<b>Chapter </b>270 Roll the Tape Sweetheart


    “<b>James</b><b>, </b>my mom has been trying so hard to reconcile with Lily. She’s been going out of her <b>way </b><b>to </b>please <b>her </b>why would she ever try to ruin her?”


    Elsa refused to believe it. Wendy had always looked down on Reese; there was no way she’d ever <b>willingly </b>sleep with him. So <i>James </i><i>iming </i><i>he </i><i>had </i><i>evidence</i><i>? </i><i>That </i><i>had </i><i>to </i><i>be </i><i>a </i><i>bluff</i>.


    Still, she couldn’t stand how someone as incredible as James always seemed to side with Lily. She took <b>a </b>deep breath and continued, “My mom has a bruise on the back of her neck–it’s clear someone knocked her out and set her and Mr. Reese up. She’s been seriously wronged tonight. If Lily really did this to her, then she owes my mother an apology. Lily, apologize!”


    Clutching Wendy’s hand, Elsa let tears tremble down her face, full of icy pride. John, face dark with <b>fury</b><b>, </b>barked at Lily.


    James might have been dead set on divorcing Lily.


    But he’d promised to protect her until then–and he wasn’t about to let John or anyone else gang up on her now. He tightened his grip on her hand, shielding her like a silent guardian. His calm radiated a quiet power that demanded respect.


    “John, a wise man knows his ce. My wife is none of your concern.”


    James had always been sparing with his words. But people like John either couldn’t be reasoned with or were shameless enough to flip the truth on its head. James had no more patience left. Without another word, he pulled out his phone and opened the video his assistant had sent him.


    He’d known Wendy and Elsa had been scheming against Lily for a while–so of course, he hadn’t let his guard down.


    He didn’t want them pulling any stunts before the divorce was finalized, so he had someone secretly keep an eye on them.


    They’d been rtively quiet for a while.


    But tonight, his team had captured footage of Wendy meeting with Reese.


    The video was dimly lit–Wendy and Reese had clearly met in one of the darkest corridors at the far end of the banquet hall.


    The moment James hit y, everyone heard Wendy’s deliberately hushed voice, “Reese, haven’t you always thought Lily was stunning? Always wanted to sleep with her? Tonight, I’ll help you get your wish. In return, for your uing films<b>, </b>can you let Elsa dub the female lead’s voice?”


    “You’re really gonna let me sleep with Lily?” Reese’s voice oozed with sleaze, making everyone cringe.


    Wendy nced around cautiously, confirming the coast was clear, then continued in a lowered voice,


    “I’ve gone to a lot of trouble tonight to make this happen for you. I’ve already paid off a few maids. One of them’s going to identally ruin Lily’s dress. When she takes Lily upstairs to the lounge to change, you’ll show up. You two, in that kind of situation–who’s going to stop you from doing whatever you want?”


    <b>“</b><b>She’s </b><b>really </b>gonna let me do it?” Reese asked, his voice still low. “Nora’s here tonight too<b>–</b><b>that </b><b>damm </b><b>tigress</b>. <b>If </b>Lily puts up a fight and things get noisy, and Nora catches us, I’m screwed.”


    “Reese<b>, </b>you’re such a good man. How could I let something happen to you?<b>” </b>


    Wendy let out a soft, seductiveugh. “I already lit the incense in the lounge. That stuff cost me <b>a </b><b>fortune</b>. Once Lily breathes it in, she’ll be putty in your hands. She’ll let you do anything you want.”


    She moved closer to him, swaying like a bellflower in the night breeze, brushing flirtatiously against him<b>. </b>


    “Even if Lily doesn’t fall for it, I’ll still make sure you get everything you want tonight.”


    What she meant was that if Lily didn’t take the bait, she’d find another young, pretty girl for Reese.


    She’d done that before–just to help Elsand high–profile dubbing roles.


    But the crowd didn’t know all the shady things Wendy had done in the past.


    Seeing her now in the video, snuggling up to Reese and whispering such filth, everyone assumed <i>that </i>if Lily hadn’t fallen into their trap, Wendy had nned to use her own body to please Reese.


    When the video ended, no one had any doubts left–Wendy had ended up in bed with Reese because Lily didn’t fall for their scheme, and Wendy had to offer herself up instead. <i>If </i><i>that </i><i>was </i><i>the </i><i>case</i><i>, </i><i>what </i><i>did </i>any <i>of </i><i>this </i><i>have </i>to <i>do </i>with <i>Lily</i><i>? </i>


    And yet Wendy had the audacity to use Lily of knocking her out and setting her up. The more people thought about it, the more they saw Wendy as a shameless, vile liar; the murmurs grew sharper, crueler.


    “Wendy is unbelievable, she actually wanted Reese to ruin Mrs. Luke? How could she?”


    “What do you mean how could she? Didn’t you see the earlier news? She once had someone ram Mrs. Luke’s car and tried to frame her!”


    “Lily didn’t take the bait tonight, so she threw herself at Reese and then pinned the me on Lily… That woman’s got no shame at all!”


    “Wendy’s lower than dirt–she’s worse than an animal!”


    “And her daughter Elsa? Always throwing shade at Mrs. Luke with that fake sweet–girl act. Like mother, like daughter–both of them are trash!”