?Chapter 480:


    A suffocating silence followed.


    The very next moment, the crowd erupted into an uproar.


    “So Rita was lying all along!”


    “I never would’ve guessed the truth was like this.”


    “No wonder Miss Hond said she deserved it earlier!”


    Rita’s face drained of all color. Her hands clenched into trembling fists as she stared at Corrine, fury and panic warring in her eyes.


    She never imagined Corrine would have the foresight to record everything.


    Corrine turned to Bruce, amusement glinting in her eyes.


    “Mr. Ashton, has everything be clear now?”


    Bruce stood paralyzed, the weight of his misjudgment evident in his rigid posture.


    His features darkened with dawningprehension.


    “You anticipated this, didn’t you? Was this borate sequence of events your design from the beginning?”


    The usation in his voice suggested he believed Corrine had orchestrated the entire scenario.


    A dismissiveugh escaped her lips.


    “Even if I possessed prophetic abilities, Miss Ashton’s choices remain her own, don’t they? Isn’t this simply the natural consequence of her actions?”


    The implication hung heavy in the air—had Rita not attempted to harm her, none of this would have transpired.


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    Even if the Ashton family attempted to hold Corrine ountable, she could easily im self-defense, and the recording provided irrefutable evidence for potential legal action. Rita had effectively cornered herself.


    “Mr. Ashton, attempting to deflect responsibility? Do you take us for fools?”


    The cutting remark left Bruce speechless as Corrine’s satisfied smirk widened.


    “I may choose not to press charges against the Ashton family today, but rest assured, I’ll preserve this recording.”


    She turned with graceful finality, hermanding presence causing the crowd to part instinctively before her.


    The simple matter of a missing ne had unveiled far darker intentions.


    “Miss Hond, a moment please.”


    An officer’s voice cut through the tension.


    Corrine paused mid-stride, turning with elegantposure.


    “Is something amiss?”


    The officer shifted ufortably under her steady gaze.


    “As a theft suspect, we must conduct a search. Your cooperation would be appreciated.”


    Corrine arched an eyebrow, having nearly forgotten this detail in the drama’s progression.


    She extended her arms with unruffled calm, submitting to the search that, predictably, revealed no trace of Leah’s missing ne.


    As she moved to depart, her foot caught a hallway trash can, sending it crashing to the floor with a resounding tter that drew every eye.


    Jocelynn seized the opportunity for theatrics.


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