couldn’t stop herself from snapping back.
His dark eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint appearing within them. "Say that to me one more time."
"You’re in—mmph..."
