Chapter 55 Ashlee's Plan
Chapter 55 Ashlee's Plan
The scream interrupted everyone's thoughts. They suddenly looked up and saw the big screen in front
of them suddenly lit up.
Because this banquet hall was usually of many uses, there was a very huge screen in the center. But
this time, there was no need to use the screen, so the screen was originally black.
But somehow the screen suddenly lit up.
What was more shocking was the content on the screen.
There were several photos, which changed like slides.
Seeing those photos, Clara felt as if she had been struck by lightning, and her hands and feet were
cold.
They were her pictures.
In the photos, her face was red, her clothes were in disarray, and her hair was messy. She was lying
between the quilt with a blushed face, eyes hazy, lips slightly parted.
Although these photos didn't belong to wardrobe malfunction pictures, her flushed face and expression
made others understand what she was doing at that time.
Clara could recognize those photos even these photos were burnt into ashes.
Two years ago, Darren took those photos to question her.
She quickly turned her head, and when her eyes fell on Darren again, her sight was no longer shock,
but hatred, strong hatred.
She knew that Darren hated her because he misunderstood that she had betrayed him. That's why he
told what she had done at this family banquet. He wanted to take revenge on her.
But she never expected that he would show these photos. And what's more he showed these photos to
so many people.
Was he really going to destroy her?
Even if she really betrayed him at that time, was it necessary for him to do this?
On the other side, when Darren saw these photos, he was actually as shocked as Clara.
He did want to reveal the scandal of Clara, but he had never thought of using this way.
In such a mean and cruel way.
So, he had no idea why these photos were suddenly released.
In a panic, his first reaction was to explain to Clara. But he saw the hatred in her eyes as soon as he
looked up.
In an instant, he felt as if he had fallen into an abyss.
He had never thought that the woman he once loved would look at him with such strong and real
hatred one day.
Other guests were also shocked.
There were many people at the banquet. In addition to several members of the Kirkland family, there © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
were also some relatives, as well as old friends and business partners. Therefore, the banquet was full
of people.
Everyone was shocked to see these photos.
Although they were all well-educated, upper-class people, they were still gossipy. At this time, they
could not help but lower their voices and whispered.
"Oh my God! What's going on? Why did the photos be released at the dinner party?"
"Don't be silly. Don't you see that the main character of this photo is the new wife of Horace?"
"Oh, it seems to be true. When were these photos taken? I don't think they were taken with Horace. Is
it another man?"
"This is a big scandal. I think this woman is going to be kicked out of the Kirkland family."
After all, all the people present were from well-known families, so they would not use extreme words in
their comments. However, there was still an uncontrollable sense of schadenfreude and ridicule in their
tone.
Hearing that, Clara's face turned paler and paler. Her clenched hands under the table were almost
going to pierce through her palms.
As for Horace, the moment he saw the photos, the cold anger in his black eyes finally burst out.
Damn it!
How dare someone work against his woman under his nose!
The main table was not far from the console of the main screen. Without thinking, Horace picked up the
knife that was intended to be used to cut the steak and thrust it directly into the on-off button of the
screen!
Bang!
In an instant, the screen returned to darkness.
The people around were shocked. They didn't expect that Horace would behave like this and they
stopped talking all of a sudden.
There was dead silence.
Everyone didn't dare to say one more word, but looked at Russell, wondering how he would react.
"Ha," Russell had gone through many trials and tribulations. He was also shocked when all this had just
happened, but soon he calmed down and sneered. He looked at Horace and asked, "Horace, is this
true?"
But Horace didn't answer Russell's question immediately. To be exact, he didn't even pay attention to
his grandpa. He just looked at Clara beside him.
Looking at her pale face, Horace's black eyes grew darker and colder.
"Horace!" seeing that Horace didn't answer him, Russell finally was irritated. He smashed the crutch in
his hand heavily, "I'm asking you a question!"
Hearing that, Horace slowly turned his head, with a cold expression on his face. "I said it was not true.
Do you believe me?"
After all, Russell was his grandfather. Although he respected Russell, he was not humble.
Russell was so angry that his wrinkles were about to fly up. "Horace, do you really think that such an
immoral woman can enter our family?"
Mr. Kirkland's words caused a great uproar at present.
What Mr. Kirkland said was very clear. He wanted to deny the status of Clara.
Clara couldn't help trembling.
She didn't know why she felt like she was hit hard when she heard Russell 's words.
After all, she got married just for the citizenship of Stratmont. Now that she had the that, even if she lost
this marriage, she should not care, should she?
But somehow, she felt empty at the thought of divorcing Horace. She felt even more emptier when she
thought that she couldn't go back to that villa from now on, and that she and Horace might become
strangers again.
Noticing the change of expression on Clara's face, Horace felt his heart ached slightly.
Without hesitation, he grabbed Clara's hand under the table.
All the people present were too scared to say a word in the face of Russell's anger, but only one of
them kept her head down, fearing that her complacent and happy expression would be discovered by
others.
The woman was Ashlee.
Yes, it was she who showed the pictures on the screen.
When Ashlee heard that Darren was going to reveal the true face of Clara at the banquet, she was
happy, but she also felt that it was not ruthless enough.
Since she wanted to hurt Clara, she had to do it thoroughly. She wanted her reputation to be ruined
and she wanted that Clara would never be respected in the upper class.
So, she secretly bribed the servants of the Kirkland family to display the photos.
That's how Ashlee made everyone see those photos. In this way, even if Clara and Horace divorced,
Darren would never be together with Clara again because Darren was such a proud person.
While Ashlee was thinking complacently, she was waiting for Clara to be kicked out. However, at this
time, Horace opened his mouth and the smile on Ashlee's face froze.
"Grandpa, you are right. Maybe Clara is not qualified to be the daughter-in-law of our family." When he
said the first half of his word, Clara's face turned paler, but he quickly added, "But my wife doesn't need
the Kirkland family's approval."
Clara raised her head in disbelief and looked into Horace's eyes.
His dark eyes were calm and firm. The temperature of his palm also came through his skin, as if
melting her cold heart.
Suddenly, Clara felt a lump in her throat.
Russell was also stunned, but Sean couldn't stand it anymore. He scolded in a low voice, "Horace, how
could you talk to Grandpa like that! Marrying such a shameless woman has disgraced our family. Don't
you admit your fault?"
It was not until then that Horace slowly looked away from Clara and coldly looked at Sean.
It was just a glance, but it made Sean feel like falling into an ice cellar in an instant.
"Sean," Horace called his name directly, and his voice was so cold. "Clara is my woman, don't tell me
what I should do."
Sean's face turned white and he wanted to say something, but Russell suddenly coughed.
Immediately, Sean didn't dare to say anything more, but looked at Russell.
"This thing remains to be discussed. After all, she and Horace are legally married," Russell said in an
unpredictable tone. "Don't quarrel with your family just because of the rumors of some villains."
Hearing that, Clara was amazed.
She didn't know much about Russell. But it was said that he was a very cruel and ruthless person.
Otherwise, it was impossible for him to create the glory of the Kirkland family by himself.
But she didn't expect him to be so easy-going. She made the Kirkland family lose face in front of so
many people. Why didn't he blame her?
Both Sean and Horace were surprised at Russell's reaction, but they knew that their grandpa was a
man of his word, so they didn't dare to say anything more.
Ashlee was the last one to be reconciled.
She widened her eyes and could hardly believe what she had heard.
She had thought that she would destroy Clara this time, ruin her reputation and kick her out. But to her
surprise, nothing happened.
Horace didn't look down upon Clara at all, and even Russell didn't blame her.
What the hell was going on!
Unwilling to give up, Ashlee blurted out without thinking, "Great Grandpa, it's not a rumor. It's true…"
But before Ashlee could finish her words, Russell suddenly raised his head. His sharp eyes frightened
her so much that she couldn't say anything.
"What do you think you are?" Russell said coldly. "You don't get to call me that now. Make it clear that
you haven't married into our family yet, so stay out of the our business."
Ashlee was so scared that she broke out in a cold sweat.
It never occurred to her that the trap she set up didn't hurt Clara, but left a bad impression on Russell.
She didn't dare to say one more word. She just lowered her head and bit her red lips hard.
Why?
Why!
Why was Clara always so lucky that she could land on her feet.
During the next meal, everyone was silent.
After dinner, everyone came to the hall next to the dining room to dance.
The band was playing on the stage, and the melodious music rang in the spacious hall. Countless
couples hugged each other and danced trippingly. The waiter walked through the crowd with
champagne and wine. Some people who didn't dance gathered together, talking and laughing.
Everything seemed to be the same as the ball in TV series, but Clara just felt that she was out of place.
Standing behind Horace's wheelchair, she could feel people around glancing at her, sizing her up or
laughing at her from time to time.
"Horace," Ashlee and Darren were dancing in the center of the hall, attracting the attention of all
people. Clara felt even more uncomfortable, "How about we go back?"
Anyway, they couldn't dance, so they had nothing to do here.
"We will sleep here tonight," Horace said.
Clara was a little frustrated, but she didn't know what to say. She nodded.
"What? You don't like it?" Horace's eyes darkened, "Because of what happened just now?"
Embarrassed, Clara didn't know how to answer. "I don't care. When that thing happened two years
ago, more people rolled their eyes and despised me. I just... I was afraid that you would be unhappy
here."
What she said was true.
Horace was her husband. Others might think that she cheated on him. As a man, he must feel
ashamed.
Clara really didn't want to see such a perfect and excellent man like Horace become the target of
ridicule.
Horace didn't expect that Clara would answer him like that. He was first stunned, and the next second,
he turned the wheelchair to Clara. Seeing the nervous and uneasy expression on her face, he couldn't
help but feel soft in his heart.
"Clara," Horace suddenly asked. "Do you want to dance?"
"Dance?" Clara was stunned. "With whom?"
Horace was in a wheelchair and couldn't dance, but she didn't know anyone else present except him.
Looking at the silly look on Clara's face, Horace couldn't help but chuckle.
"With me," Horace said two words briefly and suddenly grabbed Clara's hand.
With Horace?
Clara was even more stunned. Before she could react, Horace suddenly controlled the wheelchair
under his body and slid towards the center of the hall.
Then, Clara, who was led by him, walked to the center as well.
"Horace?" Clara was completely stunned. "What are you doing?"
"Dance." There was a faint smile in Horace's usually indifferent eyes. "Didn't you say that you had
specially learned dancing before? Can you dance now?"
Only then did Clara realize that Horace was really going to dance with her.
She blushed immediately. "I... I'm talking nonsense. I can't even tap my feet to the beat."
The smile at the corners of Horace's mouth deepened. "Is that so? Then it will be easier."
Hearing that, Clara was shocked. Before she could ask "what do you mean by easier", Horace
suddenly tightened his grip on her hand.
Suddenly, Clara lost her balance and fell into Horace's arms.
"Horace? What are you doing?" Clara panicked and tried to stand up, but Horace had already locked
his hands between her slender waist, making her unable to move at all.
"Don't move," Horace looked down at her with a smile. "We are dancing."